Guide to the Papers of Arundel Del Re

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MS 1879

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Arundel Del Re
Title
Papers of Arundel Del Re
Date Range
1911-1974
Collection Number
MS 1879
Extent
0.84 metres (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises mainly handwritten and typed notes relating to Del Re's many academic appointments in Japan and later, in New Zealand. Drafts of articles for newspaper and magazine publications, galley proofs and published subject materials are also included.

The collection also incorporates a quantity of correspondence, newspaper clippings, printed materials, poetry, photographs, typescript reports and statistical tables on Japanese educational activities after World War II, and writings of Del Re's colleagues. The earliest items in the collection are a letter from Tuscany dated 1911, and a University of Oxford form of agreement, dated 3 July 1924.

While the collection documents Del Re's professional academic career from England in 1911, to Japan 1927 and finally to New Zealand in 1960, the correspondence in particular gives an insight into his many interests in the fields of literature, social culture, and research projects. Reflected in the correspondence is his special interest in the Elizabethan writer John Florio and the students of the Colombo Plan.

Del Re's particular interest in the cultural and educational aspects of Japan became evident through many of his writings and lectures which are contained in the collection.

Official documents and Del Re's personal observations of post-war Japan are also included in the collection.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn479548).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Arundel Del Re, National Library of Australia, MS 1879, [series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The papers of Arundel Del Re were purchased by the Library in 1984 from his daughter, Dianora Del Re.

Bibliography

i) Original works and essays 'Contemporary Italian literature', in Contemporary movements in European literature, J. Isaacs [ed.] London, 1928 The secret of the Renaissance, Tokyo, 1930 Linguistics and anthropology, Tokyo, 1933 Meaning and interpretation Formosa, 1937. [A commemorative volume in honour of Dr M. Ando. Taihoku] The happy otherworld in Buddhist and Christian art and literature, Formosa, 1940 'Bibliography of Education in Japan', Education in Japan 2:438-61,1948 Creation myths of the Formosan natives, Tokyo, 1951 Resolute John Florio, Tokyo, 1951 'Some characteristic differences between Japanese and Western culture', Academia, 1952 'Modern Italian Literature', Encyclopaedia Britannica, 13th edition ii) Edited works Bridger R The testament of beauty [Introduction notes and commentary] Tokyo 1937 Coventry F The history of Pompey the Little [Introduction and notes] 1926 Chaucer G Troilus and Criseyde [Text and introduction] 1927 Florio J First fruites [Facsimile of original edition Vol.1: text, Vol.2: Introduction essay and notes] 1936 Solomi A The making of modern Italy [English translation, introduction and notes] London, 1927

Biographical Note

Dr Arundel Del Re, OBE, MA, Litt. D., was born in Florence on 29 January 1892, the son of an Irish mother and an Italian father. He graduated in Arts from the Junior College Liceo Michelangelo, Florence, in 1911.

Del Re took up studies at University College, University of London in 1911 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in 1917. During his undergraduate years, he was a founding member of the Poetry Bookshop in Chelsea and assistant editor of the Poetry Review, bringing him into touch with such people as Robert Bridges, Ezra Pound, Harold Monro and W.B. Yeats.

During World War I, he was employed as an official translator of propaganda material, and became a special secretary to the Head of the Italian Military Mission in London.

In 1921, Del Re was appointed Lecturer in Italian at Oxford University. During this time he was an active member of literary circles, and founding member of the Oxford Arts Club and the Oxford University Opera Society. In 1923 he graduated as MA from both Oxford and London Universities. He was awarded the OBE in 1927. In the same year he was appointmed Professor of English Literature at the University of Tokyo and left England to reside in Japan.

Branching out from his academic appointments, Del Re became private secretary to the Barone Aloisi, and collaborated with him in the organisation of an exhibition in Rome of Japanese art works. In 1931, the King of Italy awarded Del Re the Chevalier, Order of the Crown of Italy (knighthood).

From Japan, Del Re went to Formosa as Professor of English Literature in 1930, a position he held for 13 years. During this time he was also Italian Consular agent and the representative in Formosa of the Lloyd Triestino Company. His comparative study of Buddhist and Christian religious experience, The happy otherworld, was published in 1940.

The Second World War led to a period of internment for Del Re and his family. At the close of the War, Del Re returned to Tokyo and became advisor to the American Army leaders there, dealing with the educational re-organisation of Japan and co-ordinating educational research, analysing reports and generally assisting in the implementation of the Allied Educational directives. He acted as Italian Delegate to the Educational Congress in Tokyo in 1948.

In 1951 Der Re was appointed Professor of Language and Literature, Nanzan Catholic University, Nagoya, an office he occupied till 1954. It was during this appointment he received the degree of Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa for his work on the writer John Florio. During his time in Japan, he concentrated on the comparative study of English and Italian literature and cultural attitudes, as well as the impact that Eastern and Western cultural patterns had on each other. He focused attention on the difficulties and problems involved in the teaching of English as a living language to students whose linguistic traditions, habits and processes differed so materially from those of Western people.

Ill-health terminated Del Re's time in Japan in 1954, when he left to live for a while in Sydney. Here he became a foundation member and secretary of the Oriental Society of Australia (1955-1957).

Subsequently, Del Re was Lecturer in English at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand from 1960 to 1966. In these years he was a member of the Unity Theatre, the Japanese Society and the Circolo Italiano and organised art exhibitions to commemorate the lives of Michelangelo and Dante in 1964. While in New Zealand, he received the Medaglio d'Oro for his services to Italy and a special order from the Emperor of Japan in recognition of his cultural works. His special interest while in New Zealand was the Colombo Plan; he lectured and was a tutor and counsellor in English to Colombo Plan students.

During the late 1960s Del Re and his family moved to Australia. He died at Geelong in 1974.

Del Re's married Joan Harriot in 1923; they had two daughters. His wife accompanied him to Japan where she taught English at several universities and schools and also gave private tuition. During their first visit to Australia in 1954, she taught at Miss Hale's Secretarial College in Sydney. In New Zealand she occasionally taught Colombo Plan students.

A list of Del Re's published writings can be found in the Bibliography.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Personal records

This small series gives an insight into Del Re's academic life and standing in the literary community.

The papers include a University of Oxford form of agreement dated 3 July 1924, newspaper articles containing speeches from a tribute to Del Re held at Hitotsubashi Hall, 5 May 1954, reminiscences of Del Re's early days in London and his participation in the birth of the Poetry Review, and Who's who entries for 1947 and 1966-67.

Of particular interest in this series is a curriculum vitae containing detailed personal data, education, awards, decorations, academic appointments war and government service, general activities and interests, original work, essays and edited works. In addition, there is a translation from the Registers section, dated 19 April 1929 giving details of Del Re's parentage and marriage.

The series also contains Far East Command Report of personal action – Foreign National Employees dated 3 November 1950, an updated newspaper article entitled 'Goodbye to a friend', which details Del Re's associations in New Zealand, and a typescript detailing his younger days in Italy.

Personal records (File 1) - Box 1

Series 2. Correspondence, 1911-74

This series contains Del Re's correspondence in a number of fields, dealing with a range of personal, academic and subject matters. It spans his years in Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Del Re kept some groups of letters together by author and wherever possible this arrangement has been kept, otherwise no particular grouping is evident. Major correspondents in this series include: Tatsunosuke Ueda, Minoru Ike and family and friends who wrote in Italian.

Correspondence of Tatsunosuke Ueda from Japan, a close personal friend of Del Re. These letters were retained by Del Re as a whole and date from 22 October 1951 to 2 February 1956 (File 2) - Box 1

Correspondence, mostly in English and Italian. Correspondence of special interest is from: John D. Rockefeller dated 22 February 1951 and Minoru Ike concerning his visit to Australia (File 3) - Box 1

Later correspondence kept by Del Re, also covering a wide range of subject matter and associations. Of special interest is correspondence from Gordon Ludwig, Switzerland dated 28 April 1974. Written in Italian, the letter has attached two photographs; one of a woman and the other of a grave [?]. More photographs from a conference in Japan are contained in a letter from Madoka Kanai of the Histographical Institute, University of Tokyo. Also included is a letter from the Asiatic Society of Japan asking Del Re for his memoirs on Japan and a letter from Lyle dated 1 January 1974 from the USA (File 4) - Box 1

Series 3. Japan

This series comprises materials arising from and relating to Del Re's time in Japan from 1927 to 1954. It reflects his interest in the cultural and educational aspects of Japan and Japanese history, Japanese higher education, social problems of the artist and historian, poetry and the Occupation of Japan. A special inclusion in this series is a galley proof of The happy otherworld.

Translation by K. Gi [?] dated 15 September 1933 of St. Doken's descent to Hades, originally written in 1851 in the Eikyo Temple. Probably related to Del Re's research for his publication The happy otherworld. Also, a paper by Minoru Ike 'A glimpse of an aspect of Japanese kinship terminology' (File 5) - Box 1

Drafts of The happy otherworld, some original transcripts and a complete galley proof. Also included are transcripts of 'Mutability of tradition', and 'Historical and psychological background of Japanese higher education' (File 6) - Box 1

Mainly typed transcripts relating to literature and art (File 7) - Box 2

Papers on Japanese art and craft. A large collection of samples of Japanese handmade paper is included here, as well as a pamphlet on the art of tea-making (File 8) - Box 2

A summary of the social problems for the artist and the art historian are outlined here, including a note on Kitakaruizawa by Dr Sanki Ichikawa (File 9) - Box 2

Included here is a special report dated 11 April 1947 by Del Re on the historical section for the new education brochure. A temporary diary dated 29 October – November 1934, Japanese poetry and memories of Professor Shigeshi Nishimura are also collected in this file (File 10) - Box 2

Del Re wrote much on the occupation of Japan and included here is some of his comments. Of special interest is a farewell note from his friends at the Civil Information and Education Section, dated 1 May 1951. Education papers form the rest of this file, including Japanese education laws, language simplification, and Japanese school nomenclature. There is also a street map of Tokyo (1945) (File 11) - Box 2

Series 4. Lecture notes

Del Re drew upon many varied sources for information to prepare lecture notes, book reviews, poetry reviews and literary studies. Contained in this series are photocopies of published works both by Del Re and others, typed transcripts of forewords for his published works, lecture notes, abstracts and poetry.

Of particular interest in this series is Del Re's friendship with Ezra Pound during his early days in London. Also contained in this series is the annotated text and original notes of Del Re's article 'Georgian reminiscences'.

A major correspondent in this series is Mario Praz. Letters date from 30 October 1965 to 24 November 1968 and are in Italian. Materials collected by Del Re in his research of John Florio are also included here. Although this series was probably compiled after Del Re left Japan, many Japanese articles are included, reflecting his continued interest in Japanese affairs.

Contains lecture notes of Mario Praz dated 21 March 1928 on 'Machiavelli and the Elizabethans'. Also an article by Del Re in RES Vol. 12 (46) April 1936 on 'References to Florio in the Irish State Papers', and memoriam notices and articles on Professor Sanki Ichikawa of Tokyo University, some written by Del Re (File 12) - Box 3

A photocopy of The making of modern Italy by Arrigo Solmi, 1925, containing an introduction by Del Re. Also a wordbook of Japanese origin containing handwritten notes (File 13) - Box 3

A comment on the death of John Drinkwater, and reviews and abstracts of literary works including those by Mario Praz (File 14) - Box 3

A mainly academic diary kept by Del Re from 11 November 1934 to 11 February 1937 concerning reviews of texts and his personal thoughts. Correspondence in this file is from John Wright, 13 September 1961, recommending books to Del Re. Also included are some reviews done by students and annotated by Del Re (File 15) - Box 3

Session card from Kings College University of London, containing students' signatures. Also a photocopy of the Secret of the Renaissance and other essays and studies by Del Re, 1930, Tokyo, is also included (File 16) - Box 3

Mainly poetry and student submissions on the theory of poetry, and details from a lecture on Piranesi (File 17) - Box 3

Papers in Italian relating to Machiavelli and another entitled 'Ambascita D'Italia in Nuova Zelanda' dated 1 February 1966. Also a photograph of camels in the Sudan (1934) (File 18) - Box 4

Mainly published academic materials by Del Re, including a proof of a foreword on Japanese psychology (annotated and corrected), and photocopies by Del Re entitled 'Linguistics and literature', 'Some affinities between Greek and Japanese genius', and '(An Italian) homecoming'. Also includes 'Georgian reminiscing' (annotated text and original notes) with a letter from Patricia Hutchins concerning Ezra Pound. Of special interest is a newspaper article by Sir Vere Redman in Asahi, 1965, being part of a series titled 'Foreign teachers in Japan'. Headed 'Del Re: all round educator', it is attached to a revised proof (File 19) - Box 4

Poetry, notes on Commedia del'Arte and Harlequin, Piranesi and a report on the 4th Jacet Summer Institute at Hachioji, Tokyo. Of special interest is correspondence between Del Re and Mario Praz, 30 October 1965 to 24 November 1968 (File 20) - Box 4

Newspaper clippings relating to the first meeting of the Japanese Society in Australia and Del Re's appearance at a literary meeting. (Del Re's personal speech notes for this occasion appear in series 6, file 26). A newsletter dated March 1958 from the Oriental Society of Australia summarises a speech given by Del Re, concerning The happy otherworld (File 21) - Box 4

Series 5. Plays and poetry

Del Re kept a separate collection of poetry and plays in which is reflected his special interest in Japanese culture. Transcripts and originals are collected here, along with photocopies, reviews notes and short stories.

'Sumidagawa' (play) (File 22) - Box 4

An autographed transcript of 'Awatea' sent by the author to Del Re in 1966 (File 23) - Box 5

Japanese poetry and an introduction and comments on the aspects of the 'Noh' plays (File 24) - Box 5

A selection of poetry from the East and West with reviews and notes attached together with two short stories 'The Spirit House and 'On a tropical road'. The author of these stories could be Del Re, but it is unclear (File 25) - Box 5

Series 6. Talks and speeches

Del Re was widely read in the field of classical literature and was a popular speaker at literary society meetings. His speeches at such functions covered many diverse topics and reflected his cultural interests.

The series contains a letter to the music department of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Melbourne, concerning Del Re's offer to speak on the program about his friend Dr Pachmann. Of special interest in this file is the talk given by Del Re on 20 July 1960, before the Italian Minister of State at a literary evening. (A newspaper article concerning this evening appears in series 4, file 21). Also included is a lengthy document entitled 'Michelangelo and his city' dated 14 February 1964.

Talks and speeches (File 26) - Box 5

Series 7. John Florio and Ezra Pound

Del Re carried out extensive research on the English author and translator John Florio (1553-1625) for his introductory essay and notes in a reproduction of Florio's First fruites. Florio was the theme of many of his essays and lectures, and collected here are handwritten and typed transcripts and articles generated in the course of this research.

This series contains an interesting transcript of an interview held with Del Re on 16 June 1967. It covers topics concerning Del Re's first meeting with the poet Harold Monro in the spring of 1910 in Florence. Also included is an essay on John Florio 'The place of John Florio in Renaissance English literature'.

There are letters in this series to Mr Warfel (15 July 1953), Mr Highfield (25 November 1958), Mr Mathew (17 February 1959) and Miss Herring (28 July 1961), all concerning George Garrard who was associated with John Florio in Del Re's research.

John Florio and Ezra Pound (File 27) - Box 5

Series 8. The Colombo Plan

During his time in New Zealand Del Re was a lecturer, tutor, and counsellor to Colombo Plan students at Victoria University. This series reflects this time with the students, as it contains newspaper clippings, photographs, and handouts concerning the Colombo Plan and associated Summer Schools.

The main item in this series is a scrap-book containing Summer School notes, newspaper reports, student photographs and news items all relating to the Colombo Plan, loosely interleaved in the book. Other clippings in the file relate to the development of the Summer Schools, which were intended to help teach English to the students.

There is a typed history of the Colombo Plan, tracing it from the first student in 1952 until 1959. It particularly describes their problems with the English language.

The Colombo Plan (File 28) - Box 5

Series 9. Australian Aborigines

It is unclear as to what purpose the collected articles in this series served, as no writings about the Australian Aborigines appears elsewhere in the collection. It might be inferred that Del Re was interested in the social and cultural life of Aboriginal Australians.

The series contains a collection of black and white photographs and newspaper clippings. The photographs have no identifying captions and some appear in the newspaper articles.

The newspaper clippings in this series have been collected from The Argus (1954), The Sun Herald (1955) and The Age (1954-55) and are mainly part of a series by Donald F. Thomson, Department of Anthropology, Melbourne University. There is also a cutting concerning Albert Namatjira (1955).

Australian Aborigines (File 29) - Box 6

Series 10. Italy

This brief series is concerned with linguistics and the Italian language.

The papers comprise a large amount of printed material in Italian, and a map of Italy 1960. Also included are photocopies of 'Billinguita Consaperole', 'Lingua Florentina', and 'Lingua Italian'.

Italy (File 30) - Box 6

Series 11. Printed material

Printed materials which were not directly attached to any other series have been collected here. The books and pamphlets are in English, Italian and Japanese and span many topics. The items include The rising sun, a Japanese newspaper printed in Japanese and English, Science et Philsophie, a French magazine, Irelands own, 1973, and a postcard book of Italian architecture.

There is also a pamphlet of the Nagoya Theatre Guild (Del Re and his wife feature as players in a production) and The chapbook, a monthly miscellany dated July 1922 contains an article by Ezra Pound.

Printed material (File 31-32) - Box 6

Series 12. Photographs, 1921-59

Very few photographs were contained within the collection. Those which were attached to correspondence have remained so, and appear in the relevant files. Those collected here are: a number of photograph postcards from Italy, unwritten and undated; a photo from the Villa Guiseppe 1959; a formal photograph of a Japanese friend, with the wording 'Soyan, 1930, Formosa' appearing on the reverse; and an eagle topped monument dated 1921, autographed by Arrigo [?] and presented to Del Re in 1928.

Photographs, 1921-59 (File 33) - Box 6

Series 13. Newspaper clippings, 1929-73 (bulk 1950s)

Clippings making up this series have been taken from a number of newspapers from around the world, notably The Age, The Post, The Times, The New Zealand Listener, The New York Review and the Village Voice. The date range extends from 1929 to 1973 with the bulk of clippings from the 1950s.

While the clippings relate to a varied range of subjects, the majority deal with literature, language, art and Japan. Of special interest is the Del Re article on 'Michaelangelo and his city' in The New Zealand Listener, 24 July 1964.

Newspaper clippings, 1929-73 (File 34) - Box 6


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