Series 02: Gillian Mears diaries, 1973-1996

MLMSS 9990/Boxes 7X-15X

series

1973-1996

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

9580515

2.70 metres of textual and graphic material (9 outsize boxes) - manuscript, typescript, printed, photographs, cards, clippings

BOX 7X
1. Diary, 1973, in ring folder with inserted photographs, postcards, clippings, souvenirs and maps, describing the Mears family trip to Europe
2. Diary, January-April 1979, in small notebook with brief entries on school holidays, horse riding and start of school

BOX 8X
1. Diary, March 1981-June 1982 in ‘Hobbit’s Travels’ notebook, describing school, her relationship with teacher Stephen Tatham, with inserted essays, clippings and copies of poems
2. Diary, 5 June 1982-3 February 1986, in ‘Anything Book’, including drafts of stories and letters and copies of poems, describing life in Sydney with visits to family and Stephen Tatham in Grafton
3. Diary, 3-21 January 1986, in ‘Seagulls’ notebook, describing camping holiday in Port Macquarie with Stephen Tatham, with trips to Hamilton Island, Cairns, Mission Beach and Townsville

BOX 9X
1. Diary, 24 February-December 1986; May 1987-March 1988; 22 October-4 November 1988, in Collins notebook, describing life while working as an inter-library loans officer at Clarence Regional Headquarters, her dealings with book publishers, literary awards, letters of resignation from library and relationship with Stephen Tatham, with clippings and copies of poems

2. Diary, April-September 1988, describes driving to Sydney for flight to England with Stephen Tatham, visiting relatives, with impressions of London, opinions of Virginia Wolfe and other writers, receiving her copy of ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ while in England, travelling to France April-May 1988, Wales, Ireland and Scotland June-August 1988 and return to France. Includes postcards and clippings, British Airways menus, copies of short stories and pressed leaves

3. Diary, 15 November 1988-13 September 1989, with thoughts on her relationships with Alan Close and Stephen Tatham, thoughts on Virginia Wolfe, work on ‘The Mint Lawn’, moving to Sydney and working at Sydney School of Mechanics library, winning the South East Asia and South Pacific Regional Commonwealth Writers Prize for ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ and moving into a ‘room of her own’, September 1989. Includes inserted photographs, loose clippings, pressed flowers, her 1985 passport, small address books and 1994 drivers licence, Leunig cartoons, unposted letters to Alan Close and letter from Stephen Tatham, June 1989

4. Diary, 18 September-13 December 1989, describing relationships with Alan Close and Stephen Tatham, visit from Stephen Tatham, copies of poems by Alan Close, letters regarding her resignation from the Sydney Mechanics Library, a week at the Bayside Hotel for writers’ awards and Harold Park readings, with stapled pages titled ‘Dreams I had, 1987-1989’ and clipping of a published poem

BOX 10X
1. Diary, 14 December 1989-3 March 1990, in Collins notebook, describing her work on ‘The Mint Lawn’, winning 3rd prize for ‘Blue Milk’ in the Age Short Story Award, return to Grafton and her relationships with her family, Alan Close and Stephen Tatham. Includes inserted photographs from 1973, poems, letter from Alan Close, 3 Jan. 1990, and notes at rear for “The Mint Lawn’

2. Diary, 5 March-20 April 1990, mainly concerning relationships with family and Alan Close, winning the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, including travel stubs and maps, photographs, poems and letters from Alan Close and drafts of poems

3. Diary, 22 April-25 June 1990, describing camping at Diggers Camp with Alan Close, page proofing ‘Fineflour’ and work on ‘The Mint Lawn.’ Contains clippings, pressed flowers, small address book, letter from Stephen Tatham, 28 June 1990 and unposted letter to Alan Close, 22 June 1990

4. Diary, 1-30 July 1990, in Tudor exercise book, describing farewells to family and Alan Close before leaving for Africa, events in Malawi, with inserted photographs and Qantas menu

5. Diary, 5 August-21 September 1990 describing travels and people met in Africa, being short-listed for the Vogel Award, arrival of her father in September, including faxed coversheet for Vogel Award presentation, pressed wattle from sister Yvonne, inserted photograph of her parents’ wedding in 1961, inserted feather from Ashley Tanner and maps of nature walks and visitor guides

6. Diary, 23 September-13 October 1990, describing travelling with her father before his departure, with transcript of interview about the Vogel Award for the Australian, and draft progress report to the Ministry of Arts detailing how the 1989 Writer’s Fellowship was used

7. Diary, 19 October-12 November 1990, with entries describing events and people in Africa, draft of short story set in Harare, ‘email diary from Jan Smuts airport 10 November 1990’, ‘Diary substitute’ written in Paris, 12 November, letters to the Independent Monthly and regarding residency at Paris studio, with feathers and pressed flowers

8. Diary, 13 November-10 December 1990, written in Paris and London describing work on revisions of ‘The Mint Lawn’, visiting grandparents and return to Australia, reviews of ‘Fineflour’, staying at Varuna Writer’s Centre in Katoomba, 8-22 December, her relationships with Alan Close, Ashley Tanner and friends, with clippings and travel stubs

9. Diary, 10 December 1990-21 February 1991, including work on book revisions at Varuna, relationships, her mother’s diagnosis of cancer and treatment, with inserted photographs

BOX 11X
1. Diary, 22 February-13 May 1991 in which she writes of her mother’s illness, relationships with her mother, sisters, Alan Close and Ashley Tanner, Diggers Camp with Alan Close, work on ‘The Mint Lawn’ with accounts of her dreams. Includes copy of an Alan Close poem, pressed flowers and feathers

2. Diary, 20 May-9 September 1991, mainly writing of her mother’s illness, her dreams, staying at Diggers Camp with Susan Hampton, proofing ‘The Mint Lawn’, her mother’s death, memories of her mother and record of her dying. Includes inserted photographs and cards, birthday cards and letters from her parents, pressed leaves from Susan Hampton, a poem by Sonya Mears, a eulogy for Sheila Mears and a D.A. for burial on private land

3. Diary, 22 August-7 December 1991, describing her relationships with her mother, Alan Close and Susan Hampton, her dreams and going to Sydney for book and radio interviews. Includes copied extracts from Janet Frame, Drusilla Modjeska and Jeanette Winterson books, inserted photographs of her mother, a White Pages cover containing Sheila Mear’s ultrasounds

BOX 12X
1. Diary, 16 December 1991-11 March 1992, written while at Grafton with her family, with accounts of her dreams, time in Sydney and at Diggers Camp with Susan Hampton, going to Mardi Gras, work on book with proposed title ‘The Turkey Farmer’, correspondence with Scripsi editors, with clippings of Helen Garner book reviews

2. Diary, 19 March-28 July 1992, describing her dreams, relationships with Susan Hampton and her sisters, visits to Sydney, her father’s departure for Africa, preparing for travel to France, including letter from her father, clippings of Brett Whiteley’s death, photographs and cards, labels from Helen Potter’s presents and cards from her nephew

3. Diary, 29 July-31 August 1992, writes of time in Sydney with Susan, her sister Yvonne and Fiona McGregor, farewells to friends, her studio in Paris, the AIDS epidemic, difficulties in beginning to write, daily life in Paris, with inserted photographs and clippings

4. Diary, 2 September-December 1992 describes working in Paris on ‘Coldstream’, the arrival of Ashley Tanner, visit to grandparents in London, friendships in Paris, with inserted photographs, clippings, pressed flowers and postcards

5. Diary, 25 December 1992-19 January 1993, written while her father was with her in France, writes of dreams, relationship with her father, including her father’s title suggestions for book, photographs and clippings

6. Diary, 19 January-6 April 1993, describing working on book, dreams, farewells to friends and return to Australia, time in Perth with cousins, relationships with Susan Hampton and Fiona McGregor, return to Grafton in March, meeting her father’s new partner Dot, writing at Dorrigo, and visit by sister Sonya, with photographs and drawings

7. Pocket diary, 1993 with brief entries and appointments

BOX 13X
Diary, 8 April-20 September 1993, book with drawings, pressed flowers and photographs, diary includes dreams, visits from her sisters, the marriage of her father Peter and Dot, living in caravan at her sister Sonya’s, staying with Fiona McGregor at Diggers Camp and meeting Helen Salter

BOX 14X
1. Diary, 21 September-13 December 1993, a book of thoughts and images with diary entries at the rear written while living in a caravan at her sister Sonya’s, riding her horse Bellini, being joined by Helen Salter, family life with sisters and children, work on the ‘Grass Sister’ and recovery from chickenpox. Includes letter to her sister Yvonne’s husband Kari

2. Diary, 12 December 1993-30 July 1994, writing of domestic life at Sonya’s, shoeing horses with Helen Salter, holiday in Sydney and domestic life, sending stories to Drusilla Modjeska, corresponding with Jill Hickson about ‘Grass Sister’, describing her relationships with Helen Salter and sisters, dreams, horse-sitting at the Grafton farm, staying alone at Diggers Camp to finish draft of ‘Grass Sister’ and discussions with the council about building plans for the farm shed. Includes a daily timetable and clippings of articles about farrier Helen Salter

3. Diary, 31 July-16 November 1994, writes of sending ‘Grass Sister’ to Jill Hickson, working on the ‘Bonnie book’ written for children, her relationships with her sisters, Aboriginal Reconciliation Study Group meetings, with inserted photographs of Helen Salter and Sheila and Gillian Mears

4. Diary, 23 November 1994-28 April 1995, ‘Camp notebook’, including discussions with Drusilla Modjeska about the editing of ‘Grass Sister’, describing visit from her cousin Clare, relationships with her sisters, visiting Sydney to meet with Drusilla Modjeska and Sandy Edwards and travel to Melbourne with Helen Salter for ferry to Tasmania, farrier competitions and bushwalks there and visiting Blackheath on return to Grafton

BOX 15X
1. Diary, 29 April-24 September 1995, covering discussions about the cover of ‘Grass Sister’, writing ‘The Whippet and the Willow’ and ‘Bonnie the Best’, work on the farm with Helen Salter clearing weeds and fencing, horse riding, relationships with her sister Yvonne and Helen Salter, applying for Literary Board grant and proofreading ‘Grass Sister’. Includes story ‘Lady Blacksmith Farrier’

2. Diary, 1 October 1995-17 February 1996, includes dealings with the C.E.S., being given 6 months work at the Environment Shop, news of unsuccessful literary grant application, ‘Grass Sister’ being shortlisted for Age Book of the Year Prize, news from the Literary Board of a two week promotion trip to India with writers including Tim Winton and Libby Hathorn. Includes clippings on wood chipping controversy and letters from Stephen Tatham dated 21/9/82, 26/10/82 and 18/11/82

3. Small notebook of memos relating to work at the Environment Centre

4. ‘Moon diary’, 1996 with brief entries and appointments

5. Diary, 5 March-1 September 1996, writes of work at the Environment Centre, relationships with her sister Yvonne, camping with Helen Salter, attending training course in Perth, writing contribution to Jane Eyre anthology, the death of her grandmother, working at the Varuna Writers Centre 24 August-15 September, news of ‘Grass Sister’ being shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and problems with the movement of her limbs at night. Includes pages practicing writing with her left hand due to pains in her right side, a letter to her sister Yvonne, clipping about Best Book award for the Commonwealth Writers Prize and photographs for an Indian visa

6. Diary, 3 September-19 November 1996, in which she writes of events at Varuna Writers Centre, numbness in her toes and fingers, travel to Zimbabwe for the finals of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, her relationship with Helen Salter, news of success in grant application and trip to India, interviews, speeches and readings by David Malouf and others. Includes cards and clippings

Restricted: Access requires readers to sign a copy of the Library's Gillian Mears Archive Special Undertaking Regarding Access. Any requests for access will be referred to the Head of Manuscripts., Expires: 2047-12-31
For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian

Copyright status:: In copyright - this collection has multiple rights owners