Cassidy family - papers, 1880-1994

MLMSS 6662

fonds

1880-1994

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

8128

0.17 metres of textual materials, includes photographs - manuscript, photocopy, typescript

Stephen Cassidy (1848-1897), carpenter, was born in Greenbank, County Derry, Ireland and married Rose, nee Dominick (1856-1937), in Coolac, N.S.W., in 1880. They had four children, the writer Robert John (1880-1948), Maude Matilda (1883--), Hilda Rose (1886--) and Susan Jack (1897--).

Robert John Cassidy (1880-1948), writer, was born in Coolac, N.S.W., and worked as a labourer, miner, carpenter and painter in the western regions of N.S.W. before joining the editorail staff of the Australian Worker in his late 20s. Except for a period, ca. 1909-1911 when he wrote for the Barrier Truth and edited the Broken Hill Sport, Cassidy remained on staff at the Australian Worker until shortly before his death. Under the psuedonym "Gilrooney", Cassidy contributed prose and bush ballads to various journals including the Bulletin, and published three books: The Land of the Starry Cross and Other Verses (1911); the novel, Chandler of Corralinga (1912) and a book of prose sketches and verse, The Gipsy Road and Other Fancies (1919). A committed trade unionist, Cassidy was a founder of the Writers' and Artists' Union. He married Lucy, nee Sullivan (--1968), who was well known in Sydney literary circles. Lucy Cassidy was one of the founders of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, and member of the Australian Women Writers' Association. Robert and Lucy are buried together in the Roman Catholic Section of Waverley Cemetery.

Roderick Quinn (1867-1949), poet and balladist, was a devoted friend of Robert and Lucy Cassidy, and lived in their home at Bondi Junction until his death in 1949. Born in Sydney to Irish parents, Quinn briefly studied law and was a country school teacher, resigning to make his living as a writer in 1887. Quinn's poems and short stories were regularly published in journals such as the Bulletin from the 1890s. A one-time editor of the North Sydney News, Quinn published three books of poetry, The Hidden Tide (1899), The Circling Hearths (1901) and Poems (1920), as well as the novel, Mostyn Stayne (1897). Quinn is buried with Robert Cassidy's mother, Rose, in the Roman Catholic Section of Waverley Cemetery.

1880-1897; Diary of Stephen Cassidy giving details of carpentry and building work in the Coolac and Gundagai districts of N.S.W. Additional entries made on the birth of each child. The final entry in Robert Cassidy's hand records the death of Stephen Cassidy
1891-1894; Notebook of Stephen Cassidy containing notes of building contracting around Coolac and Gundagai, N.S.W.
1905-1928; Letters written by Robert and Lucy Cassidy and Robert's poem, The Call, ca. 1914. Photocopies of originals held in the Hays Collection, University of Queensland
1909-1913; Autograph book of Robert Cassidy kept at Broken Hill during the Amalgamated Miners' Association strike, and after. Includes notes from the English socialist, Tom Mann
1929; Book, The Land of the Southern Cross and Other Verses, by Robert Cassidy (1913), inscribed with original poetry to his mother, Rose, by Robert Cassidy and Roderic Quinn, and signed and dated by Mary Gilmore
1948; Book, The Gipsy Road and Other Fancies by Robert Cassidy (1919), inscribed to Robert's sister, Susie, from Roderic Quinn
1948-1993; File of correspondence and other papers regarding the death and burial of Robert and Lucy Cassidy and Roderic Quinn
1937-1948; Poems of Roderic Quinn printed in In Memoriam cards for Rose Cassidy (1937) and Robert Cassidy (1948), a Christmas card from Robert and Lucy Cassidy and a card of the poem, The Poets' Graves
1890-1994; Photograph of Stephen Cassidy with Robert Cassidy as a child of about ten years; photographs of Robert and Lucy Cassidy and Roderic Quinn; photographs of the graves of Robert, Lucy and Rose Cassidy and Roderic Quinn