Guide to the Papers of Edith Harrhy

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MS 5414, MS Acc08.082

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: September 2025

Collection Summary

Creator
Edith Harrhy
Title
Papers of Edith Harrhy
Date Range
c.1800s - 2008
Collection Number
MS 5414, MS Acc08.082
Extent
3.60 metres (14 MS Boxes + 3 Small Folio Boxes + 1 Medium Folio Box)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

MS 5414 comprises photographs, an autograph book, student reports from Guildhall, and two scrapbooks containing cuttings, programs, music scores and some letters, including one from Peter Dawson. The second consignment is mainly music scores, including the operas Alaya, The jolly friar, the plays David and Myfanwy, Perhaps one day, and published works such as Some Australian songs for children and Four songs of Australia. There is also some correspondence with William F. Morriss, six discs and a manuscript titled 'Edith Harrhy musician extraordinaire: a personal memoir' by her daughter, Honor Marianne Coutts. The collection also includes about 154 letters to Harrhy from Con Daly. The MS Acc08.082 isntallment comprises letters, family photographs, manuscript and published music scores of Edith Harrhy's songs and other compositions, genealogical materials such as family trees, recital programs and clippings relating to performances of Harrhy's works, pay slips from ABC, and Edith Harrhy's biography titled 'A character reverence', by Honor Coutts.

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn692356).

Conditions Governing Use

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn692356).

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Edith Harrhy, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Provenance

The papers were donated to the National Library by Harrhy's daughter Mrs Honor Coutts in several instalments between 1971 and 1995. Papers were purchased by the Library from Mrs Coutts in 1997. Further papers were added in 2008. This collection also incorporates papers which were previously held at MS 2949.

Finding Aid Source(s)

Please note: This finding aid contains descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.

Biographical Note

Edith Harrhy, singer, pianist, and composer of songs and light opera, was born in London in December 1893. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London from 1909 to 1913. She married an Australian, W.C. Daly, in 1919, and later that year they settled in Melbourne. Harrhy gave recitals and broadcasts throughout Australia and in New Guinea. From 1935 to 1952 she was associated with the National Theatre Movement in Melbourne and was also musical director of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, the Lyric Light Opera Society, and other bodies. Her works include two light operas, 'Alaya' and 'The jolly Friar', and about 1000 songs, 200 of which were published. Harrhy died in Brisbane in 1969.

Item Descriptions

Class MS 5414. Original consignment

Students' reports from Guildhall School of Music, 1912-15; Address given by Nellie Melba 1911 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS 5414)

Autograph book and photographs (File 2) - Box 1 (MS 5414)

Correspondence with William F. Morriss, 1966-72 (File 3) - Box 1 (MS 5414)

Sepia photograph of Edith Harrhy (folio item) (Item 1) - Folio 1 (MS 5414)

Two scrapbooks containing programs, music scores and newspaper cuttings (folio item) (Item 2-3) - Folio 2-3 (MS 5414)

Class MS 5414. Consignment received February 1977

Alaya, music score (File 4-11) - Box 1 (MS 5414)

The jolly friar, music score (File 12-14) - Box 2 (MS 5414)

David and Myfanwy, music score (File 15-17) - Box 3 (MS 5414)

Baby asleep, music score (File 18) - Box 3 (MS 5414)

Lilly, music score (File 19) - Box 3 (MS 5414)

Mystery in the black forest, music score (File 20) - Box 3 (MS 5414)

Ballet suite for light orchestra, music score (File 21) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

The taming of the shrew, music score (File 22) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Some Australian songs for children (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Four songs of Australia (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Two songs of the sea (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Dusk (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Goblin Blues and others. (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Trumpet Overture (File 24) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Bass Overture (Bob Gibson and his band) (File 25) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Christmas carols (File 26) - Box 4 (MS 5414)

Miscellaneous music scores (File 27-32) - Box 5 (MS 5414)

The dreamland tree, printed score (File 33) - Box 5 (MS 5414)

Miscellaneous printed scores (File 35) - Box 5 (MS 5414)

'Perhaps one day' lyrics only (File 36) - Box 6 (MS 5414)

Musical play (no title) lyrics only (File 37) - Box 6 (MS 5414)

The jolly friar, score (folio item) (Item 4) - Folio 4-7 (MS 5414)

Lucky Lady, score (folio item) (Item 5-6) - Folio 4-7 (MS 5414)

Miscellaneous scores (folio item) (Item 7) - Folio 4-7 (MS 5414)

The sailor's wife, printed score (folio item) (Item 8) - Folio 4-7 (MS 5414)

Class MS 5414. Consignment received April 1993

Photocopies of letters (1902-92), scores and newspaper clippings. (File 38) - Box 6 (MS 5414)

The correspondents are Peter Dawson and Joseph D. O'Connor and there are copies of letters between Honor Coutts and Brian Wilkins.

Class MS 5414. Consignment received October 1995

154 letters to her husband Con Daly, 1918-19 (File 39-41) - Box 6 (MS 5414)

Class MS 5414. Consignment received August 1997

The papers in this addition include papers of Mrs Honor Coutts, written or assembled when she was writing a biography of her mother.

The papers include correspondence, personal documents, manuscripts, programs, cuttings, photographs, research notes, the unpublished biography of Harrhy, and manuscript music. Correspondents include Wilfrid Thomas, Peter Dawson, Marjorie Lawrence, Sir Charles Moses, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Conan Doyle, Joyce Grenfell and Felix Werder.

The Guildhall School of Music papers include letters to Harrhy (1909), achievement certificates (1910-14), letters to Harrhy and Con Daly (1918-19), typescripts by Harrhy on music in Australia, and issues of Guildhall Music Student with articles by Harrhy.

The programs, mainly of performances by Harrhy as a pianist and singer, also include some which feature her own compositions. The later programs are of musical comedies and other productions which Harrhy directed.

The large quantity of manuscript sheet music, mostly songs, includes files of music composed by Harrhy to words by Helen Dames, Sir William Watson, Alexander Steven, Charles Souter and Will Foster.

Family letters, including pre-marriage letters from Con Daly, 1915-68 (File 42) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Letters from Wilfrid Thomas, 1932-92 (File 43) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Letters from Maureen Watson, wife of composer Sir William Watson, 1933 (File 43) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Letters from Jess Appleby, 1934-35, and letters from Vicky Appleby to Coutts, 1993 (File 43) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

General correspondence, 1918-95 (File 44) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Correspondence re biography of Harrhy, 1980-92 (File 45) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Personal papers, 1914-87. Includes an address book begun in 1914 (File 46) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Lists of published and unpublished works by Harrhy, 1921-66 (File 46) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

'Lily', a musical play in two acts (typescript) (File 47) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

'No-man's island', a musical play in two acts, music by Edith Harrhy (File 48) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

'Old Moore's Almanac'; 'Christmas Eve'; 'A bushland fantasy' (typescripts) (File 48) - Box 7 (MS 5414)

Manuscript and typescript poetry and prose (File 49) - Box 8 (MS 5414)

Contracts and a power of attorney, 1925-58 (File 50) - Box 8 (MS 5414)

Papers relating to the Guildhall School of Music, 1909-31 (File 51) - Box 8 (MS 5414)

Newspaper cuttings and photocopies or typescripts of newspaper articles, 1919-1992 (File 52-54) - Box 8 (MS 5414)

Programs, 1910-67 (File 55) - Box 8 (MS 5414)

Research material of Honor Coutts, including notes on Harrhy family and typescript copies of newspaper articles used in the biography (File 56-57) - Box 9 (MS 5414)

Manuscript of 'Edith Harrhy - musician extraordinaire: a personal memoir by her daughter, Honor' (File 58) - Box 9 (MS 5414)

Edith Harrhy - Musician Extraordinaire by her daughter Honor Coutts (Item NLA.MS-DM000007) - Digital-Carriers-Box 1
1 item, Verbatim Valulife Double Density, 3.5 inch floppy disk

Photographs, mainly family, most in poor condition (File 59) - Box 9 (MS 5414)

Manuscript music scores (File [unnumbered]) - Box 10 (MS 5414)

Class MS Acc08.082. Consignment received May 2008

This consignment comprises letters, family photographs, manuscript and published music scores of Edith Harrhy's songs and other compositions, genealogical materials such as family trees, recital programs and clippings relating to performances of Harrhy's works, pay slips from ABC, and Edith Harrhy's biography titled 'A character reverence', by Honor Coutts.

Personal papers - Pat Jones Daly, 1970s (File 1) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes letters.

Legal documents of Daly, 1960s-1970s (File 2) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes legal documents, letters and rough sketch of family tree.

Papers on Daly family history, 2003 (File 3) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Daly and Beckx history, c.1930s-2000s (File 4a) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes spiral bound copy and draft of "Mudbrick Woman by Honor Coutts". Also includes photocopies of photographs.

35mm negatives - 5 negative strips - 16 images, n.d. (Items 4a.1-16) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Daly and Beckx history - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1934 - 1935 (File 4b) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes Australian Broadcasting Corporation appointment papers. Also includes two copies of "The Fintonian".

The Fintonian, Fintona Girls School, September 1938 (Item 4b.1) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)
The Fintonian, Fintona Girls School, June 1939 (Item 4b.2) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Personal papers - Honor Coutts, 1934 - 2000 (File 5) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes various stories written by Honor Coutts. Also includes school report.

Photographs and news clippings, c.1800s-1950 (File 6) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes 5 black and white photographs and two small newspaper clippings relating to Edith Harrhy.

Photographs - family, 1884 (File 7) - Box 1 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes 31 black and white photographs of Edith Harrhy and family. Also includes several photocopies of photographs.

Photographs - family, c.1800s-1950s (File 8) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes 42 black and white photographs and one colour photograph of various friends and family. Also includes a small photo album, likely belonging to Honor Coutts.

Photographs - portraits, c.1940s-1983 (File 9) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes 5 black and white portraits and a pen sketch of women at the beach.

Recital programmes and photocopies of photographs, c.1912-1940s (File 10) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Letters from Desmond O'Brien, c.1915 (File 11) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Letters from the National Library of Australia, c.1995 (File 12) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes letters. Also includes a music score for "Roses for the King" and list of works by Edith Harrhy.

Typewritten letters - Edith to Con, 1918 (File 13) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Album - Victorian Indian Famine Relief Fund - Melbourne Australia, c.1877 (File 14) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Content Warning: Includes photographs depicting victims of a famine.

Photographs and letters, c.1800s-1990 (File 15a) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes family photographs and letters.

Will - Constance Marie Elizabeth, 1936 (File 15b) - Box 2 (MS Acc08.082)

History of the Daly family, 1936 - 1999 (File 16) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes family trees and letters.

History of the Daly family, 1987 - 1993 (File 17) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes letter to Honor Coutts from Numa Michel Daly and background material related to the Daly family.

Eyre Notes and Queries, 1911 - 1912 (File 18) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes 4 copies. Numbers 3,5, 7 and 8.

Les Australasiennes, n.d. (File 19) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes one copy.

Various correspondence, 1902-1920s (File 20) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Letter, 4 June 1936 (File 21) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

"The Genealogy of the Antient Family O'Daly", n.d. (File 22) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes notebook with handwritten notes.

Draft of "A Character of Reverence", n.d. (File 23) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Previously housed in manilla folder.

Spiral bound copy of "A Character of Reverence", n.d. (File 24) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

O'Daly history research material and letters, 1918 - 1988 (File 25) - Box 3 (MS Acc08.082)

Daly history research material, c.1990s (File 26) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

New South Wales Government Gazette, 14 September 1886 (File 27) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Copy of The Eyres, 1865 - 1882 (File 28) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes history of The Eyres. This copy has been passed down from one generation to the next.

Research relating to the Beckx family, c.1800s-1902 (File 29) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes photocopies of material relating to Con Daly's Belgian mother and the Beckx family. Originally housed in blue manilla folder.

Family history, c.1800s-1902 (File 30) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes letters and personal papers.

Published music sheets by Edith Harrhy and others, n.d. (File 31) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Published music sheets by Edith Harrhy and others, n.d. (File 32) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes bound music scores.

Copy of "Chopin Etudes and Preludes", c.1910s (File 33) - Box 4 (MS Acc08.082)

Published music sheets by Edith Harrhy and others, c.1920s (File 34) - Box 5 (MS Acc08.082)

Also includes letters.

Published music sheets - recital programs and letters, 1910s-2008 (File 35) - Box 5 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes music sheets, recital programs, letters and research material related to Edith Harrhy.

Published music sheets by Edith Harrhy and others, c.1950s (File 36) - Box 5 (MS Acc08.082)

Also includes letters.

Published music sheets by Edith Harrhy and others, n.d. (File 37) - Box 5 (MS Acc08.082)

Music sheet for "Honey Bun", n.d. (File 38) - Box 5 (MS Acc08.082)

Includes photocopy of music score. Previously housed in "Singer Business Machines" binder.


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