Series 426: D'Artistry Magazine, 1952-1981

MLMSS 9894/Box 1976-1978

series

1952-1981

9593909

0.35 metres of textual material (2 boxes)

The D'Artistry magazine was developed by staff in the Reading Department. It initially provided news of the Darts club. There were 4 teams, Pica Points, Quoin Quips, Shrdlu Sidelights and Day Staff D’Artibles, made up of staff from the Reading Department. It began as a humorous magazine of the darts club but evolved to take on a more satirical look at the characters and events of the proof readers room. Full of inside jokes and stories the material demonstrate both a social and professional connection as well as a special rapport between individuals at various levels within the organisation.
The first issue of D'Artistry was made in October, 1952. The issues are one-offs and were passed between staff of the Readers Department with contributions encouraged. There is an editorial page, club election news, cultural issue, fashion pages, motoring sections, poetry, the Man of the Month segment.
Cartoons and illustrations were common in the magazine with many attributed to “Clappocolour”, an alias for Richard Clapperton. Printing and binding was attributed to Shrdlu Press (Shrdlu is often referred to as an unidentified person throughout. Serialised stories such as Rattlesnake River, Life on Broadway providing a humorous inside into working in the reading room at Jones Street, Broadway
An index to the magazines was included in the March 1955 issue with the comment "Now that D'Artistry has become established it must follow the lead of other reputable newspapers and publish an index of all past issues- for prestige purposes.”
The collection is complete from issue 1-16 (May 1955). Issue 17 is missing and Issue 18 (November 1955) runs through to D'Artistry No 30 September 1961.
There are 'Special' issues of D'Artistry. The first published in February 1953 which is titled Restricted D'Artistry. The second is undated - D'Artistry Artistry Unlimited, Compiled and edited by the Art editor Richard Clapperton. This consists of comical illustrations. The third is D'Artistry dated August 1968, which is published in honour of the retirement of Alf Ludlam, senior reader.


MLMSS 9894/Box 1976
D'Artistry Issues 15-16, 18-30
The guys, the ways, the calls of the night. Compiled by Duncan Miller contains poetry looking back at his time with the reading department and also contains copies of the Rattlesnake Herald (“Works of fiction created by members of the Reading Department, published for The Readers’ Recreation Club 1962-1966
D’Artistry issue dedicated to Alf Ludlam August 1968
Oops! A compilation of published errors missed by the reading department
Reader's blotter. Vintage 1981. Graciously donated by Mr E Hegedus

MLMSS 9894/Box 1977
D'Artistry Issues 1-14
D'Artistry. Supplementary Electronic Issue
D'Artistry Artistry Unlimited. Compiled by Art Editor Richard Clapperton
Restricted D’Artistry
How to be a Reader
Parking. A Guide for Car Owners
Wot's Cooking Alfie
Broadway 62 by Ron Cunningham contains photographs of reading department staff at work
The Pen for a Gunman – Dick Clapperton
Rattlesnake River
West of Rattlesnake (A Fragment)

MLMSS 9894/Box 1978
Original box containing D'Artistry material.
The D'Artistry magazine is kept in a brightly decorated box that lists the contents as : D'Artistry (31 issues) * "No.17 is missing. I suspect it was taken by someone who just had to have the three pages of dialogue I think it contained, between a reader and his assistant, who, as soon as an ad starts to be read, breaks off to yack, make phone calls, move his car, visit the canteen, etc, before the reader concludes: “two lines."”
The box is also decorated with a number of random illustrations, faces that could be members of the Reader's team and a picture of a Dart board

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed:
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of Fairfax Media Ltd
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Fairfax Media Ltd.

Original Fairfax Series Number 328