Stewart Family further papers of Douglas Stewart, Margaret Coen and Meg Stewart, 1829-1849, 1906-1994, n.d.

fonds

1829-1849, 1906-1994

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Clippings, Photographs, Drawings, Posters

129589

18 boxes and 2 outsize items of textual material - manuscript, typescript, and printed
Clippings
Photographs
Sound Recordings
Drawings
Posters

Douglas Alexander Stewart (1913-1985) was born in Eltham, New Zealand. After leaving school he studied law at Victoria University College, Wellington but failed to complete his degree. He worked as a journalist on various newspapers before going to Australia in 1933 for a short time as a free-lance journalist. Returning to New Zealand he became editor of the Stratford Evening Post at the age of 22. During these years he had been writing poetry and his first book of verse, Green Lions, was published in 1936. In 1937 he travelled to England where his second book, The White Cry, was published. In 1938 he returned to Sydney to take up a position as assistant literary editor of The Bulletin. Two years later he was appointed literary editor responsible for The Red Page. Rejected for military service in World War II on medical grounds he became an air-raid warden. In 1940 he published Elegy for an Airman and in 1941 his verse play, Fire on the Snow, was performed on ABC radio. It was published in 1944 as was a book of short stories, A Girl with Red Hair. Other plays include Ned Kelly (1943), Shipwreck (1947) and Fisher's Ghost (1960).

In 1945 Stewart married the artist Margaret Coen. In 1948 a daughter, Margaret (Meg) was born. During his years on The Bulletin he formed enduring friendships with many leading Australian writers, among them Ronald McCuaig, R.D. Fitzgerald, Kenneth McKenzie and David Campbell with whom he shared a passion for trout fishing. His friendship with Norman Lindsay led to the publication in 1975 of Norman Lindsay: A Personal Memoir. Two years later he published A Man of Sydney: An Appreciation of Kenneth Slessor. Meanwhile his output of poetry continued steadily with among others Sun Orchids (1952), The Birdsville Track (1955) and Rutherford (1962). His Collected Poems appeared in 1967. In 1961 he left The Bulletin and joined Angus & Robertson as literary adviser. He retired in 1971.

Stewart's reputation rests not only on his creative writing but also on his influential work as a literary editor and critic. He also edited a number of important anthologies including Australian Bush Ballads (with Nancy Keesing, 1955) and Modern Australian Verse (1964). In his last years he published a book of memoirs, Springtime in Taranaki (1983). He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1960 and the Order of Australia in 1979 for services to literature.

Margaret Coen (1909-1993) was born in Yass, NSW. She was an artist particularly noted for her watercolours of flowers and landscapes. In the 1920s she studied at the the Royal Art School, Sydney under Datillo Rubbo and Sydney Long and later painted with Norman Lindsay who became a life long friend. She travelled and studied in Europe in 1954. She won numerous prizes including the Pring Prize in 1968. She is represented in a number of collections, both institutional and private, including the Australian National Gallery and the state galleries of NSW and Queensland.

Meg Stewart (1948-) was born in Sydney. She is a journalist and film-maker. Her films include the award winning drama Last Breakfast in Paradise (1982) and a documentary on Eve Langley, She's My Sister (1975). She has also made a number of documentaries for ABC radio including The Shadows are Different (1977) and Cafe Bohemia (1980). In 1986 she published a biography of Margaret Coen called Autobiography of My Mother. She was awarded the first Nancy Keesing fellowship in 1993.

1913-1985, 1989, n.d.; Further papers of Douglas Stewart: Correspondence, Literary Manuscripts, Awards, Miscellaneous Personal Papers, Invitations, Theatre Programmes & Miscellaneous Literary Material, Papers concerning the Commonwealth Literary Fund, Papers concerning the National Trust of Australia, Printed Material, Newscuttings, Pictorial Material, Posters, Audio Material.

1829-1849, 1934-1985, n.d.; Further Papers of Margaret Coen: Correspondence, Miscellaneous Personal Papers, Miscellaneous Family Papers, Newscuttings, Convict Records.

1930-1992; Further papers of Meg Stewart: Correspondence, Miscellaneous Personal Papers, Material concerning Radio Programmes made by Meg Stewart, Material concerning Films made by Meg Stewart, Audio Material.

This collection contains both manuscript and pictorial series. You may navigate to a more detailed description of each series from this collection record.