MS 9591
Papers of Noris Ioannou



Summary

Creator: Noris Ioannou

Title: Papers of Noris Ioannou

Date range: 1975-1996

Reference number: MS 9591

Extent: 5.6 m (37 boxes + one folio)


Administrative Information

Access

Available for Reference

Provenance

The collection was donated to the Library by Noris Ioannou in 1997 under the Taxation for the Arts Incentive Scheme.


Scope and Content

The collection comprises correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts, notebooks, journal articles, catalogues, leaflets, newscuttings, research files, subject files, business receipts, financial ledgers, plans, sketches, galley proofs, photographs and sound recordings. The bulk of the records relate to Ioannou’s career as a cultural historian, critic and writer. Of special interest are the comprehensive research files, notebooks, interviews and photographs which Ioannou has collected while undertaking research for his published works. The papers also include records relating to Ioannou’s earlier activities as a garden landscape designer and antique dealer.

Correspondents include David Bromfield, Grace Cochrane, Glenn Cooke, Peter Emmett, George Ingram, Susan Isaacs, Geoffrey London, Christopher Pearson and David Walker.

Organisation

The papers have been arranged into seventeen series. Where possible the original arrangement of the papers and file titles has been preserved by the Library.


Biographical Note

Noris Ioannou was born in Cyprus of Greek parents in 1947. In 1950 the family emigrated to Australia and settled in Adelaide, where they have lived ever since. Ioannou was educated at Adelaide Boys’ High School and graduated from the University of Adelaide with an Honours Degree in Science in 1968. This was followed by a Diploma of Education from Adelaide Teachers’ College in 1971.

Ioannou taught science and biology in high schools in South Australia in 1969-70 and 1975-80. He interrupted his teaching to work as a decorative arts dealer in London (1971-74). In late 1980 he established a decorative arts gallery and retail shop in Adelaide.

Since 1982 Ioannou has been a researcher and writer in the field of Australian decorative and applied arts. His first book, Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986: from folk to studio pottery has become an established text in its field and received an Australian Heritage Award in 1987. His other works include The culture brokers: towards a redefinition of Australian contemporary craft (1989), Craft in society: an anthology of perspectives (1992), Australian studio glass: the movement, its makers and their art (1995), The Barossa folk: Germanic furniture and craft traditions in Australia (1995), Masters of their craft: tradition and innovation in the Australian contemporary decorative arts (1997) and Barossa journeys: into a valley of tradition (1997).

As well as writing articles for various national and international journals, Ioannou has been the craft critic and a heritage writer for the Adelaide Advertiser since 1989. He frequently lectures, gives talks, and acts as a consultant on Barossa heritage and the Australian decorative arts. He has also curated a number of craft exhibitions.

Ioannou has received various awards and grants including an Australia Council Writing Fellowship and a Partnership Fellowship. He has served as a peer advisor for the Australia Council, as a guest judge for the Civic Trust, and as a deputy member of the State Heritage Authority (1996). He is a 1996 Churchill Fellow and a past President of the Association of Professional Historians Inc.

In recent years Ioannou has conducted many groups of American tourists, as well as other special interest groups, on full-day cultural or study tours of the Barossa region in South Australia.

Further information on Ioannou and his current projects can be found on his website at http://members.ozemail.com.au/~zenn.


Publications

Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986: from folk to studio pottery, Adelaide, Wakefield Press, 1986

The culture brokers: towards a redefinition of Australian contemporary craft, Netley, State Publishing South Australia, 1989

Craft in society: an anthology of perspectives, edited by N Ioannou, South Fremantle, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1992

Australian studio glass: the movement, its makers and their art, Roseville East, Craftsman House in association with G+B Arts International, 1995

The Barossa folk: Germanic furniture and craft traditions in Australia, Sydney, Craftsman House, 1995

Barossa journeys: into a valley of tradition, Adelaide, Paringa Press, 1997

Masters of their craft: tradition and innovation in the Australian contemporary decorative arts, Sydney, Craftsman House, G+B Arts International, 1997

Ioannou has also contributed to the Australian Dictionary of Biography and written many articles and reviews in various journals and magazines including The Adelaide Review, Art Monthly, Australian Antique Collector, Australiana, Ceramics: Art and Perception, Craft Arts International, Heritage Australia, Periphery, Pottery in Australia and Textile Fibre Forum.


Series List

Series Title

1 Correspondence, 1983-96

2 Notebooks, 1985-90

3 Metro antiques, 1976-82

4 Noris Ioannou Gardens, 1978-84

5 Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986, 1836-1987

6 The culture brokers, 1981-92

7 Craft in society, 1990-92

8 Australian studio glass, 1994-95

9 The Barossa folk, 1853-1994

10 Journal articles, 1985-96

11 Reviews, 1986-93

12 ‘In the steps of the potter’, 1988

13 Conferences, seminars, talks, 1985-95

14 Subject files, 1975-93

15 Photographs, 1890-1937

16 Sound recordings, 1987-90

17 Other papers, 1987-95


Series Description

Series 1. Correspondence, 1983-96

This series consists of correspondence relating mainly to research and publishing projects being undertaken by Ioannou. It includes material relating to sponsorship, publishing matters, requests for information and correspondence relating to a study tour of the United States of America.

Correspondents include David Bromfield, Grace Cochrane, Glenn Cooke, Peter Emmett, George Ingram, Susan Isaacs, Geoffrey London, Christopher Pearson and David Walker.

Folder

1 Correspondence, 1983-91, including correspondence relating to the publication of Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986 and also some preliminary correspondence with possible contributors to Craft in Society

2 Correspondence, 1984-90, with overseas libraries, museums, publishers and other institutions. The file also contains correspondence with Susan Isaacs and others and notes relating to a study tour of the United States of America during September and October 1987

3 Correspondence with the Adelaide Review (which took over the Wakefield Press) and others relating to publishing matters, 1986-87

4 Correspondence, 1995-96, with the ABC, the Copyright Law Review Sun on the stubbleThe Barossa Folk as a research source for the television production Sun on the stubble

Series 2. Notebooks, 1985-90

This series consists of eleven notebooks covering the period November 1985-May 1990. They contain interviews with craftspeople, notes on exhibitions and notes taken at meetings, conferences and seminars. Also included are general notes relating to Ioannou’s research and writings.

Interviewees include Sue Averay, Mark Pearse, Peter Tysoe, Tom Persson, Stanislav Melis, Brian Lightfoot, Les Blakebrough, Milton Moon and Jill Yates.

11 folders

Series 3.Metro antiques, 1976-82

Metro Antiques, a decorative arts gallery and retail shop, was established by Ioannou in Twin Street Arcade, Adelaide, in late 1980. The gallery dealt in European and Australian decorative arts from lalique glass to ceramics and Art Deco and Art Nouveau in all media.

This series consists of correspondence, catalogues, ledger books, receipts, journal articles and newscuttings relating to the business.

Folder

1 Correspondence with dealers and the general public, 1981-82

2 Folder containing receipts for purchases of stock, 1978-81

3-5 Three ledger books containing details of purchases, lists of stock and cash flow, 1981-82

6 Miscellaneous catalogues, journal articles and newscuttings on collectables and the decorative arts, 1981-82

7 Various catalogues for auction room sales, 1981-82

8 Catalogue of an exhibition and sale by Metro Antiques, March 1982

9 Exhibition catalogue: Paraphernalia, for an exhibition of decorative and applied arts in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco Styles at 109 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1976


Series 4.Noris Ioannou Gardens, 1978-84

This series consists of landscape design plans, sketches, notes, quotes, receipts and general business correspondence relating to a landscape garden business conducted by Ioannou in 1980-82.

Folder

1-38 Folders containing landscape design plans, lists of plants, draft sketches and final plans, notes, quotes, receipts, 1978-82

39 Loose landscape design plans – many are undated and no client details are available, 1978-84

40-42 General files containing receipts and some business correspondence, 1980-82

43 Desk diary, 1980, only partially used, containing names of clients, notes on their requests and miscellaneous notes

44 Folder containing colour photographs of landscaped gardens (n.d.)


Series 5. Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986 from folk to studio pottery,

1836-1987

Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986: from folk to studio pottery was published by the Wakefield Press in 1986 as part of South Australia’s sesquicentennial celebrations. It provides a detailed history of the developments in ceramics in South Australia from its early settlement in 1836 through until 1986. The book received an Australian Heritage Award in 1987.

This series consists of correspondence, drafts, field notebooks, flyers, newscuttings, general notes, research files and index cards.

Folder

1 Correspondence, 1984-86, with Wakefield Press, Hallett Brick Industries Ltd and other organisations relating to the publication

2 Correspondence seeking sponsorship, 1984-87

3 Correspondence seeking permission to reproduce photographic material, 1984-85

4 Correspondence between Ioannou and government agencies, universities, bookshops and newspapers promoting the publication, 1986-89

5 Congratulatory letters, 1986

6-32 Drafts of chapters with revisions

33-38 Drafts of abstract, bibliography, chapter titles, maps and references

39-62 Research files for chapters, 1836-1986

63-80 Miscellaneous research files, 1849-1987

81-93 Twelve exercise books labelled A-L used as field notebooks, February 1983 – May 1986. They contain interviews and notes

94-96 Three sets of card indexes containing cross references to the notebooks, a name index and an index of pots and other ceramic pieces with information for captions


Series 6. The culture brokers: toward a redefinition of Australian contemporary craft, 1981-92

The culture brokers: towards a redefinition of Australian contemporary craft was published by State Publishing South Australia in 1989. It looks at the diversity and complexity of contemporary craft in Australia. While many of the artists interviewed for the book were located in South Australia, the national scene is also reviewed.

This series consists of correspondence with contributors, publishers and other organisations, drafts, newscuttings, notes, typescript interviews, catalogues, galley proofs and a copy of the publication.

Folder

1 Correspondence with the Australia Council and the Crafts Council of South Australia relating to assistance and other aspects of the publication, 1987-89

2 Correspondence with the publisher and other organisations relating to the promotion of The culture brokers, 1990-92

3-4 Early typescript chapters with handwritten corrections and revisions. Some pages are loose and unidentified

5 Typescript drafts of chapters 1-4 with corrections and revisions

6 Typescript draft with correction and revisions

7 Final draft prior to editing by J. Allison, 1989

8 Galley proofs

9-17 Typescript record of interviews with corrections, revisions and notes, 1988

18 Curriculum vitae, exhibition catalogues, newscuttings and notes relating to the contributors to the publication, 1981-88

19 Copy of The culture brokers


Series 7. Craft in society: an anthology of perspectives, 1990-92

Craft in society: an anthology of perspectives was published by the Fremantle Arts Centre Press in 1992. This collection of fifteen essays edited by Ioannou looks at contemporary craft practice in Australia and its theoretical constructs.

The series consists of correspondence, drafts, notes and galley proofs relating to the publication. There is an individual file (folders 2-13) for each contributing author.

Folder

1 Lists of possible contributors and correspondence with some of them, 1990, along with an outline of the project

2-13 Contributor files containing correspondence, 1990-92, drafts of chapters, notes and a curriculum vitae for each contributor

14 Typescript drafts with revisions of the introduction

15 Drafts of chapter 12 written by Ioannou

16-19 Drafts of chapters with corrections and revisions

20 Galley proofs


Series 8. Australian studio glass: the movement, its makers and their art, 1994-95

Australian studio glass: the movement, its makers and their art was published by Craftsman House in 1995. The book explores the development of the studio glass movement in Australia from the mid 1970s through to the 1990s and looks at the way practioners express themselves creatively through various glass forms. Over 100 glass artists were interviewed for the project.

This series consists of correspondence with contributors, notes of interviews with glass artists and papers relating to the launch of the publication at the AusGlass conference in 1995.

Folder

1 Correspondence with contributors and AusGlass, 1994. The book was launched at the AusGlass conference held in Adelaide in January 1995

2 Manuscript notes of interviews with glass artists, 1994


Series 9. The Barossa folk: Germanic furniture and craft traditions in Australia, 1853-1994

The Barossa folk: Germanic furniture and craft traditions in Australia was published by Craftsman House in 1995. It describes the arrival of migrant European craftsman and women in the early nineteenth century to the Barossa Valley and other regions of Australia and explores their influence on the Barossa cultural landscape through the practice of traditional crafts and folk art. While the majority of the text relates to furniture making and its traditions there are also chapters on ceramics, ironwork, foil art, pokerwork and textiles.

This series consists of correspondence, drafts, field note books, index cards, research files, artwork and galley proofs.

Folder

1-15 Drafts and revisions of chapters

16-19 Drafts of appendices, captions and contents pages

20 Typescript draft

21 Galley proofs at 85%

22-23 Galley proofs – 2 sets of incomplete colour proofs

24 Artwork for various options for the cover design and galley proofs for appendices

25-40 Research files – alphabetical by family, 1854-1993

41-43 Three research folders containing information on cabinet makers in the Barossa, 1846-1994

44-54 Other research files, 1849-1993

55-56 Two sets of index cards containing names of Barossa artisans and general biographical references


Series 10. Journal articles, 1985-96

Ioannou has written widely in a variety of art and craft magazines both in Australia and overseas. This series consists of drafts of articles, correspondence with the editors of the various magazines, newscuttings and notes. Ioannou has kept his correspondence with editors, drafts of articles and general notes in folders arranged by journal and magazine title. This arrangement has been maintained by the Library.

The series also includes an entry for the Australian Dictionary of Biography, an essay for an exhibition catalogue and issues of Broadsheet containing articles by Ioannou.

Folder

1 Art and Australia, 1989

2-3 Artlink, 1989-92

4 Art Monthly, 1990-96

5 Australian Antique Collector, 1987

6 Australian Business Magazine, Australian Country Style and Wine

Life, 1987-91

7-8 Australian Journal of Historical Archaeology, 1986-87

9 Australiana, 1986-91

10 Binocular, 1993

11 Broadsheet, 1991-92

12 Ceramics: Art and Perception, 1990-93

13 Craft Arts International, 1986-91

14 Craft Australia, 1986-88

15 Craft Realities, 1989-91

16 Craftwest, 1991-92

17 Heritage Australia, 1985-89

18 Oz Arts, 1992-94

19 Periphery, 1992-94

20 Pottery in Australia, 1987-89

21 Textile Fibre Forum, 1989-90

22 Entry for the Australian Dictionary of Biography on the potter Gladys Reynell, 1985-87

23 Essay for the National Art Glass Collection exhibition catalogue edited by Judy Le Lievre of the Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery, 1980-96. The collection belonging to the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery toured major Australian galleries in 1996

24 Four issues of Broadsheet (1986-92) containing various articles by Ioannou


Series 11. Reviews

Ioannou has been a reviewer of arts and crafts for the Adelaide Advertiser since 1989 and a guest critic/reviewer for many other major exhibitions held in Adelaide and elsewhere in Australia.

This series consists of correspondence with exhibition organisers, drafts of reviews, catalogues, programmes, newscuttings, notes, and papers concerning travel arrangements.

Folder 12 contains newscuttings of reviews appearing in the Adelaide Advertiser.

Folder

1 ‘Skangaroovian Funk: Peculiar Adelaide Ceramics 1968-1978’: an exhibition held at the Art Gallery of South Australia, 1986

2 ‘Thinking in Clay’: an exhibition held at the Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, 9 November-3 December 1986

3 ‘Seat yourself’: a mixed media exhibition of furniture, glass and painting, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide, June-July 1989

4 ‘Makers’ Choice Exhibition’, Adelaide Festival Artspace, November 1989

5 First Perth International Arts Triennial, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 14 October-3 December 1989. A box of slides taken at the exhibition can be found in Series 16

6 Review of Links: 1989 jewellery and metalsmithing graduates from the School of Design, Underdale (1990). The file also contains various catalogues of other jewellery exhibitions

7 Pottery exhibition at the Jam Factory, Adelaide by Jo Crawford and Robyn Herriman, 1990

8 Tenth National Craft Acquisition Award Exhibition, Darwin, 15 August-2 September 1990

9 First Australian Contemporary Jewellery Biennial, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide, October 1991 and catalogues for two other exhibitions ‘Gossip’ (1991) and ‘Shift’ (1992) which were held in Adelaide

10 Australian International Crafts Triennial, Perth, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 12 August-4 October 1992

11 ‘Celebrating the maker’: 7th National Ceramic Conference, Adelaide, 11-17 July 1993

12 Newscuttings of reviews by Ioannou from the Arts pages of the Adelaide Advertiser, 1989-91


Series 12. ‘In the footsteps of the potter’, 1988

In 1991 Ioannou received his PhD in material culture and history from the Flinders University for his work entitled ‘In the footsteps of the potter: a comparative study of the pottery traditions and folklife of the Barossa Lutherans in the context of ceramic developments in British South Australia, 1838-1918’. This series consists of various drafts of his thesis.

Folder

1 Drafts of thesis summary

2-3 Early drafts with corrections and revisions (two copies)

4 Copy corrected by Professor J. V. S. Megaw, Flinders University

5 Final thesis copy: used for bound thesis

6 Master copy ‘amended version’


Series 13. Conferences, seminars, talks, 1985-95

Ioannou has presented papers at conferences and seminars ranging from history to archaeology, cultural heritage and the visual arts. He has also been invited to give talks to specialist groups on a regular basis.

This series consists of drafts of papers, programmes, notes, correspondence with conference/seminar organisers and papers concerning travel arrangements.

Folder

1 Handwritten notes of a seminar talk given to the Potter’s Society on 7 November 1985

2 ‘Folk to studio pottery: material culture studies in South Australia’: paper presented at the Art Association of Australia Annual Conference, Monash University, August 1987. A copy of the paper was also sent to Art and Australia magazine in September 1987

3 Notes, brochures and leaflets relating to ‘Ceramics ’88’: the Fifth National Ceramic Conference, held in Sydney, May 1988

4 Program and information on ‘The Crafts: theory and practice in the late 20th century’: International Crafts Conference, Sydney, 8-13 May 1988

5 Notes and correspondence relating to a forum ‘Clay and the 90’s’ held at the School of Design, South Australian College of Advanced Education, Underdale, November 1989. Ioannou was Chairperson for the forum

6 Papers prepared for a seminar on ‘Crafts Writing’ held in Sydney, May 1989 and organised by the Visual Arts/Craft Board of the Australia Council

7-8 ‘Interpretive mediums for craft: text and exhibition’: paper presented at ‘Interventions, a Conference on Craft Theory and Curation, University of Wollongong, 7-10 July, 1992. Folder 8 also contains a draft of an article entitled ‘Meaning and text: in Craft’ prepared for Craft Realities in August 1991

9 Posters and program for EcoCity 2: the Second International Ecological City Conference, Adelaide, 16-19 April 1992

10 ‘Private visions, new models: an antipodean perspective’: paper presented at the AusGlass Conference, Canberra, January 1993

11 ‘In the footsteps of the Barossa Potter: oral evidence and archaeology’: paper presented to the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology Annual Conference, Adelaide, 2-3 October, 1993

12 ‘Inner being: the way of glass’: paper presented at AusGlass 95, held in Adelaide, January 1995. Ioannou’s book on Australian studio glass was also launched during the conference

13 Index cards containing handwritten notes for a talk given to the Historical Society of South Australia on 1 November 1995 and a programme of the Society’s activities for 1995


Series 14. Subject files, 1975-93

This series consists mainly of brochures, catalogues, journal articles, leaflets and newscuttings on arts and crafts. A high proportion of the material consists of catalogues and flyers of exhibitions or individual artists’ works.

1 Art Gallery of South Australia, 1987-89

2 Arts and Crafts Movement, 1980-88

3 Contemporary ceramics, 1984-89

4 Contemporary furniture, 1989-91

5 Craft – critical writing, 1979-90

6 Crafts Council of South Australia, 1992-93

7 Crafts – Victoria, 1975

8 Crafts survey, 1983

9 Creativity and design, 1976-92

10 Fibre and textiles, 1988-89

11 Marketing, 1986-88

12 Potters (South Australia), 1988-90

13 Potters Guild of South Australia, 1980-86

14 Social context / materialism, 1987-89

15 Wood, 1989-92


Series 15. Photographs

This series consists of 23 photographs and 3 photographic postcards of Barossa Valley origin which were collected by Ioannou while researching Ceramics in South Australia, 1836-1986. They provide an interesting snapshot of life in the Barossa Valley and include family portraits and weddings, farm scenes, a school group, potteries and other social and special events. Ioannou has provided information on most of the photographs. The date, where this has been supplied, ranges from 1890-1937.

The series also contains a box of 48 slides of exhibits taken at the First International Craft Triennial, Perth, 1989.

1 box


Series 16. Sound recordings

This series consists of taped interviews conducted by Ioannou while researching his books and other projects. They include interviews of inhabitants of the Barossa Valley and interviews with contemporary artists and craftspeople.

Folder

1-2 Set of 12 cassette recordings of interviews with inhabitants of the Barossa Valley, 1987-90. Interviewees include Mr and Mrs Arhris, A. Falland, Rosine Gerhardy, Herbert Hoffman, Meta Kleemann, Laurine Liebrch, E. Menzl, E. Payne, Pastor Henry Proeve, Paul Pumpa, and Gladys Schulz

3-7 Set of 25 cassette recordings of interviews with various craft

practitioners, 1988. Some of the interviews have been used in writing The culture brokers. Interviewees include Steve Bate, Tony Bishop, Anne Brennan, Stephen Bowers, Bronwyn Kemp, Kay Lawrence and John Odgers

8 Set of 3 cassette tapes recording interviews with the Curator of the Perth International Craft Triennial, Robert Bell and some of the exhibitors including Helmut Lueckenhausen, Wendy Ramshaw, Leslie J. Wright and Patti Warrashinna, 1989


Series 17. Other papers, 1987-95

This series consists mainly of miscellaneous papers relating to awards and grants for which Ioannou has applied.

Folder

1 Correspondence with the Secretariat, entry form and submission and a

book listing entrants for the Bicentennial BHP Awards for the Pursuit of Excellence, 1987. Ioannou entered his book Ceramics in South Australia 1836-1986 in the literature and arts category

2 Transcript of an interview with Bluey Roberts discussing Aboriginal crafts, December 1988

3 Correspondence, notes and other papers relating to a grant from the Visual Arts/Craft Board of the Australia Council, 1989-91, for assistance in publishing Craft in society

4-5 In 1993 Ioannou was offered an award as Writer-in-Residence at the Canberra School of Art. These files contain notes, correspondence, brochures and a program relating to this position

6 Correspondence, notes and other papers relating to a grant from the Visual Arts/Craft Board of the Australia Council in 1994-95 for assistance in publishing Australian studio glass and an application (1995) for assistance to publish Masters of their craft

Box List

Box

Series

Folder/Piece

1

1

1-3

1

2

1-11

2

3

1-9

2

2

8-11

3

4

1-22

4

4

23-38

Folio 5

HW Map Drawer 20

4

39

6

4

40-44

6

5

1-5

7

5

6-19

8

5

20-34

9

5

35-48

10

5

49-55

11

5

56-62

12

5

63-80

13

5

81-93

14

5

94-96

15

6

1-6

16

6

7-12

17

6

13-19

17

7

1-4

18

7

5-17

19

7

18-20

20

8

1-2

20

9

1-8

21

9

9-19

22

9

20-21

Folio 23

9

22-24

24

9

25-37

25

9

38-49

26

9

50-56

26

10

1-3

27

10

4-14

28

10

15-24

29

11

1-9

30

11

10-12

30

12

1-2

31

12

3-4

32

12

5-6

33

13

1-10

34

13

11-13

34

14

1-6

35

14

7-15

36

15

Photographs

37

16

1-8

38

17

1-6

June 2002