Margaret Topham papers, ca. 1950-2006

MLMSS 9157
MLOH 732

fonds

ca. 1950-2006

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Moving Images, Photographs

457602

0.32 metres of textual material (2 boxes), some files contain photographs
7 audio discs - compact disc - 12 cm
2 videodiscs - DVD - 12 cm

Margaret Topham (1927-2004), social worker, was a pioneer in the introduction and promotion of Family Therapy in Australia. She worked at the Child Guidance Clinic attached to Yasmar Children's Court, Haberfield, N.S.W., 1955-1961, and the psychiatric department of Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, 1965-1974. In 1967-1968 she was the first Australian to train in the new method of conjoint family therapy at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, California. She returned to Australia and proceeded to educate health professionals in family group counselling. In March 1974 she set up private practice as a family and marriage therapist in Sydney. She became Foundation Member and first Life Member of the N.S.W. Family Therapy Association, and was co-founder and Foundation President of the Family Therapy Institute of Australia. Topham was made a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in 1989. Her friend and colleague, Caroline Bray, arranged Topham's papers for presentation to the Library.

Includes a memoir of Margaret Topham by Caroline Bray (RESTRICTED in Box 1); photographs; obituaries; curriculum vitae; undergraduate papers; professional papers; published articles; teaching and workshop materials; interviews and workshops on DVD and CD; draft chapters of unfinished book on family therapy; and, diary of a trip to Europe.

BOX 1
Personal documents, photographs, obituaries. Curriculum Vitae for Margaret and June Martin; Dip. Social Studies and Course in Psychiatric Social Work from Sydney University; documents of Dr. Bill Thompson from Yasmar Child Guidance Clinic and Prince Henry Hospital; materials from Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto; published articles.
A memoir of Margaret Topham by Caroline Bray (RESTRICTED in Box 1)

Teaching materials - Conjoint Family Therapy, General Systems Theory, Paradoxes in psychotherapy, Role playing communications, Viewing the family as a unit, Thoughts on the child and the changing family.

Workshop materials, 1980 - Royal College of GPs Sydney University, Northside Clinic, Radio lecture UNSW, Dick Armstrong UNE, Centre for Medical Education, Research and Development. WHO Workshops

Workshop materials - Experiential Learning, Marital Counselling, Self Esteem and Self Respect, Burn out, Stress for Professionals, Assessment, Who cares for the Carers, Incomplete transactions in blended families. Eggs in the Basket and Sculpting the Family.

BOX 2 RESTRICTED
ABC - Family therapy institute of Australia 1981, course students. Interview with Ken Dyer - recasting tapes of Eggs in the Basket and Sculpting the Family - discussion of projected programs The Human Way. Sound tapes made and transferred to DVD.
Order of Australia OAM - Letters of support for the nomination.
Unfinished projected book with help from Jim Crawley.
Diary of European trip in September 1976.

MLOH 732
Series 1: Margaret Topham sound recordings and seminars

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 9157/Box 2, Expiry Date: 2017-04-03
For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian: MLMSS 9157/Box 2 (memoir) expires in 2017

Copyright status:: In copyright
Approval for reproduction required:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2013-2014