Whyte family - letters received, 1924-1990, being mainly letters from Arthur Upfield to E. Verco Whyte, 1924-1938

MLMSS 7565/Box 1X

fonds

1924-1990

Textual Records, Clippings

446721

Microfilm : CY 4528, frames 1-179 (MLMSS 7565)

0.16 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)
Textual Records - (manuscript)
Clippings

English-born Arthur Upfield (1890-1964) was the author of several best-selling works of crime fiction in Australia during the 1930s. His first published item appeared in London's Daily Mail in 1918. His novel, The Sands of Windee (1931), came under close scrutiny from the authorities during a Western Australian murder investigation, known as the Murchison Mystery Case, when the fictional method of disposing of a corpse was replicated in real life by the murderer John Thomas Smith, alias Snowy Rowles.
Paul Wenz (1869-1939) was born in France. In 1898 he came to Australia and settled at 'Nanima' near Cowra. He wrote short stories and novels, some set in Australia, in French.
E. Verco Whyte (1900-1972) worked on Albemarle (sometimes spelt Albermarle) station, near Menindee, NSW, after World War I, and there met Arthur Upfield. In the 1930s he moved to Pomona to become a fruit grower. In 1940 he bought a property near Wentworth where he lived until his death. He was an alderman on Wentworth Municipal Council, later Wentworth Shire Council, from 1944 to 1972, and was mayor several times. Whyte assisted Upfield with research for 'Gripped by Drought', published in 1932.

6 Sept. 1924-30 Dec. 1938; Letters from Arthur Upfield to Verco Whyte. Upfield writes from several stations in western NSW, Burracoppin, WA, Mount Lawley, WA, and Mount Dandenong, Vic. Subjects include his work on stations and for the Rabbit Department, his travels in the outback, and his political views. He discusses the progress of his literary work, including the plots of his novels and his reactions to the real murder committed using the method he describes in 'The Sands of Windee'.
10 Apr. 1932; Letter from Paul Wenz to Verco Whyte, from 'Nanima' near Cowra. In this brief letter Wenz writes about sources of inspiration for his Australian novels
12 Feb. 1934, 15 June 1950; Letters (2) from James R. Hole, former manager of Albemarle station, to Verco Whyte
1 Mar. 1990, 15 June 1990; Letters (2) from Pat Whyte (daughter of E.V. and Maud Whyte) to family members, regarding the Upfield letters
1932-1938; Newscuttings concerning Upfield's writing
June 1931; Crime-Book Society Magazine June 1931 containing review of 'The Sands of Windee'

Copied onto preservation microfilm, Oct. 2005.