Select List of Accessions to the Australian Manuscripts Collection, 1983

• AUSTRALIAN Jewish Historical Society. Victorian branch.
  • Records. 50 cm.
  • On long term loan from the Australian Jewish Historical Society, Victorian branch.
  • Further papers were added to the records of the Victorian branch of the Australian Jewish Historical Society during 1983. They include correspondence, prize lists, minutes and a visitors’ book for the Melbourne Hebrew School for the period 1879–1890; and material relating to the formation and operation of the Temple Beth Israel Liberal Synagogue in Melbourne since 1930. Although mainly printed items, some correspondence, minutes and photographs are included.
• AUSTRALIAN Performing Group.
  • Records, 1968–1981.
  • 4.66 m.
  • Purchased.
  • Restricted.
  • The Australian Performing Group was a self-managed collective of theatre workers operating in Carlton from the Pram Factory theatre. The Pram Factory offered a venue to Australian playwrights and directors whose work had a political or non-conformist character. The A.P.G. records include correspondence, minutes, theatre management and actors’ and writers’ files, Pram Factory Pictures Pty. Ltd. records, financial and legal papers, press cuttings, production files and scripts.
• BAGE and Lange families.
  • Papers, c. 1890s.
  • 45 cm.
  • Presented by Miss Helen Clark.
  • The Bage and Lange families, which were related by marriage, occupied a prominent position in Melbourne society. These papers include journals, account books, cash books and letter books pertaining to the period of the Victorian depression of the 1890s. They also include Charles Bage's memoir of his mother, Anna Newsom and his file relating to a dispute with the St. Kilda Cemetery.
• BAILEY, Ilma Barclay and Pinnock, Dorothy Ilma.
  • Diaries, 1934–1965.
  • 17 cm.
  • Purchased.
  • The sisters, Ilma Bailey and Dorothy Pinnock shared a home in Ballarat. Ilma Bailey's diaries, in 5 volumes, cover the period 1934–1943. Her sister Dorothy's diaries cover the period 1937–1965 in 17 volumes. The Bailey and Pinnock diaries provide a detailed picture of domestic arrangements and Ballarat social life. The sisters also wrote diaries during overseas trips taken during the thirties and forties.
• BENSON, Rev. Sir Irving.
  • Papers, c.1836–1874.
  • 5 m.
  • Presented by Lady Benson.
  • The Rev. Sir Irving Benson, Methodist minister, author and lecturer, was closely associated with the State Library of Victoria, as a Trustee and through active involvement in the library world. These papers comprise mainly sermons and sermon notes and material culled from his vast collection of subject files which includes some correspondence. Related correspondence is described under “Other purchases”.
• CHILDREN'S Book Council of Australia. Victorian branch.
  • Papers, 1967–1982.
  • 6 cm.
  • Presented by Mr. John Adams.
  • The Victorian branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia was founded in 1954 by a committee of the National Council of Women. It aims to encourage children to read good books, to promote the growth of libraries and to stimulate the publication of children's books of high quality. These papers include minutes, annual reports, financial statements, newsletters, correspondence, notices and press cuttings.
• CLARKE, Marcus.
  • Letters, 1874–1875.
  • 0.1 cm.
  • Purchased.
  • These two letters from Marcus Clarke to his English publishers, Messrs. Bentley and Son, provide an interesting view of the nineteenth century English publishing world. The letters concern the English edition of His natural life and discuss the suggestion of Bentley's that a happy ending would make the novel more palatable for English readers.
• DEXTER, Caroline.
  • Correspondence and other papers, 1842–1873.
  • 3 cm.
  • Presented by Mr. P. W. Rest.
  • Caroline Dexter (1819–1884) was a feminist, social reformer and writer who arrived in Australia in 1855. These letters are written mainly to her first husband, the artist William Dexter, and his relatives, 1858–1860. They are particularly revealing concerning the monetary problems which led to the break-down of the Dexter marriage and provide insights into the character of William Dexter, who died in 1860. Other papers include press cuttings and ephemeral items.
• FIRST World Merino Conference.
  • Records, 1981–1982.
  • 30 cm.
  • Presented by the First World Merino Conference.
  • Partly restricted.
  • The First World Merino Conference was held in Melbourne in July 1982. The Conference was entitled “Merinos: Food and Fibre Forever” and covered various aspects of breeding merinos and marketing wool. The record include minutes, correspondence, financial records, conference arrangements and conference papers.
• FORLONGE, William.
  • Letter, 30 December, 1851.
    

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  • 0.1 cm.
  • Purchased.
  • William Forlonge (1811–1890), pastoralist and politician, was an extreme exponent of squatter claims.
  • This letter is written to Charles Barnes in England from whom Forlonge had purchased the Seven Creeks run at Euroa. He comments on the effect of the gold rush on the community and on the squatters. The letter was published in the La Trobe Library journal in October, 1968.
• HARRIS, Sir John.
  • Diary and letters, 1917–1918.
  • 3 cm.
  • Presented by Mrs. Winsome Salway.
  • Sir John Harris was Medical Officer for the No. 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps, Palestine. His diary and letters provide a vivid account of wartime life in Egypt. Sir John's graphic descriptions of aeronautic maneouvres and campaigns are a feature of these papers.
• HOPE, Emily.
  • Working papers, 1977–1983.
  • 1 m.
  • Presented by Mrs. Penelope Hope.
  • Emily Hope, the daughter of the poet A. D. Hope, was an artist, author, metal worker and sculptor. These papers include the typescript and first pulls of illustrations for her novel, The queen of the Nagas, published by Nimrod Press in 1979. In 1983, Sisters published her next work, The Legend of Pope Joan, and the manuscripts of this work comprise the bulk of these working papers.
• HURRY, Henry.
  • Solicitor's records, c.1850–1950.
  • 50 m.
  • Purchased.
  • Henry Hurry was a Kyneton solicitor; his records comprise files relating to legal cases. Most of these files are from the period 1920–1940. A small amount of Hurry family papers is included with these records.
• INTERNATIONAL P.E.N. Australia. Melbourne centre.
  • Records, 1938–1970.
  • 32.2 cm.
  • Presented by Miss Mavis Thorpe Clarke.
  • A group of Melbourne writers met during October 1938 to form a Melbourne centre of P.E.N. The object of P.E.N. is to promote the friendly cooperation of writers in every country in the interests of freedom of artistic expression and international goodwill. In 1981 we received records of the Melbourne centre for the period 1950–1981. This more recent instalment includes correspondence, minutes, annual reports, newsletters, congress proceedings, financial records and printed items.
• MUHL, Dr. Anita.
  • Correspondence, 1938–1941.
  • 34 cm.
  • Presented by Dr. Una Porter.
  • Restricted.
  • Dr. Anita Muhl, an American psychiatrist specializing in juvenile psychiatric disorders, lectured and taught in Australia between 1938 and 1942. Her visit was sponsored by Dr. Una Porter. Dr. Muhl's correspondence files provide a valuable insight into the dissemination of psychiatric theories among Melbourne doctors and welfare workers during the 1930s.
• PIERSON, Thomas.
  • Diaries, 1852–1868.
  • 7 cm.
  • Purchased.
  • Thomas Pierson was an American who arrived in Australia with his family in 1853. The two volumes of diaries describe the family's voyage, Pierson's experiences working as a paper ruler and bookbinder in Melbourne and Ballarat, and life on the goldfields. The highlight of the diaries is Pierson's eyewitness account of events leading up to the Eureka insurrection and his detailed description of the uprising. Extracts from the diaries appear elsewhere in this Journal.
• PORT Hacking cough.
  • Newspaper, 1918–1919.
  • 5.2 cm.
  • Presented by Mrs. Irene H. Stewart.
  • The newspaper. Port Hacking cough was produced on board the troopship Port Hacking during its voyage from England to Australia. It covers the period 14 December 1918 — 25 January 1919 and contains verse, short stores, puzzles and other items contributed by returning soldiers. The manuscript newspaper, with its elaborate headings and pen and wash illustrations, was apparently compiled for display and subsequently printed after the ship's arrival in Melbourne. A printed version accompanies the original manuscripts.
• ST. JUDE'S Church, Carlton.
  • Records, 1864–1979.
  • 3 m.
  • On permanent loan from St. Jude's Church, Carlton. On 22 August 1864, a meeting of Church of England members was called to consider the question of building a church in Carlton. A temporary building was used for divine service from 1866 until St. Jude's Church was completed in September 1870. The records of the church include marriage certificates, baptismal, confirmation and burial registers, preachers’ books, pew books, minutes, reports, newsletters, correspondence, financial records, printed items and photographs.
• SCOTT, Isabella Kay.
  • Diary and other papers, 1852–1880.
  • 3 cm.
  • Presented by Mrs. A. F. Shell.
  • Isabella Scott emigrated to Australia in 1852 with the objective of finding a husband. Her shipboard diary is a vivacious and witty account of life aboard the Lord Delavel. Other papers include ephemeral items and a copy of Isabella Scott's marriage certificate, which records her marriage to a Captain Young, from the Lord Delavel, two months after her arrival in Australia.
• TATURA Internment Camp.
  • Records, 1939–1945.
  • 16 cm.
  • Presented by Mrs. D. B. Horwood.
  • After February, 1940, internees from around Australia were brought to the Tatura internment camp in northern Victoria. These records mainly concern the German internees, and German language items include the camp newsletter, Brenessel, 1941–1942, a
    

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    two part chronicle of the German internment camp, camp concert programmes, descriptions of camp life, letters and memos concerning individual internees, and notes on the organisation of the Australian section of the German National Socialist Party. There are translations of many of those items included with the records.
• VICTORIA. Royal Commission into the Communist Party.
  • Records, 1949.
  • 1.47 m.
  • Presented by the Honourable Sir Murray McInerney.
  • In 1949 the Victorian government held a Royal Commission into the activities of the Communist Party of Australia, following disclosures made by a leading Victorian C.P.A. official, Cecil Sharpley. The Royal Commissioner was the Honourable Sir Charles John Lowe with Mr. Murray (later the Hon. Sir Murray) McInerney assisting as Junior Counsel. The records comprise volumes 4–11 and 16–36 of the transcripts of the proceedings with indexes to proceedings and exhibits, drafts and related working papers, publications, and miscellaneous papers.
• VICTORIAN Family Council.
  • Records, 1958–1979.
  • 13 cm.
  • Presented by the Institute of Family Studies.
  • The Victorian Family Council was established in 1958 to investigate problems concerning the family and to collect and publish material about family life. Its records include correspondence, reports, conference proceedings and publications.
• VICTORIAN Road Transport Association.
  • Records, 1902–1955.
  • 1.1 m
  • On long term loan from the Victorian Road Transport Association.
  • Part restricted.
  • The General Carriers and Cartage Contractors Association of Melbourne was formed in 1902 to protect the interests of the carrying business and to promote unity among members of the trade. It was succeeded by the Victorian Road Transport Association. The records of these associations include minutes and reports of the Goods General Cartage division of the V.R.T.A. and minutes of the Melbourne War Road Transport Pool.
• WEST Brighton Club.
  • Records, 1881–1982.
  • 1.12m
  • Presented by the West Brighton Club through Mr. W. J. Kerford.
  • Part restricted.
  • The West Brighton Club was established in June 1881. It was originally called the West Brighton Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club until its focus shifted away from sporting activities to the organisation of social functions. The records include minutes, membership and financial records, a visitors’ book, annual reports, tape recordings, photographs and miscellaneous items.
• WHITEHEAD Family.
  • Papers, 1894–1953.
  • 1.21 m.
  • Presented by Mr. Robin Whitehead through Mrs. Christine Downer.
  • The Whitehead family are descendants of Lachlan McBean Grant, a pastoralist from the Riverina. In 1977, we received records relating to his properties Butherwah and Colombo Creek. These further papers from Butherwah include correspondence, legal documents and financial records.
• OTHER PURCHASES
  • During 1983, significant manuscript purchases were made at an auction of material drawn largely from the estate of the Rev. Sir Irving Benson. Included in this material is a large number of letters from prominent Australians in the fields of literature, art, music, politics and business. Among the other items purchased at this auction are memoirs of Port Fairy, a 1911 travel diary of W. H. Fitchett, diaries of Melbourne writer Winifred James, reminiscences of Cobb and Co. driver Frank Smiley and a manuscript lecture of Bernard O'Dowd.

Select List of Accessions to the Picture Collection, 1983

• BRYANS, Lina, artist.
  • Portrait of Tristan Buesst. 1960. Oil. Signed and dated.
  • Presented by the Friends of the La Trobe Library. Tristan Buesst (1894–1982) was the first president of the Friends of the La Trobe Library. In addition to making donations from his private collection, he established the Tristan Buesst fund, which has been used to purchase many works for the Library. The acquisition of this portrait is in keeping with the Library's policy of collecting contemporary works, and adds to its important collection of twentieth century portraits.
• COOK, John J.
  • Set of 25 coloured greeting cards designed and published by John J. Cook, Sydney. 1982–3.
  • Presented by Mr. John J. Cook.
  • This set of greeting cards, featuring Australian themes and animals presented in an ironic and humorous way, adds to the Library's growing collection of contemporary cards. Emphasis has been placed on assembling a representative collection of printed ephemera to give future researchers access to material reflecting Australian printing activities in the last quarter of the twentieth century.
• COOPER, Duncan Elphinstone, artist.
  • Lake Barrambeet (sic) & Hill nr the Pyrenees Victoria — 50 miles from Geelong & 70 from Melbourne. 1851.
  • Pen and wash drawing.
  • Purchased.
  • This drawing was originally part of a sketch-book. A lithograph of it by Thomas Ham appeared in the Illustrated Australian magazine for December 1851, and a wood-engraving, although unattributed, in the Illustrated Australian news of 23 December 1865.
• COZZOLINO, Mimmo.
  • Eight Christmas cards published by Cozzolino Hughes. 1983.
  • Postcard made of pasta alphabet letters glued to paper, designed by Mimmo Cozzolino, 1983.
  • Presented by Mr. Mimmo Cozzolino.
  • These items illustrate the Library's interest in acquiring contemporary postcards, particularly those which are humorous or unusual. The unique ‘pasta-card’ was sent to the Picture Collection through the post and was stamped and franked.
• CRAIG, Sybil, artist.
  • Portrait of Miss Docker. Pastel.
  • Portrait of Miss Docker. Oil.
  • Presented by Miss Sybil Craig.
  • These portraits are of a member of the Docker family of Bontherambo, near Wangaratta. They complement the Library's only other work by Miss Craig, a portrait of the bookseller Leonard Slade which was presented by the artist in 1982.
• CROLL, I.C.H. (1908–1979), photographer.
  • Collection of slides showing streets, buildings and landmarks of Melbourne.
  • 1951–1968. 355 colour slides.
  • Presented by Mrs. Croll.
  • Mr. Croll was a geologist with a special interest in recording the city and suburbs of Melbourne on slides. These are unusual views of public buildings lit for special occasions, as well as many illustrations of decorated cakes.
• TONG family.
  • Photoprints copied from originals in the possession of the Tong and Quong families, the See Yup Society, and other Chinese families in Victoria. 1914–1983.
  • Presented by Mrs. Morag Loh.
  • This donation of 38 prints adds to the visual records of Chinese families in Victoria throughout this century, gathered with the assistance of Mrs. Morag Loh.
• HAINSSELIN, Henry, artist and photographer.
  • (Prospector's hut) Balaarat. 185-. Watercolour. Signed and inscribed.
  • Purchased.
  • This watercolour by an accomplished artist is the only one in a public collection. The English-born painter Henry Hainsselin, who exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, came to Australia in 1853. He was active in Victoria, particularly in country areas, until the 1880s as an artist, as a photographer and as a teacher.
  • Other works of Henry Hainsselin in the Collection included an etched sheet of paper, taken from a copper plate bearing the words Hy Hainsselin/Portrait Painter/Lessons in oils and water colours, printed at the Meat Market Craft Centre from a copper plate in the possession of the Rutherglen Historical Society; and contact prints from glass negatives of people in and around Rutherglen, attributed to Hainsselin, c.1872.
• ITALIAN Historical Society.
  • Copies of photographs.
  • Copied from originals loaned through the Italian Historical Society.
  • These photographs, of which 41 have so far been copied, depict Italians living in Victoria at work and on social occasions during the 1920s and 1930s.
• LIARDET, Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn (1799–1878), artist.
  • Portrait of Mrs. Caroline Liardet. Watercolour.
  • Purchased.
  • The artist Wilbraham Liardet arrived in Port Philip from England in 1839. He was, in effect, the founder of Port Melbourne, originally known as Liardet's Beach, and established a mail service between the beach and Melbourne. In 1840 he opened the Brighton Pier Hotel, which he operated with limited success. Liardet's watercolours of early Melbourne scenes were published by the Library in 1972. This portrait adds to our extensive holdings of Liardet's works. It depicts the artist's wife as a young woman holding a King Charles spaniel; the only other portrait of her held in the Library shows her as a woman of 80.
• PAYNTING, Harold.
  • Collection of cellulose negatives. c.1930–1972.
    

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  • Purchase. (A small part of the Collection comes as a donation from the Friends of the La Trobe Library.)
  • The Harold Paynting Collection of the work of the commercial photographer Lyle Fowler is described in the article by Christine Downer in this Journal.
  • Thus far only a part of the total Collection of about 15,000 negatives has been received.
• REED family.
  • Photographs, including a daguerrotype and two ambrotypes.
  • Presented by Mrs. R. von Laue.
  • These photographs are of members of the family of Joseph Reed, an eminent architect of the nineteenth century whose works included the first Melbourne Public Library building.
• SHALE, J.F., Stereoscopic Collection.
  • 36 stereoscopic postcards.
  • Presented by the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
  • These 36 stereoscopic postcards are of views of Melbourne during the period 1911–1918.
• SMITH, Joseph architect.
  • Collection of 273 architectural drawings by architect Joseph Smith. 1951–1971.
  • Presented by Mr. Joseph Smith.
  • This collection includes plans of the renovations to the Co-operative Insurance Company of Australia, 528–534 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1951–71; McKeon's Pharmacy, 275 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1956–65; and the Prahran Chemist, 255 Chapel Street, Prahran, 1954–5.
• TIBBITS, William (1837–1906), artist.
  • Offington. 1878. Watercolour. Signed and dated.
  • Purchased.
  • William Tibbits’ painting of Edward Henty's house, Offington, in St. Kilda Road, was prominently displayed in the Library's recent exhibition, Picturesque Victoria through the eyes of William Tibbits. It adds to the Library's extensive collections of Hentyana, and of Tibbits’ works.

Correction

In November 1841, Duncan Elphinstone Cooper reached Melbourne from London with George and Harry Thomson, brothers. On New Year's Day, 1842, the three became partners in Challicum station, near Ararat.