Guide to the Papers of Pauline Armstrong
MS 9878
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | May 2005 |
| Last updated: | May 2005 |
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
Series 1 Save Our Sons: research: list and author's notes
Series 2 Save Our Sons: research: correspondence, 1966, 1990-1995
Series 3 Save Our Sons: research: interviews and card indexes, 1990-1992
Series 4 Save Our Sons: research: subject files, 1951-2003
Series 5 Save Our Sons: research: publications, articles and extracts, 1950-2003
Series 6 Save Our Sons: MA thesis, 1991
Series 7 Save Our Sons: miscellaneous files, 1995-1997
Series 8 Frank Hardy: research: lists, author's notes and indexes, c.1983-2001
Series 9 Frank Hardy: research: correspondence, 1959, 1979, 1991-2001
Series 10 Frank Hardy: research: interviews, 1969, 1976, 1991-2000
Series 11 Frank Hardy: research: subject files, 1950-2002
Series 12 Frank Hardy: research: publications, articles and theses, 1937-2001
Series 13 Frank Hardy: PhD thesis , 1943-1998
Series 14 Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory: notes and drafts, 1994-2000
Series 15 Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory: publication, publicity and reviews, 1999-2004
Series 16 Pauline Armstrong obituaries, 2001
Container List
Appendix 1: Audiotapes of interviews
Appendix 2: Radio broadcasts
Appendix 3: Television, recorded off-air
Appendix 4: Miscellaneous recordings
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Armstrong, Pauline, 1928-2001 |
| Title: | Papers of Pauline Armstrong |
| Date Range: | 1990-2002 |
| Collection Number: | MS 9878 |
| Extent: | 5.1 m (25 boxes, 5 cartons) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection largely consists of material collected by Pauline Armstrong whilst researching and writing her PhD thesis, 'A critical biography of Frank Hardy' (1997), and preparing the thesis for publication, as Frank Hardy and the making of Power Without Glory (2000). A smaller portion of the collection relates to Armstrong's Masters thesis, 'A history of the Save Our Sons movement of Victoria, 1965-1973' (1991). The material in the collection includes correspondence, research material, photographs and other graphic material, audio-visual material, transcriptions, drafts and proofs.
Arrangement
The collection was created and maintained from its inception by Pauline Armstrong and Bruce Armstrong, who acted as his wife's secretary during her studies. Whilst some slight re-ordering of material has been imposed by the Library, wherever possible the collection has been left in its original order and the original files and file titles have been retained. Bruce Armstrong's lists and explanatory notes have been incorporated into the collection.
Access
The collection is partly available for reference and partly restricted. Series 1-7 and 15-16 are available for reference. Series 8-14 relating to Frank Hardy are restricted until 30 June 2009.
Provenance
The papers of Pauline Armstrong were purchased by the Library from her husband, Bruce Armstrong, in 2004.
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
A biography file on Pauline Armstrong is available in the Newspaper and Microform Reading Room.
The National Library holds copies of Armstrong's thesis on microfiche and her monograph, Frank Hardy and the making of Power Without Glory.
The Library holds the papers of Frank Hardy (MS 4887), which are partly restricted and partly closed. It also holds a small collection of the records of the South Australian Branch of the Save Our Sons movement (MS 3821), which is restricted.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Pauline Armstrong, National Library of Australia, MS 9878, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
Pauline Armstrong was born on 4 September 1928 in Camberwell, Victoria, into an immigrant Irish Catholic family. She attended St Dominic's parish school in Camberwell, winning a Diocesan scholarship. Her further education included: secretarial school from age 14; a BA at Deakin University in Literature, Philosophy and Professional Writing; a MA at Monash University in Australian Studies; and a PhD at the University of Melbourne.
Armstrong's family was politically active. In particular, her grandmother and mother protested against Billy Hughes' attempts to introduce conscription during World War I and were disenchanted Labor Party members, later joining the Communist Party. Armstrong herself was introduced to the Eureka Youth League of the Communist Party by her uncle, Paul Mortier, whose disillusionment with the Party and suicide were the focus of Frank Hardy's novel, But the dead are many (1975). Armstrong joined the Communist Party in 1947 and worked as a legal secretary from 1949 for lawyer Cedric Ralph, who represented the Communist Party at the royal commission into its activities in 1949-50. In other arenas she was active in campaigns for improved local services, and passionately involved in the Save Our Sons movement during the Vietnam War. Armstrong's son, Karl, was jailed twice during the Vietnam War for refusing to register for the draft.
Armstrong published a book based on her PhD thesis in 2000: Frank Hardy and the making of Power without Glory. She also wrote newspaper feature articles, short stories and journal contributions. She collaborated with Rebecca Maclean on Maclean's documentary Save Our Sons, which was based on Armstrong's MA thesis on the history of the Save Our Sons movement in Victoria.
Armstrong died on 21 Oct 2001, survived by husband, Bruce, and four of her six children.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Save Our Sons: research: list and author's notes
The Save Our Sons (SOS) Movement of Victoria, along with similar organisations in New South Wales and other states, was set up by a group of concerned women in response to the introduction of the Menzies Government National Service Act in 1964, and the decision in 1965 to send troops to Vietnam. The SOS campaigns against conscription and for the rights of conscientious objectors and draft resisters contributed to the ultimately successful anti-war movement of the 1970s.
This series contains Bruce Armstrong's list of Save Our Sons research material and Pauline Armstrong's notes and notebooks relating to the preparation of the thesis. The box numbers referred to in Bruce Armstrong's 'Guide to the collection' no longer apply, as the material in the collection has been re-boxed by the Library.
Series 2 Save Our Sons: research: correspondence, 1966, 1990-1995
This series consists of one folder of correspondence containing letters to and from publishers regarding the possible publication of the SOS thesis and responses to requests for views and memories of the SOS/Vietnam period by Gwen Walter, Joanna Maclaine-Cross and Barry York. Other correspondents include Val Noone and Nancy Butler. There is also a copy of a letter by Armstrong to the editor of the Tribune dated 6 July 1966.
1 folder
Series 3 Save Our Sons: research: interviews and card indexes, 1990-1992
Consists of one folder and two small boxes of audiocassettes. The folder contains a list of interviewees, a notebook relating to the interviews, a letter of thanks to the interviewees, a transcript of Jean McLean's interview, a list of interview questions and two bundles of index cards. Interviewees on the tapes include Ceci and Jim Cairns, Chris Cathie, Dorothy Dalton, Sam Goldbloom, Sue McCulloch, Irene Miller, Frances Newell, Joan Coxsedge, Corinne Kerby and Peter O'Brien. There is also a recording of ABC Radio program, Conversations with a Commonwealth policeman (1991).
Series 4 Save Our Sons: research: subject files, 1951-2003
This series consists of photocopies, newsletters, pamphlets and correspondence relating to the SOS and its activities, conscription and the Vietnam War. Whilst the original arrangement of papers inside the files and the file titles have been retained, the files themselves have been ordered alphabetically within the series by the Library.
The files entitled 'Fairlea Five' and 'Irene Miller's collection' include letters and telegrams of support from parliamentarians (eg Arthur Caldwell and Bill Hayden) and the public. The Fairlea Five were Chris Cathie, Joan Coxsedge, Irene Miller, Joanna Maclaine-Cross and Jean McLean, who defied new amendments to the Summary Offences Act by handing out anti-conscription material to young men registering for the draft. The women were gaoled for 14 days in Fairlea Women's Prison in Melbourne, an act which resulted in an upsurge of publicity and support for the movement.
Series 5 Save Our Sons: research: publications, articles and extracts, 1950-2003
This series consists of photocopies, clippings and published material collected by Armstrong in developing her SOS thesis. Whilst the original arrangement of papers inside the files and the file titles have been retained, the files themselves have been ordered alphabetically within the series by the Library.
Folder 10 Guardian and Tribune, reports on activities of draft resisters, miscellaneous items, 1965-1971
Series 6 Save Our Sons: MA thesis, 1991
Series 7 Save Our Sons: miscellaneous files, 1995-1997
This series consists of: a post-thesis article by Armstrong; press clippings post-Vietnam War; a video of a documentary by Rebecca McLean (daughter of Jean McLean) entitled Save Our Sons (1996); material relating to the video, including reviews, publicity and some letters (correspondents include Vera Deacon and Phillip Adams); and a bag of badges.
Series 8 Frank Hardy: research: lists, author's notes and indexes, c.1983-2001
Frank Hardy (1917-1994) was an Australian writer who attracted public attention in 1950 with his novel, Power Without Glory, a semi-fictional and controversial account of Melbourne millionaire John Wren. Hardy was charged with libel and underwent a criminal trial that lasted for nine months, but was ultimately acquitted. Hardy was also well-known as a television personality, playwright, songwriter, journalist, lecturer, writer for television and radio and supporter of Aboriginal rights.
This series contains Bruce Armstrong's list of the Frank Hardy research papers, indexes, diaries, notes and a document explaining Armstrong's reason for her choice of topic. The box numbers referred to in the list ('The collection: alphabetical index') no longer apply, as the material in the collection has been re-boxed by the Library. The first diary contains a loose copy of a letter from Armstrong to Phillip Deery (2001) and a summary of a talk delivered by Armstrong to the Society for The Study of Labour History (2001). Some of the notebooks and loose papers listed below as 'Rough notes' were received by the Library in bundles. Most of this material is undated and has been placed in folders in the order in which it was bundled. It includes articles, notes relating to literature searches and interviews (see also series 10), and some correspondence. Correspondents include Lyle Allen, Paul Adams, Bain Attwood and Grace and Len Gale. Some of this material may relate to the book, Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory, rather than to the thesis that preceded it.
Series 9 Frank Hardy: research: correspondence, 1959, 1979, 1991-2001
Much of the correspondence in this series relates to the interviews conducted by Armstrong, along with copyright issues and progress of the thesis and book. The general correspondence file is arranged in envelopes by year. Correspondents include Phillip Adams, Eva Jago, Beverley Symons, Betty Collins, Alan Hardy, Shirley Hardy-Rix, Frances Driscoll (née Hardy), Ray Verrills (Williams), Terri Merlyn, Leon Arrowsmith, Audrey and Jack Blake, Jim Hardy, Jack Beasley, Vera Deacon, A.W. Oliver, Bert Nolan, Don Tonkin, Bruce Pascoe, Len Fox, Nancy Wills, Ann Curthoys and Peter Coleman. The email correspondence file includes a copy of an exchange of letters between Frank Hardy and Oksana Krugerskaya regarding Hardy's publishing activities in Russia, written in 1959 and supplied to Armstrong by Peter Coleman.
Series 10 Frank Hardy: research: interviews, 1969, 1976, 1991-2000
This series consists largely of correspondence, notes and audiotapes relating to interviews carried out by Pauline Armstrong with people who had a first-hand knowledge of Frank Hardy. Notebooks and loose notes relating to the interviews have been retained in the order in which they were received by the Library and placed in folders. Correspondence relating to the interviews in this series has been removed from the concertina file in which it was originally filed and placed in folders in alphabetical order. See Appendices 1-4 for a list of interviewees supplied with the audiotapes and for the contents of other audiotapes and a video in this series. Correspondents not listed in Appendix 1 include: Niall Brennan, Jack Blake, Jennie Barrington, Clem Christesen, Hume Dow, Vera Deacon (with a copy of an article by Victor Khmara, 'The fall of Frank Hardy' (1969)), Ralph de Boissière, Mary Fiorini-Lowell, Margaret Hutton, Vane Lindesay, Wendy Lowenstein, Janet McCalman, Graham Pitts, B.A. Santamaria, Olga Tatrai, Dorothy Taylor and Don Tonkin.
Series 11 Frank Hardy: research: subject files, 1950-2002
This series consists of files of photocopies, articles, correspondence and other material collected by Armstrong during the preparation of her thesis. Some material in this series was removed from series 12 files to relevant subject files by Bruce Armstrong. Whilst the original arrangement of papers inside the files and the file titles have been retained, the files themselves have been ordered alphabetically within the series by the Library.
Folder 10 Documents from individuals, 1943, 1986
Includes a copy of 'Kismet Hardy: a sort of biographical fragment', by Vane Lindesay.
Folder 36 Frank Hardy's books: reviews and comments: 1983, The obsession of Oscar Oswald and Warrant of distress, 1983-1984
Folder 51 Individuals on Frank Hardy and individuals on Ambrose Dyson, 1992-1998
Includes correspondence, interviews and articles by Vane Lindesay, Cedric Ralph, Beverley Symons, Joan Hendry and Jennie Gilbert
Folder 52 Individuals on Frank Hardy re: But the dead are many, 1975-2000
Includes an unpublished article by Dulcie Mortier, 'But the living are many'.
Series 12 Frank Hardy: research: publications, articles and theses, 1937-2001
This series consists of photocopies, clippings and published material collected by Armstrong in developing her Frank Hardy thesis. Some material in this series was removed and placed in relevant subject files (see series 11) by Bruce Armstrong. Where this has resulted in empty files, the files have been discarded by the Library. Whilst the original file titles and arrangement of papers inside the files have been retained, the files themselves have been ordered into a single alphabetical run of literary journals, newspapers and other files. The 'Extracts from monographs' material has been arranged by the Library into an alphabetical sequence by author or editor of the publication and placed in folders.
Folder 11 Australian Literary Studies, 1983-1997
Includes a copy of a pamphlet by Katharine Susannah Prichard, 'Why I am a Communist' (no date)
Folder 15 Beverley Symons' thesis, 'All-out for the people's war: Communist soldiers in the Australian Army in the Second World War', 1995
Folder 22 Extracts from Australian Literary Studies, annual bibliography, binding no. 1 of 4, 1963-1972
Folder 23 Extracts from Australian Literary Studies, annual bibliography, binding no. 2 of 4, 1973-1982
Folder 24 Extracts from Australian Literary Studies, annual bibliography, binding no. 3 of 4, 1983-1991
Folder 37 Herald Sun (Melbourne, Victoria), 1991-1998
Includes a photocopy of a letter to the editor by Bill Smith (1994)
Folder 39 Indirectly related items from the press and other sources, 1991-1998
Includes an article by Phillip Deery, 'Labor, Communism and the Cold War: the case of W.T. Dobson' (1997)
Folder 44 Mid-Day Times (Melbourne, Victoria), 1943, 1993
Includes a thesis by Beverley Symons, 'All-out for the people's war: 'Red Diggers' in the armed forces and the Communist Party of Australia's policies in the Second World War' (1993)
Folder 54 Paul Adams' thesis for his MA, 'The author as producer: Frank Hardy and Socialist Realism', 1988
Series 13 Frank Hardy: PhD thesis , 1943-1998
This series consists of drafts and bound copies of Pauline Armstrong's PhD thesis, 'A critical biography of Frank Hardy' (1997), and two files of copies of artwork (cartoons, excerpts from books etc). The drafts were received in tied bundles and numbered. This arrangement has been retained, although where bundles have been divided into parts due to size, each part has been numbered with a Roman numeral. Some of the drafts bear annotations by Chris Wallace-Crabbe.
Series 14 Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory: notes and drafts, 1994-2000
This series contains: a re-worked copy of Armstrong's PhD thesis, 'A critical biography of Frank Hardy', used in the conversion of the thesis to the manuscript of the book, Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory; rough notes; sundry material; and the final manuscript of the book. The 'Rough notes and drafts - work in progress' material was originally received by the Library in one bundle but has been separated into parts (numbered with Roman numerals) and placed in folders due to its size. The contents of the folders include index compilation notes, indexes and the address which Armstrong delivered at the launch of the book. Some other handwritten notes relating to the book may also be found in series 8. The 'Sundry material' includes a list of photo captions, editor's notes and a draft bibliography.
Series 15 Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory: publication, publicity and reviews, 1999-2004
This series contains: a folder of papers relating to the editing process, including correspondence between Armstrong and Melbourne University Press and an explanatory note by Bruce Armstrong; edited draft manuscripts; edited proofs; a copy of the book; and files of publicity and review articles.
Series 16 Pauline Armstrong obituaries, 2001
This series consists of obituaries by James Griffin and Dianna Avenell, funeral programs and speeches and an autobiographical item by Pauline Armstrong.
Container List
| Series | Folder/Item | Box |
| 1 | 1-2 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 2-3 | 2 |
| 4 | 1-7 | 2 |
| 4 | 8-23 | 3 |
| 4 | 24-26 | 4 |
| 5 | 1-5 | 4 |
| 5 | 6-13 | 5 |
| 5 | 14-23 | 6 |
| 6 | 1-4 | 6 |
| 7 | 1-4 | 7 |
| 8 | 1-5 | 7A |
| 8 | 6-11 | 8 |
| 8 | 12-13 | 9 |
| 9 | 1-3 | 9 |
| 10 | 1-3 | 9 |
| 10 | 4-8 | 10 |
| 10 | A-V material | 11 |
| 11 | 1-20 | 12 |
| 11 | 21-46 | 13 |
| 11 | 47-62 | 14 |
| 11 | 63-72 | 15 |
| 12 | 1-15 | 16 |
| 12 | 16-22 | 17 |
| 12 | 23-29 | 18 |
| 12 | 30-50 | 19 |
| 12 | 51-60 | 20 |
| 12 | 61-78 | 21 |
| 13 | 1-3 | 22 |
| 13 | 4-6 | 23 |
| 13 | 7-10 | 24 |
| 14 | 1-5 | 25 |
| 14 | 6-9 | 26 |
| 14 | 10-11 | 27 |
| 15 | 1-6 | 28 |
| 15 | 7-20 | 29 |
| 15 | 21-33 | 30 |
| 16 | 1-2 | 30 |
Appendix 1: Audiotapes of interviews
| Interviewee | Date |
| Adams, Paul | 10 May 1994 |
| Adams, Phillip | 10 October 1995 |
| Alexander, Hal | 16 April 1994 |
| Bacchus Marsh residents | 3 February 1995 |
| Barnes, Bill and Thelma | 14 February 1996 |
| Barnes, Les | 18 June 1992 |
| Boag, Alex | 5 April 1993 |
| Booth, Alvie | 6 May 1993 |
| Canteri, Carlo | 17 April 1998 |
| Collins, Betty | 12 October 1995 |
| Dickie, Vance | 12 August 1994 |
| Driscoll, Frances | 13 October 1995 |
| Fox, Len | 26 August 1992 |
| Fraser, John | 23 November 1995 |
| Hardy, Alan | 8 November 1995 |
| Hardy, Jim | 25 January 1996 |
| Hardy-Rix, Shirley | 1 November 1995 |
| Heintz, Alby | 22 January 1996 |
| Hewett, Dorothy | 27 August 1992 |
| Jago, Eva | 11 October 1995 |
| Kaufmann, Walter | 10 September 1994 |
| King, Cedric | 12 January 1996 |
| Lhuede, Gabby | 9 August 1999 |
| Little, Vic | 23 March 1992 |
| Mair, Ian | 25 March 1992 |
| McFarland, Kath | 12 August 1994 |
| McKissack, Bruce and Ruby | 26 September 1994 |
| McPhillips, Jack | 31 October 1995 |
| Moore, Deirdre | 1 March 1995 |
| Morrison, John | 1 August 1994 |
| Mortier, Dulcie | 3 October 1992 |
| Nolan, Bert | 27 July 1994 |
| Ralph, Cedric | 13 September 1995 |
| Santamaria, B.A. | 4 April 1995 |
| Shea, Carmel | 23 July 1998 |
| Smith, Bill | 19 February 1992 |
| Stone, Rose | 27 June 1995 |
| Taft, Bernie | 9 August 1995 |
| Thompson, Fred | 5 February 1994 |
| Thompson, Dot and Ted | 7 March 1995 |
| Verrills, Ray | 1 February 1995 |
| Wannan, Bill | 21 August 1999 |
| Waters, Joseph | 12 August 1991 |
| White, Susan | 10 February 1996 |
| Williams, Vic | 15 September 1993 |
| Wooller, Betty and Norma Stevens | 12 August 1994 |
| Yarsley, Colin | 7 February 1996 |
Appendix 2: Radio broadcasts
| Title | Date |
| Hon. Sir John Starke and Frank Hardy interviewed by Jon Faine | 8 December 1992 |
| Frank Hardy interviewed by Doug Aiton, Radio 3LO | 15 July 1993 |
| Frank Hardy interviewed by Terry Lane, Radio 3LO | 9 November 1993 |
| Pauline Armstrong interviewed by Jon Faine, Radio Melbourne 774 | 12 December 2000 |
| Daily bread of betrayal, on the East German Stasi secret police, Radio National | 29 January 1994 |
| Celebration of Frank Hardy's life, Collingwood Town Hall, Radio 3LO | 4 February 1994 |
Appendix 3: Television, recorded off-air
| Title | Date |
| Collingwood Town Hall. Frank Hardy's funeral and celebration of his life | 4 February 1994 |
| Gray, Paul | 3 May 1994 |
| O'Hearn, Dinny | 4 February 1992 |
| Stretton, Andrea | 6 February 1994 |
Appendix 4: Miscellaneous recordings
| Title | Date |
| Council of Adult Education seminar, audio tapes (3) | 1976 |
| Launch of Frank Hardy and the Making of Power Without Glory | 19 November 2000 |
| Bill Jeffrey interviewed by Wendy Lowenstein | Unknown |
| Frank Hardy interviewed by Geoffrey Camm | Unknown |