Guide to the Papers of James Gleeson

MS 7440, Acc09.018, Acc09.201, Acc16.019

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: December 2020

Collection Summary

Creator: James Gleeson
Title: Papers of James Gleeson
Date Range: 1915-2008
Collection Number: MS 7440, Acc09.018, Acc09.201, Acc16.019
Extent: 25.83 metres (125 ms boxes + 7 folio boxes + 2 map folios + 3 phase boxes + 1 packet)
Language of Materials: English
Repository: Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The papers in MS 7440 are arranged into 13 series: 1. Correspondence: family, 1956-1971: letters from mother, sister and niece; general, 1949-1984: letters from other artists and writers. Some of the correspondents are Edward and Honor Smith, Errol Peisby, Tom and Else Gleghorn, Lloyd Rees, Patrick White, Pam Bell and Desiderius Orban and Alister Kershaw. 2. Diaries and notebooks, 1948, 1958-1987. Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels. Notebooks that contain drafts of his writings. 3. Manuscripts: drafts, typescripts and working notes of writings, including Master pieces of Australian paintings (1969), William Dobell (1964) and Robert Klippel (1983). 4. Australian National Gallery, 1973-1982: reports, financial statements, some correspondence and minutes of meetings. 5. William Dobell Art Foundation, 1975-1979: correspondence, reports, photographs and minutes of meetings. 6. Visual Art Board, 1974-1976: minutes of meetings, grant applications and reports. 7. Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, 1972-1973: minutes, financial papers, reports and some correspondence. 8. A bound volume of original artworks and collages created by James Gleeson in 2000 when his life-long partner, Frank O'Keefe, was seriously ill in hospital. Gleeson presented the volume to O'Keefe on his recovery (47 boxes, 1 fol. boxes, 2 phase boxes).The Acc09.018 instalment consists of papers accumulated by Gleeson during the course of his long life and career. Over half of this instalment comprises photographic material, which includes images of Gleeson's works in a variety of mediums, photographs from his numerous trips overseas and a small group of family photographs. The remainder of the instalment comprises correspondence; diaries; papers relating to Gleeson's involvement with the Dobell Foundation; cuttings from newspapers and magazines; and a small group of invoices and receipts. There are a number of notebooks and binders containing Gleeson's notes for books, articles and lectures (62 boxes, 1 folio).The Acc09.201 instalment largely comprises photographic material of images of Gleeson's works in a variety of mediums. In addition, there are travel photographs and a small group of photographs of the O'Keefe family. The remainder of the instalment consists of correspondence, a folder of collage cutouts and Gleeson's palette (15 boxes, 6 fol. boxes, 1 map folio, 1 os phase box).The Acc16.019 consignment comprises a scrapbook of James Gleeson containing colour photographs of Gleeson's artwork series Odysseus, Apollo, Cadmus, Pelops, Perseus, Bellerophon, Theseus, Orion, Arion and Hercules. Details of galleries and dates of exhibitions are noted alongside most photographs. This addition also includes five typed poems of Li-Tai-Po, an 8th century Chinese poet.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2913071).

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 James Gleeson, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Finding Aid Source(s)

Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.

Collection Retrieval Advice

Please note: each class 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.

Biographical Note

Artist, author and art critic. Chairman, Acquisitions Committee, Australian National Gallery (1974-1975), member of Australian National Gallery Council (1974-82), Deputy Chairman Visual Arts Board, Australian Council for the Arts (1974-1976) and Director Sir William Dobell Art Foundation (1975-1979).

Item Descriptions

Class 1. Original consignment, 1938 - 1985

Series 1. Family Correspondence

Letters to and from his mother, 1956-1958 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS 7440)

Letters from Isabel Paul (sister), 1956, 1958 (File 2-3) - Box 1 (MS 7440)

Letters from Francine (niece), 1956, 1958, 1965-1967, 1971 (File 4) - Box 1 (MS 7440)

Series 2. Correspondence with Writers and Artists

Letters from Edward & Honor Smith, 1957-1960 (File 5-9) - Box 1 (MS 7440)

Letters from Edward & Honor Smith, 1961-1980 (File 10-18) - Box 2 (MS 7440)

Letters (File 19) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

Mervyn Horton 1958-59

Garry Shead 1972

John Armstrong 1974

David Dridan 1965

Roger Kemp [n.d]

Ronald Millen[n.d]

Thea Proctor 1955-57

Elmyr Dory [n.d]

Oscar Edwards 1966

Letters (File 20) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

Treania Smith 1958

Camilla Wedgwood 1949

John Henshaw 1968

James Davenport 1975

Louis Kahan 1973

Desmond Digby [n.d]

Carl Plate 1956

William Peascod 1965, 1970

Max Newton 1949

Geoffrey Dutton 1975

Michael Hall 1963

Michael West 1968

Letters (File 21) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

Norman Behan [n.d]

Inge King 1949, 1963

Bill Salmon 1969

Max Feuerring 1969

Kevin Connor 1964, 1966, 1975

Barbara Tribe 1969

John Hetherington 1962

John Baily 1975

Wendy Dickson

Edgar Eduard Aavik 1960, 1964

Marc Moyens

Royston Harpur 1966

Arthur McIntyre 1973

Bruce Adams 1971

Stan Ostoja-Kotowski 1963

Earle Backen 1972

Doris Fitton 1963

Daniel Cotton Rich

Edmund Capon 1980, 1982

David Thomas 1971

Tony Tuckson 1961

Sweeney Reed 1972

Letters (File 22) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

Judy Cassab 1964

Graham King 1973

Claude Alcosso 1947

Herbert Read 1965

Jennifer Phipps 1987

Eric Westbrook 1972

Douglas Pratt 1950

Jan Senbergs 1984

Elaine Haxton 1976

Dick Foot 1950

Clifford Last 1974

Murray Bail 1985

Reinis Zusters 1980

Letters (File 23) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

Pam Bell 1963, 1976, 1984

Margaret Olley 1964

Margaret Carnegie 1962, 1964, 1968

Darani Lewers 1971

Geoff de Groen 1968

Sali Herman 1965-66

Hanne Fairfax

Len Annois 1960

Rod Milgate 1966-67

John Perceval 1965, 1966, 1969

Elwyn Lynn

Letters (File 24) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

A. D Trendall 1963

Guy Grey-Smith 1972

J. Carrington Smith 1971

Charles Reddington 1963

Oliffe Richmond 1949

Stuart Scougall 1955, 1962

Barbara Blackman 1974

Jeffrey Smart 1959, 1980's

Richard Haese 1975

Noo Bilu 1969

Asher Bilu 1968

Peter Upward 1962, 1971

Bernard Smith 1969, 1971

Letters (File 25) - Box 3 (MS 7440)

May Marsden 1948

Helen Wark 1949

Margo Lewers 1967

Bryan Westwood [n.d]

Margaret Nogueria 1971

Letters (File 26) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Laurie Thomas 1965

Charles Doolin

Ruth Faeber [n.d]

Barbara Blackman 1964, 1966

Weaver Hawkins 1967

Joe Rose 1971

Letters (File 27) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Errol Peisby 1946-1963

Letters (File 28) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Desiderious Orban 1973, 1981-1982

Paul Haeflinger 1958-1959

Alister Kershaw 1947

William Ohly 1948, 1950

Letters (File 29) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Bob Klippe 1949

Rosemary Madigan 1980, 1984

John Olsen 1964

Miriam Mermey 1957

Letters (File 30) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Lucy Swanton 1953, 1972, 1976

Joan Lindsay 1979

Estelle Wakelin 1971

Grace Crowley 1973

Letters from Lloyd Rees, 1971, 1974 (File 31) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Tass Drysdale 1973

Fred Williams 1972

Leonard French [n.d]

Francis Lymburner 1951

Letters (File 32) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Robin Lovejoy 1968

Patrick White 1961

Hal Missingham 1952, 1963

Peter Melocco 1953, 1954, 1958

Ross Crothall 1964

Virginia Freeman 1972

Letters (File 33) - Box 4 (MS 7440)

Tom & Else Gleghorn 1972, 1982

Harry Abrams 1974

Judith Pins [n.d]

Miscellaneous letters, including some newspaper clippings and broadcasts, 1947-1966 (File 34) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous letters, 1969-1972 (File 35) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous letters, 1974-1976 (File 36) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous letters, 1977-1978 (File 37) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous letters, 1979-1981 (File 38) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Letters of invitations to open and judge exhibitions, 1977-1981 (File 39) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Invitations and brochures of exhibitions, 1976-1982 (File 40) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

Ephemera: circulars, advertising brochures etc (File 41) - Box 5 (MS 7440)

5 plastic bags with greeting cards from various artists (File [unnumbered]) - Box 6 (MS 7440)

Series 3. Diaries and Notebooks

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: 1948 (Item 1) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: July 1958 - March 1959 (Item 2) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: March 1959 - May 1959 (Item 3) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: October 1964 - March 1965 (Item 4) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: October 1965 - February 1966 (Item 5) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: November 1966 - August 1967 (Item 6) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: February 1968 - April 1968; March 1969 - September 1969; August 1971 - October 1971 (Item 7) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: January 1973 - June 1974 (Item 8) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: November 1974 - December 1974 (Item 9) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: January 1980 - June 1980 (Item 10) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: July 1980 - October 1981 (Item 11) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: August 1983 - July 1985 (Item 12) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Diaries kept during Gleeson's travels: August 1985 - October 1987 (Item 13) - Box 7 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald [n.d] (Item 14) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: 1964-1965 (Item 15) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: 1966-1967 (Item 16) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: December 1967-1970 (Item 17) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: May 1970 - August 1972 (Item 18) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: September 1972 - May 1974 (Item 19) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: June 1974 - August 1974, including drafts of letters 1974-1987 (Item 20) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: Notebooks, drafts of articles and letters, notes on acquisitions, exhibitions (Item 21) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: Notebooks, manuscript of, 'The Dynamic nature of Western art and other writings' (Item 22) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: Notebooks, and notes on exhibitions, paintings etc (Item 23) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: 1 photocopy of a diary (Item 24) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Notebook, drafts of articles published in Sun Herald: 2 notebooks (Item 24a) - Box 8 (MS 7440)

Series 4. Poems

Poems by J. Gleeson, 1938-1939 (File 42-44) - Box 9 (MS 7440)

What is my Trauma play by J. Gleeson (File 45) - Box 9 (MS 7440)

Series 5. Manuscripts

'Masterpieces of Australian Paintings.': Manuscripts, typescripts and bibliographical notes (File 46-50) - Box 10 (MS 7440)

'Modern Art and Australia' - manuscripts (File 51) - Box 10 (MS 7440)

'The Visible Voices' - manuscripts (File 52) - Box 10 (MS 7440)

'Eric Wilson' - manuscripts and notes for proposed book (File 53) - Box 10 (MS 7440)

'Robert Klippel' - Manuscripts, typescripts, working notes etc. (File 54-61) - Box 11 (MS 7440)

'William Dobell' - manuscripts and complete typescripts (File 62) - Box 12 (MS 7440)

'William Dobell' - Manuscripts and complete typescripts (File 63-64) - Box 12 (MS 7440)

'The Dobell Sketchbook' - Manuscripts (File 65) - Box 12 (MS 7440)

'Douglas Dundas Memorial Lecture, typescript and publication 1980's (File 66) - Box 12 (MS 7440)

Notebook and typescripts of lectures (File 67) - Box 12 (MS 7440)

Series 6. Australian National Gallery

This series contains minutes of meetings, reports, financial statements, some correspondence, background information and works offered for possible acquisition by the Gallery.

Correspondence, 1973-1982 (File 68) - Box 13 (MS 7440)

Report of Australian National Gallery Committee of Inquiry, March 1966 (File 68a) - Box 13 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, correspondence. (Draft of a Bill for an Act in file 74), January-July, 1974 (File 69-75) - Box 13 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc (File 76) - Box 14 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, January-July, 1976 (File 77-82) - Box 14 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, August-December 1976 (File 83-90) - Box 15 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, February-May 1977 (File 91-97) - Box 16 (MS 7440)

Photocopies of newspaper articles, August 1977 (File 98) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Draft of annual report, 1977-1978 (File 99-100) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, November 1977-February 1978 (File 101) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Directors comments on Works recommended (File 102) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Exhibition manual, April 1978 (File 103) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, correspondence etc, May-June 1978 (File 104-5) - Box 17 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, correspondence, reports and recommendations of acquisitions, June 1978-November 1978 (File 106-113) - Box 18 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, December 1978 (File 114) - Box 19 (MS 7440)

Report on Seven Bronxes from, Southeast Asia, Smithsonian Institute Washington. January 1979 116-117 Annual report and financial statements, 1978 - 1979 (File 115) - Box 19 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, January-April 1979 (File 118-121) - Box 19 (MS 7440)

Agreement between J. Gleeson and ANG, April 1979 (File 122) - Box 20 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, annual reports, background information, May-August 1979 (File 123-130) - Box 20 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, reports, recommendations of acquisitions, photographs of art work, September 1979-December 1979 (File 131-136) - Box 21 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings etc, February - May 1980 (File 137-144) - Box 22 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, works offered for acquisitions, financial statements, press clippings, June - August 1989 (File 145-152) - Box 23 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, reports, works offered etc, August - September 1980 (File 153-161) - Box 24 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, reports etc, September - December 1980 (File 162-168) - Box 25 (MS 7440)

Photocopy of Una Johnsons catalogue, 1977 (File 169) - Box 25 (MS 7440)

Press clippings, December 1980 (File 170) - Box 25 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, some correspondence works offered for acquisition, January - February 1981 (File 171-177) - Box 26 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, works offered for acquisition etc, February - May 1981 (File 178-185) - Box 27 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, reports, press cuttings etc, June - October 1981 (File 186-193) - Box 28 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, November 1981 (File 194-195) - Box 29 (MS 7440)

Overseas Visit report job applications, newspaper cuttings, miscellaneous notes, November 1981 (File 196-197) - Box 29 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, December 1981 (File 198) - Box 29 (MS 7440)

Development strategy prepared by Nadia Burch, 1981-1984 (File 199) - Box 29 (MS 7440)

Overseas Visit report part II and membership of the National Gallery revised report prepared by N. Burch, 1982 (File 200) - Box 29 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, press clippings, reports, some correspondence, January - May 1982 (File 201-207) - Box 30 (MS 7440)

Ceremonial opening of the National Gallery, April 1982 (File 208-209) - Box 30 (MS 7440)

Photographs and negatives of art works (File 210-214) - Box 31 (MS 7440)

Photographs, negatives and slides of art works (File 215-219) - Box 32 (MS 7440)

Oxford University Memorandum Agreement, 1979 (File 220) - Box 33 (MS 7440)

Job applications for senior positions. One Volume, "The Australian National Gallery, a historical note 1901-1982," by M. J. E Steven (File 221-223) - Box 33 (MS 7440)

Interviews between James Gleeson and various artists (File 224-225) - Box 33 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous correspondence notes, lists, catalogues (File 226-232) - Box 34 (MS 7440)

Authority list of Australian Artists, also biography of artists Ellsworth Kelly, Mon Levinson, Bridget Riley, Josef Albert and Victor Vosasely (File 233) - Box 34 (MS 7440)

Transcript of an interview: Laurence Durrel talks to Pierre Vicary, 1975, also Ecology of the Art by John Passmore (File 234) - Box 35 (MS 7440)

Announcement of and invitations to exhibitions (File 235-236) - Box 35 (MS 7440)

Miscellaneous printed material: ANG News V.1. No.1, 1981, Artforce, 1980-1981 (File 237-241) - Box 35 (MS 7440)

Press cuttings and photocopies of articles and printed material (File 242-246) - Box 36 (MS 7440)

Series 7. William Dobell Art Foundation

Minutes of meetings, correspondence, reports, and photographs, 1975-1979 (File 247-248) - Box 37 (MS 7440)

"Yours sincerely Bill Dobell," an ABC documentary (File 249) - Box 37 (MS 7440)

Photocopy of court case against the Trustees of the National Gallery of NSW and William Dobell, 1944 (File 250-251) - Box 37 (MS 7440)

Series 8. Visual Art Board

Minutes of meetings, reports, some correspondence, public hearings, March-November 1973 (File 252-260) - Box 38 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, public hearings, January-May 1974 (File 261-268) - Box 39 (MS 7440)

Special and standard grants applications, January-May 1974 (File 269-271) - Box 40 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, public hearings, August-December 1974 (File 272-275) - Box 40 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, lists of grants paid, February-June 1975 (File 276-284) - Box 41 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings and grants, July-Dec 1975 (File 285-294) - Box 42 (MS 7440)

Minutes of meetings, January-June 1976 (File 295-299) - Box 43 (MS 7440)

Printed material (File 300) - Box 43 (MS 7440)

Applications for grants (File) - Box 44 (MS 7440)

Australian Council for The Arts: Policy and functions of the committee, April 1974 (File 306) - Box 45 (MS 7440)

Australian Council for The Arts: 11th meeting, May 1974 (File 307-309) - Box 45 (MS 7440)

Australian Council for The Arts: 12th meeting, June 1974 (File 310) - Box 45 (MS 7440)

Series 9. Commonwealth Art Advisory Board

Minutes of meetings, some correspondence, financial statements, reports, February 1972-1973 (File 311-317) - Box 46 (MS 7440)

XII Sao Paulo Biennial, 1973 (File 318) - Box 46 (MS 7440)

Series 10. Sydney College of the Arts

Minutes of meetings, November 1976-May 1977 (File 319-320) - Box 47 (MS 7440)

Series 11. Victorian College of the Arts

Minutes of meetings, November 1976 (File 321) - Box 47 (MS 7440)

Series 12. International Association of the Art Critics

Australian Division meetings, 1977, 1979, 1980. International Congress, 1973, 1976, 1980 (File 322) - Box 47 (MS 7440)

Series 13. Art Galleries Association of Australia

Applications for travel awards, 1975 (File 323) - Box 47 (MS 7440)

Travel awards, 1974 (File 324) - Box 47 (MS 7440)

Volume of Newspaper clippings of articles by J. Gleeson published in The Sun, 1949 (File 325) - Box Phase 1 (MS 7440)

Volumes (2) of Newspaper clippings, 1963-1967; 1967-1979 (File 326) - Box Phase 2 (MS 7440)

Catalogues and invitations (File 327) - Folio-Box 3 (MS 7440)

Book of original artworks by James Gleeson, dedicated to Frank O'Keefe, c 1980 (File 328) - Volume 328 (MS 7440)

Class MS Acc09.018. Consignment added February 2009

Class. Audio visual material

James Gleeson (Item NLA.MS-SAV013280) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-029

1 item, LE15, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Velasquez - Rokeby Venus. In conversation - James Gleeson (Item NLA.MS-SAV013281) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-029

1 item, E180, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

In Conversation James Gleeson Ex Sunday Afternoon - ABC TV (Item NLA.MS-SAV013282) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-029

1 item, ABC E15, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc