Professor G. A. Wilkes further papers mainly relating to Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms

MLMSS 11882

fonds

between 1880 and 2018

9670474

0.80 metres of textual material (5 boxes)

G. A. (Gerald Alfred) Wilkes was appointed the inaugural Chair of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney in 1962. He went on to also hold the Challis Chair of English Literature, with expertise in Renaissance English literature, from 1966 until his retirement in 1996. He was editor of the literary journal Southerly from 1963 to 1987. His publications include A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms (1978); The Stockyard and the Croquet Lawn : Literary Evidence for Australian Cultural Development (1981) and Ten Essays on Patrick White  (editor) (1970).
Reference: Library acquisition file

By descent from G.A. Wilkes to daughter Joanne Wilkes

Letters, news cuttings, manuscript and typescript notes, index cards, between 1880s and 2018. The papers relate mainly to Professor G.A. Wilkes’ book 'A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms', first published in 1978. Comprising his original research papers related to distinctive colloquial words and idioms, recording their use and source. The papers also include correspondence (including three telegrams from Gough Whitlam), and a box of index cards with additional quotations from the period after the last publication of the book in 2008. Includes a folder on the origins of the Pavlova dessert.

BOX 1
Folders of cuttings, mainly from newspapers, as follows –
1978-83; 1984-89; 1990-99; 2000-2007; 2008-18 (this last comprising material post-dating the final, 2008, edition).

BOX 2
The debate on the history and origins of the Pavlova dessert, 1980s and 1990s
Correspondence: two folders, 1977-81, and 1982 onwards (includes 3 telegrams from Gough Whitlam)
Undated Material
Miscellaneous alphabetized definitions

BOX 3
Regionalism
Wildlife, trade names, etc.
Reviews
Pre 1977 – includes 19th century and early 20th century material.

BOX 4
A substantial number of card-index cards, including extra quotations from the period after the publication of the last edition of the work (2008).
Mainly relating to the Collins English Dictionary

BOX 5
Two folders of miscellaneous material, and one folder of correspondence

In copyright:
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