John Tombs papers, ca. 1865-1972

MLMSS 7947

fonds

ca. 1865-1972

Textual Records, Graphic Materials

888204

0.45 metres of textual material and 23 photographs (3 boxes), some folders contain drawings

Norman John Tombs, author, wrote a range of material for children in magazines and newspapers, and stories for the ABC's Kindergarten of the Air series. He also wrote and illustrated a number of novelty books for the entertainment and instruction of children. From 1947-1959 he was in charge of the Records Section of the Sydney patent and trade mark attorneys Griffith, Hassel & Frazer. He lived at Randwick and died in 1984.

References:
Compiled from the collection
The Ryerson Index. http://ryersonindex.net/search.php (accessed February 24, 2010)

BOX 1
Folder 1: Correspondence of the Tombs family, 1866-1949

Folder 2: Photographs of the Tombs family, ca. 1865, ca. 1895-ca. 1960, including one ambrotype

Folder 3: Correspondence, 1959-1972, including mock-up of The Honey Jar for proposed distribution by the Australian Honey Board

Folder 4: ‘Correspondence (Original Letters)’, 1937-1939, being correspondence with National Gas Association of Australia and Australian Gas Light Company regarding Tombs’ entry to Symbolic Figure Competition

Folder 5: Papers, 1937-1939, regarding purported use of Tombs’ Gas figure by Australian Gas Light Company

Folder 6: Papers, 1964-1966, regarding supply of Decimal Currency educational crossword puzzles, including correspondence with Decimal Currency Board

Folder 7: Scrapbooks (2) of newscuttings from The Moss Vale Post, 1930

BOX 2
Writings by John Tombs:

Folder 1: ‘Clover Poems’, 1920-1924, by N. J. Tombs, being typescript booklet; ‘The Two Wooden Dolls: Rhymes and Pictures’, no date, being corrected typescript and illustrated booklet; and ‘Adventure in the Valley’, no date, being corrected typescript

Folder 2: Scrapbook of newscuttings of serialised story, The Stranger at the Circus, no date, with annotated new title, ‘The Secret of Lock’s Lagoon’

Folder 3: ‘A Fairy Tale!’, no date, being corrected typescript, with pen and ink drawings by Tombs and a copy of his Peter’s Second Puzzle Book: Stories, Puzzles, Mazes & Questions to Answer (194-), formerly belonging to Gloria Tombs

Folder 4: ‘Playroom Fun’, including text, drawings and mock-up of ‘Playtime: Lots of Party Games, Tricks, Problems and Easy Things to Make for Boys and Girls of All Ages’, no date

Folder 5: ‘The House of Many Surprises: A Fanciful Tale for Children 5 to 10 Years’, no date, being mainly corrected carbon typescript by ‘Stephen Dayne’ and incomplete carbon typescript by ‘John Trellis’

Folder 6: ‘The Lynwood Boys’, no date, being corrected typescript by ‘John Trellis’

Folder 7: Draft chapters of various writings, including ‘The Secret of Lock’s Lagoon’

BOX 3
Writings by John Tombs:

Folder 1: ‘The Editor’s Wife’, ca. 1937, being incomplete drafts of a novel

Folder 2: ‘Where No Wood Is … ‘, 193-, being corrected typescript with enclosures, including notes and pencil drawing of Monica, 1931

Folder 3: ‘The Key of Temptation’, no date, being corrected typescript of a novel, approximately 80,00 words, 29 chapters, 260 pages

Folder 4: ‘The Key of Temptation, no date, being corrected carbon typescript of a novel, approximately 70,000 words, 25 chapters, 234 pages