John Kingsmill aggregated collection of papers

fonds

1948-2010

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

9661489

1.40 metres of textual material (9 boxes) includes photographs

John Beresford Kingsmill, actor and author, was born in Sydney on 1 September 1920, son of Raymond Beresford Kingsmill and Kathleen Camillus Kingsmill, nee Shankland. Leaving Sydney Boys' High School at the age of fifteen, he became a clerk in a finance company. He qualified as an accountant in 1948, his studies having been interrupted by World War II, when he served in New Guinea as a wireless operator with the Royal Australian Air Force from 1942 to early 1944, and in Darwin prior to demobilisation. Kingsmill spent some time in London during 1950-1952, before returning to Sydney to work as an accountant. In 1963 he became an advertising copywriter, retiring in 1981. He co-founded a charity for the rehabilitation of the mentally ill, became involved in public speaking, and created a course in speaking-and-communication for professionals.

Kingsmill's publications include Sydney - the harbour city. Paintings by Jeff Rigby; text by John Kingsmill (1988); Australia street: a boy's eye view of the 1920s and 1930s (c. 1991); The innocent. Growing up in Bondi in the 1920s and 1930s (1990); No hero. Memoirs of a raw recruit in World War II (1994); My brief strut upon the stage (2001). Kingsmill also wrote the book and lyrics (with additional lyrics by John McKellar) for the sound recording January the twentysixth, published by the Bank of New South Wales to mark its sesqui-centenary (1967; revised 1975).

Kingsmill was drawn to the theatre and was, for a short time, a professional actor. He was a member of the original cast of the then controversial play Rusty bugles, by Sumner Locke Elliott, first performed at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney in October 1948. The play was temporarily banned by the Chief Secretary soon after it opened, because of its 'blasphemous' language. After much public debate and some deletions from the script, the play was performed again and subsequently toured other Australian capital cities, except Brisbane.

COLLECTION 1:
John Kingsmill papers, 1948-2000

COLLECTION 2:
John Kingsmill further papers, 1959-2007

COLLECTION 3:
John Kingsmill further papers, 1973-2010

COLLECTION 4:
John Kingsmill further papers, 1970-2006

COLLECTION 5:
John Kingsmill further papers 1958-2007

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 7068/Box 1/Folders 1, 3, 4