Guide to the Papers of Colin Thiele

Series 1. General correspondence, 1939-92 - Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6, Box 7, Box 8, Box 9, Box 10, Box 11, Box 12, Box 13

Thiele retained extensive correspondence from 1939 onwards. It relates to Thiele's career with the South Australian Department of Education and his broadcasting activities with the Australian Broadcasting Commission. There is also much correspondence with other writers and publishers, such as Walter McVitty, Jacaranda, Oxford University Press, Collins, Angus and Robertson, E.S Wigg and Georgian House.

There are also correspondence with the South Australian Arthritis and Rheumatism Association and requests for various speaking engagements.

Copies of Thiele's letters, especially after the mid-1970s, are included.

The main correspondents include Ray Mathew, R.G. Howarth, Eve Langley, Vivian Smith, Bruce Dawe, David Martin, S.J. Baker, Frank Dalby Davison, Grace Perry, Douglas Stewart, Judith Wright, Edna Walling, Roland Robinson, Olaf Ruhen, Rex Ingammels, Geoffrey Dutton, Penny Chapman, Barbara Leach, Felicity Shea, Joyce Morley, Aviva Ziegler, Patricia Adams, Jane Covernton, Suzanne Wilson, Brigitta Gahrton and Margaret Wild.

Letter from Jonathon Appleton to Colin Thiele.

Series 2. Children's correspondence, 1961-92 - Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17, Box 18, Box 19, Box 20, Box 21

Thiele received a large number of letters written by children and their teachers from all parts of Australia and overseas. The children gave their views on the books they have read; some of these are part of their book review assignments. Copies of Thiele's replies are often included. The series also include birthday cards made and sent by children.

Letter from Hamish Jones to Colin Thiele.

Letter from Anthea Howard to Colin Thiele, and Thiele's reply (3pp plus a drawing of a cat).

Letter from Roydon Pye to Colin Thiele, and Thiele's reply (2 pp).

Letter from Trudi Reiter to Colin Thiele (3pp).

Letter and drawing by Wendy Sutton to Colin Thiele (2 pp.).

Letter from Kim Wilkins to Colin Thiele (2pp).

Series 3. Personal Papers, 1920-85 (restricted) - Box 22-23A

The series includes correspondence with Thiele's wife Rhonnie while on a study tour of the United States (1958-59); birthday and father's day cards from Rhonnie and the children (1977-83); letters and telegrams, some sent on Thiele's wedding day photographs (1952-81); financial papers (1952-75) and miscellaneous documents (such as a passport and a driver's license).

Series 4. Papers relating to Thiele's autobiography, 1974-82 - Box 23

Transcripts and a few correspondence relating to the National Library oral history interviews (1974 with Suzanne Walker and 1977 with Hazel de Berg). The series also includes a typescript entitled 'Mini autobiography' (1982).

The correspondents are Graeme Powell and Mark Cranfield.

Series 5. Writings for children, 1952-93 - Box 24, Box 25, Box 26, Box 27, Box 28, Box 29, Box 30, Box 31, Box 32, Box 33, Box 34, Box 35, Box 36

The series comprises handwritten drafts, typescripts (including corrected typescripts and final copies), background material and illustrations for over 50 children books (fiction, non-fiction and poetry) and book reviews.

For the list of titles see Appendix 2.

Series 6. Writings for adults, 1933-88 - Box 37, Box 38, Box 39, Box 40, Box 41, Box 42, Box 43

Most of Thiele's books for adults are non-fiction, including poetry and historical writings set in South Australia. Some of these works remain unpublished. The hand written drafts, typescripts (corrected typescripts and the final copies), research material and book reviews have been arranged in chronological order.

See also Appendix 2.

Series 7. Films, 1974-88 - Box 43, Box 44, Box 45

A number of Thiele's books have been made into films. They are Storm Boy, Water trolley, Blue Fin, Fire in the stone, The South Australians and The Story makers. The papers include typescripts of film scripts and screen plays, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and leaflets.

Series 8. Broadcasts, 1945-78 - Box 46, Box 47, Box 48, Box 49

Thiele was for many years a regular schools broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Typescripts of the broadcasts and some miscellaneous correspondence are included in this series.

Series 9. Speeches and addresses, 1952-80 - Box 49, Box 50

Thiele has been a speaker at schools and Teachers Colleges, art shows and commemorative ceremonies. The papers in this series comprise invitations to speak and typescripts of the speeches.

Series 10. Wattle Park Teachers College, 1962-80 - Box 50

Thiele was Principal (1965-73) and Director (1974-80) of the Wattle Park Teachers College (later known as the Wattle Park Teachers Centre). The small group of papers in this series relate to his work for the college, including best wishes and retirement cards sent to Thiele in 1980.

Series 11. Tour of the United States, 1958-1959 - Box 51

In 1958 Thiele was awarded a Fulbright-Smith-Mundt scholarship to attend the International Teacher Development Program in Arizona State College in Tempe, Arizona, USA. The series comprise correspondence, notebook/diary, a copy of Thiele's report and some printed material.

The main correspondents are J. Sebald, Winston G. Nethery, R.S. Coggins, Richard Adler, J.B. Barnes, Ann Lachlan and John Ingamells.

Correspondence with his wife, Rhonnie, written while in America, can be found in Series 3.

Series 12. Other activities, 1974-81 - Box 51, Box 52, Box 53, Box 54

Thiele played an active role in various organisations such as the Commonwealth Literary Fund and the Australian Society of Authors and he was involved in various projects. The series comprises the following groups of papers:

1. Australian Society of Authors(Thiele was the President in 1989): newsletters, annual reports, financial papers and leaflets.

2. Commonwealth Literary Fund (Thiele was a Fellow in 1962): correspondence and papers relating to Lecture Tours of Western Australia (1962) and New South Wales (1964). The correspondents include Pamela Casey, John Penfold, Anthony King and Donovan Clarke.

3. International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Australian Section: correspondence and leaflets. The correspondent is Ena Noel.

4. Austrian Children's Book Prize: papers relating to Thiele's visit to Austria and Germany to receive awards for the German editions of Sknuks and The Hammerhead light

5. Hans Heysen: correspondence with Geoffrey Serle concerning Heysen's entry for the Australian Dictionary of Biography and papers relating to Thiele's writings on Heysen for Don Cornes of the International Printmakers' House. See Series 6 for Heysen of Hahndorf.

6. Miscellaneous files: relating to plays edited by Thiele, including The living stage and Plays for young people; and Ranger's territory by Frank Woerle from a story told by Thiele. Material pertaining to lecture tours of Melbourne (1962-63) and Tasmania (1968); Literature in Australian Schools: intensive adult education course to study various aspects of Australian Literature, held at the University of Adelaide, May 1972; and games and puzzles created by Jonathan Appleton based on Thiele's books (1987).

7. Requests to reproduce Thiele's writings: requests from publishers to reproduce poems or parts of Thiele's books in different formats, such school text books. The correspondents include Joan Mcfarlane, Cynthia Graham, Carol Barrie, Gillian Cardinal, Alison Rowe, Margaret Parry, Margaret Craddock, Tom Hayllar and Mary Abela.

Series 13. Writings about Thiele, 1974-81 - Box 55

A number of essays and a thesis have been written about Colin Thiele. This series contain a thesis by Annette Keil (1981), an article by Rosemary Wighton (1978), and essays by John Prance (1980) and Beryl Hazlewood (1974).

Series 14. Cuttings, 1944-1991 - Box 55

4 folders.

Series 15. Miscellaneous, 1965-1986 - Box 56

Contains videos, films and a small amound of miscellaneous printed material.