MS 5414
Papers of Edith Harrhy (1903-1971)



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1902-1994
  • 1.4 metres (10 boxes and 7 folios)
  • Available for reference

The papers were donated to the National Library by Harrhy's daughter Mrs Honor Coutts in several instalments between 1971 and 1995. Papers were purchased by the Library from Mrs Coutts in 1997. This collection incorporates papers which were previously held at MS 2949.

The papers are a good record of Harrhy’s life from her student days at the Guildhall School of Music in London to her composing and performing career in Australia. They include correspondence, personal documents, manuscripts, programs, cuttings, photographs, research notes, and manuscript music scores. The large number of music scores, mainly songs, include The mallee root and the light operas, ‘Alaya’ and ‘The jolly friar’.

Also included are the research papers of Harrhy’s daughter, Honor Coutts, assembled when writing the biography of her mother.

Biographical Note

Edith Harrhy, singer, pianist, and composer of songs and light opera, was born in London in December 1893. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London from 1909 to 1913. She married an Australian, W.C. Daly, in 1919, and later that year they settled in Melbourne. Harrhy gave recitals and broadcasts throughout Australia and in New Guinea. From 1935 to 1952 she was associated with the National Theatre Movement in Melbourne and was also musical director of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, the Lyric Light Opera Society, and other bodies. Her works include two light operas, ‘Alaya’ and ‘The jolly Friar’, and about 1000 songs, 200 of which were published. Harrhy died in Brisbane in 1969.


Series Descriptions

Folders/pieces
1    Students' reports from Guildhall School of Music, 1912-15             
     Address given by Nellie Melba, 1911                                  
2    Autograph book and photographs.                                      
3    Correspondence with William F. Morriss, 1966-72                      

Folders/pieces
1    Sepia photograph of Edith Harrhy                                     
2-3  2 scrapbooks containing programs, music scores and newspaper cuttings

Addition February 1977

Folder/pieces                                                           
4-11   Alaya, music score                                                
12-14  The jolly friar, music score                                     
15-17  David and Myfanwy, music score                                   
18     Baby asleep, music score                                           
19     Lilly, music score                                                 
20     Mystery in the black forest, music score                            
21     Ballet suite for light orchestra, music score                       
22     The taming of the shrew, music score                                
23     Some Australian songs for children                                  
       Four songs of Australia                                               
       Two songs of the sea                                                  
       Dusk                                                                  
       Goblin Blues and others.                                              
24     Trumpet Overture                                                    
25     Bass Overture (Bob Gibson and his band)                             
26     Christmas carols                                                    
27-32  Miscellaneous music scores                                        
33     The dreamland tree, printed score                                   
35     Miscellaneous printed scores                                        
36    'Perhaps one day' lyrics only                                       
37     Musical play (no title) lyrics only                                 

Folio items                                                             
4      The jolly friar, score                                               
5-6    Lucky Lady, score                                                 
7      Miscellaneous scores                                                 
8      The sailor's wife, printed score                                     

Addition April 1993

Folders/pieces                                                          
38     Photocopies of letters (1902-92), scores and newspaper clippings.    
       The correspondents are Peter Dawson and Joseph D. O'Connor and there
       are copies of letters between Honor Coutts and Brian Wilkins.         

Addition October 1995

Folder/pieces                                                           
39-41   154 letters to her husband Con Daly, 1918-19             

Addition August 1997

The papers in this addition include papers of Mrs Honor Coutts, written or assembled when she was writing a biography of her mother.

The papers include correspondence, personal documents, manuscripts, programs, cuttings, photographs, research notes, the unpublished biography of Harrhy, and manuscript music. Correspondents include Wilfrid Thomas, Peter Dawson, Marjorie Lawrence, Sir Charles Moses, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Conan Doyle, Joyce Grenfell and Felix Werder.

The Guildhall School of Music papers include letters to Harrhy (1909), achievement certificates (1910-14), letters to Harrhy and Con Daly (1918-19), typescripts by Harrhy on music in Australia, and issues of Guildhall Music Student with articles by Harrhy.

The programs, mainly of performances by Harrhy as a pianist and singer, also include some which feature her own compositions. The later programs are of musical comedies and other productions which Harrhy directed.

The large quantity of manuscript sheet music, mostly songs, includes files of music composed by Harrhy to words by Helen Dames, Sir William Watson, Alexander Steven, Charles Souter and Will Foster.

Folder

42	Family letters, including pre-marriage letters from Con Daly, 1915-68
43	Letters from Wilfrid Thomas, 1932-92
	Letters from Maureen Watson, wife of composer Sir William Watson, 1933
	Letters from Jess Appleby, 1934-35, and letters from Vicky Appleby to Coutts,
	1993
44	General correspondence, 1918-95
45	Correspondence re biography of Harrhy, 1980-92
46	Personal papers, 1914-87. Includes an address book begun in 1914
	Lists of published and unpublished works by Harrhy, 1921-66
47	‘Lily’, a musical play in two acts (typescript)
48	‘No-man’s island’, a musical play in two acts, music by Edith Harrhy
	‘Old Moore’s Almanac’; ‘Christmas Eve’; ‘A bushland fantasy’ (typescripts)
49	Manuscript and typescript poetry and prose
50	Contracts and a power of attorney, 1925-58
51	Papers relating to the Guildhall School of Music, 1909-31
52-54	Newspaper cuttings and photocopies or typescripts of newspaper articles,
	1919-1992
55	Programs, 1910-67
56-57	Research material of Honor Coutts, including notes on Harrhy family and
	typescript copies of newspaper articles used in the biography
58	Manuscript of ‘Edith Harrhy – musician extraordinaire: a personal memoir by
	her daughter, Honor’.
59	Photographs, mainly family, most in poor condition

	Manuscript music scores (1 box)

BOX LIST

Box	Folders/pieces
1	1-7
2	8-14
3	15-20
4	21-28
5	29-35
6	36-41
7	42-48
8	49-55
9	56-59
10	Music

Folio 
1	Portrait of Edith Harrhy
2-3	Scrapbooks
4-7	Music scores
Compiled November 1995. Revised December 1997. Amended July 2006.