MS 8648
Papers of Dame Joan Hammond (1912- )



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1928-94 (bulk: 1983-93)
  • 2.66m (19 boxes, 2 folio bo xes)
  • Available for reference
The papers were donated to the Library by Dame Joan Hammond and her family in 1994 in two consignments. The first consignment consisted of papers from Dame Joan's Melbourne home and the second of papers from her weekend home at Flinders. The collection comprises biographical notes, correspondence, programs, published scores, press cuttings, scrapbooks, photographs, diaries, speeches and writings. These relate mainly to Dame Joan's career as an opera singer and later as a teacher but also to her schooldays at PLC Pymble, Sydney (now Pymble Ladies College), her achievements in golf, and the Ash Wednesday bush fire in 1983. The bulk of the papers relate to the period from 1983 to 1993 as much of Dame Joan's material was destroyed in the Ash Wednesday bush fires.

Biographical Note

Dame Joan Hammond was born in Christchurch, New Zealand on 24 May 1912. Her family moved to Sydney when she was very young. She attended the Presbyterian Ladies College, Pymble from 1924 to 1928. She began her musical career as a violinist spending three years with the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1936 s he went to Vienna where she studied with the Vienna Boys Choir. She made her operatic debut in London in 1938. In 1939 she opened the first night at The Prom s at the Royal Albert Hall. During World War II she made many recordings and gave concerts for the troops. After the was she toured throughout the world and was guest artist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the Liceo, Barcelona; the Netherlands Opera; the New York City Centre; the Vienna State Opera; the Bolshoi , Moscow; and the Elizabethan Theatre Trust. She was awarded the Sir Charles Stanley Award by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, London as outstanding musician of the Year, 1970; the Coronation Medal 1953; OBE 1953; CBE 1963; CMG 1972; DBE 1974; Hon. Mus. D. (W.A.) 1979.

Series List

  1. Biographical
  2. Correspondence, 1983-94
  3. Presbyterian Ladies College, Pymble, 1936-1993 (bulk: 1990-93)
  4. Programs, 1930s-1960s
  5. Press cuttings and scrapbooks, 1930s-1990s
  6. New Zealand visits
  7. Ash Wednesday fire, 1983
  8. Photographs, paintings and objects
  9. Scores
  10. Diaries, 1983-92
  11. Question and Answer Book
  12. Teaching, 1983-92
  13. Australian Opera and Victoria State Opera, 1983-93
  14. Speeches, 1988-93
  15. Golf, 1991-93
  16. Lolita Marriott, 1993
  17. Miscellaneous

Series Description

SERIES 1 - BIOGRAPHICAL

Folder

1.         Biographical notes, opera notes, program for the conferring of     
           honorary degree on Dame Joan at the University of Western          
           Australia in 1979                                                  

SERIES 2 - CORRESPONDENCE, 1983-93

A. Correspondence kept in Dame Joan's Melbourne home, 1983-93

Arranged alphabetically. Outwards folders 1 to 7, inwards folders 8 to 29.

Folders

Outwards

1.         A-B                        
2.         C-F                        
3.         G-K                        
4.         L-N                        
5.         0-R                        
6.         S-U                        
7.         V-Z                        

Inwards
8-9.       A                          
10.        B                          
11.        C                          
12-13      D                          
14.        E-F                        
15.        G                          
16.        H                          
17.        I-K                        
18.        L                          
19-20      M                          
21.        Mc-N                       
22.        O                          
23.        P                          
24.        Q-R                        
25-26      S                          
27.        T                          
28.        U-V                        
29.        W-Z                        

B. Correspondence kept in Dame Joan's Flinders Home, 1983-1994

This correspondence was kept by Dame Joan in five expanding files. The material has been maintained in alphabetical order in five separate groupings to reflect this original order. Correspondence in folders 45 to 48 was loose and has been arranged according to the identity of the sender. Correspondence and other material relating to the Victorian School of Art and the Australian Opera has been extracted and included in series 13.

Folders

30.        A-C                                                                
31.        D-F                                                                
32.        G-H                                                                
33.        J-Mc                                                               
34.        N-P                                                                
35.        Q-R                                                                
36.        S                                                                  
37.        T-Z                                                                
38.        A-M 1987-93                                                        
39.        N-Z 1987-93                                                        
40.        A-Mc 1989-93                                                       
41.        N-Z 1989-93                                                        
42.        A-Z 1991-93                                                        
43.        A-Z 1992-93                                                        
44.        Journal interleaved with letters 1983-92                           
45.        Notebook containing draft letters 1985-88                          
46.        Letters from students 1984-93                                      
47.        Correspondence with fans 1986-92                                   
48.        Letters written by Lolita Marriott 1983-86                         

SERIES 3 - PRESBYTERIAN LADIES COLLEGE, PYMBLE, 1936-1993

Folders

1          Press cuttings 1936 and 1991, journals, 1984 Principal's Report    
           (See also Series 8 - Photographs)                                  
2          Correspondence between Dame Joan and Presbyterian Ladies College   
           Pymble, 1990-93, Commemorative Day Service Program, 75th           
           Anniversary Information Guide and Newsletter 1991 ( Second         
           consignment)                                                       

SERIES 4 - PROGRAMS, 1930s-1960s

Folders

1.         1930s                                                              
2.         1940s                                                              
3.         1950s                                                              
4          1950s                                                              
5.         1960s                                                              
6.         1940s-1990s (Second consignment)                                   

SERIES 5 - PRESS CUTTINGS AND SCRAPBOOKS, 1930s-1992

Press cuttings, articles and publicity sheets from the 1930s to 1990s and six scrapbooks, mostly relating to Dame Joan's life and career. One scrapbook entitled '1931 - Joan Hammond' contains original press cuttings and programs from 1931 to 1939. Four of the remaining five scrapbooks are made up of photocopies of press cuttings. There is one folder of miscellaneous cuttings.

Folders

1          1930s and 1940s                                                    
2          1950s and 1960s                                                    
3          1970s, 1980s and 1990s                                             
4          1930s to 1980s - miscellaneous                                     
folio      Large press cuttings                                               
folio      Five scrapbooks                                                    

Second Consignment

5          Scrapbook with loose newspaper cuttings interleaved                
6          Extracts from scrapbook 1945-60                                    
7          1949-74                                                            
8          1983-1986                                                          
9          1987-93                                                            
10         Newspaper clippings re opera world 1992-93                         
11         Various publications                                               

SERIES 6 - NEW ZEALAND VISITS

Folder

1          Press cuttings, articles, biographical material and programs       
           relating to her New Zealand visits in 1946, 1973, 1981 and 1983    

SERIES 7 - ASH WEDNESDAY FIRS, 1983

Folders

1.         Press cuttings and newsletter about the loss of Dame Joan's        
           house in the bushfire at Airey's Inlet in 1983. Some burnt pages   
           of books and scores are also included.                             
Folio      Publication entitled Ash Wednesday 1983 bushfires                  

Second Consignment

2.         Press cuttings and publication entitled Ash Wednesday 1983         
3.         Letters to Dame Joan expressing sympathy at the loss of her        
           house, 1983                                                        

SERIES 8 - PHOTOGRAPHS, PAINTINGS AND OBJECTS

Included are a framed oil portrait of Dame Joan which was copied from a photograph reproduced on the dust-jacket of her autobiography , an original costume design, an acrylic on cardboard and one object, a trophy engraved 'Greatest patience - 1984-87 - Dame Joan Hammond'. These items have been transferred to the Library's Pictorial Section.

Folders

1-2        Photographs, including Dame Joan attending various functions,      
           personal group photos, photographs of Dame Joan before             
           travelling overseas 1939, Dame Joan in various production          
           costumes.                                                          
Folio      Large photographs                                                  
3          Photographs [Second consignment] of Dame Joan at Deakin Uni,       
           Dame Joan's boat the "Pankina", negatives of house and garden      

SERIES 9 - SCORES

3 vols.    Three published scores (Don Giovanni, La Traviata, Manon           
           Lescaut) marked up by Dame Joan                                    

[Series 10-16 Second Consignment]

SERIES 10 - DIARIES, 1983-92

21 volumes

Dame Joan kept two diaries for each year over the period 1983-90. These are personal diaries embossed with her name and diaries presumably used by her in her work at the Victorian School of the Arts. Also included in this series is a trip diary which records details of her travel to London, Vienna and Paris in 1985 and 1986.

SERIES 11 - QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK

Dame Joan for many years recorded questions asked of her regarding singing and her answers. When writing a follow up book to her autobiography A Voice, A Life she formulated the idea of incorporating these questions and answers into a book.

Folders

1-2        Handwritten and typed questions and answers                        
3          Typed draft with contents page and biographical note               
4-5        Carbon book containing handwritten questions and answers           
6.         Journal containing handwritten notes for book                      

SERIES 12 - TEACHING, 1983-93

Dame Joan was head of Vocal Studies at the Victorian College of the Arts from 1975 to 1989 and part-time teacher and vocal consultant from 1990 to 1993. In 1985 she was invited by the University of Adelaide to be acting Special Artistic Adviser for workshop productions of the University Opera School.

Folders

1.         Correspondence between Dame Joan and the Victorian College of      
           the Arts, memos, exam papers, 1983-93                              
2.         Correspondence with students and prospective students, student     
           references, faculty memos and correspondence, 1988-90              
3.         Correspondence between Dame Joan and Dean of the School, 1986      
4.         Letters from students to the Academic Board; memos and notes,      
           1988-92                                                            
5.         Correspondence, guest lists and programs relating to master        
           classes conducted at University of Adelaide, 1985                  
6.         Bundle of questions and answers; folder - 'Semester 1 June 1986'   
7.         Notes entitled 'Art songs', 'Arias and Keys'                       
8.         Assessment and recital programs, 1986-89                           
9.         Handwritten notes on Puccini                                       
10.        Notebook on student auditions and assessments, 1985-86             
11.        Notebook on student auditions and assessments, 1987-88             
12.        Handbooks of Victorian College of the Arts                         

SERIES 13 - AUSTRALIAN OPERA AND VICTORIA STATE OPERA, 1983-93

Joan Hammond was Artistic Director of the Victoria State Opera from 1971 to 1976 and an honorary life member of both the Australian and Victorian State Opera. In 1986 the Victorian Opera Foundation created the Dame Joan Hammond Award to honour her contribution to opera. In 1983 she became a member of the Australian Opera National Council.

Folders

1.         Correspondence between Dame Joan and the Victorian State Opera     
           and copies of correspondence between the Victorian State Opera     
           and the Australian Opera, Program of Endowment Dinner 1992,        
           minutes of directors meeting 1983 and brochures for the Gala       
           Dinner The Joan Hammond Award 1986 and 1987.                       
2.         Letter from Dame Joan to the Victorian Opera Foundation, agenda    
           of annual general meeting, 1991 and 1992                           
3.         Letters to Dame Joan from the Australian Opera, transcript of      
           proceedings of the National Council of Opera in 1989, report on    
           future options of the Australian Opera 1985 and writings of Dame   
           Joan on the Australian Opera.                                      
4.         Newspaper clipping and news sheets relating to the Australian      
           Opera.                                                             

SERIES 14 - SPEECHES, 1988-93

Folders

1-2        Notes, palm cards and invitations                                  

SERIES 15 - GOLF, 1991-93

Dame Joan won the Junior Golf Championship of New South Wales when still a schoolgirl. She subsequently won the NSW Golf Championship in 1932, 1934 and 1935 and was runner-up in the Australian Championship in 1933.

Folders

1          Letters from the Royal Sydney Golf Club, 1993; newsletter, card    
           and booklet, 1992.                                                 
2          Draft short stories relating golfing experiences, circa 1991       
3          Short stories in final form entitled "The Fozzle", "A Golf         
           Match" and "The Casual Golfer", May 1991                           
Folio      Royal Sydney Golf Club membership list                             

SERIES 16 - LOLITA MARRIOTT, 1993

Dame Joan met Lolita Marriott in 1932. They had a common interest in golf and became firm friends. After Dame Joan returned from overseas in 1946 Lolita became her constant companion accompanying her on her travels and to all her performances and assisting her in many ways. Lolita Marriott died in 1993.

Folders

1.         Memorial Book, containing death certificate and essay on Lolita    
           Marriott's life.                                                   
2-6        Cards and letters of condolence to Dame Joan, and Get Well cards   
           and letters to Dame Joan                                           

SERIES 17 - MISCELLANEOUS

Folders

1.         Publications                                                       
2.         Opera notes, record catalogues, greeting cards                     
Folio      Journals, reports                                                  

Second Consignment

3          "Scholarship Gastronomy" Media Kit, Information Kit prepared for   
           Committee and Judges including correspondence, 1991                
4          Legal document, passport, medical report, prints of crest          

Box List

       Box              Series            Folder       
        1                  1                1          
        1                  2               2-8         
        2                  2               9-17        
        3                  2              18-26        
        4                  2              27-29        
        4                  3                1          
        4                  4               1-3         
        5                  4               4-5         
        6                  6                1          
        6                  7                1          
        6                  8               1-2         
        6                  9               1-3         
        7                  2              30-35        
        8                  2              36-41        
        9                  2              42-48        
        10                10               1-11        
        11                10              12-21        
        12                11               1-6         
        13                12               1-6         
        14                12               7-12        
                          13               1-3         
        15                13                4          
                          14               1-2         
                          15               1-3         
        16                16               1-6         
        17                 5               5-10        
        18                 4                6          
                           7               2-3         
                           3                2          
        19                 5                11         
                          17               1-4         
                           8                3