Guide to the Papers of Brenda Niall

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MS 7401, MS Acc06.113

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Brenda Niall
Title
Papers of Brenda Niall
Date Range
1911-1991
Collection Number
MS 7401, MS Acc06.113
Extent
2.83 metres (14 boxes, 1 folder, 1 folio box)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2263568).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Brenda Niall, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

MS 7401 was donated to the Library in two instalments in October 1987 (Series 1) and April 1995 (Series 2 - 5) under the Taxation Incentive for the Arts Scheme. MS Acc06.113 was added to the collection in 2006.

Arrangement

Niall kept her papers in good working order, and the Library has maintained this arrangement.

Finding Aid Source(s)

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

Collection Retrieval Advice

Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there may be multiple Box 1s). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Bibliography

Dr Niall's books include: Martin Boyd: a bibliography (1977) Seven little Billabongs: the world of Ethel Turner and Mary Grant Bruce (1979) Australia through the looking glass: children's fiction 1830-1980 (1984) [a social history of children's fiction with Frances O’Neill] Martin Boyd, a life (1988) Georgiana: a biography of Georgiana McCrae, painter, diarist, pioneer (1994) She has also edited: The Oxford book of Australian schooldays (1997) [with Ian Britain] The Oxford book of Australian letters (1998) [with John Thompson]

Biographical Note

Brenda Niall

Brenda Niall was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1930. She gained her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne prior to moving to the Australian National University where she gained her MA. In 1964 she took up an appointment as a teaching fellow with the English Department at Monash University where she gained her PHD. She became a Senior Lecturer in 1975 and a Reader in 1994.

Dr Niall has held visiting fellowships at Michigan and Yale Universities. She was American Council of Learned Societies Visiting Research Fellow in 1975 and Visiting Scholar, Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University, in 1983 and 1987.

Dr Niall retired from her position as Reader in English Literature at Monash University of Victoria in 1995. She was the recipient of the Nettie Palmer Award for non-fiction in the Victorian Premier's awards for Georgiana: a biography of Georgina McCrae, painter, diarist, pioneer. Her biography Martin Boyd: a life received the National Book Council (Banjo) Award in 1989.

Martin à Beckett Boyd

Martin à Beckett Boyd was born in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1893 of Anglo-Australian parents. He was brought to Australia at six months old. Boyd was a member of a distinguished artistic family. His father, Arthur Merric Boyd, and his mother, Emma Minnie à Beckett, were painters; his brother Merric was a potter and Penleigh a painter.

Boyd's original areas of interest were theology and architecture. He joined an English regiment at the start of World War One, and later the Royal Flying Corps, serving in France from 1915-18. His experiences there permanently influenced his attitude to war and the British ruling class and he became both anti-authoritarian and a pacifist. After a short time with his parents in Melbourne in 1921 he returned to England where he undertook a religious vocation in a Franciscan order in the Church of England. It was after this he started his career as a novelist.

Boyd's writing reflects a strong sense of tradition and aristocratic, anti-bourgeois beliefs, pacifism and cultural ties to both Europe and Australia. His first major work The Montforts(1928) received the Australian Literature Society's gold medal. Among his most striking literary achievement areLucinda Brayford (1946) and the Langton tetralogy: The cardboard crown (1952), A difficult young man (1955), Outbreak of love (1957) and When blackbirds sing (1962).

Boyd returned to Australian in 1948 and settled in his grandfather's house at Berwick. However ill health and dissatisfaction with post-war Australian life led him to return to England in 1951 where he remained until 1957, when he moved to Rome. He died there in June 1972.

Item Descriptions

Class MS 7401. Original Consignment

Comprises 40 letters received by Brenda Niall while researching her book Australia through the looking-glass: children's fiction 1830-1980; drafts of her book Martin Boyd: a life and correspondence relating to its publication; copies of official documents and papers accumulated while researching Martin Boyd; copies of notes by other researchers, particularly Terry O'Neill; interview transcripts, photographs and copies of Boyd's novels, short stories and poems. The correspondents include Nance Donkin, Simon French, Eleanor Spence, Colin Thiele, Patricia Wrightson, Ruth Park, Desmond O'Grady, Arthur and Yvonne Boyd, Geoffrey Dutton, Alan Shadwick, Terry O'Neill and Graham Pollard.

Contained in 14 boxes, 1 fol. box.

Series 1. Australia through the looking glass - letters from writers, 1981-1982

This series contains 40 letters received by Brenda Niall while researching her book Australia through the looking glass: children's fiction 1830-1980 (1987). The letters are from writers of Australian children's books in reply to a questionnaire sent by Brenda Niall requesting details of their experiences and views on ‘the emergence of a distinctively Australian literature for children'. Copies of the questionnaire are included. Writers who replied to the questionnaire included Nance Donkin, Simon French, Ruth Manley, Ruth Park, Eleanor Spence, Colin Thiele and Patricia Wrightson (2 letters).

A copy of the questionnaire form sent by Niall, together with letters of response., 1981-1982 (File 1) - Box 1

Series 2. Martin Boyd: a life, correspondence, 1972-1986

This series contains letters to and from Brenda Niall while researching her book Martin Boyd: a life (1988). Also included are copies of her original letters. The correspondents include Desmond O'Grady, Geoffrey Dutton, Graham Pollard, Alan Shadwick, Shelley Fausset, Isla à Beckett Marsh and Terry O'Neill.

Correspondence with Desmond O'Grady, 1972-1984 (File 1) - Box 1
Correspondence with Geoffrey Dutton, 1973-1985 (File 2) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1970-1985 (File 3) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1977-1987 (File 4) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1982-1988 (File 5) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1988-1990 (File 6) - Box 1
Correspondence, A-L, 1985-1986 (File 7) - Box 1
Correspondence, M-Z, 1984-1986 (File 8) - Box 1

Series 3. Martin Boyd: a life - research materials, 1923-1989

This series contains copies of letter from Martin Boyd received by others; notes and copies of official documents and papers held privately and in institutions including publishers' archives; references, index cards, photocopies of printed sources, annotated books, a copy of a thesis on Penleigh Boyd; notes by other researchers, particularly Terry O' Neill on visits to family members; photographs and lists of where the original photographs were held.

Copies of Martin Boyd's letters A-E. Correspondents include Joan Burnett, W. R. Crocker and Curtis Brown (publishers), 1923-1971 (File 1-4) - Box 2
Copies of Martin Boyd's letters F-L. Correspondents include Shelley Fausset, Rachel Geering and R. D. FitzGerald, 1926-1983 (File 5-6) - Box 2
Copies of Martin Boyd's letters L-Z. Correspondents include Marion McNaughton, Isla à Beckett Marsh, Lloyd O'Neill, Graham Pollard and Alan Shadwick, 1919-1971 (File 7-8) - Box 3
Copies of letters from Martin Boyd to Guy and Phyllis Boyd, 1961-1972 (File 9-10) - Box 3
Correspondence between Martin Boyd and Arthur and Yvonne Boyd (copies), 1955-1985 (File 11) - Box 3
Letters from Martin Boyd to Arthur Boyd (copies), 1953-1972 (File 12) - Box 3
Letters from Martin Boyd to Arthur and Guy Boyd, 1964-1973 (File 13) - Box 3
Letters about Martin Boyd. Correspondents include Alan Shadwick and Terry O'Neill, 1978-1982 (File 14) - Box 4
Letters from Martin Boyd to Joan Lindsay and Mim Pollak, 1940-1968 (File 15) - Box 4
Letters from Dallas Kenmare to Martin Boyd, 1960-1965 (File 16) - Box 4
Letters from Martin Boyd to Dallas Kenmare, 1960-1965 (File 17) - Box 4
Copy of Letters from Martin Boyd (1950-71) by Quin Geering, 1983 (File 18) - Box 4
J.G. Murray correspondence. Correspondents include John Grey Murray, John Bull and A. D. Peters, 1956-1972 (File 19) - Box 4
James B. Pinker correspondence (James Pinker & Sons Inc. Literary, Dramatic and Motion Picture Agents). Correspondents include D. L. Chambers and Nancy Wyatt Greene, 1926-1978 (File 20-21) - Box 4
Boyd family. Includes copies of wills and receipts from the Office of Probates and index cards on the exhibitions of Emma Minnie Boyd, 1860-1983 (File 22) - Box 5
Captain J. T. T. Boyd. Includes copies of death notices, certificates and extracts from published sources, 1908-1986 (File 23) - Box 5
Captain J. T. T. Boyd 'Glenfern'. Includes copies of newspaper articles on Glenfern and a handwritten list of references to Glenfern from La Trobe University, 1882-1986 (File 24) - Box 5
à Beckett family. Includes a list of newspaper references to Emma à Beckett paintings, extracts from her diaries and a copy of a thesis on Sir William à Beckett, 1832-1985 (File 25) - Box 5
Sir William à Beckett. Includes a list of references to Literary news (1837) and extracts from the Melbourne monthly magazine (1855), 1789-1987 (File 26) - Box 5
Copies of Argus references to Sir William à Beckett, 1849-1953 (File 27) - Box 5
Dr Robert Martin. Includes a copy of the death notice of Dr Martin from the Argus, 1874, 1789-1986 (File 28 + Folio 1) - Box 5 + folio box 1
John Mills. Includes a transcript from the Surgeon's report from the Marion (1845) and correspondence between Brenda Niall and the Bristol City Records Office, 1826-1987 (File 29-30 + Folio 2) - Box 6 + folio box 1
Mills/Robinson dispute. Includes copies of the Victorian Law Times and the Observer from May 1856 regarding the legal dispute over John Mill's will, 1856-1984 (File 31) - Box 6
Wills, Probate records. Includes copies of the wills of John Mills, Emma à Beckett and Martin à Beckett Boyd, 1854-1987 (File 32 + Folio 3) - Box 6 + folio box 1
Julian Ashton Geering, undated. Includes a copy of Martin Boyd's horoscope (File 33) - Box 6
Letters from Brian Marsh and Guy Boyd granting permission to Brenda Niall to quote from the papers of Isla Marsh and Martin Boyd. A copy of Hannah Robinson's will, undated, 1987 (File 34) - Box 6
Boyd family: Emma Minnie, Arthur Merric and Gilbert. Includes Niall's notes on Emma Minnie; list of exhibitions of Emma Minnie's art work; copies of the wills of Emma Minnie and Arthur Merric; typescript of a letter from Emma Minnie to Annie Langford (1896); transcript of Argus report on the death of Gilbert Boyd (1896) (File 35) - Box 6
Arthur Merric Boyd. Includes copy of an extract from the Australian Dictionary of Biography, and a typed list of records checked from the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, 1911-1984 (File 36) - Box 7
Copies of poems and stories written by Emma Minnie Boyd, 1932 (File 37-38) - Box 7
William Merric Boyd. Research material, 1911-1987 (File 39) - Box 7
Penleigh Boyd. Includes a list of letters to Edith Boyd in the Australian War Memorial; a copy of an extract from Salvage with drawings by Penleigh Boyd, published by the British Australasian, 1918-1923 (File 40) - Box 7
Thesis on Penleigh Boyd by Hamish McDonald, 1986 (File 41-42) - Box 7
Copies of extracts from Fanny Barbour's diary, 1887-1985 (File 43) - Box 8
Copies of auction notices for Penleigh House, 1897, 1966; clippings relating to Brighton Lodge (c. 1980) and Wilton; article about the à Beckett family, Australian women's weekly, 18 June 1958 (File 44) - Box 8
World War One. Includes an information booklet on Boyd's regiment; a list of Boyd's services and promotions; an original letter from Helen Harben to Brenda Niall regarding Boyd's time in England in the 1920s, 1915-1987 (File 45) - Box 8
List of Boyd's residential addresses from 1957-72; copies of the British Australasian (1922-72) (File 46) - Box 8
Copy of Frank Davidson's article 'Australia's challenge to Martin Boyd' published in Spar in 1987; copies of Table talk (1890); copies of the series list from the Martin Boyd Papers at the National Library of Australia. Martin Boyd, biographical details and family background, 1920-84. Includes copies of newspaper articles written after his death in 1972; notes on his association with the Melbourne Club; notes on Luciano Trombini taken from Boyd's diary (File 47) - Box 8
Martin Boyd's early records: school/family/home. Includes a copy of an article written by Martin Boyd on Trinity Grammar School; a copy of article written by Joan Lindsay for Overland (1985) entitled 'Student days'., 1917-1986 (File 48) - Box 8
Copies of Table talk (1890); copy of an article by Paul M. St Pierre entitled Martin Boyd: the last years; copies of photographs of Martin Boyd (File 49) - Box 8
Copies of newspaper articles on Martin Boyd, 1929-1972 (File 50) - Box 8
Pacifist materials. Includes copies of 'I sit at the window' by Stephen Spender (undated) and 'Haunted' by Walter de la Mare (undated); a copy of a letter from Shelley Fausset to Terry O'Neill explaining Boyd's role in producing pacifist broadsheets, 1978 (File 51) - Box 9
Copies of extracts from Alan Shadwick's diaries with notes on references to Martin Boyd, 1946-1956 (File 52-53) - Box 9
Notes made by Brenda Niall and Geoffrey Dutton from Emma à Beckett's diaries, 1837-1905 (File 54) - Box 9
Notes made by Brenda Niall from Martin Boyd's diaries, 1953-1972 (File 55-56) - Box 9-10
Photographs of the Boyd and à Beckett families.. Mostly prints with small number of originals; transparencies of paintings 'The Grange interior with Figures 1875' by Emma Minnie Boyd and ‘à Beckett Road, Harkaway' by Arthur Boyd, 1949, 1860-1965 (File 57) - Box 10
Notes made by Brenda Niall from the Terry O'Neill interviews, 1972-1982 (File 58) - Box 10
Notes made by Brenda Niall on family sources used in Martin Boyd's novels., 1985 (File 59) - Box 10
Typescript of an interview with Joan Burnett talking about Boyd's time in Italy (undated); notes made by Brenda Niall from an interview with Bill and Joan à Beckett, 1985 (File 60) - Box 10
Anne, Arthur and Yvonne Boyd. Includes typed notes on Anne Boyd and handwritten notes from an interview with Martin Boyd, 1984-1986 (File 61) - Box 10
Interview notes; including 16 cassettes of interviews conducted by Brenda Niall, 1985-1989 (File 62-63) - Box 11
Transcripts of Terry O'Neill interviews on Martin Boyd. Interviewees include Alan Shadwick, F.A.W. Mann and Lady Hay (File 64) - Box 11
Published sources including Sir William's muse by Clifford Pannam (1992) and Merric Boyd: the late drawings by Gavin Fry (1985) (File 65) - Box 11
Typed list of materials and sources used during the research for Martin Boyd; a life. Undated, not checked by Brenda Niall (File 66) - Box 11

Series 4. Martin Boyd writings, 1911-1985

This series contains photocopies and transcripts of Boyd's letters to newspapers; lists of his reviews; lists of his literary contracts and photocopies of Boyd's novels.

Photocopies of poems written by Boyd; copies of newspapers and publications containing his work including the British Australasian, the Westminster Gazette and The book lover., 1911-1943 (File 1) - Box 12
Copy of The aristocrat - a memoir, 1928 (File 2) - Box 12
Copy of The Madeleine heritage, 1928 (File 3) - Box 12
Copies of ‘The cat's tail', ‘They have ears', ‘A dream realised' and ‘Expatriates dine', Short stories written by Martin Boyd, 1929-1969 (File 4) - Box 12
Copies of handwritten poems by Martin Boyd, including ‘Certainty', ‘King's Chapel' and ‘To Margaret who is ill'; copy of a handwritten unfinished poem; copy of a handwritten fragment of a play by Boyd; copy of an article written with Shelley Fausset entitled ‘What will happen if I don't fight Hitler', 1943-1979 (File 5) - Box 12
Photocopies of newspaper articles written by Martin Boyd, 1920-1961 (File 6) - Box 12
Photocopies of letters to newspapers, written by Martin Boyd, 1942-1968 (File 7) - Box 12
Photocopies of book reviews written on Boyd's novels, 1920-1985 (File 8-9) - Box 13
Typescript of letter from Ian Donaldson relating his mother's (Elizabeth Weigall) speculation on sources for Lucinda Brayford 1978; copy of an article by Brenda Niall on The Montfords (1978) published by the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand. Family sources on Martin Boyd's novels (1978). Commentary on Martin Boyd's novels (File 10) - Box 13
Copy of Brangane: a memoir by Martin Mills, 1921 (File Folio 4) - Box Folio box 1

Series 5. Martin Boyd, a life , 1985-1991

This series contains notes and handwritten drafts of chapters; copies of the final draft; notes for an unpublished lecture on Martin Boyd; letters received by Brenda Niall after publication commenting on the book, cuttings and photocopies of reviews

Chapter notes and copies of Boyd family letters, 1891-1998 (File 1) - Box 13
Notes made by Brenda Niall on chapter 2 including early handwritten drafts, undated (File 2) - Box 13
Final draft with publisher's layout and notes; including a final draft on disc, 1988 (File 3-4) - Box 14
Reviews and letters. Includes copies of letters from Sir Paul Hasluck, A. J. Hassall, Lloyd O'Neil, Sir Walter Crocker, Joan Ells and Alan Shadwick; newspaper cuttings of reviews, including a review by Manning Clark and an article on Niall receiving the Banjo award, 1985-1991 (File 5) - Box 14

Class MS Acc06.113. Consignment Added 2006

Comprises a typescript of an interview conducted in 1985 by Desmond O'Grady with Luciano Tombini, an Italian boy who was very important to Martin Boyd when he settled in Rome.

Contained in 1 folder.


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