Guide to the Papers of Libby Gleeson
MS 9229.MS Acc14.071
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Libby Gleeson
- Title
- Papers of Libby Gleeson
- Date Range
- 1977 - 2012
- Collection Number
- MS 9229.MS Acc14.071
- Extent
- 4.95 metres (33 ms boxes + 6 sound/av carriers + 4 digital carriers)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
MS 9229 includes: 1. Correspondence with publishers, Gleeson's literary agent, Australian illustrators and children. 2. Drafts of Eleanor Elizabeth, I am Susannah, Dodger, Love me, love me not, One Sunday, Mum goes to work, Where's Mum?, Big dog, Uncle David, Sleep time, The princess and the perfect dish and of television scripts for "Bananas in pyjamas" and "Magic Mountain". 3. Other writings, reviews, publicity material, photographs, newspaper cuttings and material relating to the Melbourne and Sydney Writers' Festivals, Public Lending Right Committee, Children's Book Council of Australia. Principal correspondents are Aiden Chambers, Jenny Rowe, Larry Lucas, Naida Wheatley, Craig Smith, Armin Greder, Donna Rawlins and Jill Hickson (25 boxes).
MS Acc14.071 contains papers relating to many of Gleeson's books including Hannah Plus One, Hannah the Famous, Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, Writing Hannah, The Rum Rebellion, Ray's Olympics, Skating on Sand and Uncle David. The papers include notebooks with early notes for most titles, printed drafts (most hand-annotated), publishers proofs, cover ideas, research material such as ephemera, reviews, promotional material and book-sellers catalogues. There are also papers relating to short stories (including contracts and correspondence with publishers), and typed speeches given in various educational settings and libraries. (8 boxes).
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1927367).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Libby Gleeson, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Provenance
The initial instalment of papers was purchased by the Library from Libby Gleeson in 1998. Further papers were purchased in 2014.
Arrangement
Libby Gleeson kept her papers in good order with most of her material in labelled files. The order has been preserved by the Library with the file titles and notes recorded on the folders and in the descriptive list.
Collection Retrieval Advice
Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.
Finding Aid Source(s)
Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.
Biographical Note
Elizabeth (Libby) Gleeson was born at Young, New South Wales, 19 September 1950, the daughter of Bill and Gwynn Gleeson. When she was three years old, the family moved to Glenn Innes where her father took the position of English/History Master at the Glenn Innes High School. In 1960 her father was appointed Deputy Principal of the Dubbo High School and the family moved to Dubbo.
Gleeson attended the Dubbo Primary and Dubbo High Schools where she had a distinguished academic, sporting and debating career. In 1970 Gleeson entered the University of Sydney to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated in 1973 with honours in history and completed a Diploma in Education in 1974. Gleeson taught English and History with the New South Wales Department of Education at Picton High School for two years until she resigned to travel overseas.
Gleeson spent five years living and travelling in England and Europe before returning to Australia in 1980. While in England she did further academic studies to qualify as a teacher of English as a second language (ESL). She taught ESL in England and Italy between 1976 and 1980.
In 1981 Libby Gleeson married Euan Tovey, a New Zealand research scientist in biochemistry. They have three children, Amelia, born 1982, Josephine, born 1985 and Jessica, born 1987.
As well as writing, parenting and community activities, Gleeson has been variously employed as a teacher of ESL at the University of New South Wales, a coordinator of teacher training programs in ESL, an occasional lecturer in children's literature and creative writing to post-graduate students at the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and University of Western Sydney and to teachers' and librarians' professional associations.
Gleeson's other activities and awards include:
1986, 1987 - recipient of a fellowship for new writers from the Literature Board of the Australia Council
1992, 1993 - supported by a category A fellowship from the Literature Board
1989-1997 - writer representative on the Public Lending Right Committee
1991-1997 - Deputy Chair of the Public Lending Right Committee
1998 - executive member of the Australian Society of Authors
1994-1997 - Committee member for the Sydney Writers' Festival
1998 - Board member of the Sydney Writers' Festival
1997 - Lady Cutler Award for Services to Children's Literature.
Gleeson's novels and short stories are written for children of various ages from pre-schoolers to teenagers. In her stories, she explores a wide range of social issues, emotions and problems associated with growing up, such as, fear, jealousy, loneliness, conflict and death. Gleeson's work has consistently received good reviews and many of her books have won awards. Several of her works are available in braille and as sound recordings and have also been published in the United States and translated into foreign languages including Danish, Italian, German and Dutch.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 9229. Consignment received 1998, 1977-1997
This consignment includes correspondence, notebooks, drafts of published and unpublished writings, drafts and copies of speeches and talks, reviews, newspaper clippings, photographs, printed material and papers relating to Gleeson's community activism.
The major correspondents are Robert Sessions, Jenny Rowe, Larry Lucas, Aidan Chambers, Jill Hickson, Nadia Wheatley, Diana Greentree, Margaret Wild, Jane Converton, Penny Matthews, Donna Rawlins, Craig Smith, Armin Greder and Mark Barnard. Copies of some of Gleeson's letters are included.
Series 1. Eleanor Elizabeth, 1984
Eleanor Elizabeth, Libby Gleeson's first book, was begun while she was living in England. Written for children of pre-adolescent years, and published in 1984, the book won the Angus & Robertson Award for Writers for Young Readers, 1984, was Highly Commended for the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award, 1985, and short listed for the Guardian Newspaper's Award for Children, 1985, the South Australian Premier's Award, 1985 and the New South Wales Premier's Awards, 1985.
The series consists of notes, drafts, correspondence and contracts with publishers, reviews, schoolchildren's assignments and correspondence associated with the book, newspaper clippings and an audiotaped interview with Gleeson.
'Final copy edited MSS 1983', edited by Jenny Rowe, publisher, Angus Robertson, includes annotations and changes (File 15_16) - Box 3
Correspondence, agreements and contracts with publishers (File 19) - Box 3
Agreement with Angus & Robertson, 1983-84
Agreement between Angus & Robertson and Penguin, 1985
Agreement between Angus & Robertson and Sommer &Sørensen Forlag, Denmark, 1986
Contracts for Eleanor Elizabeth with Angus & Robertson, Penguin and Sommer &Sørensen, 1983-86
Correspondence, 1981-89 (File 20) - Box 3
Thomas Nelson Publishers: letters from Robert Sessions, Publishing Director, including readers' reports, encouraging comments and rejection notification, 1981-82
Angus & Robertson: letters, editing notes
Penguin: letters about the paperback edition, sketches for cover, portrait of Gleeson
Holiday House, USA publishers: contracts, letters, language edit sheets
Photocopies of drafts for Geoff Williams workshops, 1986, BEd course, University of Sydney (File 23) - Box 4
Other material (File 25) - Box 4
Includes covers
catalogues
Cassette of taped interview for ABC Radio 2CN with Belle Alderman, Canberra College of Advanced Education, 2 November 1984
Copy of Eleanor Elizabeth published by Holiday House, New York, 1990
Copy of Danish translation of Eleanor Elizabeth published by Sommer &Sørensen, Denmark, 1986
Series 2. I am Susannah (1987)
I am Susannah was highly commended in the CBC Awards, and shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Award, 1988. The opening chapter was filmed by Network 10 Australia for the children's program Ridgy Didge, 1988.
The series consists of notebooks, drafts, correspondence including comments by editors, material related to the production of a film based on the book, reviews and photographs.
'Draft 4, incomplete prior to writing ending', includes notes of comments by Jenny Rowe and Richard White, Angus Robertson, January 1987 (File 12) - Box 6
'Typescript as submitted', January 1987, annotated 'subsequently re-titled 'I am Susannah', February 1987' [submitted title was 'The tapestry'] (File 14_15) - Box 6
Correspondence, 1987-89 (File 18) - Box 6
Angus & Robertson: contract, cover design, United States publisher, reviews
Children's Book Council of Australia
John Briggs, President, Holiday House, New York (US publisher)
Film related material (File 20) - Box 7
Correspondence, 1988
Network 10 Australia
Larry Lucas of Back and White Films
Outline of film script and short treatment by Libby Gleeson and Larry Lucas
Computer disc of 'Blue Lady' [the film title of I am Susannah]
Education related material associated with I am Susannah (File 21) - Box 7
Notes of talk for BEd students, University of Sydney
Teacher's pack (1995 version) in association with the National Trust of Australia 'Pews, plots and past-times' (File 22) - Box 7
Children's assignments, 198?-95
Copy of a thesis on a linguistic analysis of the text of I am Susannah by Lorraine McDonald, 1992-96 (File 23) - Box 7
Miscellaneous (File 24) - Box 7
Photographs from the launch of the book
Catalogue from Holiday House, New York; audiotape of 'Offspring program' ABC, based on the book, August 1988
Copy of I am Susannah published by Holiday House, New York, 1989
Paperback copy of I am Susannah published by Beech Books, New York, 1992
Series 3. Dodger (1990)
Gleeson received a Literature Board New Writer's grant to work on this book. On publication, Dodger was awarded the Children's Literature Peace Prize, 1991 and the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Award, 1992.
The series consists of notes, research ideas, drafts, proofs, correspondence, reviews, playscripts, children's work related to Dodger, photographs, audiotapes of interviews and a videotape of the promotional tour. Correspondents include Aidan Chambers from Turton&Chambers Publishers.
Correspondence, 1989-1994 (File 15_16) - Box 9, 10
Aidan Chambers, director, Turton& Chambers Publishers concerning contract, editing, launch, promotional tour
Correspondence, 1991-92 (File 17) - Box 10
Children's Peace Literature Award, 1991
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), honour list, 1992
Playscript, 1994, adapted for the stage by Diana Greentree, includes correspondence 'Write stuff', material for educational resource (File 19) - Box 10
Photographs (File 21) - Box 10
Book launch, 1991
Children's Literature Peace Prize presentation, Adelaide, 1992
Audiotapes (File 22)
Interview, Children's Hour, ABC
Launch of Dodger, 1991
Interview, Radio 3RPM (Melbourne)
Interview, Radio 5AN (Adelaide)
Series 4. Love me, love me not (1993)
The book is comprised of nine linked stories about a group of inner-Sydney Year 8 students. The book can be read as a novel or as individual short stories. Several of the stories have appeared in other publications. Love me, love me not was shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year Awards for Older Readers, 1994.
The series consists of notebooks, drafts, proofs, correspondence, reviews, publicity and newspaper clippings. Correspondents include Aidan Chambers, Hickson Associates (literary agents) and Nadia Wheatley.
Notebook from a Sydney University Continuing Education course on love stories, 1991 (File 1) - Box 11
Drafts 1-4, 'The excursion (Rebecca)', 1992, annotated typescript of 'finished draft' (File 3) - Box 11
Drafts, 'very late' drafts of 'Love stories', annotated typescripts October 1992, February 1993 (File 8_9) - Box 12
Drafts, 'penultimate drafts', notes, annotated typescript, November 1992 (notes include comments, suggestions by a second unnamed party) (File 10_11) - Box 12
Correspondence, 1992-97 (File 17_18) - Box 13
Aidan Chambers, Turton&Chambers Publishers
Hickson Associates [literary agent]
Nadia Wheatley
Penguin Books
Julie Watts [editor?]
Children's Book Council of Australia
Italian contract, 1995
St Clair Press, manuscript for teaching publication, Reading the world in fiction : ideas for teaching fiction, Years 7-12
Reviews, publicity, press clippings, 1993-97 (File 19_21) - Box 13
Includes: Australian Book Review, Courier Mail, Times educational supplement (UK), Weekend Australian, The Age, Reading Time, Penguin Books, Timeout for kids magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, Adelaide Advertiser, Magpies and the Children's Book Council of Australia
In the swim (File 22) - Box 13
Drafts
Correspondence, 1990-91
Reviews
Published in Landmarks, Turton& Chambers, 1991
Subsequently published as Cass in Love me, love me not
Series 5. Picture books
Big dog was awarded the Prime Minister's Multicultural Award, Picture Book, 1992. Where's mum? was highly commended, Children's Picture Book of the Year, 1993, and in the same year Mum goes to work was short-listed for the Multicultural Awards. The princess and the perfect dish, although not winning an award, was highly acclaimed for its approach to concepts of body image and eating.
The series consists of drafts, notes, correspondence, drawings, proofs, reviews, publicity and photographs related to the writing, illustrating and publication of Gleeson's picture books for young children. Correspondents include Margaret Wild (Angus & Robertson), Jane Converton, Penny Matthews (Omnibus Books), Donna Rawlins (Ashton Scholastic) and illustrators, Craig Smith and Armin Greder.
One Sunday, illustrated by John Winch, Angus and Robertson, 1988 (File 1) - Box 14
Draft
Correspondence, 1985-92
Mum goes to work, illustrated by Penny Azar, Ashton Scholastic, 1992 (File 2) - Box 14
Drafts, 1987-91
Research notes, 1987-91
Correspondence
Collins/Angus & Robertson
Correspondence, 1990 (File 3_5) - Box 14
Ashton Scholastic
Rough illustrations, layout, design
Galley proofs
Where's mum? illustrated by Craig Smith, Omnibus Books, 1993 (File 9) - Box 15
Drafts, annotated typescript, rough illustrations, 1987-88
Correspondence, 1987-95 (File 10) - Box 15
Angus & Robertson, Margaret Wild, editor
Omnibus Books, Jane Converton, Penny Matthews
Children's Book Council of Australia
Craig Smith, illustrator
Ashton Scholastic
Copy of Scholastic US paperback edition, 1996 (Where's mom?) (File 12) - Box 15
Copy of Omnibus small format edition, 1997
Big dog, illustrated by Armin Greder, Ashton Scholastic, 1992 (File 13) - Box 15
Drafts, annotated typescript, 1989-90
Correspondence, 1988-96 (File 18) - Box 16
Donna Rawlins, editor, Ashton Scholastic
Ashton Scholastic re contract
Armin Greder, illustrator
Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 1992
Reviews, publicity, 1991-96 (File 19) - Box 16
Reviews by school children
Photographs of book launch, 1991
Salamanca Theatre Company, Hobart, Tasmania (File 20) - Box 16
Copy of script of Big dog, adapted for the theatre by Bruce Keller
Teachers' kit and children's responses to the play
Uncle David, illustrated by Armin Greder, Ashton Scholastic, 1992 (File 22) - Box 17
Rough illustrations
Galley proofs
Notes, handwritten and typescript annotated drafts, 1990-92, including changes made for US edition, 1992 (File 23) - Box 17
Correspondence, 1992
Ashton Scholastic
Children's Book Council of Australia
Tambourine Books, New York
Sleep time, illustrated by Armin Greder, Ashton Scholastic, 1994 (File 26) - Box 17
Rough illustrations
Notes, drafts, 1992 (File 27) - Box 17
Correspondence, 1992
Donna Rawlins, editor
Armin Greder, illustrator
The princess and the perfect dish, illustrated by Armin Greder, Ashton Scholastic, 1995 (File 29) - Box 18
Rough illustrations
Galley proofs
Series 6. Community and other writing activities
This series consists of papers relating to Libby Gleeson's other writing activities and to her role as a community activist. Gleeson's involvement includes support for the preservation of May Gibbs' home, Nutcote, participation in the Victorian Women Writers' train and in the Australia Today Indonesia Cultural Expo. She has given continuing support to the Melbourne and the Sydney Writers' Festivals and presented a paper at the First National Conference of the Children's Book Council of Australia. Gleeson was commissioned by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) to write short, relevant dialogues and scenarios for classroom use by teachers, teaching a program to heighten awareness of gender and violence. She was a member of the Public Lending Right Committee, 1989-97.
The papers include correspondence, programs, reports, newsletters, photographs, printed matter, newspaper cuttings and minutes of various meetings.
Children's Book Writers' and Illustrators' Poster, 1988 (File 1) - Box 18
Protest against cuts in Government spending on education in New South Wales; instigated by Libby Gleeson, Nadia Wheatley, Donna Rawlins
Nutcote (File 2) - Box 18
Correspondence, flyers, newsletters, photographs concerning the campaign to preserve May Gibbs' home in Neutral Bay, Sydney, 1990-91
Victorian Women Writers' train, 1992 (File 3) - Box 18
Correspondence, publicity, itineraries, workshop proposals, photographs
Melbourne Writers' Festival, 1993 (File 4) - Box 19
Correspondence, brochures, profiles of participating authors, program for 'Asialink youth literature workshop'
Literature Board, Australia Council, 1985-93 (File 5) - Box 19
Applications
Grants
Reports
Curriculum vitae for Libby Gleeson, 1992
Children's Book Council of Australia, 1985-95 (File 6) - Box 19
Correspondence
Invitations
Koala Awards, 1991-92
Prize notification, 1985, 1988, 1993, 1994
Photographs
Discussion papers concerning changes to award systems
First National Conference Children's Book Council, 1992 (File 7) - Box 19
Correspondence
Program
Presented paper
List of participants
Australia Today Indonesia, 1994, Cultural Expo (File 8) - Box 19
Correspondence, 1993-94
Cultural program
Planning
Australia Today Indonesia, 1994 (File 9_11) - Box 19
List of participants, including Libby Gleeson, Maureen Watson, David Cox
Itineraries
Brochures
Photographs
Reports on visit by Sandra Forbes to Literature Board of the Australia Council
Gender and Violence Project commissioned by DEET, 1993 (File 12) - Box 20
Position paper by Debbie Ollis and Irene Tomaszewski (DEET, 1993)
Research notes, teachers' and students' perspective on sexual harassment
Newspaper cuttings
Gender and Violence Project commissioned by DEET, 1993 (File 13_14) - Box 20
Correspondence, 1994-95
Annotated drafts, of Gleeson's prose pieces on gender and violence
Reading list of books relevant to gender and/or violence issues
Sydney Writers' Festival Committee (File 15) - Box 20
Program
Correspondence, 1993-96
Committee meeting minutes, notes 1995
Sydney Writers' Festival, 1996 (File 16) - Box 20
Program
Articles about Amy Whiting
Details of cast and credits of film How to make an American quilt, based on a novel by Whitney Otto (Gleeson was Australian host to Otto)
Sydney Writers' Festival Committee, January-July 1996 (File 17_18) - Box 20
Minutes of meetings
Correspondence
Reports and structural review of festival
Planning for 1997 festival
Sydney Writers' Festival Committee, July 1996-January 1997 (File 19_20) - Box 20, 21
Minutes of meetings
Correspondence, 1996-97
Drafts and final program
Article on Maurice Gee
Public Lending Right Committee (PLRC) (File 21_22) - Box 21
Information given to Gleeson on joining the PLRC committee, 1989, by Christobel Mattingley
Agenda, minutes of meetings 1-6 (July 1987-November 1988)
PLRC (File 28) - Box 22
Papers regarding changes to the Act (Public Lending Right Act 1985), 1988-89
PLRC (File 29) - Box 22
Correspondence, 1989-92
Clyde Holding
Harrison Bryan
Alan Johnson
Barbara Jeffries
Lorraine Wilson
David Simmons
PLRC, miscellaneous documents, 1989-92 (File 30) - Box 23
Report on holdings of Australian books in selected Victorian school libraries
Library survey results
Subcommittee reports, 1990-92
Program of visit by John Sumsion
Table of Provisions of Public Lending Right Scheme, effective 1 July 1988
File for the Australian Society of Authors, including copies of outletters to the Minister of Arts and Tourism, 1989
Claim forms for authors and publishers
Correspondence:
Clyde Holding
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Department of the Arts, Sports, the Environment, Tourism and Territories
Attorney General's Department
Series 7. Video and television, talks and writings
This series consists of scripts for pre-school television programs, Bananas in pyjamas and Magic Mountain commissioned by ABC TV Australia, notes, drafts, correspondence, printed matter and copies of talks given to schools, libraries, university students and conference groups. Correspondents include Mark Barnard and Jill Hickson. There are a large number of letters from children commenting on Gleeson's books.
Bananas in pyjamas, Children's Department, ABC TV (File 1) - Box 23
Program philosophy and educational intent
Synopsis of existing episodes
Correspondence, 1995
Jill Hickson
Mark Barnard
Drafts of story lines, handwritten, annotated notes
Synopsis of The magic pumpkin and Springtime party
Annotated script for The magic pumpkin
Annotated script for Springtime party
Script of Pink spots by Richard Tulloch
'Bananas in pyjamas/Magic mountain' notebook, 1995-96 (File 2) - Box 23
Ideas for stories, storylines, development of storylines
Magic Mountain (File 3) - Box 23
Correspondence, 1995
ABC TV Children's and Educational Television
Story ideas submitted to Ron Sanders, Claire Henderson (ABC TV)
Annotated drafts of Bedtime story and 'Stuck'
The hollow tree (File 4) - Box 23
Ideas, annotated drafts, 1996
Drafts 1-3, including amendments
Final script (original title 'Stuck')
Bedtime story (File 5) - Box 24
Annotated drafts, 1997
Copy of Southern star pacific, a book on set design; character descriptions for Magic Mountain characters
Libby Gleeson video, Insight profile, 1995 (File 6)
Outline, drafts 1-4
Call sheet from film shoot
Teacher's notes for use with children using video in the classroom
How's your etiquette with authors? an article for Primary English Teaching Association (PETA), 1996 (File 8) - Box 24
Notes
Drafts, final version
Meet the Author Program: workshops in New South Wales and Queensland (File 9) - Box 24
Correspondence, 1984-88
Notes
Planning
National Book Council Training Program, 1994-95 (File 10) - Box 24
Correspondence about presenting writers workshops
Planning, 1994-95
Drafts of Gleeson's presentation
Writers performance and presentation training course, Adelaide, May 1-5, 1995, National Book Council
Class MS Acc14.071. Consignment received 2014, 1992 - 2012
This consignment includes papers relating to many of Gleeson's books including Hannah Plus One, Hannah the Famous, Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, Writing Hannah, The Rum Rebellion, Ray's Olympics, Skating on Sand and Uncle David. The papers include notebooks with early notes for most titles, printed drafts (most hand-annotated), publishers proofs, cover ideas, research material such as ephemera, reviews, promotional material and book-sellers catalogues. There are also papers relating to short stories (including contracts and correspondence with publishers), and typed speeches given in various educational settings and libraries.