Letters from Patrick White to Margery Williams, 1960 - Oct. 1977, 1987, with associated papers and photographs compiled by Alison Corfield, 1963-2011

MLMSS 8102

fonds

1960-2011

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs

936578

0.10 metres of textual material, 30 photographs (1 folder and 1 outsize folder)

Margery Williams, wife of the British Council representative in Australia, Norman Williams, was a close friend of Patrick White's. White respected her opinions and Williams herself provided information which was used in White’s short stories. She was the basis of the character Mrs Mortimer in The Vivisector (1970). In the late 1970s White fell out with her, but the final letter in this collection, 1987, from White to Williams recommends she speak to David Marr then engaged on White’s biography. Alison Corfield is Margery Williams' daughter.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection
Library Correspondence File

Compiled and annotated by Alison Corfield from her mother's estate.

FOLDER 1 - RESTRICTED
Correspondence and photographs arranged mostly in chronological order by Alison Corfield. Collection includes:

Letters from Patrick White to Margery Williams from 1960-1987 including 36 letters (2 incomplete), 8 postcards and a Christmas card. White's letters deal with his work, particularly for the theatre both in London and Australia and his travels overseas and locally, including his visit to painter Ian Fairweather in 1961. He discusses his friends and political interests. The letters cover the emerging Australian cultural life of the 1960s, particularly in Sydney and he discusses his collaborations with Robert Helpmann and Sidney Nolan. He also writes about his dealings with the Adelaide Festival. Some of White's letters to Margery Williams are quoted in David Marr's biography entitled Patrick White : A life and some are reproduced in Marr's Patrick White : Letters.

An incomplete undated carbon copy letter from Williams to White and comments about the contents of this letter written by Alison Corfield, Margery's daughter. Three fragments written by Williams about White, and a transcript of each of these as well as 2 transcripts of an article written for the Manchester Guardian in 1963 by Norman Williams about Patrick White.

The collection includes two letters and six postcards from the British author Angus Wilson to Margery Williams.

There are two letters from David Marr to Margery Williams and her daughter Alison Corfield as well as a printout of Margery's profile and extract of the letters he intends to include in his book.

Included are 30 photographs of White, Williams and friends such as the Chestermans and Horns, taken in the 1960s, as well as some typed notes by Alison Corfield which provide some insight into her mother's relationship with White.

There are printouts of online biographies of Sir Angus Wilson and Patrick White.

There is also a bound photocopy of the letters, not in chronological order.

FOLDER 2X
Newscuttings

18 newscuttings and photocopies of each of the cuttings, as well as the book 'Patrick White', written by R. F. Brissenden and published for the British Council and National Book League.

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 8102/ Folder 1

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: This collection has multiple rights owners
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No reproduction without prior written approval of copyright holder.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder