Guide to the Papers of Julie Lewis
MS 9507, MS Acc01.237, MS Acc03.090
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Title
- Papers of Julie Lewis
- Date Range
- 1931-1995
- Collection Number
- MS 9507, MS Acc01.237, MS Acc03.090
- Extent
- 7.15 metres (39 boxes + 2 cartons + 1 folio box + 53 sound/av carriers)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
MS 9507 provides a comprehensive record of Julie Lewis' literary career. The bulk of the papers relate to her work as a biographer. For each book there is a mixture of typescripts, correspondence with publishers, research material, reviews, and papers concerning the launchings. Lewis was a thorough researcher and there are many letters relating to her research.
The correspondence includes a long series of letters from Elizabeth Jolley and other Australian writers. In addition, there are letters from publishers, agents and literary and cultural organisations. Other material includes audio tapes, photographs, scrapbooks and publications.
Further papers were added in 2001 (MS Acc01.237) and 2003 (MS Acc03.090).
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn541691).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Julie Lewis, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was purchased by the Library from Julie Lewis in 1996.
Arrangement
MS 9507 was received well-organised, and the arrangement has been generally maintained. This material has been organised into 14 series.
Biographical Note
Julie Lewis (née Heath) was born in Perth, in 1925. She qualified as a teacher in 1944. She taught in various schools in Western Australia and London, where she married fellow West Australian, John Lewis. In 1954 they moved back to Perth, Julie resigned from teaching and became a mother of three children. It was not until 1964 that she began to write radio scripts for the ABC women's session, Scope radio magazine and schools broadcasts. Other writings included short fiction, articles and book reviews.
In 1967 Lewis completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, at the University of Western Australia and in 1970 she returned to the workforce teaching English and literature at various high schools. In 1976 she resigned from teaching to become a full time writer. In the same year she started research on her first biography, On Air; the story of Catherine Kingand the ABC Women's session. Other biographies were to follow as well as her own collections of short fiction, Double exposure (1981) and The walls of Jericho (1987). Her fiction has been published widely in literary journals and her work has been extensively anthologised.
Between 1986 and 1988 she worked as a book review editor for the Fremantle Arts Review and was also joint fiction editor of Westerly.
Throughout her literary career Lewis has conducted many creative writing and literature workshops for secondary and tertiary students, as well as biography and family history workshops for arts centres and literary organisations.
Lewis has served on a number of panels and boards including the Western Australian Arts Council (1980-82), the Bicentennial Publications Committee, the WA Department for the Arts Advisory Panel for Literature and the Literature Board of the Australia Council (1990-93).
In 1992 she received the medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to literature as a writer and teacher.
Lewis has published the following works:
Fiction
Double exposure (1981)
The walls of Jericho (1987)
Who do you love? (1988) (Pseudonym Marianne Vaughan)
Biographical Work
On Air; the Story of Catherine King and the ABC Women's session (1979)
Kathleen O'Connor, artist in exile (1987)
Jimmy Woods, flying pioneer (1989)
Olga Masters, a lot of living (1991)
Mary Martin, a double life: Australia-India, 1915-1973 (1997)
Editorial Work
Reflections (1979)
Unlimited Scope (1983)
Biographer, author, and teacher. As a biographer Julie Lewis has published, On air: the story of Catherine King and the ABC Women's session (1979), Kathleen O'Connor, artist in exile (1987), Jimmy Woods, flying pioneer (1989), and, Olga Masters, a lot of living: the compelling biography of this much-loved writer (1991). Lewis' other writings include, Double exposure (1981), The walls of Jericho (1987) and a teenage novel. Her editorial work includes, Unlimited scope (1983), and, Reflections (1979).
Item Descriptions
Class MS 9507. Original consignment
Comprises papers relating to Lewis' work as a biographer. For most of her biographies there is a mixture of typescripts, correspondence with publishers, research material, reviews, and papers concerning the launchings. There are many letters relating to research enquires and responses about Lewis' biographies. There are many notebooks containing research notes, drafts and random jottings. The correspondence includes a long series of letters from Elizabeth Jolley and other Australian writers. There are also letters from publishers, agents and literary and cultural organisations. Other material includes audiotapes, photographs, scrapbooks and publications. In addition, there is correspondence and other papers relating to Lewis' involvement with the Fremantle Arts Review and Australian Council.
Contained in 25 boxes + 23 sound/av carriers.
Series 1. Correspondence, 1978-95
Correspondence includes letters from publishers (Fremantle Arts Centre Press) other Australian writers, universities, schools, students, family and friends.
In files 4 and 5 there are many letters and cards from Elizabeth Jolley.
In file 9 Lewis has included a detailed list of correspondence with other Australian writers: Helen Garner, Beverley Farmer, Chris Mansell, Barbara Piscatelli, Vera Whittington, Fay Zwicky, Carolyn Polizzotto, Ian Templeman, David Malouf, Bruce Bennett, Tom Shapcott, Joan London, Robert Dessaix, Susan Lever, Diane Webster, Tim Winton, Peter Cowan, Kate Grenville, Sally Morgan, Nadia Wheatley, Heather Johnson and others.
Correspondence about the biographies can be found in Series 5, 7,8,10 and 11.
Series 2. Notebooks, 1980-91
There are 71 notebooks, some dated with titles and including occasional diary notes (eg. Trip to Nepal 1985), but mostly they contain general ideas, teaching and research notes, drafts of stories and random jottings. There are two notebooks entitled 'Jimmy Woods'. As they form part of a sequence of notebooks, they have been kept in this series rather then Series 10.
Series 3. Fremantle Arts Review, 1985-88
As book editor for the Fremantle Arts Review Lewis was responsible for selecting suitable book reviewers. She also contributed some reviews to the journal.
File 1 and 2 contains Lewis' list of book reviewers as well as correspondence with writers and publishers.
Series 4. Australia Council, 1990-93
Julie Lewis was an active member of the Australia Council Literature Board at the time that Brian Matthews was chairman. The correspondence relates to 'Lewis the writer', seeking a grant for her Olga Masters biography and 'Lewis the board member', attending meetings and looking after the interests of writers. The series comprises letters, meeting agendas, notes, lists of board members, Lewis' curriculum vitae and a reference letter from Elizabeth Jolley.
Series 5. On Air; the story of Catherine King and the ABC women's session, (1979), 1944-78
Catherine King (1904-2000) established and compered the ABC women's radio session in 1944, Perth. For the next twenty two years she captured women radio listeners with her fresh approach in discussing a wide range of womens' issues. Her aim was to 'broaden the outlook and extend the scope of women's interests beyond their usually accepted range'.
It was through radio that Julie Lewis meet Catherine King and was inspired to write about her life. In 1964 Lewis began writing mainly for radio, broadcasting over the ABC Women's session and Scope programs.
This series includes Lewis' research papers relating to her biography of Catherine King. These include interview notes with King, research inquiries, photographs of King and a scrapbook of publicity material and newspapers reviews. There are also many typescripts of Lewis' stories, including some stories which were written for the ABC Women's session.
Series 6. Reflections, (1979), 1931, 1978-79
Julie Lewis was the organiser and a joint author, with Daphne Polham, in the production of the book Reflections, a 150 years celebration of Western Australian women. The series includes research notes, meeting notes, a scrapbook and photographs.
Series 7. Radio scripts and Unlimited scope, (1983), 1975-83
From 1964 to1976 Lewis wrote scripts for ABC Women's session, Scope Radio Magazine and School Broadcast. She was also writer and narrator of 6UVS FM radio programme.
Lewis was editor of the book Unlimited scope 'which attempts to recapture the spirit of the radio programme Scope by reproducing the work of many of its contributors; writers, scholars, celebrities, scientists, teachers, churchmen, journalists, humourists, and philosophers'.
There are also numerous radio scripts, a scrapbook containing publicity notes, newspaper reviews and congratulatory letters from Geoffrey Dutton and Bernard Hesling. Some of the headings on the tapes include 'American doubles', 'Julie Lewis- Kathleen O'Connor, 1987, 'Launching on air', 'Jimmy Woods (foundation talk)' and 'Catherine King'. Some tapes are untitled.
Scrapbook of congratulation letters, newspaper reviews, letters from Geoffrey Dutton, Bernard Hesling and others (File 11) - Box 12
14 tapes of interviews and 6 UV FM radio programme (File 12) - Box 12
Program 3 and 4 'Flaubert', 6UVS-FM Perth (Item NLA.MS-SAV004003) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, No brand, Compact cassette tape
Program 5 and 6, 6UVS-FM Perth (Item NLA.MS-SAV004004) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, No brand, Compact cassette tape
Side A: Cranbrook (Mr Gillam on LH Brown, FL Gillam, ML Gillam, Stact Catherine King. Side B: M Gillam on Dr Walker, Catherine King) (Item NLA.MS-SAV004006) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, Hanimex C-60, Compact cassette tape
Jimmy Woods Lib Foundation talk, 21/01/1991 (Item NLA.MS-SAV004007) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, Scotch XSI-SX 90, Compact cassette tape
Side A: Julie Lewis 22/07/1991. Side B: Julie Lewis and Jennifer Biography 22/07/1991, 22/07/1991 (Item NLA.MS-SAV004008) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, AC C30, Compact cassette tape
Side 1: Jimmy Bunbury and Jimmy Woods. Side 2: Inga Rigby and Julie Lewis and Robin Johnson and JL??? (Item NLA.MS-SAV004009) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, BASF FerroExtra1 60, Compact cassette tape
The Walls of Jericho' Julie Lewis, 5UV (Item NLA.MS-SAV004299) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, Hitachi UD C60, Compact cassette tape
Side A: 'Wait'. Side B: Interview Muggeridge (Item NLA.MS-SAV004300) - Cassette-Box 212
1 item, Maxell C90, Compact cassette tapeSeries 8. Kathleen O'Connor, artist in exile, (1987) 1967-87
'Kathleen (Kate) O'Connor (1876-1968) is arguably the most important painter to have emerged from Western Australia, and undeniably a major Australian artist'. She spent a large part of her life in Paris and in 1955 returned to Perth. Max Harris refers to Kate as 'one of the great Australian impressionists'.
In a joint project Lewis wrote O'Connor's biography and P. AE. Hutchings wrote about O'Connor's artistic development.
This series includes Lewis' research papers relating to her biography of Kathleen O'Connor. There are Lewis' research enquiry letters and some replies, Lewis' transcripts and notes about O'Connor's letters, research and interview notes, typescripts, a scrapbook of publicity material, reviews, a few congratulatory letters and photographs of O'Connor and her artwork.
Series 9. The Walls of Jericho, (1987), 1987
The walls of Jericho is Lewis'second collection of short fiction and was published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press in 1987. Her first collection of short fiction Double exposure was published in 1981.
Series 10. Jimmy Woods, flying pioneer, (1989), 1933-89
Jimmy Woods (1893-1975) was one of the pioneers and legends of Australian aviation. Woods served with the Royal Australian Airforce and later worked as a pilot with the Western Australian Airways. Woods was also the owner and operator of the Rottnest Island air service. He is known for his 'extraordinary skill and resourcefulness' as a pilot.
This series includes research papers relating to Lewis' biography of the aviator, Jimmy Woods. The papers include correspondence, Lewis' research letters and responses, a letter from Wood, his diary, interview transcripts, typescripts, a scrapbook of reviews and publicity notes, and four publications. There are two notebooks entitled 'Jimmy Woods' in series 2.
Series 11. Olga Masters, a lot of living, (1991), 1971-91
Olga Masters (1919-86) journalist, writer and mother of seven children was in her early sixties when her first book of fiction The Home Girls, was published in 1982.
This series contains research papers relating to Lewis' biography of the writer Olga Masters. It is the largest series in the collection. There are letters by Masters, tapes and transcripts of Lewis' interviews with Masters' family and friends, correspondence with publishers (University Queensland Press), D'Arcy Randall (Masters' book editor) and the writers, Bob Ellis, Les Murray, and Barry Oakley. In addition there are Lewis' notebooks, drafts, typescripts, proofs and audio tapes.
There are also papers on Masters' 1985 trip to Russia with the writers, Tom Shapcott and Chris Wallace-Crabbe. The series also comprises reviews of Lewis' biography and Masters' books. There are numerous photographs and posthumous material, mainly newspaper articles.
Correspondence, 1983-86, mainly letters between Masters and D'Arcy Randall (Masters book editor) (File 3) - Box 18
Barry Oakley's letter and report about writers visit to school with Masters and writing contract (File 13) - Box 19
Background research material and Masters' biographical note in the Contemporary Authors, Lewis' notes and other articles, 1982-85 (File 15) - Box 19
Research material of photographs of Masters, family, friends, other writers and Julie Lewis (File 16-17) - Box 19, Box 20
Audio tape interviews (File 18) - Box 20
Ann Whitehead and Deb [Masters] tape over; ?Blue Welsh and Austinmer? (Item NLA.MS-SAV003994) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, Sony MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Chris and Deb Masters (Item NLA.MS-SAV003995) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, Sony MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Olga Masters; Dorothy Jones (Item NLA.MS-SAV003996) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, Sony MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Lateline (Item NLA.MS-SAV003999) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, Aiwa MC-60, Microcassette / mini cassetteNo details (Item NLA.MS-SAV004001) - Cassette-Box 211
1 item, Sony MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Chris Masters 5.2.90 (Item NLA.MS-SAV003914) - Cassette-Box 203
1 item, TDK D90 Normal Position Type 1, Compact cassette tapeThelma Masters Cobargo Reading
Thelma Masters Sr. Bernadine Conargo Reading FAC Adelaide (Item NLA.MS-SAV003917) - Cassette-Box 203
1 item, TDK D90 Normal Position Type 1, Compact cassette tape
Roy Masters Igor Sehou Joan Wilson (Item NLA.MS-SAV003920) - Cassette-Box 203
1 item, Sony MC-60, Microcassette / mini cassetteSeries 12. Teenage fiction, 1988
Julie Lewis wrote her teenage novel Who do you love? under the pseudonym name of Marianne Vaughan. It was published by Greenhouse publications in 1988.
Series 13. Unpublished works, 1986
This series comprises typescripts of three unpublished works. The typescript 'Never closer to heaven' is a travel story about Lewis's trip to Nepal in 1985.
Class MS Acc01.237. Consignment added 2001
Comprises correspondence and further research material, including papers relating to Lewis' book Mary Martin, a double life: Australia-India, 1915-1973 (1997).
Contained in 2 archive cartons + 14 ms boxes + 1 folio box + 30 sound/av carriers.
Series. Audio cassettes (30)
Murthy [1] (Item NLA.MS-SAV004744) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Murthy [2] (Item NLA.MS-SAV004745) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Murthy [3] (Item NLA.MS-SAV004746) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
John Holds (Item NLA.MS-SAV004747) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Frank Talyer and Sheridan Melvin (Item NLA.MS-SAV004748) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Jenny Beck (Item NLA.MS-SAV004749) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Geoffrey M[?] and Staunton Mc[?] and Pru Lamotte (Item NLA.MS-SAV004750) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Ann Reis, Claudia Quinn Young (Item NLA.MS-SAV004751) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Peggy Holroyde 27/9/93 Catherine Vetel, 1993 (Item NLA.MS-SAV004752) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Shivaran [1] (Item NLA.MS-SAV004753) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Lex Cohen (Item NLA.MS-SAV004755) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Geoffrey Martin, Rosemary [?] (Item NLA.MS-SAV004756) - Cassette-Box 231
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
MM. Vellore Hospital (Item NLA.MS-SAV004758) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Notes Bob Clark (Item NLA.MS-SAV004759) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
John Holds (Item NLA.MS-SAV004760) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Notes Bob Clark (Item NLA.MS-SAV004761) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Notes MOP CAS On DIT MM. Books and prints (Item NLA.MS-SAV004762) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Dava Dallarety and Jean Pearce (Item NLA.MS-SAV004763) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Sheridan Melvin, Frank Talyer (Item NLA.MS-SAV004764) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Elliot Johnston, Mary Blank, Sheila Roberts (Item NLA.MS-SAV004766) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Judy McDowell, Mortlock Notes 20/8/94, 1994 (Item NLA.MS-SAV004767) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Don Filmer, Medlin (Item NLA.MS-SAV004768) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, TDK MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Don Filmer and Gordon Hatswell, Brian Meakin (Item NLA.MS-SAV004769) - Cassette-Box 238
1 item, SONY MC60, Microcassette / mini cassette