Guide to the Papers of Norman and Evelyn Bartlett

Series 1. Norman Bartlett Papers: Correspondence, 1921-1992

The general correspondence of Norman Bartlett in folders 1-34 covers a range of personal, career, education and subject matters spanning the years from his youth to his retirement. There are letters from his wife, his sister, sister-in-law, brother and friends. Correspondence with publishers and others discuss his published and unpublished works: 'Enigma of Japan', 'Momentous decade: society and thought, Australia, 1838-1848', 'The skiing doctor', 'New Britain to Noemfoor', Island victory, 'Blind man's ditch', The pearl seekers, 'One night in Siam', 'Some thoughts from abroad', Australia and America through 200 Years 1776-1976. In folders 1-34 the correspondence was divided by Bartlett into general subject areas or time periods. These groups have been retained and basically arranged chronologically within each theme.

Private correspondence in folders 35-43 was arranged by Bartlett by date. This order has been retained. Correspondents include relatives, friends, publishers and booksellers. Also included are greeting cards, postcards and business letters relating to domestic life.

Folders 44-51 contain Bartlett's correspondence with publishers. Bartlett filed this correspondence in folders under the main headings of 'Publishers etc.' or 'Literary correspondence etc.' with various subheadings which did not necessarily correspond to the folder contents. The original irregular arrangement has been retained. Publishers include Allen and Unwin, William Collins, Rigby, Hodder and Stoughton, Penguin, Transworld, Quadrant, Hutchinson Group, Longman, Curtis Brown, Horwitz Group, Angus & Robertson, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, Kangaroo Press and the Australian War Memorial.

Other correspondence includes personal letters from Bartlett to Lionel Wigmore, Australian High Commission, New Delhi, 1960-1963, with copies of Wigmore's replies; letters from Bartlett to his sister-in-law, Sybil Elliott, 1984-1985, describing his travels in the United Kingdom; letters of condolence to Sybil Elliott after Bartlett's death and the eulogy for Norman Bartlett, 5 January 1993.

The major correspondents represented in Files 1-34 are: Alexander, Frederick; Angus & Robertson; Aske, S.; Australia Council Literature Board; Australian Book Publishers Association; Australian Embassy, Tokyo; Australian Institute of Political Science; Australian Literary Fund; Australian National University; Australian Quarterly; Australian Society of Authors; Australian War Memorial; Baldwin, B.; Barsdell, Len; Bolt and Watson; Clark, C. Manning, Prof.; Coleman, Peter; Crocker, Walter; Cuddy, D.L.; Cultural Grants Advisory Council; Davidson, Jim; Easterbrook, R.W. Pty. Ltd.; Elliott, Sybil; Fraser, A.; Harper and Row; Hasluck, Paul; Herald; Hutchinson Group (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.; Infinite Productions; Ingamells, Rex; Innes, Hammond; Jacaranda Wiley Ltd; Jarrolds Publishers; John Farquharson Ltd.; Journalists' Club; Macmillans; Maimahod, A.; McAuley, James; Meanjin; Mitchell Library; Murdoch, Walter; New Australian Encyclopaedia; News and Information Bureau; Packer, Frank; Park, Ruth; Paul Hamlyn Pty. Ltd.; Quadrant; Rayner, H.R.; Rigby Ltd.; Sampson, R.; Sheppard, Alex; Simpson, Colin; Smith, Sam Ure; Sun Books; Waller, Sir Keith; Wigmore, Lionel; Wiley, J.; William Collins and Sons Co. Ltd.

Series 2. Norman Bartlett Papers: Notebooks, 1923-1992

The series comprise volumes kept by Bartlett at different stages throughout his life for different purposes, including commonplace books, notebooks, diaries, book lists, dream diaries, abstracts and annotations of books read. The first entry was made as a 15 year old schoolboy in Caerphilly, Wales, 13 August 1923, and the last entry was made in December 1992, the month of his death, when Bartlett was 84 years old and living in a retirement village in Perth, Western Australia. Bartlett wrote about his personal philosophy, ambitions, war experiences, travels, interests and everyday domestic, social and working life. The books include quotes, clippings and in earlier books, nature study. After the death of his wife, Evelyn, in 1982, the diary entries, addressed directly to Eve, become markedly more personal and introspective.

Series 3. Norman Bartlett Papers: Books and Unpublished Typescripts

This series contains notes, drafts, annotated and unannotated typescripts of Bartlett's published and unpublished books and short stories. Included are typescripts of The pearl seekers, Land of the lotus eaters and Australia and America through two hundred years. Also included are the major unpublished works of his later years, namely his autobiography, the biography of his wife and his book on the Maori Wars.

Series 4. Norman Bartlett Papers: Articles, 1929-1984

This series contains notes, research material, drafts and typescripts of both published and unpublished articles, essays and short stories produced throughout Bartlett's journalistic and writing career. Bartlett frequently used chapters of his unpublished longer works as the basis for short stories or articles for newspapers. He kept newspaper and magazine cuttings of his published articles either in albums or loose. Subject areas covered include literature, travel, general news, information reports, World War II activities, fiction and letters to the editor. In the West Australian, 1934-1941, Bartlett, a freelance contributor, wrote under the pseudonyms 'Norbar' and 'Ens Rationis'. Other publications featuring Bartlett's work include The Daily Telegraph, Meanjin, Australian Quarterly, Quadrant, The Times literary supplement, The Sydney Morning Herald, Westerly, Artlook and South West Pacific.

Series 5. Norman Bartlett Papers: Book Reviews, 1946-1966

This series includes book reviews by Bartlett and reviews of Bartlett's writings, 1946-1966, published in The Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Canberra Times, and The Sunday Telegraph.

Series 6. Norman Bartlett Papers: Theses, 1941-1976

Two major works by Bartlett were his theses. The examiners critiques are included with the theses in this series. Bartlett's Masters thesis from the University of Western Australia in 1941 was not accepted. War service interrupted his university education and by 1941 he had been posted to Townsville with the RAAF. In his retirement, at the age of 69 years, he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in history from the Australian National University while studying under Professor Manning Clark.

Series 7. Norman Bartlett Papers: Subject Files

Bartlett was interested in a wide variety of topics as reflected in his subject files. Although many files were compiled as research tools for the articles and books he was writing, other files relate entirely to his general interests. Material in the files includes newspaper and journal cuttings, notes, pamphlets and publications. Each of Bartlett's subject files has been placed in a folder bearing the subject heading designated by Bartlett.

Series 8. Norman Bartlett Papers: Photograph and Scrap Albums

These collections of photographs, photograph albums and scrap albums were largely compiled by Evelyn Bartlett. Subjects relate to the family, social and business life and associated travels in Asia and Europe. Some of the countries featured include Thailand, India, Japan, Greece, Ireland, England and Scotland.

Series 9. Norman Bartlett Papers: Miscellaneous, 1943-1988

The miscellaneous series includes cheque butts, travel notes, passports and identity passes, tax returns, post cards, greetings cards and ephemera, wartime and other photographs, stamps, copies of theses, degree certificates, RAAF papers and printed items such as Canberra historical journal, 1978-82 and Report of the Review Committee on Overseas Representation, 1968-1969.

Unfoldered items include Canberra historical journal, 1978-1982 and an annotated Report of the Review Committee on Overseas Representation, 1968-1969 (misc. No. 24, 1969), degree certificates and RAAF papers. A bound copy of Newsgram, 3 Mar 1943 (No. 1, vol. 2) - 29 April 1943 (No. 50, vol. 2) was added to the Library's general collection.

Series 10. Evelyn Bartlett Papers: Correspondence, 1943-1979

The correspondence of Evelyn Bartlett includes many letters written by her husband, Norman, during the War, 1943-1944, and during various periods of geographic separation, 1947-1948. There is also general correspondence with her sister, Sybil Elliott, as well as various friends.

Series 11. Evelyn Bartlett Papers: Diaries, 1936-1979

The diaries span the years 1936-1979. They contain details about places, events, Evelyn's social and domestic life, as well as extensive descriptions of her travels and travels with Norman.

30 volumes

Series 12. Evelyn Bartlett Papers: Drafts

The drafts are of articles, poems and short stories including 'The indelible years', 'How well I remember', 'Dumper and the snowman', 'The daubings of Dumper', hand written and illustrated copies of 'William Wombat's book of verse', 'Kathy Cornell', 'The first daffodil', 'Life and its true cause','My goodness my egg', 'The adventures of Cuthbert Clutterbunk and Clarabelle', the cover design for Dumper the kangaroo and one typed, hard cover copy of 'How well I remember' for The Sydney Morning Herald Novel Competition, 1949

24 folders

Series 13. Evelyn Bartlett Papers: Miscellaneous

The miscellaneous series includes newspaper and magazine articles and small books about Australian animals and plants, Indian subject matter, Evelyn Bartlett's crest, memorabilia of her travels, cards, photographs, sketch book, note books, passport folder, autograph book, diplomatic identity card, small objects in folder and a tin of stones. There are also copies of Evelyn Bartlett's books Rosemary in Rhymeland (with annotations and corrections) and The Emily stories, a copy of Out of the West (a book of short stories to which she was a contributor), and newspaper clippings of a series of short stories she wrote entitled Wix the Waxman and Zonkie which were published in The Sydney Morning Herald Playtime (1947). Also included are an article about Evelyn in Bangkok World (30 November 1958) and a notebook belonging to her mother, Mary Steer.

2 boxes