Collection 1: Margo Thomas papers, 1925-1983

MLMSS 9086/Boxes 1-7
MLMSS 9086/Boxes 8X-9X

sub-fonds

1925-1983

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Musical Sound Recordings, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Manuscript Notated Music, Notated Music, Objects, Clippings, Drawings, Ephemera, Paintings, Photographs, Posters, Prints

411820

1.76 metres of textual material (7 boxes, 2 outsize boxes), some boxes contain photographs and other items

The collection largely relates to Margo Thomas’ career in dance, both as a performer and educator, including many of her own writings in the form of diaries, correspondence and notebooks, as well as newscuttings and photographs.

BOX 1
Diaries (3), 1972-1973
Pocket diaries, 1940-1941, 1944, 1947-1971, 1973-1978, and desk diary, 1971
Address book, no date

BOX 2
Correspondence including: letters received and copies of letters sent, 1945-1977; postcards and greeting cards, 1950-1979; correspondence with and concerning Thomas during her hospitalisation and following her death including letters from Wilfred Thomas, 1980-1983
Press release ‘The late Margo Thomas and her bequest to the William Blake Trust’, ca. 1980
Autobiographical material and horoscope, no date
Dream diaries (4 volumes), 1951-1966

BOX 3
Exercise books and notebooks containing quotations, poetry, thoughts and notes relating to William Blake, eurhythmy, languages, dance classes and other themes, 1947-1963 and undated

BOX 4
Album of personal colour and black & white photographs and postcards, 1961-1977
Photograph album, mostly colour snapshots of a holiday in Central Australia, 1977, with loose newscuttings relating to Bert Edwards, Thomas’ brother, 1973
Folder of loose black & white publicity photographs, undated
Folder of loose personal and family photographs, 1925-1973 and undated
Various illustrations, mainly relating to William Blake and his works, no date
Various negative strips housed in 2 canisters, ca. 1969

BOX 5
Scrapbook of newscuttings relating to William Blake, 1925-1954
Folder of newscuttings, programs, flyers and business cards relating to Margo Thomas, her performances and dance classes, 1940-1982
Radio and television scripts and transcripts of interviews, 1948-1962
Folder of notes on William Blake and other writers, ca. 1955-1977
Folder of notes on William Blake’s ‘Book of Job’ including lecture notes, no date

BOX 6
Teaching notes for dance, speech and drama, 1945-1952 and undated
Folder of music manuscripts and printed music used for Blake poems and dances
Notes and drafts for a proposed book on teaching the arts to children and parents (3 folders), no date

BOX 7
Printing blocks (8) including halftone blocks
Sound recordings: 29 audio cassette tapes including readings of Milton’s Paradise Lost, radio talks by Wilfred Thomas and others, meditation and dance music. Not to be issued – master tapes only. For access please contact the Curator of Oral History

BOX 8X
Various mounted and framed black & white photographs, posters for Blake recitals, dance instructions and newscuttings relating to Margo and Wilfred Thomas, 1940-1950 and undated

BOX 9X
Various sketches and paintings relating to dance and advertising dance classes
4 black & white photographs of the Poets Theatre Group, mounted on board, no date
Instructions for Indian dances, on card

SOUND RECORDINGS – 34 TAPES
Canister of 4 sound tapes labelled William Blake tapes: Descriptive catalogue, Tiriel, Laocoon, Vision of Last Judgement, Vala, Book of Job, Daughters of Albion, Europe, Song of Los, Gates of Paradise
Canister of 3 sound tapes labelled William Blake: America, Jerusalem, Reels 1-3
Readings of William Blake works (19 tapes), possibly by the Poets Theatre Group
Dance music (6 tapes) including Greek and Indian music
J. Krishnamurti talk at Clermont Colleges, 1968
Unidentified tape
These sound recordings are housed separately from the records at MLMSS 9086. For enquiries about this material please contact the Manuscripts Section

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple copyright owners
Approval for reproduction required: from copyright owner
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2013-2014