Collection 1: Thea Rowe papers, 1892, 1915 - 1992

MLMSS 6823

sub-fonds

1892, 1915 - 1992

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Paintings, Photographs, Ephemera

402787

0.44 metres of textual material (1 box)

Thea Rowe was born in Balmain, Sydney in 1907, the daughter of Clement Rowe and Ada Florence Rowe (nee Batty). During the 1930s she ran a theatre school and had her own theatre company in George Street, Sydney near Circular Quay. She also worked in radio and wrote the script and lyrics of a musical play 'The Dutch Kitchen'. In the 1940s she developed a one-woman show performing British folk-songs in costume; with her husband Breffni Hosking as her manager and promoter, she toured extensively giving recitals in schools, music clubs and concert halls. Thea performed her show for more than thirty years, often working for the Children's National Theatre and the Council of Adult Education. While in England in the early 1950s she appeared on television and during a visit to Cornwall was created a 'Bard of the Gorsedd' for her contribution to Celtic culture. She was awarded the MBE in 1976 for services to the arts.

Book containing research notes on origins and history of Celtic and English folk-songs from the Middle Ages to the 19th century; includes notes on people, places, folk-lore, dress, manners, etc., compiled over a period of years beginning in the 1940s
Programmes and handbills for her performances, 1915-1918 (school productions), 1935-1970
Scrapbook of photographs, 1930s-1940s, mainly of theatre productions
Scrapbook of newscuttings and ephemera, mainly reviews or articles about her performances, 1940s - 1950s
Scrapbook of newscuttings about her friends (Gwen Friend, Gerard Kennedy, June Salter) and other items of interest, ca. 1940 - 1980s
Paintings, drawings and letters received from school children for whom she had performed, 1950s - 1970s
Album presented to Thea Rowe concerning her being awarded an MBE in 1976, mainly letters of support, 1971-1976
Miscellaneous papers: 2 notebooks belonging to Clement Rowe; a poem 'The Cruise of the "Puritan"'; biographical notes about Rosine Guiterman, teacher and peace activist; copy of a letter written by Ernest Fearnley in 1892 from Bangalore, India where he was touring with the Willard Opera Company
Biographical information and associated papers concerning Thea Rowe compiled by Breffni and Sydney Hosking, 1990s

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