Ethel Turner manuscript notes, with correspondence between Philippa Poole and Becky Anne Lawrence

MLMSS 11843

fonds

​approximately 1958, approximately 1981

9668356

0.03 metres of textual material (1 folder)

In the 1950s, Joan Lawrence was working in Hyde Park Barracks in the Office of the Clerk of the Peace & the Department of the Attorney General and often took shorthand notes from the judges who worked in the same building. On one occasion, around 1958, she did so for Judge Adrian Curlewis, who was the son of Ethel Turner. Joan asked him whether his mother would sign a copy of Seven Little Australians, but as Turner’s health was failing, it was not possible. Instead, Judge Curlewis gave Joan a sheet of handwritten notes for a new year message on ABC radio, written by Ethel Turner.
Joan’s daughter, Becky Anne Lawrence, became a great fan of Seven Little Australians, and wrote a letter to Philippa Poole, Ethel Turner’s granddaughter around 1981, expressing her admiration for Turner’s work. A copy of this letter was retained by the donor. Philippa Poole wrote back to Becky, and her short letter contains recollections of the activities she once enjoyed with her grandmother, including making furniture for the doll’s house out of matchboxes, dolls out of wooden pegs, and puppets and marionettes, painting pictures with oil paints and other creative activities.
Reference: Library acquisition file

Joan Lawrence was given the handwritten notes by Turner around 1958. The letter was received by Joan’s daughter Becky, now deceased, from Philippa Poole. Joan Lawrence created the typed copy of the letter from Becky to Philippa Poole.

Typed copy of letter from Becky Anne Lawrence to Philippa Poole, c 1981.
Manuscript letter from Philippa Poole to Becky Anne Lawrence in envelope, c. 1981.
Manuscript page of notes by Ethel Turner titled ‘New Year Message’, undated.

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales