Archibald, Jules François (1856-1919)—commonly known as J. F. Archibald—was an Australian magazine editor who contributed greatly to the development of literature and art in Australia. In 1880, he helped to found the magazine The Bulletin. He was editor of The Bulletin for more than 16 years. Archibald urged local writers to write short stories and ballads for the magazine. He gathered around him a group of young writers, such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson, to whom he gave assistance and encouragement. Archibald also helped to found the magazine The Lone Hand. Later, he became literary editor of Smith’s Weekly. His will provided for an annual art award, the Archibald Prize for portraiture, which is now one of Australia’s oldest and best-known visual arts awards.
Archibald was born John Feltham Archibald on Jan. 14, 1856, in Kildare, near Geelong, Victoria. His love of French culture led him to change his name. As a teenager, Archibald wrote for several newspapers in the Warnnambool area before eventually becoming a journalist in Sydney. Archibald died in Sydney on Sept. 10, 1919.
See also Archibald Prize .
