Marjorie Barnard, papers for "The case for the future", 2 February 1940 to 20 May 1940

MLMSS 9673

fonds

2 February 1940 to 20 May 1940

1336651

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - typescript

Marjorie Faith (Marjory) Barnard (1897-1987), writer and historian, was born on 16 August 1897 at Ashfield, Sydney. After graduating from the University of Sydney (BA, 1920) she began work at the Public Library of New South Wales, where she topped library school examinations in 1921. Later she was transferred to Sydney Technical College, where she was librarian-in-charge from 1925. She pursued her writing at night. Her first book, short stories of childhood entitled The Ivory Gate, was published in 1920.

She joined the main Sydney literary societies—the Society of Women Writers of New South Wales and the Henry Lawson Literary Society (1929), the Australian English Association (1930), the Sydney PEN Club (1931) and the Fellowship of Australian Writers (mid-1930s), and the Women’s Club.

The onset of World War II caused Barnard 'horror and grief' and she became more politically active and vigorously promoted writers’ rights and opposed censorship. Her attempt at a manifesto, 'The Case for the Future', written for the Australian Peace Pledge Union, which she joined in 1939, and contributions to the local Council for the Unemployed’s newsletter, show that an alleged indifference to politics has little basis in fact. In 1940 she joined the Australian Labor Party. But as a pacifist she was at odds with the times.

Reference:
Australian Dictionary of Biography
(http://adb.anu.edu.au. Accessed 28.5.15)

Unpublished pamphlet, "The Case for the Future". Quarto, carbon copy typescript of 35 leaves. Inscribed in pencil at top, 'To be returned to F.W. Coaldrake, 26 Glenlyon Road, North Fitzroy, N.7, Vic' and, 'Publication prohibited 20/5/40'.

Copy letter, Frank Coaldrake to Maurice Blackburn, 2 February 1940, requesting him to write forward.

Copy letter, Frank Coaldrake to Ruskin Press, accepting quotation for printing pamphlet, 2 February, 1940.

Letter, Ruskin Press to F. Coaldrake, quotation for printing "The case for the future", 20 March 1940.

Typescript of Foreword by Maurice Blackburn, 1 leaf, 14 May 1940.

Letter, State Publicity Censor, Victoria, to Frank Coaldrake, 20 May 1940, refusing permission to publish pamphlet.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales