Mary Lord papers, including letters from Christina Stead

MLMSS 11927

fonds

1975-2002

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

9669360

0.16 metres of textual material (1 box), includes 2 colour photographs

Mary Lord (1929-2008), an academic, editor, biographer, reviewer and columnist, championed Australian literature throughout her career. During the 1970s she taught in the English department at Monash University and was instrumental in establishing the Association for the Study of Australian Literature in 1978. Lord became NSW editor of the Australian Book Review, returning to Melbourne in 1984 as director of the National Book Council.

Reference:
Barry, Elaine, and Helen Thomson. "A Larger-Than-Life Iconoclast". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 26, 2008. https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-largerthanlife-iconoclast-20080825-4262.html (accessed August 31, 2022)

FOLDER 1
Correspondence, notes and cards from Christina Stead to Mary Lord and family, with correspondence relating to Christina Stead, 1977-1990, undated
Includes:
Letter to Mary Lord from National Library of Australia, 1983, regarding Christina Stead's papers ;
List (possibly) by Mary Lord of subjects covered in Christina’s letters: When visitors came... ;
Notes to housemate, Xmas cards, birthday cards, and recipe ;
Five lines possibly of code ;
Monash University Internal memos from Christina Stead to Mary Mord, n.d. ;
Correspondence from Christina Stead to Mary Lord, 1977-1982 ;
Report of the Writers-in-residence Sub-Committee. Visit of Miss Christina Stead, 22nd August 1977 / Monash University ;
Photocopy of letter from Blake [Christina Stead] to Hal [Hal Porter], 17.7.82 ;
Correspondence between Mary Lord and Chris Williams regarding biographer, 1986-1987 ;
Running sheet and guest list for function for Christina Stead

FOLDER 2
Correspondence and cards from Mary Lord and children to Christina Stead, 1975-1982, undated

FOLDER 3
Newspaper cuttings collected by Mary Lord mostly about Christina Stead, 1978-1989

FOLDER 4
Letters and postcards to Mary Lord from Alma de Groen, 1983-1992, 1998, undated (includes 2 colour photographs)

FOLDER 5
Letters to Mary Lord from various correspondents, with miscellaneous material, 1977-2002
Includes:
Letters from Ron Geering, 1979, 1982, 1987-1991, undated, including correspondence regarding publication of letters of Christina Stead ;
Letters and postcards from Barry Oakley, 1977-1979, 1982, 1984, 1986-1989, 1991, undated ;
Letter from Caroline Ross, 1993 ;
Letters from Barrett Reid and Shelton Lea, 1983, 1990-1992 ;
Letters and postcards from Elizabeth Jolley, 1985-1989 ;
Postcards and letters from Judith Rodriguez, 1986, 1988, 1992 ;
A celebration of the life of Ann Jennings, 2002 ;
Houseparty Draft Itinerary ;
Fax from Margaret Wagenhofer seeking information on Heide and Barrett Reid, with return letter from Mary Lord, 1997 ;
Reader's report on collection of poems by Shelton Lea, 1985 / Mary Lord, with poems ;
Correspondence regarding publication of biography of Hal Porter and Hal Porter letters, 1993

FOLDER 6
Letters to Mary Lord from various correspondents, with miscellaneous material, 1978-2002
Includes:
Letter from Wendy Macdonald, 1983 ;
Postcard from Rosemary Dobson, 1978 ;
Note from Michael Cortigan, 1982 ;
Letter from Mick Stone, Year 9 student, regarding All the Green Years, 1982, sent by Don Charlwood ;
Letter from Jim Davidson, 1979 ;
Note from Dal Stivens, 1981 ;
Letter from Stuart Sayers, Literary Editor, The Age, 1980 ;
Postcard and card from Val Kent, 1980 ;
Letters from Gwen Harwood, 1987, 1995 ;
Newscuttings regarding publication of biography of Hal Porter, 1993 ;
Letter from Ida [Porter?] to Roger [Jennings?], October 24, with drawing by Hal Porter of Glen Avon, Garvoc, Victoria ;
The Anecdotage of an Accidental Silk by Roger Jennings, Draft 19, 6 Dec 1995 ;
Letter from Pam Widdicombe regarding Hal Porter’s biography, March 5, 1996 ;
Letters from Karen Darby, 2002 ;
Letter from Les Tanner, 16th April ;
Letters and cards from Olga Masters and Julie Lewis, 1989, 1992, undated ;
Letter from Stuart Lee, Sydney Teachers College, regarding ASAL conference, 1978 ;
Letter from John Burrows, The University of Newcastle, regarding ASAL conference, 1978 ;
Letters from Tom Gilling, 1999, undated ;
Letters from Nancy Keesing, 1988 ; Roger McDonald, 1983 ; Russell McDougall, 1991 ; Elizabeth Riddell, 1980 ; Robin Lucas, 1987 ; Marion Le Cheminant, 1988 ; and Eric Beach, undated ;
Letter from Stephen Murray-Smith, with correspondence to Delys Bird regarding publication of dictionary of quotations and resignation from Association for the Study of Australian Literature, 1986 ;
Letter from John Barry [brother of Elaine], 1983 ;
Christina Stead : a personal tribute by Don Anderson, with note, 1982 ;
Letter from Annette [Onslow?], 1991 ;
Postcard from Manning Clark, 1984 ;
Letters from Patrick White, 1979, 1984 ;
Telegram from Tom & Judy Keneally, 1988 ;
Letter from Anne Deveson, April 8 ;
Letters and card from Silvana Gardner, 1987-1988 ;
Postcard from Helen Senberg, 1994 ;
Letters and postcard from Diana Gribble, 1991-1992 ;
Letter and postcard from Eric Rolls, 1987-1988 ;
Postcards from David Marr, 1988, undated ;
Letters from Judah Waten, 1982, undated ;
Letter from Tom Hungerford, 1988 ;
Letter from Kate [Ahearne?], 1988 ;
Letters and postcard from Dorothy Green, 1984-1985, 1988

HAL PORTER
Annotated books, with edits and page lists of errors:
A handful of pennies ;
The cats of Venice ;
A bachelor's children : short stories ;
Mr Butterfly and other tales of New Japan

Restricted: Access requires a signed undertaking not to make any use of information contained therein, in conversation or in writing, that could cause pain or embarrassment to any living person.

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

Contents list devised from information provided by donor.