Guide to the Papers of Gwen Stockfeld
MS 9228
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Gwen Stockfeld
- Title
- Papers of Gwen Stockfeld
- Date Range
- 1864-1996
- Collection Number
- MS 9228
- Extent
- 1.82 metres (13 boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises handwritten drafts and typescripts of Stockfeld's unpublished memoirs Cream Puffs and Cow Pats and Grandpa's Wooden Dentures; related papers including publishing correspondence, notes and research material; notes and exercises from writing classes; personal correspondence; and financial papers.
The personal correspondence includes letters from relatives, friends, neighbours, and writing classmates. The principal correspondents include Marian Eldridge, David Stockfeld, Ken Eldridge, David Eldridge, James Eldridge, Elizabeth Eldridge, Catherine Eldridge, Margaret Murray, Sue Stockfeld, Rebecca Stockfeld, Simon Stockfeld, Sally Stockfeld, Martin Stockfeld, Ted Ford, Dorothy Meissner, Iris Stockfeld, Doris Brisbane, and Avril McBurnie.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn529869).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Gwen Stockfeld, National Library of Australia, MS 9228, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was received in two instalments. The Library purchased a copy of Gwen Stockfeld's manuscript Cream Puffs and Cow Pats in September 1988, while the remainder of the collection was purchased from Ken Eldridge in May 1997.
Related Materials
The Library holds the papers of Stockfeld's daughter, the short story writer and novelist Marian Eldridge (MS 9227).
Arrangement
Stockfeld kept her papers in good order, and the Library has maintained this arrangement.
Biographical Note
Gwendoline May Favel Stockfeld (nee Stott) was born in Melbourne on 26 August 1908. In 1935 she married Brian Stockfeld and moved to 'The Gap', a small farm near Lancefield, Victoria. They had two children, Marian Eldridge and David Stockfeld. After her husband's death in 1971 Stockfeld moved from the property and began writing an account of their life together, Cream Puffs and Cow Pats. She also worked on an account of her childhood, Grandpa's Wooden Dentures. These works remain unpublished. Stockfeld belonged to the Adult Education Association of Victoria writer's group, and the Society of Women Writers (Australia). Stockfeld died in Melbourne on 21 April 1997.
Item Descriptions
Class [unnumbered]. Original consignment
Series 1. Letters of Marian Eldridge, 1942-95
Stockfeld and her daughter Marian Eldridge were regular correspondents for over thirty years. This series contains a long sequence of letters from Eldridge, discussing her time at boarding school and University, her marriage, children, and writing activities.
Series 2. Letters of David Stockfeld and family, 1954-94
The series comprises letters to Brian and Gwen Stockfeld from their son David Stockfeld and his family, including his first wife Margaret Murray, second wife Sue Stockfeld, and children Rebecca, Simon, Sally, and Martin Stockfeld. The letters contain family news.
Series 3. Letters of the Stockfeld and Eldridge grandchildren, 1968-95
The series includes letters from Stockfeld's eight grandchildren containing family news.
Series 4. Letters of relatives and friends, 1966-96
Stockfeld corresponded with numerous relatives, friends, neighbours, and writing classmates. The principal correspondents include Ted Ford, Vic Bean, Margaret Murray, Dorothy Meissner, Iris Stockfeld, Allan Burnet, Doris Brisbane and Avril McBurnie.
Series 5. Papers of Burrows and Stott families, 1864-1986
The series consists of papers relating to Stockfeld's manuscript Grandpa's Wooden Dentures (an unfinished recollection of her childhood in Melbourne), as well as various papers relating to George Stott (her father) and John and Hannah Burrows (her maternal grandparents). These papers include research material on the Burrows and Stott families, drafts of the manuscript, photographs, photocopies of photographs, newspaper cuttings and related correspondence.
Series 6. Cream Puffs and Cow Pats, 1972-1996
Cream Puffs and Cow Pats is an account of life on a small mixed farm in central Victoria from 1935 to 1971. The series includes drafts of the work, many annotated with comments from writing classmates and Marian Eldridge, as well as typescripts, photographs, a bound copy of the finished manuscript, and correspondence regarding publication.
Class [unnumbered]. Consignment received 14 November 2002
Series 7. Other writings, 1957-94
Stockfeld belonged to a number of writing societies, such as the Australian Education Association of Victoria, where she took part in various writing classes. The series includes notebooks, drafts of short stories, correspondence, research material, and copies of the published short stories. Those published include 'Andrew the errand boy', 'Mystery lady', 'Noah and the flash flood', 'A Christmas special' and 'Friends'.