Series 09: Florence James papers concerning books about Australia and New Zealand which Florence James was commissioned to write (not published), 1963-1992

MLMSS 5877/Boxes 33-36

series

1963-1992

71252

4 boxes of textual material

Florence James (1902-1993) was a novelist, editor and reviewer. She was born in New Zealand and educated at Sydney University where she began her long association with Dymphna Cusack. Together James and Cusack wrote two books, 'Four Winds and a Family', a story for children, and 'Come in Spinner' which won the Sydney Daily Telegraph prize in 1948.
Florence James went to England in 1927 where she worked as a journalist and literary agent, before returning to Australia in 1938. James went to England again in 1947 and from 1951 worked as an independent literary agent and reader for Constable and Co. and for Winant, Towers and Benson Limited.
In 1963 James visited Australia and New Zealand to meet the authors she represented. She stayed to gather material for two books which she had been commissioned to write about Australia and New Zealand, and decided to live permanently in Sydney.

1963-1964; 'Dobson', being correspondence with Ursula Winant and with Dobson Books Ltd concerning writing two books for Dobson about Australia and New Zealand for the Pegasus series; includes copy of contract (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/33)
1963-1964; Notebooks compiled during trip to Australia and New Zealand to gather material for books; includes 'Inspiration Book'; 'Diary Notes Perth to Adelaide' (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/33)
ca.1963; Plans for chapters, introduction, etc, for book about NZ; 'Recipe Book', possibly an index to research material (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/33)
1963-1966; 'NZ publicity and travel correspondence', being mainly correspondence concerning travel arrangements (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/33)
1963-1964; 'Travel Notes NZ 1964', being mainly diary entries 18 Dec. 1963-22 Mar. 1964 (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/34)
1966-1967; 'NZ Odds', possibly notes for talks during visit to NZ (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/34)
1963-1969; Research material concerning NZ, consisting mainly of extracts and notes from published books, together with pamphlets and photographs. Topics include historiography, education, 'outside influences in early NZ development', natural history, 'biographical and regional' (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/34)
1963-1969; Research material concerning NZ economy, Maoris and missions in NZ (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/35)
1963-1992; Research material concerning Australia and NZ; photographs of NZ; bibliographies of books about Australia and NZ; pamphlets and newscuttings; 'Political and Economic' (Call No.: ML MSS 5877/36)