Guide to the Papers of Marcie Muir
MS Acc09.199
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Muir, Marcie
- Title
- Papers of Marcie Muir
- Date Range
- c.1960-2007
- Collection Number
- MS Acc09.199
- Extent
- 9.93 m. metres (46 boxes + 5 folio boxes + 1 packet + 24 digital carriers + 1 sound/av carrier)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises unpublished writing by Marcie Muir on Australian children's literature, correspondence with publishers, writers, children's book enthusiasts, libraries, floppy disks, ledgers and other files relating to research.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4851332).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Marcie Muir, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Related Materials
Other material relating to Marcie Muir can be found in the book collection under the title of 'Marcie Muir collection of Australian children's books and in the Ephemera Collection under the title ' Marcie Muie collection of Australian children's books : ephemera'.
Biographical / Historical
Author. Kathleen Marcelle (Marcie) Muir is best known for her A bibliography of Australian children's books (1970), and for her work on Australian children's book illustration. Muir also published a life of K. Langloh Parker, the early collector of Aboriginal legends and stories, and a monograph on Anthony Trollope's visit to Australia. She was an early member of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Book Council, and was on the judging panel in 1958 and 1962. In 1985 she advised Australia Post on a set of stamps bearing illustrations from Australian children's books. She was the inaugural winner of the Nan Chauncy Award from the Children's Book Council in 1984, the National Book Council's Bookman of the Year Award jointly with her husband Harry Muir in 1978, and the Library Association's Redmond Barry Award in 1988. Muir died in Adelaide in 2007.
Item Descriptions
Class MS Acc09.199. Original Consignment
MS Acc09.199 comprises unpublished writing by Marcie Muir on Australian children's literature; note cards for addenda to A bibliography of Australian children's books; slides of illustrations from Australian children's books; correspondence, floppy disks, ledgers and other files relating to research, compilation and publication of A bibliography of Australian children's books; and, Children's Book of the Year awards papers.
The collection also includes professional correspondence with publishers, writers, children's book enthusiasts, libraries, and correspondence relating to grant applications; files relating to unpublished "Boys' adventure stories"; research notes and files on Sheila Hawkins, Margaret Horder, Charlotte Barton, May Gibbs and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite; booksellers' and publishers' catalogues and magazines; research notes made during Muir's visits to interstate libraries; a cassette tape on "The great south land"; colour photographs of covers of children's books; cuttings relating to Australian children's books; and, a glass negative depicting the grave of Aeneas James Gunn (46 boxes, 3 fol. boxes).
Spiral bound list of papers of Marcie Muir including biographical information (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
Six bound volumes of unpublished material - either photocopies or computer print outs, each with an explanatory note at the front: The unfinished Addenda volume to the Bibliography, in the most recent version. (See Boxes 2-5 for papers relating to the bibliography) (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
In the Wilds of Australia an unpublished study of Boys' Adventure Stories set in Australia (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
A volume of essays, mostly on early Australian children's books but including a study of the work of the Lindsays, and Australian fairy stories. Also an edited transcription of the shipboard journal of Charlotte Barton on her voyage to Australia (see Box 12) (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
Margaret Horder, Illustrator an unpublished study of one of the finest and most neglected illustrators of Australian children's books (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
A volume collecting together talks, articles and other occasional pieces M gave between the late 1970s and late 1990s, together with photocopies of some published articles (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
Fairyland or the Bush a short, unpublished (and unfinished) book looking at the lives and work of May Gibbs and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, intended for a wide audience (File) - Box 1a (MS Acc09.199)
The original comb bound copy of the August 2007 version of the Addenda to the bibliography from which the bound version was taken. 2007 (File) - Box 1b (MS Acc09.199)
Three boxes of slides of illustrations of slides relating to Australian children's books (File) - Box 1c (MS Acc09.199)
Microfilm of 'Notable deeds of famous men and women' by Long and Wallace (File) - Box 1c (MS Acc09.199)
A ring binder containing a copy of a print out of Robyn Sheahan-Bright's thesis: 'To Market to Market: the Development of the Australian Children's Publishing Industry' (File) - Box 1d (MS Acc09.199)
The Bibliography, comprising: Ledgers containing original manuscript entries for the published bibliography and some loose sheets and cards with later entries. A-H (File) - Box 2a (MS Acc09.199)
Ledgers containing original manuscript entries for the published bibliography and some loose sheets and cards with later entries. K-S (File) - Box 2b (MS Acc09.199)
Ledgers containing original manuscript entries for the published bibliography and some loose sheets and cards with later entries. T-Z plus 'South West Pacific' (File) - Box 2c (MS Acc09.199)
Manuscript index of illustrators in another hand (possibly compiled by John Halls, husband of M's old friend the novelist Geraldine Halls (aka Charlotte Jay) after vol 1 of the Bibliography was published in 1970 (File) - Box 2c (MS Acc09.199)
Photocopy of the title and illustrator index of the MUP edition of the Bibliography in clip binder (I did this for M as something she could carry when she travelled to help identify if a book was 'not in Muir' when the full bibliography was not available (File) - Box 2c (MS Acc09.199)
A September 2006 print out of the Addenda and Corrigenda with a number of mostly obscure annotations (File) - Box 2d (MS Acc09.199)
An A4 spirex book of notes alphabetically arranged relating to the price asked for rare Australian children's books (File) - Box 2d (MS Acc09.199)
Several bundles of card index cards recording prices of old Australian children's book (File) - Box 2d (MS Acc09.199)
Printed volume: Children's Books in the Rare Book Division of the Library of Congress vol 1 Authors (File) - Box 2e (MS Acc09.199)
Box of 10 floppy disks (File)
Bibliography Index (Item NLA.MS-DM004670) - Digital-Carriers-Box 91
1 item, Memorex 2S/2D, 3.5 inch floppy disk9' file (KMMa) B corrected Etta 04/02/1991, 4/02/1991 (Item NLA.MS-DM004671) - Digital-Carriers-Box 91
1 item, Xidex 1MB, 3.5 inch floppy diskBackup Etta CEE and prclims Intro C only. 07/02/1991, 7/02/1991 (Item NLA.MS-DM004672) - Digital-Carriers-Box 91
1 item, Swissdisk, 3.5 inch floppy diskP Q 06/02/1991 20/2, 6/02/1991 (Item NLA.MS-DM004676) - Digital-Carriers-Box 91
1 item, Swissdisk, 3.5 inch floppy diskThe Bibliography: Files relating to the 1970 and 1976 editions of the bibliography, mostly correspondence with publishers but also some with libraries, authors etc (File) - Box 3a-c (MS Acc09.199)
A box of papers, proofs and etc returned by MUP when the Bibliography was published and never opened by M (File) - Folio-Box 4c-d
File box of papers relating to the publication of the 1992 Melbourne University Press edition of the Bibliography (File) - Box 5a (MS Acc09.199)
12 floppy disks (File)
Disk 'A, B' (Item NLA.MS-DM004047) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Unbranded, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'C, D, E, F' (Item NLA.MS-DM004048) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Unbranded, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'G, H, I, J' (Item NLA.MS-DM004049) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Unbranded, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'K, L, M' (Item NLA.MS-DM004050) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Unbranded, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'N, O' (Item NLA.MS-DM004051) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Unbranded, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'P, Q' (Item NLA.MS-DM004052) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Eidetic Professional MF-2DD, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'R, S, T' (Item NLA.MS-DM004053) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Eidetic Professional MF-2DD, 3.5 inch floppy diskDisk 'U, V, W, Y (and Z)' (Item NLA.MS-DM004054) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Eidetic Professional MF-2DD, 3.5 inch floppy disk'Pacific and Prelims' (Item NLA.MS-DM004055) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Eidetic Professional MF-2DD, 3.5 inch floppy diskBiblio entries on File Maker (Item NLA.MS-DM004056) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Memorex 2S/2D Double sided, 3.5 inch floppy diskAustralian Children's Bibliography 'Index' Muir Title, 1991-1992? (Item NLA.MS-DM004057) - Digital-Carriers-Box 82
1 item, Eidetic Professional MF-2DD, 3.5 inch floppy diskEnclosed in letter from Melbourne University Press dated 2/06/1992 and headed Australian Children's Books: 'returning your index disks'
File box of papers relating to Australian Children's Book Illustrators (Sun Books, 1977) and papers given at HOBA conferences, and other miscellaneous subjects (File) - Box 5b (MS Acc09.199)
Files, mostly containing drafts and print outs of M's own work, especially unpublished works, articles and etc. Also correspondence relating to the Bibliography, including the Addenda volume (File a-c) - Box 6a-c (MS Acc09.199)
Files of notes on Australian Children's books and authors including responses to a questionnaire M. sent out to contemporary authors (File) - Box 7a-c (MS Acc09.199)
Papers relating to Under the Pepper Trees the anthology of children's literature M edited for the sesqui-centenary of South Australia, including some manuscripts not included in the published work (File) - Box 8a (MS Acc09.199)
Correspondence with and papers relating to Ken Pound and his collection of Australian Children's books (File) - Box 8a (MS Acc09.199)
A file of articles including Robert Holden on A Mother's Offering; and others by Marion Amies, Jeff Prentice and Brian Alderson (File) - Box 8a (MS Acc09.199)
Notes and papers on the history of the Australian book trade, with a particular emphasis on the role of women in it. Correspondence with Eve Abbey and Jack Bradstreet (important Australian booksellers); notes re Mary Martin, and Penguins (File) - Box 8b (MS Acc09.199)
A few miscellaneous files on other literary figures who particularly interested M, notably Virginia Woolf (M wrote a letter of condolence to Vanessa Bell following Woolf's suicide, which has recently been published in a volume of correspondence written in reaction to the news); Henry Handel Richardson and etc (File) - Box 8b (MS Acc09.199)
Professional correspondence with publishers, grant applications, PLR and ELR, Society of Authors, correspondence with other writers and enthusiasts for children's books (including Brenda Niall, although correspondence with some close friends and colleagues has been withheld for the moment as we are not quite ready to part with it yet as it contains much family news); also correspondence with libraries, Children's Book Historical Society and etc (File) - Box 9a-c (MS Acc09.199)
Two file boxes relating to Muir's unpublished study of Boy's Adventure Stories; original arrangement (File) - Box 10a-b (MS Acc09.199)
An archive box and file box of notes and correspondence with and about Sheila Hawkins, together with working papers for the publication of M's study of her work. The file box includes an A4 envelope containing 15 original colour illustrations of birds, animals and reptiles by Hawkins (plus a colour photograph of Hawkins); and a separate folder with one colour and 14 black and white drawings (File) - Box 11a-b (MS Acc09.199)
Margaret Horder and Charlotte Barton: Two file boxes containing notes, papers and correspondence relating to Margaret Horder and Charlotte Barton -the latter mostly about her shipboard journal which M. transcribed and edited (File) - Box 12a-b (MS Acc09.199)
Notes, illustrations, correspondence etc relating to A History of Australian Children's Book Illustration: material is as arranged by Muir (File) - Box 13a-c (MS Acc09.199)
May Gibbs and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite: Two file boxes of notes and etc, one on Gibbs, one on Outhwaite; original arrangement (File) - Box 14a-b (MS Acc09.199)
A3 notes and photocopies of material by May Gibbs and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite; a print out (from microfilm) of the 'Chunderloo' advertisements from 'The Bulletin', and a chronological list of works in the 'Bibliography' compiled by Lindsay Shore. (File) - Folio-Box 15a (MS Acc09.199)
Published children's books (File) - Box 15b (MS Acc09.199)
Includes seven works by Ethel Turner: two copies of 'The little larrikin' (c1896), 'Miss Bobbie' (1897), 'Little mother Meg' (1902), 'Mother's little girl' (1904), 'Fugitives from fortune' (1909), and 'King Anne' (1921?).
Photographs, magazines and catalogues, comprising: Miscellaneous booksellers' and publishers' catalogues, photocopies, 1960s magazines with articles re Australian children's books, exhibition catalogues incl. Fantastic Illustration and Design in Britain, 1850-1930 (Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, 1979) (File) - Box 16a-b (MS Acc09.199)
13 exercise books + 1 A5 ring binder + 1 A5 spirex notebook containing manuscript notes, mostly made on interstate trips to libraries -mostly general but some specific topics (File) - Box 16c (MS Acc09.199)
Two boxes of colour photographs of covers of boy's adventure taken by Ron Maria c 1980s (File) - Box 16c (MS Acc09.199)
Class MS Acc11.006. Consignment received January 2011
Papers, 1974-1995 (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc11.006)
This consignment includes a photocopy of a self-published children's story, 'The story of Sammy the monkey'; a manuscript, 'The ABC animal book' with watercolour illustrations; a synopsis of a published story by Doris Chadwick, John of Sydney Cove; and related correspondence.
Class MS Acc11.015. Consignment received February 2011
Papers, 1970-2009 (File) - Folio-Box 1-2 (MS Acc11.015)
This consignment comprises annotated copies of two publications used by Marcie Muir for updating purposes, and a short explanatory note about Muir's work and her methods of working, written by her son, Dr Rory Muir. The books are: A bibliography of Australian children's books by Marcie Muir (Volume 1, 1970 and Volume 2, 1976); and Volumes 1 and 2 of Australian children's books: a bibliography, the first volume of which was by Muir, and the second by Kerry White (1992). There is also is an annotated bound proof copy of Volume 1 of the latter title (2 fol. boxes).