• Title
  Photographs, drawings and locks of hair relating to Eleanor Dark, 1908-1967
• Call number
  PXE 1428
  R 2049
  
• Level of description
  series
• Date
  
  1908-1967
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Drawings, Photographs, Objects, Watercolours
• Reference code
  421459
• Physical Description
  25 photographs - colour, black & white, sepia toned
  2 albums (drawings)
  9 drawings - pencil, watercolour
  Human hair (1 box) - 6 locks of hair
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Writer, Eleanor Dark, was born in Burwood NSW, the daughter of Dowell Philip O'Reilly. Growing up she was commonly known by her nickname 'Pixie' and attended 'Redlands' Neutral Bay, 1915-1919. In 1922 she married Dr Eric Payten Dark and the couple settled at 'Varuna', Katoomba in 1923. They had one child, Brian Michael, born in 1929, and a son from Eric Dark's previous marriage, John Oliver. 'Varuna' was rebuilt in 1939 and after their deaths became a writer's retreat, operated by the Eleanor Dark Foundation.
  
  Reference:
  Eleanor Dark: A writer's life / Barbara Brooks with Judith Clark. Sydney : Pan Macmillan Australia, 1998.
• Scope and Content
  PXE 1428
  Pencil drawings of Eleanor Dark, 1924-5, by her brother Brien ('Bim') O'Reilly.
  Sketch presented to Eleanor Dark by Pixie O'Harris, 1945.
  Drawing of 'Varuna'.
  Watercolours of Redlands, where Eleanor went to school, Wentworth Falls in 1919, and John Dark (E. P. Dark's son by a previous marriage)
  Album 'Physiology. Leaving Certificate. 1919' containing study notes on 'the skeleton' with sketches and portrait studies stuck onto pages. Includes loose sketches probably of family members Mabel, Bim, Nora, Lena.
  Folder of animal silhouettes.
  Graphbook containing plans (very faded) of 'Varuna', which Eleanor designed.
  Photographic portraits of Eleanor Dark by Olive Cotton, Max Dupain, May Moore & Alan Row.
  Scenes of Eleanor at home at 'Varuna' and her studio, ca. 1940s.
  
  R 2049
  Locks of hair belonging to Dowell O'Reilly, Eleanor 'Pixie' Dark (nee O'Reilly), Michael Dark & Jann Dark. Accompanying envelope read 'Four generations of curls'.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment - Applies to R 2049
• Copying Conditions
  Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years
  Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of photographer plus 70 years
• General note
  
  Photographs by Olive Cotton show evidence of 'orange-peel' retouching, and later printing using a diffuser -- Curator of Photographs, Mitchell Library, 2002.
  
  Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.6073 as part of the eRecords Project 2012-13
  Digital order no:a128144
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Alan Row & Co.
  Cotton, Olive, 1911-2003
  Dupain, Max, 1911-1992
  Moore, May, 1881-1931
  O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
  O'Reilly, Brien (Bim), b. 1905
  
• Name
  Dark, Eleanor, 1901-1985
  
• Subject
  Women authors, Australian--20th century.
  children
  
• Topic
  interiors
  authors
  houses
  living rooms
  portraits
  studies (rooms)
  
• Place
  S.C.E.C.G.S. Redlands (Cremorne, N.S.W.)
  Varuna (Cascade Street, Katoomba, N.S.W.)
  Wentworth Falls (N.S.W.)
  

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