Elizabeth Stead further literary papers, 1960-2012

MLMSS 9950

fonds

1960-2012

Textual Records, Photographs, Graphic Materials, Clippings

1381848

1.12 metres of textual material (7 boxes) - typescript, manuscript
8 photographs - coloured

Elizabeth Stead (1932- ), author is the granddaughter of pioneer naturalist, conservationist and storyteller David George Stead (1887-1957) and Thistle Harris, and niece of famous Australian author Christina Stead (1902-1983).

In 1972 she joined Australia's first playwrights studio at NIDA, staged a one act play at NIDA theatre and had her radio play broadcast nationally on ABC radio. Between 1972 and 1992 she wrote a great deal of short stories. In 1992, an anthology of short stories 'Knitting Emily Bridget' was published by Stephanie Dowrick, publisher Allen and Unwin.

In 1998, she became President of the Society of Women Writers of NSW, and from 2003 was also member of the Sydney PEN Committee with author and critic Margaret Jones, author Wilda Moxham. Her aunt Christina Stead was one of the founding members of the organisation of International PEN in London in 1924.

Elizabeth published her first novel, 'The Fishcastle', at the age of 68, and it was short listed for the Nita B. Kibble Award. She has published a further 4 novels and numerous short stories and her work has been critically well received.

'The Different World of Fin Starling' was short listed for the NSW Premier’s Fiction Prize. 'The Gospel of Gods and Crocodiles', based on life in Manus Island in the late 1950s was highly commended by the ASA. 'The Sparrows of Edward Street', based on the Housing Commission Camp for the homless in Sydney in the 1940s and 50s, was highly commended by the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

'I. Correspondence and associated papers, mainly personal and professional letters received from friends, writers, and students, ca. 1997-2003. Correspondents include Les Murray, David Marr, Di Morrissey and Margaret Jones
BOX 1
Letters and cards of thanks and congratulations, mainly relating to writer in residence workshops and programs in schools i.e. Trinity Grammar School Writers Group an St Andrews in Sydney, Presidency of the Society of Women Writers and membership of the PEN Committee, ca. 1997-2003. Includes letter by Elizabeth Stead written from Manus Island, 1960.
Manuscript of extract from ‘End of the Week Words’, with annotations and comments by Joy Stouie
5 photographs at Maui Writer Retreat with Professor Steven Goldsberry, 1998, and Woollahra Library’s Poet’s Picnic 2006
Email correspondence, newsletters and minutes of meetings of the Committee of International PEN Sydney Centre and the Rapid Action Group, ca. 2000-2003. Members include Anne Summers, Chip Rolly, James Bradley.

II. Literary manuscripts of short stories, poems, novels, with publisher correspondence, research and publicity material, ca. 1976-1993
BOX 2
‘The Day Gobly Grimsforth Charmed the Juice out of the King’s Oranges’ – ABC Radio National play, 1976
Sketchbook
Draft typescripts of short stories and poems:
'Knitting Emily Bridget', 1992 – annotated typescripts drafts, galley proof for Allen and Unwin, book cover
‘Poppy and horse’, 1992
‘The letter’, 1990
‘The man’s room’
‘In loving memory of Portia Phipps’, 1992
‘In which Maxwell Vincent tidies up’, 1991
‘Circling the corn’, 1991
‘The Confessional’, 1991
‘Rosy Posy’s book of views’, 1990
‘Shortblack … Sweettea’, 1991 – with annotations by Joy Stouie
‘Some endangered species..Thank Goodness! A collection of nonsense verse for children’, 1990
‘Round and round goes the merry: a day at the Darling end of Sydney harbour’, 1990
‘A Christmas Countdown’, 1990
‘The tree that snored upside down the be and the twig. Three nonsense verses for children, 1990
‘Black pudding’
‘A busload of lady bowlers’
‘The normal life of Antoinette’, 1989
‘Swinging on empty’, 1990
‘Old Montrose’
‘The Duchess next door’
‘Crossed Patches. A short story for Stephanie Dowrick’, 1993 - typescript
‘Cameron and the mother’, July 1993 - typescript

BOXES 3-4
‘Fish Dancing’, 20 March 1999 – typescript draft of ‘The Fishcastle’, including cards of congratulations from friends relating to the publication of ‘The Fishcastle’, ca. 1999
‘The Different World of Fin Starling’, 2003 - typescript draft, annotated draft and galley proof with notes and correspondence with publisher, and letters and cards of congratulations. Also includes a draft under an earlier title, ‘The Accidental Gardener’
3 photographs from shortlist launch and dinner

BOXES 5-6
‘The Book of Tides’, 2005 – edited typescript draft 4
Earlier annotated typescript drafts under the titles ‘Stone’ and ‘A Memory of Stone’, together with notes and correspondence, ca. 2003-2005
‘The Gospel of Gods and Crocodiles’ (2007) – annotated typescript drafts with notes and research material, ca. 2000-2007

BOX 7
‘The Sparrows’, 2010 – author’s copy galley proof, and annotated typescript drafts

Arranged by donor

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: Elizabeth Stead
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales