Mabel Watson papers including original poems and a letter by A. B. (Banjo) Paterson, [ca. 1890]-1944

MLMSS 10369/Box 1X

fonds

[ca. 1890]-1944

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera, Clippings

9649973

0.31 metres of textual material (1 outsize box) including some photographs, newscuttings and ephemera

Mabel Watson was the daughter of James Watson, merchant and politician. She formed a friendship with ‘Banjo’ Paterson and they shared an interest in poetry, horses and horse racing. In 1902 she married Stuart Osborne of Bungendore.

Reference: Library correspondence file

By descent from Mabel Watson to her great grandson, Allan Campbell

This collection of papers compiled by Mabel Watson from the 1890s to 1944 includes original poems and correspondence from A. B. (Banjo) Paterson. Included in the collection are newspaper clippings and horse racing ephemera, displaying her lifelong interest in reading poetry and horseracing.

1. Autograph letter from A. B. Paterson to Stuart Osborne [husband of Mabel Watson], 28 January 1898, manuscript, signed, 2 pages, written on letterhead of Street & Paterson, Solicitors, includes a poem ‘Cockadoodle Cockadoodle do!’.

2. Original poems by or attributed to A. B (Banjo) Paterson:

‘How shall I tell her I love her – Song…’, manuscript, 2 pages, signed and addressed to Mabel Watson, in the hand of A. B. Paterson.
‘I have a little graveyard…’, manuscript, 2 pages, unsigned, [in the hand of A. B. Paterson].
‘Two little blue eyed children…’, manuscript in pencil, initialled on reverse side, in hand of A. B. Paterson.
‘There once was a mare called Infanta…’, manuscript, 2 pages, signed in pencil on reverse side, in hand of A. B. Paterson.
‘Under the Whips…’, manuscript, 3 pages, [possibly by A.B. Paterson and transcribed by Mabel Watson?].

3. Published poems by or attributed to A. B (Banjo) Paterson:

‘The Ballad of the Calliope’, off print from The Antipodean.
‘On the Grey Gulf-water, newscutting from The Bulletin.
‘The Reverend Mullineux’, 1899, newscutting from The Bulletin.
‘Only a pound! And this was the end’, from the poem ‘In the droving days’, newscutting from The Bulletin.
‘Not on it’ printed on program for Sydney Polo Club, Gymkhana, Kensington Racecourse, 15 May 1897.
‘A dream of the Melbourne Cup’ on program for Rosehill Races, Saturday 6 November [?].

4. ‘In the West’ manuscript, 2 pages, author unknown, in an unknown hand.

5. Published poem ‘His Epitaph’ by W.H. Ogilvie, newscutting from The Bulletin.

6. [Poems by Mabel Watson, ca. 1894], written in an exercise book with insert of newscuttings, ‘I dreamt that I was dreaming’ and ‘Sing to me’ by Roy Mack.

7. Typescript of ‘Mrs. Pankhurst’s Speech at the Albert Hall’, [more than likely Emmeline Pankhurst, suffragette, 1908 or later].

8. Postcard with illustration titled ‘M. Watson: La Chaussure Neuve’, addressed to Miss Annette Fielding-Jones from M. Osborne [Mabel Watson?].

9. Photographs:
Portrait of A. B. Paterson, [ca. 1890] signed print.
[Portrait of a woman] on reverse it reads ‘Sophia Anne Kate Osbourne nee Wentworth Towns eldest daughter Capt Robert Towns & Sarah Wentworth wife of George Osbourne Foxlow, Bungendore’.

10.‘The outlook for wool’, Sydney, November 1944, by W. C. (Bill) Wentworth, [great grandson of the explorer W.C. Wentworth, was an Australian politician who served as a Liberal and later Independent member for the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1977], printed copy, typed.

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