Collection 01: Robert Dessaix literary papers concerning A Mother's Disgrace, 1992-1999

MLMSS 7034/Boxes 1-3
MLMSS 7034/Box 4X

sub-fonds

1992-1999

Textual Records, Nonmusical Sound Recordings

411994

0.44 metres of textual material (3 boxes, 1 outsize box) - manuscript, typescript, and typescript, photocopies

Robert Dessaix (1944- ), essayist, author, broadcaster and literary critic, was adopted as a baby and grew up on Sydney's lower north shore with his adoptive parents Tom and Jean Jones. He was educated at North Sydney Boys High School, University of Sydney and the Australian National University. Dessaix lectured in Russian literature and language at the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales between 1972 and 1984. From 1985 to 1995 Dessaix worked for A.B.C. Radio National as a producer and broadcaster. Dessaix edited Australian Gay and Lesbian Writing (1993) and Picador New Writing (1993) with Helen Daniel. A Mother's Disgrace, published in 1994, is an autobiographical work describing Robert Dessaix's journey of discovery of an alternative sexuality after twelve years of marriage, and his tracing and contact with his birth mother, Yvonne. Dessaix has subsequently published the highly acclaimed Night Letters: a journey through Switzerland and Italy (1996).

SERIES 1: LITERARY MANUSCRIPTS, 1992-1999
ca.1992; Chapter 1, being two annotated typescript drafts, along with two pages of ms. editorial comments by Drusilla Modjeska. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
ca.1992; Chapter 2, being two annotated typescript drafts, along with two pages of ts. editorial comments by Drusilla Modjeska. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
ca.1992; Chapter 3, being two annotated typescript drafts, along with one page of ts. editorial comments by Drusilla Modjeska. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
ca.1992; Chapter 4, being two annotated typescript drafts, along with ms. letter from Drusilla Modjeska with editorial comments. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
ca.1992; Chapter 5, being two annotated typescript drafts, along with two pages of ms. editorial comments by Drusilla Modjeska. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
ca.1992; Chapter 6, being one annotated typescript draft. (Call No.: MLMSS7034/1)
1993; Complete ts. draft, marked up by Drusilla Modjeska, along with six ms. pages of detailed editorial comments by Modjeska on the complete draft. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/1)
1993; 'Penultimate draft July 1993', being typescript clean copy. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
1993; 'Marked up Ms.', being final draft with line editor's marks. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
1999; 'A Mother's Disgrace', screenplay by Ross Wilson, February 1999, being typescript clean copy. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)

SERIES 2: LITERARY PAPERS, 1992-1994
Literary papers comprise research notes and subject files concerning A Mother's Disgrace.
1992; 'Jottings', being fragments, scraps and notes. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
1992; 'Genealogy Australia', being ts. and ms. notes and letters. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
1992-1993; 'Genealogical Documents - Dessaix, Savoy', being mainly ts. photocopies of printed material, mainly in French language. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
ca.1993; 'Desaix Documents Riom', being mainly ts. photocopies, some in French language. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/2)
1994; 'Reviews', being cuttings and copies of published reviews of A Mother's Disgrace. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1994; 'Reviews', being cuttings and copies of published reviews of A Mother's Disgrace. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1995; 'Questionnaire', being ts. copy of questionnaire compiled by Anastasia Hearn, a B.A. English Honours student from Victoria, for a thesis on 'Editing and Autobiography', along with responses by Robert Dessaix (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1992; Corrected transcript and notes of Robert Dessaix's interview with his birth mother, Yvonne, 9 May 1992, being ts. with ms. notes and corrections. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1994; Corrected transcript of radio interview with Caroline Jones, broadcast on 'The Search for Meaning', ABC Radio and published in '24 Hours', and ABC magazine. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)

SERIES 3: CORRESPONDENCE, 1993-1998
1993-1996; Letters received, being mainly ts. letters, correspondents include Angus and Robertson, Fellowship of Australian Writers and Drusilla Modjeska (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1994-1995; Letters received from literary figures after the publication of A Mother's Disgrace. (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/3)
1994; Letters received, being ts. and manuscript letters received from readers. RESTRICTED (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/4X)
1994; Letters received, being ts. and manuscript letters received from readers. RESTRICTED (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/4X)
1995-1998; Letters received, being ts. and manuscript letters from readers. RESTRICTED (Call No.: MLMSS 7034/4X)

SERIES 4: SOUND RECORDINGS CONCERNING `A MOTHER'S DISGRACE', 1992-1994
MLOH 442/1-2
Yvonne Dessaix interviewed by Robert Dessaix, 9 May 1992.
Robert Dessaix's birth mother, Yvonne, discusses her life and the circumstances of his birth and adoption.

MLOH 442/3
Robert Dessaix interviewed by Caroline Jones, 1994. Broadcast version of interview for 'The Search for Meaning', ABC Radio.

MLOH 442/4
'Shaping Up', unedited talk given by Robert Dessaix at the 1994 Australian Adoption Conference, held at Sydney, August 1944. An edited version, 'Has Adoption a Future' has been published by the Post Adoption Resource Centre, 1994.

MLOH 442/5
Recording of the book launch of A Mother's Disgrace, speakers include Helen Garner, Angelo Loukakis and Robert Dessaix. Launched at the Adelaide Writer's Festival, 1994.

French, English

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 7034/Box 4X

Master only. For access to this oral history collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to MLOH 442