Guide to the Papers of Dymphna Clark

Series 1. General Correspondence, 1966-1999

Dymphna was a prolific correspondent, writing and receiving hundreds of letters each year. Beginning in 1966, but not maintained consistently until the early 1980s, this series consists of letters, cards, Christmas cards, postcards, notes, some photographs and several newspapers cuttings. Up until 1991, most of the correspondence is addressed to both Dymphna and Manning, although there are examples where letters are addressed to Dymphna and Manning separately. The bulk of the correspondence consists of incoming letters, but there are some copies and drafts of letters hand-written by Dymphna, usually on the backs of old envelopes and newsletters.

Dymphna filed her correspondence in manila files by years and each file has the year date handwritten on the front cover. Many of the files also have Dymphna's initials - H.D.C - handwritten on the front of the files. The correspondence has been maintained as originally filed, and there are examples where letters have been misfiled. For example, the 1979 file contains examples of correspondence from 1978 and 1980. There are also instances where correspondence is not dated and these too have been retained in the file in which they were filed. Due to the size of the files, the correspondence for each year has been divided into separate archival files. Thus 'File 4 of 4' for 1966 correspondence indicates that the 1966 correspondence file has been divided into four separate archival files.

This series illustrates the importance family and friends played in Dymphna's life and provides an indication of the Clarks' wide-range of friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, Dymphna's hospitable nature is highlighted in much of the correspondence, with Dymphna receiving hundreds of thank you cards and letters for her hospitality at their Canberra home or their property, 'Ness', at Wapengo on the New South Wales south coast.

Correspondents include Manning (mainly when he was on trips abroad), her children, Sebastian, Axel, Andrew, Katerina, Roland and Benedict; Phylis and Axel Lodewyckx, Hope and Fred Ingamells, Ann Moyal, Judith Wright, Dawn Richardson, Bruce Anderson, Bill Gammage, Ken Inglis, Geoffrey Bolton, Stuart Macintyre, Geoffrey Dutton and Robin Lucas, Rosemary Dobson, Jan Nicholas, Humphrey McQueen, Bill & Ann Golding.

A more extensive list of correspondents can be found in Appendix 1 (see Related Documentation section). Extended family have been excluded from the list and, as many writers used only their first names, there are many friends that cannot be identified with any certainty. For the most part, the list covers writers who are well-known and indicates the approximate date range of their letters to Dymphna. Many of the correspondents are also represented in other series.

Series 2. Newspaper Cuttings and Reviews, c. 1940-1999

This series consists of newspaper cuttings and reviews which Dymphna maintained in two separate files - 'Reviews' and 'News Items, Reviews'. Dymphna does not appear to have maintained separate cuttings and reviews files, but instead interfiled newspaper cuttings, reviews and published articles into two separate files.

The papers consist of newspaper cuttings on Manning, Dymphna, friends and associates of the Clarks; reviews of Clark's work; a program from Manning Clark's History of Australia: The Musical (1996), and published articles on and by Manning Clark and other family members and friends. Some of the newspaper cuttings in this series relate to both the 1993 and 1996 controversies and may be duplicated in the specific series (Series 10 and 11) on these controversies.

Series 3. Eduard Hernsheim: South Sea Merchant, 1979

Dymphna's command of the German language helped to make her a much sought-after translator. In 1979 Dymphna and Peter Sack (from the Australian National University's German Department), co-edited and translated South Sea Merchant: Eduard Hernsheim - one of several publications they jointly edited and translated.

Series 4. The Aboriginal Treaty Committee, 1980-1983

In 1980 Dymphna was asked by the poet, Judith Wright, to join the Aboriginal Treaty Committee. Established in 1979, the committee was chaired by H.C. Coombs and aimed to educate and promote the need for a formal Treaty between the Commonwealth Government and Aboriginal representatives.

This series contains correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, papers relating to the Aboriginal Treaty Committee Art Exhibition, draft preamble for a proposed addition to the Australian Constitution, ephemera, as well as other papers relating to the committee and Aboriginal issues generally.

Series 1 (File 1, 1979) also includes correspondence relating to the Aboriginal Treaty Committee.

Series 5. Speaking Out of Turn: Lectures and Speeches 1940-1991, c. 1940-1998

In 1991, eight months prior to his death, Manning Clark was commissioned by New Endeavour Press (in conjunction with the University of New South Wales press) to collate a number of his speeches and lectures for publication. Manning worked on the volume up to his death and chose forty speeches and lectures. Following Manning's death, Dymphna, with the help of her son, Sebastian, contributed to finishing Manning's work by editing and providing additional information. Speaking Out of Turn: Lectures and Speeches 1940-1991 was eventually published by Melbourne University Press in 1997.

The series contains papers relating to the production of the volume from Manning's original commission in 1991 to its publication in 1997. It illustrates Dymphna's contribution to the volume and provides examples of her editing work. The series comprises photocopied and original manuscripts of Manning's speeches and lectures, several manuscript and typescript drafts of the book (including the original manuscript), correspondence (mainly with Melbourne University Press), reviews, material relating to the design of the book, photographs and publicity material.

Series 6. New Holland Journal: November 1833 - October 1834: Baron Charles Von Hügel, 1985-1994

Dymphna's most significant work was the translation of Charles Von Hügel's New Holland Journal, 1833-1834. Count Carl (Charles) Von Hügel was an Austrian botanist who visited Australia and New Zealand in 1833-1834 and kept detailed diary accounts of his journeys. Dymphna spent approximately nine years researching and translating his two thousand-page manuscript (written in German), which is held at the Mitchell Library, Sydney.

Due to the size of the manuscript, Dymphna was forced to omit large sections of the original, as well as the entire section on New Zealand. Her work, Charles Von Hügel's New Holland Journal, 1833-1834, was eventually published by Melbourne University Press (in association with the State Library of New South Wales) in 1994.

This large series contains manuscript and typescript draft translations, photocopies, research notes, correspondence (mainly with Melbourne University Press and including hand-written draft letters by Dymphna), newspaper articles, reviews, talks and publicity material. The series (Files 47-53) also includes papers relating to Dymphna's translation on the month Von Hügel spent in New Zealand in 1834. Most of the titles are those given by Dymphna.

Series 7. Personal Documents and Papers, 1941, 1979-2000

Dymphna filed personal documents and papers in a file which she named 'Hilma Dymphna Clark, née Lodewyckx'. The documents and papers have been retained in the order maintained by Dymphna.

This series comprises four files of assorted cards, invitations, brochures, newspaper cuttings, newsletters, correspondence, speeches and talks, book reviews written by Dymphna, as well as reviews of books translated by Dymphna; a photograph, an 'Extract of Entry' Certificate (1941) and a copy of Dymphna's will.

Also included in the series are transcripts of interviews with Dymphna, including the ABC's Hindsight Program, 'Telling History' (1998) and two oral history recordings for the National Library of Australia (1990 and 1997).

Series 8. Writings by Others, c. 1936-1999

The series contains published and unpublished articles, conference papers, talks, plays, issues of journals, theses, draft chapters of books and government publications and reports by other writers. They cover a range of subjects and reflect Dymphna's interest in the environment, aboriginals, German history and culture, as well as contemporary issues such as republicanism. Several of the papers are in German.

The series includes writings by Dymphna's family, friends and colleagues, such as Axel Clark, Alison Clark, Axel Lodewyckx, Ann Moyal, Jan Nicholas, Don Baker, Anne Fairbairn and Peter Sack (Australian National University).

Series 9. Manning Clark's Death, 1991 - 1997

Manning Clark died on 23 May 1991. His funeral service was held at St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra, on 27 May 1991 and was attended by more than 600 guests, including family, friends, colleagues, political dignitaries, writers, journalists and academics.

This series consists of the hundreds of cards, letters, poems and messages received by Dymphna from family, friends and strangers. It also includes obituaries, copies of the Order of Service, a memorial book containing signatures of people who attended the funeral, Don Baker's eulogy, a bound extract from the Parliamentary debates of the House of Representatives 'A Tribute to the memory of Emeritus Professor Manning Clark, A.C., by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia'.

The correspondents in this series illustrate the wide-range of friends and acquaintances of the Clarks. Correspondents include Blanche d'Alpuget, Mary and Elizabeth Durack, Ann Moyal, Maggie Tabberer and Richard Zachariah, Bob Hawke and members of the Federal Labor Party, Thomas Keneally, Stuart Macintyre, Ian Hancock, Franca Arena, Tom Uren, Anne Fairbairn, Don Watson, Barry Humphries, Peter O'Shaughnessy, Ros Kelly, Geoffrey Dutton, Geoffrey Bolton, E.G. Whitlam, Bede Nairn, Tom Shapcott, Paul Knobel, Joan Carden, Tom Fitzgerald, Fred Daly, John Bell, Prue Goward, Rosemary Dobson and Alec Bolton, Majorie Tipping, Geoffrey Blainey, Dame Leone Kramer, Bishop David Garnsey, Sir James Darling, Bill Gammage, Hugh Stretton, Patrick O'Farrell, John Molony, Judith Wright and Alec Hope. Other correspondence relating to Manning's death may also be found in Series 1 (1991 Correspondence).

The last group of files in this series deals mainly with Manning Clark in the years after his death and includes newspaper cuttings dealing with buildings named in his honour, conferences and seminars dedicated to him, reviews of books published posthumously (A Historian's Apprentice 1992, Manning Clark's History of Australia, abridged by Michael Cathcart, 1993) and other papers.

Series 10. Manning Clark and the Peter Ryan Controversy, 1993-1995

In September 1993 Quadrant published an article by Peter Ryan, former Director of Melbourne University Press and publisher of Manning Clark's six-volume A History of Australia, which criticised the History, Manning's work as an historian and his character in general.

The article sparked a debate in the media amongst historians, academics, journalists and the Australian public in general. This series comprises articles (including the original QuadrantSeptember 1993 article), newspaper cuttings and correspondence. During this period, Dymphna received many letters of support from family, friends, colleagues and strangers. There are also examples of hand-written and draft responses written by Dymphna. Correspondents include Judith Wright, Geoffrey Dutton, Humphrey McQueen, Stuart Macintyre, Don Watson, Bruce Anderson, Bede Nairn, F.M. Chaney, Geoffrey Bolton, Lyndall Ryan, David Malouf and Caroline Jones. Correspondence relating to the Peter Ryan critique may also be found in Series 1 (1993 Correspondence).

Series 11. Manning Clark and the Courier Mail Controversy,1996-1997

On 24 August 1996, the Brisbane Courier Mail published an eight-page article accusing Manning Clark of being a Soviet spy and recipient of an Order of Lenin Medal during the Cold War.

Like the Peter Ryan incident, the controversy was played out in the media, with Dymphna, her family and hundreds of friends and colleagues strongly denying the allegations and defending Manning's reputation. In November 1996 a complaint was made to the Press Council by 15 prominent public figures, led by the former Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen. The Press Council found against the Courier Mail. The newspaper appealed in early 1997 but lost.

This series primarily consists of newspaper cuttings and articles (including the original Courier Mail article), book reviews and correspondence. Correspondents include Geoffrey Dutton, Robert Marsden-Hope, Brian Wilder (Director of Melbourne University Press), John and Denise Molony, Helen Garner, Joan Carden, Stuart Macintyre, Bruce Anderson, Bruce Grant, Gareth Evans, Brian Matthews, Hugh Stretton, Sir Zelman Cowen, Judith Wright, Geoffrey Serle and Susan Ryan. Reference to the Courier Mail controversy may also be found in Series 1 (1996 Correspondence).

File 5 (1997) includes articles and reviews referring to Humphrey McQueen's Suspect History: Manning Clark and the Future of Australia's Past (1997). McQueen wrote this publication in defence of Clark and as a rebuttal of those who attacked Manning Clark in the Courier Mail.

The last file in this series, titled by Dymphna, contains correspondence of Bruce Anderson, long-time friend and former student of Manning, lists of prominent people supporting Anderson, draft letters and media statements written by Dymphna.

Series 12. Writings and Documents by or about Manning Clark,c. 1933 - 2000

This series consists of papers and other documents either written about or by Manning Clark, although most of the material relates to Manning Clark after his death. It includes photographs, his University of Melbourne academic transcript and other documentation, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, reviews, articles and draft scripts.

The photographs consist of both coloured and black and white photographs, mainly of Manning, but with several of Manning and Dymphna and one of Manning with David Campbell and others at the National Press Club, 1976. Many of the articles and reviews pertain to Stephen Holt's biography, A Short History of Manning Clark (1999). The correspondence relates to responses to Bridget Goodwin's documentary, The Young Tree Green: A Film Biography of Manning Clark (1998) and the series also includes a draft script (with editorial amendments) of the documentary.

Series 13. Miscellaneous Papers, c. 1960-1999

This series includes an array of papers such as newsletters, correspondence, cards, poems, a magazine, recipes, a map and a poster. The series further provides an indication as to Dymphna's interests, such as the environment, German culture and quilt making.

Correspondence and related papers (File)