Collection 1: Tess Van Sommers papers, 1943-1993

MLMSS 6180

sub-fonds

1943-1993

Textual Records, Clippings, Photographs

131410

0.72 metres of textual material (4 boxes)

Correspondence:
1961-1993; Letters received by Tess van Sommers. Correspondents include Sir Russell Drysdale, Cedric Emmanuel, Michael Heyward, Sir Compton Mackenzie, Arthur Marshall, Ruth Park, and Morris West. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/1)
1979-1993; Letters received by Tess van Sommers from Harold Stewart. Includes newscuttings,notes and a negative photograph of Stewart. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/1)
1962-1983; Letters received by Tess van Sommers from Lou d'Alpuget and letters she sent to him. Many of these letters are written from overseas - from Tess when she was working in New York and from Lou during his frequent trips to cover yachting races. Of particular interest are various letters from Lou d'Alpuget regarding the America's Cup yacht races (folder 9). Also includes two letters from Blanche d'Alpuget to Lou d'Alpuget (1967, folder 4). RESTRICTED (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/1-2)

Literary Manuscripts:
1983-1984; Stray Lamb. Copy of an unpublished novel by Tess van Sommers with related correspondence (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/3)
1992; Eclectic Syncretism in Two Churches Created in Australia in the Twentieth Century. Final draft of a thesis by Tess van Sommers submitted to the School of Religious Studies, Deakin University. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/3)

Miscellaneous Personal Papers:
1943-1966, n.d.; Include character references; letter from Tess van Sommers to The Sun concerning 'repressive regime of Sydney Morning Herald towards journalists in 1960s'; photograph of Tess van Sommers in 1960s; reviews & opinions of her book Religions in Australia, 1966. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/3)

Material concerning the Ern Malley hoax:
1944-1993; Includes copies of statements by James McAuley and Harold Stewart; newscuttings; copy of a letter from James McAuley to Tess van Sommers and Harold Stewart after she had broken the story of the hoax; The Ern Malley Hoax, an ABC radio feature by John Thompson. Related correspondence between Tess van Sommers and Michael Heyward, author of The Ern Malley Affair (1993) is located at ML MSS 6180/1 (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/3)

Newscuttings - articles and columns by Tess van Sommers:
1957-1961; Book Talk. A weekly column of book reviews in The Sun (Sydney) (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1960-1961; Of All Things. A weekly humorous column in The Sun (Sydney) (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1960s ; Point of View. A humorous column. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1962-1963; Sydney Strolls. Weekly series for The Sydney Morning Herald. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1965; Books that Changed History. Weekly series for Pix. (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1973, 1981-1986; Book Reviews for The Sydney Morning Herald (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)
1951-1987; Various articles in different publications (Call No.: ML MSS 6180/4)

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.
For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian