Guide to the Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore
MS 727
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | December 1962 |
| Last updated: | July 2008 |
This finding aid was revised and published with the assistance of the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust
Table of Contents
Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Access
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Material
Separated Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series I Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (unpublished and undated)
Series II Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (unpublished but dated) 1883 - 1959
Series III Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (published)
Series IV Sheet music
Series V Scrapbook 1923-54
Series VI Correspondence - outwards 1940-59
Series VII Correspondence - inwards 1957-1959
Series VII Correspondence - Inwards - Addition 13 July 1972 1957-1959
Series VIII Correspondence - inwards 1959-1962
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore 1917-1962
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore - Addition 13 July 1972 1956-1958
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore - 1991 Addition 1917-1962
Series X Photographs
Series XI Press cuttings 1921-1960
Box List
Summary
| Creator: | Gilmore, Mary, Dame, 1865-1962 |
| Title: | Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore |
| Date range: | 1883-1962 |
| Collection Number: | MS 727 |
| Extent: | 2 metres (13 boxes) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia Canberra |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers comprise correspondence, manuscripts and typescripts of poems, sheet music, photographs, press cuttings, scrapbook, and printed material.
A description of the Dame Mary Gilmore Collection appears in W.H. Wilde Courage and grace: a bibliography of Dame Mary Gilmore (Melbourne, 1988).
Provenance
The papers held at MS 727 were received by the Library in several instalments between 1958 and 1991.
Related Material
Other collections containing letters and papers of Mary Gilmore include the following:
Kate Baker (MS 1533); W.P. Bluett (MS 4714); J.H. Catts (MS 658); Alec Chisholm (MS 1880), M. Condon (MS 2375); Ralph De Boissiere (MS 8402); Harold W. Eather (MS 2015); Edward Findley (MS 2111); Annie Louise Green (MS 8574); Elioth Gruner (MS 8965); Clement Hosking (MS 2680); Norman Jeffery (MS 1948); Marie McNiven (MS 2012); and W. Farmer Whyte (MS 970).
The Library also holds records of the Mary Gilmore Centenary Committee, 1964-65 at MS 1696.
Separated Material
Papers of Mary Gilmore are held at MS 1662, MS 1695 and MS 8766 and diaries, 1940-49 are held at MS 614 (copies: originals held by Mitchell Library, Sydney). Small collections of letters by Mary Gilmore are held at MS 633, MS 1728, MS 1888, MS 2685 and MS 5644.
Other papers of Dame Mary Gilmore are held by the Mitchell Library, Sydney; the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra; and Charles Sturt University Regional Archives.
Biographical Note
Mary Cameron, poet and journalist, was born at Mary Vale, Woodhouselee, near Goulburn, NSW, on 16 August 1865. She was educated at Brucedale, near Wagga Wagga, and later at Wagga Wagga Public School. Between 1877 and 1895 she taught in a variety of schools in New South Wales. She became involved in the New Australia movement and on 31 October 1895 resigned from teaching and sailed to Paraguay on the Ruapehu. Cameron remained at the Cosme settlement in Paraguay until 1899. She married fellow colonist and Victorian shearer William Alexander Gilmore (1866-1945) in 1897 and their only child William Dysart Cameron Gilmore (1898-1945) was born at Villarica, near Cosme. Before returning to Australia in 1902, she taught English in Rio Gallegos in southern Patagonia and wrote for Buenos Aires papers.
Gilmore's verse first appeared in the Australian Worker in 1902, and from 1908-31 she edited the women's page of this newspaper. Her first published volume, Marri'd and other verses appeared in 1910. Other publications include The passionate heart (1918), Hound of the road ( 1922), The tilted cart (1925), The wild swan (1930), The rue tree (1931), Under the wilgas (1932), Battlefields (1939), and Fourteen men (1954).
In 1937, in recognition of her contribution to Australian literature, she was made a Dame of the British Empire - the first woman to receive this award for services to literature. Dame Mary was a founder of the Lyceum Club, Sydney, a founder and vice-president in 1928 of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, an early member of the New South Wales Institute of Journalists and life member of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Dame Mary Gilmore died on 3 December 1962.
Series List and Descriptions
Series I Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (unpublished and undated)
For the purposes of this inventory "unpublished" means any verse not included in the published works listed in Series III below. The series comprises 21 folders.
ArrangementArrangement is alphabetical by first line.
Series II Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (unpublished but dated) 1883 - 1959
This series comprises 61 folders.
ArrangementThis material has been arranged in order to allow:-
(1) a broad survey of Gilmore's verse. This is possible since the arrangement is basically chronological. However in some cases Gilmore has conjoined variously dated pieces with similar titles. Also variously dated poems often appear on the one sheet.
(2) location of a specific item. This is possible since the arrangement of poems under each year is alphabetical by the first letter of the first line.
Series III Manuscripts and typescripts of poems (published)
Poems subsequently published in the eight books listed below have been separated and arranged alphabetically by first line in ten folders. Series III is by no means complete and it is likely that there are drafts in Series I and Series II which should be placed in Series III.
1. Battlefield
2. Fourteen men (3 folders)
3. Marri'd and other verses
4. The passionate heart
5. The rue tree
6. The tilted cart
7. Under the wilgas
8. The wild swan
Series IV Sheet music
Eight pieces, including drafts and copies of "Australian Battle Cry", "Six poems by Dame Mary Gilmore set to music by John Arcot" and Six songs from the South (words by Mary Gilmore; music by G.H. Clutsam) (3 folders + 1 volume).
Material added 13 July 1972 comprises manuscript and printed scores of 'Australian battle cry' (arranged by Evelyn Grieg), 'The green, green hill' (music by Louis Lavater) and Yesternight (music by Maie E. Coulson-Blair) (1 folder).
Series V Scrapbook 1923-54
1 volume containing hints, recipes, etc., also some articles on socialism, Aboriginal place names.
Series VI Correspondence - outwards 1940-59
Articles for publication and letters to editors by Gilmore (27 pieces). See also MS 727/XI/5.
Series VII Correspondence - inwards 1957-1959
See also addition 13 July 1972.
Item 1 Batty, Joyce. A.L.S., together with Typ. D. "Jiembra - the dancing star: an Australian legend", by Joyce Batty, n.d.
Item 9 Foley, T.J.N. L.S. from Chairman of British Tobacco Co. about lung cancer and smoking. 22 November 1957
Item 11 Whiteman, D.G. A.L.S. from Manager of Lake Midgeon station on Aboriginal antiquities. 7 January 1958
Item 12 Smith, S. Murray. L.S. and Typ. D. on Hiroshima panels, and copy of L.S. by Gilmore sent to Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 1958
Item 17 Russell, W. McRae. L.S. from President Council of Victorian Literary Societies on Crouch Medal. 4 May 1958
Item 18 Scully, Henrich. A.L.S. on his book, and newspaper cutting relating to Mary Adolphus Daly. 7 July 1958
Item 19 Foster, Rene. A.L.S. enclosing her review of Prosper the Commonwealth by Sir Robert Garran. 7 July 1958
Item 20 Flentje, N.T. L.S. from Head of Dept. of Plant Pathology, Waite Agricultural Research Institute about trace elements. 8 July 1958
Item 24 Greenless, Gavin. L.S. from editor of Building worker on Gilmore's acceptance of position of Club Marshall in Building Worker Birthday Club. 13 August 1958
Item 31 Edmondson, Maude Elizabeth. A.L.S. re husband's passing - early memories of Gilmore's teacher. 17 October 1958
Item 32 Bernard, K.R. L.S. re correction of Gilmore's newspaper article on architecture. 3 December 1958
Item 54 Copley, M.P. L.S. from Secretary, May Day Committees on the Mary Gilmore Award for 1958. Includes Judges' Report. 13 April 1959
Item 60 Mawdesley, Christine. A.L.S. recollecting J.K. Moir. Mentions letters from Masefield. 23 May 1959
Item 63 Pouder, Catherine. A.L.S. giving news of the Fellowship of Australian Writers and various writers. 26 May 1959
Item 68 Butterley, H.M. A.L.S. from the Secretary of the Sydney Branch of the English Association. 1 June 1959
Series VII Correspondence - Inwards - Addition 13 July 1972 1957-1959
Correspondence, 1957-58. Correspondents include Book Collectors' Society of Australia, Clair White, Stephen Murray-Smith, Edith Haynes, Herbert S. Groves, Rev. Armand Whitehead, J.K. Moir, Ada Warner, Australian Aboriginal Fellowship, James McAuley, W.E. Steele-Smith, Albert E. Leane, Dr W. McRae Russell, Dr A.L. McLeod, Bernard Peach, R.H. Croll, Helen Cameron Roberts, H.M. Green, Philip Whelan, Jessie D. Fisher, Sheila Searle, Dorothy Catts, H.J. Brophy, Colin Newsome, Brownie Downing, Grace Cheers, Maude Healey, B. O'Donovan, E. Ailsa Lewis, and Rita Turner (2 folders).
Series VIII Correspondence - inwards 1959-1962
Item 21 Anderson, N, Typ. D. circulars from Aust. and N.Z. Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament. August 1959
Item 32 O'Donovan, B. A.L.S. giving news of the Hay Historical Society and Hay centenary celebrations. 6 October 1959
Item 46 Mackenzie, N. A.L.S. from Director, Social Science Research Council of Australia. 25 November 1959
Item 51 Jeffery, N. A.L.S. and processed document "1925 - organising in Queensland" [the Communist Party in Queensland]. 1960
Item 52 Jeffery, N. A.L.S. and cutting from Common cause dealing with the story of Rothbury. January 1960
Item 53 Tearle, S. A.L.S. mentioning Rosalind Singleton and the Riverina New State League. 4 January 1960
Item 68 Hume, S.H. A.L.S. requesting information on Argyle Macallum and the history of Yass. 24 February 1960
Item 75 Lester, M. L.S. and programme relating to 1960 International Women's Day Committee. 13 April 1960
Item 87 Phillips, R.S. L.S. requesting information on history of labor movement in the Riverina district. 18 June 1960
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore 1917-1962
The series includes letters, programs, circulars, reports, pamphlets and publications. See also the additions of 1972 and 1991.
Item 1 Aboriginal murals - letters from Byram Mansell dated 4 June 1950, 14 November 1950 and 29 November 1950. Photographs, folders entitled "In the dream time" and "How the sky was lifted".
Item 9 Fellowhship: a monthly magazine of ... social and literary criticism: v.4, no.4, November 1917; v.6, no.6, Jan. 1920
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore - Addition 13 July 1972 1956-1958
Programs, booklets, agendas and other printed items, 1956-58 and two issues of the Bulletin, 1957 (2 folders)
Series IX Miscellaneous items received by Mary Gilmore - 1991 Addition 1917-1962
Publications added to the collection in 1991.
Box 11
BOLAM, A.G. (Anthony Gladstone): The Trans-Australian wonderland
KENNEDY, M.L.: A breath of Australian bushland
GILMORE, Mary: Marri'd and other verses
GILMORE, Mary: Battlefields
GILMORE, Mary: Old days, old ways: a book of recollections
GILMORE, Mary: More recollections
SHARKEY, L.L.: Socialism in Australia: communist view on democratic socialism
ROSS, Lachlan: From Rossville to the Victorian Goldfields in 1852
GILMORE, Mary: Hound of the road
GILMORE, Mary: Selected verse
GILMORE, Mary: Under the wilgas
WHITE, Clair: Ramajerri: an Aboriginal ballad
WHITE, Clair: On sadness and delight
Catalogue of the fine antique and reproduction furniture, rare... 'Babworth House'
RICHMOND, B.: Time measurement and calendar construction
GILMORE, Mary: The wild swan: poems
FOX, Len: Chung of Vietnam
Singleton Public School centenary celebrations
MARSHALL, Jock: Journey among men
Box 12
PEARCE, Harry Hastings: Thomas Kennedy's march from Creswicks Creek
WONGAR, B.: The sinners: stories of Vietnam
Commonwealth of Australia jubilee 1951. Official Commonwealth programme of the celebrations
WRIGHT, Judith: The two fires
Australian fauna at the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary
Exhibition of contemporary photography by Geoffrey Lee of Sydney
CATO, Nancy: The dancing bough
MARTIN, David: Poems of David Martin
UNWIN, M.J.: Booran, a tale of early Australia
NELSON, Tom: The hungry mile
COLLINSON, Laurence: The moods of love
Silhouette of Silverton: souvenir booklet 14th September 1958
The Anzac Memorial Hyde Park Sydney
McCONNELL, T.R.: The history of Barham
MOORE: T. Inglis: Bayonet and grass: poems
WHITE,John: The wattle and the rowan
GILMORE, Mary: Fourteen men: verses
BENNETT M.M. (Mary Mortgomerie): Human rights for Australian Aborigines
BAYLEY, William A. (William Alan): Upland pastures
GILMORE, Mary: The rue tree
CROLL, Robert Henderson: An autobituary
RUHAN, Olaf: Naked under Capricorn
HOSKING, Clement: Old tales in a new land....
HARRINGTON, Edward: The Swagless Swaggie and other ballads
MAXWELL, Mary (Mary Madeline): Peeps into the past
Box 13
DAVID, T. Edgeworth, (Mrs): Funafuti, or, three month on a coral island
WHITE, Clair: Ramajerri: an Aboriginal ballad
IDRIESS, Ion L: The great boomerang
Baringa. 1956 (literary magazine of Wagga Teachers' College). Contains a program of opening of the Dame Mary Gilmore memorial gates at the College. (Added 1975)
Series XI Press cuttings 1921-1960
Press cuttings kept by Mary Gilmore including cuttings on personal and biographical topics (1924-1961), cuttings of Gilmore's poems published in newspapers and the Bulletin (1919-1957), cuttings of Gilmore's column for the Tribune entitled "Arrows" (1956-1960), cuttings on Australian literature and writers (1919-1960) and letters to the editors of various newspapers. There are also miscellaneous cuttings relating to various general interests. Subjects include Australiana, local history, health, and the English language. There is also a small group of printed items including a copy of the New Australia Colony's monthly magazine Cosme (14 folders).
Box List
| Box | Series | Folder |
| 1 | I | 1-21 |
| 2 | II | 1900-20 |
| 3 | II | 1920-23 |
| 4 | II | 1924-40 |
| 5 | II | 1941-59 |
| 6 | III | 1-10 |
| 6 | IV | 1-4 |
| 8 | V | |
| 7 | VI | 1 |
| 7 | VII | 1-5 |
| 7 | VIII | 1-5 |
| 8 | IX | 1-9 |
| 9 | X | 1-5 |
| 9 | XI | 1-14 |
| 10 | IV, VII, IX, XII (Added 13.7.72) | 1-5 |
| 11 | IX (Added 1991) | |
| 12 | IX (Added 1991) | |
| 13 | IX (Added 1991) |