Guide to the Papers of Vivian Smith
MS 4853
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | March 2009 |
| Last updated: | July 2009 |
This finding aid was revised and published with the assistance of the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust.
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Container List
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix A
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix B
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix C
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Smith, Vivian, 1933- |
| Title: | Papers of Vivian Smith |
| Date Range: | c.1931-2003 |
| Collection Number: | MS 4853 |
| Extent: | 5.5 metres (29 boxes, 1 folio box, 1 folio item) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The content of this collection spans most of Dr Smith's career and consists of five different instalments between 1975 and 2004. It includes correspondence, manuscript poetry, transcripts of interviews, publications (including copies of Smith's published poems), articles by or about Smith, reviews, newspaper cuttings, works by other poets and writers, ephemera, notebooks, Smith's PhD thesis on Vance and Nettie Palmer, research notes relating to Smith's publications on the Palmers, (including original and photocopied letters of Vance and Nettie Palmer), notebooks and typescript drafts. Also included are papers relating to Smith's position in the English Department at the University of Sydney, and his role as literary editor of Quadrant. A major component of this collection is the correspondence which includes numerous letters from other poets, writers, academics and individuals involved or interested in Australian literature. Three appendices have been attached to highlight the range and names of principle correspondents.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged according to the order of each of the five instalments received from Dr Smith. The original list incorporated the 1974, 1977 and 1979 instalments, which make up the letters and papers relating to Vance and Nettie Palmer. The 1983 instalment was arranged and described by the donor into three series - Series 1 'Manuscripts, typesets and related correspondence'; Series 2 'Correspondence'; and Series 3 'Miscelleanous materials'. These series were added to the original boxlist.
In March 2009 the list was amended to incorporate the 2004 instalment. This instalment, arranged and described by Library staff, has been split. Parts have been added to the existing three series (Series 1-3); and a new series has been created for the audio cassette tapes (Series 5). At this time, the existing group of Palmer papers (received in the 1970s) was assigned a new series title. This is now Series 4.
Access
Part requires permission for research (Series 2, Folders 36-40 and 1 letter from Series 1, Folder 20 requires Christopher Koch's permission for research during Koch's lifetime; Series 2, Folders 90-91 require Vivian Smith's permission for resarch until 2024); remainder available for research.
Provenance
The papers arrived to the Library in a number of different instalments. Three instalments relating to the Palmer material were donated to the Library in 1974, 1977 and 1979. In 1983 20 boxes were acquired from Dr Smith; and in 2004 a further instalment of three boxes was donated to the Library under the Cultural Gifts Program.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Related Material
As well as a number of Smith's published works highlighted below in the Biographical Note, the Library holds an interview with Vivian Smith, conducted by Hazel de Berg (1971), available at ORAL TRC 1/560.
A number of the Library's other Manuscript Collections contain correspondence and other material relating to Smith, including the Papers of Ray Mathew (MS 8264), Rosemary Dobson (MS 4955), Geoffrey Dutton (MS 7285) and A D Hope (MS 5836). The Papers of Vance and Nettie Palmer (MS 1174) are also held by the Library.
Further material relating to Vivian Smith is located in the Papers of Vivian Smith, at the Australian Defence Force Acadmey (ADFA), Canberra, at MS 41.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Dr Vivian Smith, National Library of Australia, MS 4853, [series and folder number]'.
Biographical Note
Vivian Smith was born in Hobart in 1933. He graduated with an MA in French from the University of Tasmania, where he taught the language for 10 years. He moved to Sydney in the 1950, obtained a Ph.D in English and taught at the University of Sydney from 1967-1996, progressing to the position of Reader. From 1975 to 1990 he was the Literary Editor of Quadrant. Dr Smith has written, edited or co-edited numerous books on poetry and other subjects, such as Vance and Nettie Palmer. Some of his titles include The other meaning (1956), James McAuley's recent poetry (1964), An island south (1967), Vance Palmer (1971), Letters of Vance and Nettie Palmer (1977), Tide country (1982) (which won the New South Wales Premier's Prize for Poetry and the Grace Leven Prize), Quadrant, twenty-five years (1982, co-edited with Peter Coleman and Lee Shrubb), Selected poems (1985), Australian poetry (1986), Nettie Palmer: Her private journal "Fourteen Years", poems, reviews and literary essays (1988, edited by Smith), New selected poems (1995), Late news (2000), Patrick White: a Bibliography (2004, co-edited with Brian Huber), Windchimes: Asia in Australian poetry (1986, co-edited with Noel Rowe) and, most recently, Along the line (2007). Dr Smith also wrote the poetry section of The Oxford history of Australian literature and has contributed to many other reference works on Australian and world literature.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Manuscripts, typesets and related correspondence
This series consists of manuscript poetry, typescript drafts of articles, some publications, a PhD thesis and correspondence. The correspondence includes a letter from Patrick White.
Folders 21-25 contain papers on Vance and Nettie Palmer. Further papers on the Palmers are available in Series 4 'Research papers relating to Vance and Nettie Palmer'.
Folder 8 James McAuley material [ in ] the possession of Vivian Smith and important McAuley manuscripts of autobiographical poems
Folder 16 Typescript (with corrections) of Oxford history of Australian literature : Poetry Section and related correspondence
Folder 19 Typescript (photocopy - with corrections) of Oxford history of Australian literature: Poetry Section
Folder 20 Correspondence relating to V. Smith's Ph.D. thesis; and miscellanous letters. Letter from Christopher Koch (not available for research) and Ph.D. thesis "Vance and Nettie Palmer: a study of their contribution to a national literary culture"
Series 2 Correspondence
This series consists of correspondence received by Smith. It contains correspondence from the 1983 instalment and the 2004 instalment of correspondence has been added to this series and comprises Folders 85-107.
The 2004 instalment of correspondence arrived in 11 envelopes and plastic bags, with each bundle being placed into archival folders. The order of each bundle has been maintained and, where titles have been created by Smith, these too have been retained. Where correspondence is not titled, a title has been applied by the archivist. The folders have been arranged into alphabetical order.
The series contains correspondence from friends, colleagues, students as well as other general correspondence. Folders 85-107 cover a range of topics, from letters from Smith's children and other family members to correspondence to Smith as Quadrant editor. A large component of the correspondence consists of offers for Smith to contribute to anthologies, dictionaries, and other literary projects; or friends, colleagues and students asking him to read and comment on their poetry. Many of the letters are written to both Vivian and his wife, Sybille.
Appendices A-C contain lists of principle correspondents found in this series. Appendix A relates to correspondence of Smith's editorship of Quadrant (Folders 31-33, Box 10); Appendix B is titled 'Partial listing of Smith correspondence' (Folders 51-78, Boxes 15-19) and Appendix C lists the main correspondents from the 2004 instalment (Folders 85-107, Boxes 21 -25).
Folder 33 Correspondence
A list of the correspondents relating to Folders 31-33, Box 10, is attached as Appendix A
Folder 38 Christopher Koch: a very good caricature (c. 1958-60)
This folder is not available for research.
Folder 51-55 General correspondence
Appendix B provides a partial listing of Smith's general correspondence folders (Folders 51-78, Boxes 15-19).
Each folder also contains a handwritten list of correspondents created by Smith.
Folder 85-86 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1951-2003
These folders were originally one bag of correspondence. Corespondents include Alec Bolton, Robin Lucas and Michael Kluse. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C
Folder 87-88 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1952, 1989-2003
These folders were originally one bag of correspondence. Correspondents include Gavin Souter, Rosemay Dobson, Murray Bail, Michael Ackland and Thomas Shapcott. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C
Folder 90-91 Letters from R J Brain, c.1955-1979
These folders were originally one bag of correspondence. Richard Brain and Vivian Smith first met in 1959 and have remained friends. Richard Brain is a former publishers' editor, reader and literary advisor and worked for a number of different publishers: Hamish Hamilton, Faber and Oxford University Press. He also worked as an editorial assistant at the Times Literary Supplement.
Folder 92 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1961, 1983-2003
Correspondents include Christopher Koch, Nicolas Jose and Anne Fairbairn. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C
Folder 93-94 Personal and literary correspondence, c. 1962, 1983-1996
These folders were originally one bag of correspondence. Correspondents include Les Murray, Michael Brain, David Malouf, Kevin Hart and Rosemay Dobson. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C
Folder 95-96 Various letters: Literary, 1963, 1983-1996
These folders were originally in one large envelope. Correspondents include Michael Sharkey, Laurie Hergenahan and Paul Hetherington. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 97 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1963-1996
A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 97A Literary correspondence, c.1966-1986
A list of correspondents prepared by Smith is included in this folder. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 98-100 Mixed letters, c.1975-1999
These folders were originally in one large envelope. A list of correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 101-102 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1977-1996
These folders were originally in one plastic bag. Includes family correspondence. Correspondents include Bruce Dawe and Michael Thwaites. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 103 Miscellaneous literary correspondence, c.1978-1995
A list of correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 104-105 Personal and literary correspondence, c.1985-2001
The archivist has created these folders of correspondence which arrived as loose papers in the 2004 instalment. A list of correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Folder 106-107 Various letters: Literary, c. 1986-1996
Letters were originally in one large envelope. Correspondents include Alec Bolton, Dorothy Green, Christopher Koch, Michael Thwaites and Kevin Hart. A list of other correspondents can be found in Appendix C.
Series 3 Miscellaneous materials
This series consists of an array of materials such as poems, reviews, articles and publications. The series came to the Library in 1983. The 2004 instalment has been added to the end of the series as folders 108-127 and has been arranged in chronological order.
Given that most of the 2004 instalment of miscellaneous material arrived with no apparent order, the archivist sorted the papers into various groups. Where files and titles already existed, the order of these were maintained. For loose papers, the Archivist imposed order and assigned titles.
Folder 82 Poems set to music by James Penberthy, Barrie de Jersey, ael Jones, F.R. Nieman, Simon Wade
Folder 84a Printed matter, 1958-1975
Consists of copies of Nation, Blacksmith and an article from the Australian.
Folder 84d Printed matter, c.1956-1978
Includes copies of works by Smith including An Island South (1967), The poetry of Robert Lowell (1974), Poetry magazine (1969), Les Vigé en Australie (1967), The other meaning (1956), Vance Palmer (1971). Also included are newspaper cuttings (c. 1967-1978), mostly reviews of Smith's works.
Folder 109 Poetry
Four manuscript typescript poems, as well as 7 pages of biographical information for Contemporary authors new revision series.
Folder 110 Reviews
Includes a list of articles on Smith, as well as a 1997 letter from Smith to the Literature Board, Australia Council.
Folder 113 Various literary papers, c.1963-2001
Includes newspaper cuttings, an article by Sybille Smith and a 1983 program of the Instrumental and Poetry Ensemble held in Hobart.
Folder 119 Various working papers, c.1988-1997
An array of papers from writings, reviews, correspondence and talks to papers relating to Smith's 1996 retirement from the University of Sydney. Several papers also relate to Smith's role in Rosemary Dobson receiving a 1996 honorary degree from the University.
Folder 122 Writings about Vivian Smith, c.1994-1999
Inlcudes a typescript of an interview with Smith.
Series 4 Research papers relating to Vance and Nettie Palmer
This series consits of correspondence, drafts and other research papers used by Smith in his research on Vance and Nettie Palmer. Smith published a number of publications on the Palmers including Vance Palmer (1971), Letters of Vance and Nettie Palmer (1977) and edited Nettie Palmer: her private journal 'Fourteen years', poems, reviews and literary essays (1988).
This series of 4 archive boxes were donated to the Library over three instalments in the 1970s. Since that time, the four boxes have been described at the box level, with no series titles. In updating the collection with the 2004 insalment, Library staff decided to assign a series title to the four boxes. While the titles and box numbers for these group of papers remain the same, each folder has been assigned a new number. Details of the changes to this series, including the numbering, is available on request.
Series 5 Audio cassettes, c.1995-1998
A series of 9 audio cassette tapes relating to Australian poetry, including an interview with Gwen Harwood; a concert of poetry and music to celebrate Michael Thwaites' 80th Birthday; and a copy of the ABC Radio National program, Hindsight, which focused on Quadrant magazine.
Container List
| Series | Folder/Item | Box |
| 1 | 1-6 | 5 |
| 1 | 7-14 | 6 |
| 1 | 15-20 | 7 |
| 1 | 21-26 | 8 |
| 2 | 27-30 | 9 |
| 2 | 31-35 | 10 |
| 2 | 36-40 | 11 |
| 2 | 41-42 | 12 |
| 2 | 43-45 | 13 |
| 2 | 46-48 | 14 |
| 2 | 49-55 | 15 |
| 2 | 56-63 | 16 |
| 2 | 64-70 | 17 |
| 2 | 71-76 | 18 |
| 2 | 77-78 | 19 |
| 2 | 85-89 | 21 |
| 2 | 90-93 | 22 |
| 2 | 94-97a | 23 |
| 2 | 98-102 | 24 |
| 2 | 103-107 | 25 |
| 3 | 79-83 | 19 |
| 3 | 84-84f | 20 |
| 3 | 84g | Folio 84g |
| 3 | 84h | Folio Box 1 |
| 3 | 108-114 | 26 |
| 3 | 115-120 | 27 |
| 3 | 121-125 | 28 |
| 3 | 126-127 | 29 |
| 4 | 1-8 | 1 |
| 4 | Folio 9 | Folio Box 1 |
| 4 | 1a-9a | 2 |
| 4 | 1b-11b | 3 |
| 4 | 1c-9c | 4 |
| 5 | 128 | 29 |
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix A
Appendix A contains correspondence relating to Quadrant, located in Series 2, Folders 31-33, Box 10.
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix B
Appendix B is a partial listing of correspondence from Series 2, Folders 51-78, Boxes 15-19). The number assigned against each name indicates amount of letters contained in the correspondence.
Name Index to Correspondence - Appendix C
Below is a list of correspondents for the 2004 instalment, Series 2, Folders 85-107, Boxes 21-25. The principal correspondents are Robert Brain (Hobart, 1955-77), Gary Catalano (1983-2002), Richard Brain (London) and Michael Hulse (Cologne).