Guide to the Papers of Dorothy Hewett
MS 6184
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | September 2007 |
| Last updated: | September 2007 |
This finding aid is published with the assistance of the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust.
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence, 1942-2002
Series 2 Personal, family and business papers, 1883-1994
Series 3 Juvenilia, c. 1930-1971
Series 4 Literary works of Dorothy Hewett, 1933-2001
Series 5 Wild card and autobiographical material, 1893-1991
Series 6 Writings by others, c. 1970-2001
Series 7 Press cuttings and reviews, 1960-2001
Series 8 Photographs, 1952-1999
Series 9 Programs and posters, 1939-1999
Series 10 Miscellaneous papers and objects, 1910-1990
Container List
Appendix 1: Locations of material moved in 2007 review of collection and guide
Appendix 2: Record of instalments
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Hewett, Dorothy, 1923-2002 |
| Title: | Papers of Dorothy Hewett |
| Date Range: | 1883-2002 (bulk 1952-2001) |
| Collection Number: | MS 6184 |
| Extent: | 5.1 m. (34 boxes) + 2 folio boxes + 1 elephant folio |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers consist of correspondence, literary works, photographs, sound and video recordings, theatre programs, posters and press cuttings, with the largest part of the collection being preparatory notes, drafts and manuscripts of Hewett's literary works. Major correspondents include Robert Adamson, Josephine Barnes, Rolf Hennequel, Elizabeth Jolley, Drusilla Modjeska, Stephen Murray-Smith, Hal Porter, Max Williams and Fay Zwicky. Other correspondents include Frank Hardy, Alan Marshall, David Martin, Katharine Susannah Prichard and Richard Wherrett.
Arrangement
Since the first consignment was received in 1979 a number of different approaches to arrangement and levels of description have been applied to the collection, differences which are reflected in the folder titles and notes. No discernible order was apparent in the contents of the consignments. Order has been imposed by the Library to the extent of grouping similar material into a series arrangement whilst retaining the order of adjacent papers wherever possible. In this way Hewett's apparently random approach to filing has been maintained to some degree.
Papers received in 1979, 1984 and 1992 consignments were sequentially arranged and described using a simple box/folder approach with continuous folder numbers, totalling 131 folders. In 2007 these three consignments were rearranged into series, and subsequent consignments of papers were incorporated into the new arrangement. Whilst the contents of folders in the original listing (i.e. of the 1979, 1984 and 1992 consignments) have not been rearranged or moved, the folder numbers have changed. Researchers seeking to locate this material should refer to 'Appendix 1: Locations of material moved in 2007 review of collection and guide'.
The order of material within each series adheres to the chronological order in which the consignments were received (i.e. 1979, followed by 1984 etc.). For identification of folders relating to each consignment, see 'Appendix 2: Record of Instalments'.
Provenance
The papers of Dorothy Hewett were received by the Library in a number of instalments between 1979 and 2005: between 1979 and 1999 four consignments of papers were purchased from Ms Hewett; in 2003, papers that Hewett had left with Bill Dunstone in 1988 were donated to the Library by Dunstone; and in 2005 a final instalment was purchased from Hewett's husband, Merv Lilley.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Related Material
In the Oral History Section, interviews with Dorothy Hewett are held at ORAL TRC 1/658-659 and ORAL TRC 5217/9.
A Biography file on Dorothy Hewett is available in the Newspaper and Microform Reading Room
Correspondence of Dorothy Hewett is held in the Manuscript Collection in the papers of David Martin (MS 6885), Jack Beasley (MS 9266), Kate McNamara (MS 8512), Tom Inglis Moore (MS 8130), Rodney Hall (MS 4834), Frank Hardy (MS 4887), Katharine Susannah Prichard (MS 6201), Rolf Hennequel (MS 2923) and Robert Adamson (MS 5713), and in the Records of Theatre Australia (MS 6861) and Currency Press (MS 8084).
Hewett's published works, including anthologies of poetry and musical works written in collaboration with composers, are listed on the Library's catalogue.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Dorothy Hewett, National Library of Australia, MS 6184, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
Dorothy Coade Hewett was born on 21 May 1923 on a farm near the Western Australian wheat belt town of Wickepin, the elder daughter of Arthur Thomas (Tom) and Doris Irene (René, née Coade) Hewett. She was educated by correspondence as a child, and then at Perth College and the University of Western Australia (UWA), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1963. Hewett began writing poetry as a child. Her first published poem was 'Dreaming', which appeared in an anthology of children's work in 1938. At nineteen her poetry was published in Meanjin and by twenty-two she had won drama and national poetry competitions.
At nineteen she joined the Communist Party, remaining a member until her resignation in 1968. In 1944 she married Lloyd Davies, with whom she had one child. The marriage failed and in 1948 Hewett moved to Sydney where she lived for nine years with another Party member, Les Flood, with whom she had three sons. The couple lived in inner city suburbs and Hewett took jobs in factories. Her book Bobbin up (1959) was based on these experiences.
In 1960 the couple parted and Hewett returned to Perth, where she completed her studies and subsequently taught English at UWA. There she also married Merv Lilley and bore him two daughters. In 1974 the family moved back to Sydney. Here Hewett was successful in applying for a number of grants from the newly formed Literature Board of the Australian Council for the Arts, enabling her to concentrate on her writing. Towards the end of her life she moved with Lilley to Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains.
Hewett's career as a writer spanned fiction, poetry, plays and articles for which she received numerous awards and fellowships throughout her life. Her contribution to Australian literature was recognised with an Order of Australia medal (AM) in 1986. Hewett held the position of writer-in-residence at least nine times at Australian universities and once overseas. Her publishing record is vast and includes three novels, a first volume of memoirs, Wild card (the second volume was in process at the time of her death), fifteen plays, anthologies of poetry, radio and screen plays, short stories, musicals, librettos and articles for Australian and overseas journals. In addition, Hewett and her works have been the subject of much analysis and review by other authors.
It is difficult to separate Hewett's writing from her persona. Her early bohemian lifestyle and political and social activism earned her a reputation as an unrepentant rebel. Students, political colleagues from both sides of politics, theatre people and literati alike were drawn to her outgoing personality and vast intellect. Hewett's flamboyant image and creative output never waned.
Dorothy Hewett died in Springwood, New South Wales, on 25 August 2002, survived by husband Merv Lilley and five of her children.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence, 1942-2002
This series contains Hewett's professional and personal correspondence. Hewett did not retain copies of her own letters except in very rare instances. The letters are largely from literary and theatre colleagues, publishers, Hewett's agents and academics. Whilst these mainly deal with Hewett's work and collaborations, the content of many of the letters suggests that Hewett often combined personal and professional relationships. People represented in the series by significant amounts of correspondence include Robert Adamson, Josephine Barnes, Rolf Hennequel, Elizabeth Jolley, Drusilla Modjeska, Stephen Murray-Smith, Hal Porter, Max Williams and Fay Zwicky. Other correspondents include Frank Hardy, Alan Marshall, David Martin, Katharine Susannah Prichard and Richard Wherrett.
Amongst the correspondence in this series can also be found poems by other writers, greetings and post cards, photographs, audiovisual material, notebooks, notes and typescripts written by Hewett, and financial papers. The placement of Hewett's hand- and type-written notes amongst the correspondence has been retained. Some enclosures received with letters appear to have been removed by Hewett but may possibly be found elsewhere in the collection. Correspondence found amongst Hewett's literary drafts has been left in place and is located in Series 4.
Folder 1 Letters from writers and academics, 1942, c. 1959-1977
Correspondents include W.F. (Frank) Arndt, Bob Lord, Alan Marshall and Manning Clark. Also includes a letter of recommendation written by Allan Edwards for Hewett in 1942.
Folder 2 Letters from writers, 1944, 1959-1979
Correspondents include Hal Porter, Randolph Stow, Bill Hart-Smith (enclosing poems), David Martin, Katharine Susannah Prichard (enclosing a 'Tribute to Dorothy Hewett') and Frank Hardy.
Folders 3-4 Letters from publishers, 1959-1979
Includes: agreements (contracts) and correspondence relating to the publication of Bobbin up in Russia and Eastern Europe; correspondence with Rolf Hennequel of Wattle Grove Press; and letters from Stephen Murray-Smith regarding the publication of Hewett's poems in Overland.
Folder 5 Theatrical correspondence, c. 1966-1978
Includes correspondence relating to a production of This old man comes rolling home, and letters from directors Ray Omadei, Richard Wherrett and George Whaley.
Folder 6 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1979-1983
Includes letters from Cecil Holmes about 'The planter of Malata'. Other correspondents include Jim Davidson (one letter), Graeme Blundell (one letter) and Professor Mainusch (one letter).
Folder 7 Correspondence, 1967-1979
Correspondents include Gwen Harwood, Stefan Heym, Arne Neeme, Jim Davidson, Ron Blair, Frank Hardy, David Martin, Tom Hungerford and Stephen Murray-Smith. Topics include: action by Lloyd Davies on Hewett's 'Tatty Hollow story'; invitations to visit universities and to read poetry; and letters of congratulations from audience members about Hewett's plays.
Folder 8 Correspondence, 1959-1980
Correspondents include Alvah Bessie, Gertrude and Stefan Heym, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Elizabeth Jolley, Maggie Dence, Stephen Murray-Smith, John Romeril, Patrick White, John Morrison, Frank Hardy and David Martin. Topics include Australian writing, the Communist Party, the death of Ian Turner, Realist Writers and comments on Hewett's work.
Folder 10 Correspondence, 1957-1981
Correspondents include Katharine Brisbane, Robert Page, Stephen Murray-Smith, Sylvia Lawson, Rodney Fisher, Elizabeth Jolley, Tom Shapcott, Richard Wherrett, Wendy Blaxland, Trader Faulkner and Fay Zwicky. Additional letters are from publishers, the ABC, universities, festival committees and the Australia Council. Topics include funding of Overland 1961, attendance at festivals, poetry readings, proposed publications and productions, inquiries from students and literary criticism.
Folder 11 Correspondence, c. 1973-1976, 1990-1992
Includes: a letter from the Australian Council for the Arts Literature Board notifying Hewett of her first grant (1973); correspondence from Charles Sturt University regarding the script and a production of 'Zoo'; and a letter from May Webb with her views on characters from Redfern in Wild card.
Folder 12 Correspondence, c. 1977-1992
Correspondents include: publishers, including Drusilla Modjeska of Collins Angus and Robertson regarding the publication, Sisters; theatre personnel; Vera Deacon, enclosing photographs and recalling life in innercity Sydney in the 1950s; and Moya Henderson, enclosing a draft libretto for a song cycle for soprano, cello and piano based on Wild card.
Folder 13 Correspondence, c. 1972-1992
Includes: royalty statements, a photograph of Hewett, letters from Charles Sturt University about a production of 'Zoo', festival organisers, and single letters from Robert Adamson and Fay Zwicky (enclosing poems).
Bag 14 Correspondence forwarded to Hewett by her agents, Hilary Linstead and Associates, 1999
Includes a sound recording of a setting of a Hewett poem by the band 'Random Selection'.
Folder 15 Correspondence, c. 1997-1999
Includes copies of Hewett's resume and her poem 'Drunks in Darlinghurst'.
Folder 16 Correspondence, 1993-1999
Includes notes, a notebook, Hewett's poems, and letters and cards from Elizabeth Jolley, Robert Adamson and Josephine Barnes.
Folder 17 Correspondence, c. 1985-1998
Includes correspondence from Elizabeth Jolley, Max Williams and Robert Adamson (enclosing 'Waggafish report number one' 1998), a report by Hewett on her Australia Council Literature Board Senior Fellowship (1985), snapshots of Hewett (1940 and 1955), a postcard photograph possibly of Hewett's childhood farmhouse and excerpts of early undated letters from Hewett.
Folder 18 Correspondence, 1993-1998
Includes correspondence from Max Williams (enclosing a poem), Carmel Bird, Nora Heysen, Fay Zwicky and Thea Astley.
Folder 19 Correspondence, 1990-1998
Includes letters from Drusilla Modjeska and Elizabeth Jolley, and from the Australia Council regarding a four-year Fellowship.
Folder 20 Correspondence, 1990-1998
Includes letters from Fay Zwicky, Josephine Barnes and Elizabeth Jolley, and a royalty statement from 1992.
Folder 21 Correspondence, c. 1959-1968, c. 1985-1996
Includes: a postcard, possibly from Hewett to her son; letters dated in the 1960s from Randolph Stow, Katharine Susannah Prichard and Alan Marshall; later letters from Helen Garner, Josephine Barnes and Drusilla Modjeska; and a letter from the Australia Council regarding a 1986 Fellowship.
Folder 22 Correspondence, 1990-1997
Includes: letters from Fay Zwicky, Elizabeth Jolley, Josephine Barnes, Nancy Phelan, Gwen Harwood and Max Williams; royalty statements from the 1990s; and a photograph of Hewett at a book signing.
Folder 23 Correspondence, 1980, 1988-2002
Includes: correspondence from Elizabeth Jolley, Josephine Barnes, Drusilla Modjeska and Max Williams; a letter from the Australia Council regarding a 1998 Fellowship; texts of a book launch speech and foreword to Neap tide; a transcript of an interview of Hewett by Nicole Moore (1998); and a royalties statement for 1995.
Series 2 Personal, family and business papers, 1883-1994
See also Series 1 for correspondence and royalty statements from publishers and Hewett's agents, and Series 5 for further personal and family papers.
Folder 1 Contracts and financial statements, c. 1962-1971
Includes undated agreements with Bulgarian and East German agencies for Bobbin up and financial statements for an Old Tote production of This old man comes rolling home (1968).
Series 3 Juvenilia, c. 1930-1971
This series consists of works by Hewett positively identified as dating from her childhood and youth. See also Series 4 for undated writings possibly written as a child or adolescent, and Series 5, Folders 1-10 for juvenilia collated by Hewett as reference material for her autobiography, Wild card.
Folder 1 Poems by Hewett, including 'The magic mia-mia', c. 1930, 1971
Includes poems on Aboriginal themes and one published in Overland (1971).
Series 4 Literary works of Dorothy Hewett, 1933-2001
This series comprises notes, manuscripts, typescript drafts, proofs, copies, audiovisual material and correspondence relating to Hewett's poetry, plays and prose works. The series is divided into subseries by work title. The arrangement is based loosely on date of receipt at the Library, with material from different instalments of papers brought together under title, and earliest-received papers at the beginning of each subseries. The works are both unpublished and published and are not arranged by form (i.e. poetry, plays and prose are interfiled). Papers relating to specific titles may also be found in the Miscellaneous works subseries (4.31), or under other titles where their presence is highlighted in the folder description. Where no date is indicated by the papers, dates used in subseries title descriptions have been sourced from the Austlit database.
Subseries 4.1 This old man comes rolling home (play), c. 1967
Folder 1 'Original script with corrections. Jean Wilhelm notes etc.'
Subseries 4.3 Bon-bons and roses for Dolly (musical theatre), 1943, 1972-1973
Folder 3 Synopsis and notes for songs, c. 1943, 1973
Includes: the typescript of a short interview of Hewett; papers relating to 'The wire fences of Jarrabin' and 'Catspaw'; and a letter from Robert Adamson.
Folder 4 Roneoed copy, possibly used for production, c. 1972
Includes a typescript of 'The beautiful Mrs Portland'.
Subseries 4.4 Bobbin up (novel), 1933, c. 1959-1968
Folder 5 First drafts (excerpts) and correspondence, c. 1933, c. 1959-1968
Includes: a photograph of Hewett; pages of poems annotated 'ten years'; and a partial copy of a Mary Gilmore Award judges' report on Bobbin up.
Folders 6-11 Drafts, c. 1959
Subseries 4.5 The chapel perilous (musical theatre), 1967-1970
Folder 12 BBC radio version, c. 1970
Folder 13 Research notes, c. 1967-1970
Folder 14 Original notes, original draft and theatre programs, c. 1970
Folder 15 Typed draft
Folder 16 Originals and re-writes
Subseries 4.6 'Mrs Porter and the angel' (play), c. 1969
Unpublished play performed in Sydney 1969.
Folder 17 Typescript
Subseries 4.7 'Fields of heaven' (play), c. 1982
Folder 18 Working copy and notes: notebooks, loose notes and typescript draft with some amendments.
Folder 19 Several drafts, heavily amended, typescript and a production photograph.
Subseries 4.8 'Zimmer: a mock opera in two acts' (musical theatre) written with Robert Adamson, c. 1974
Original music by Michael Driscoll and Tom Flood. Original lyrics by Robert Adamson, Michael Driscoll and Dorothy Hewett. This work was performed only at a playwrights' conference, with Robert Adamson.
Folder 20 First draft, typescript, heavily amended.
Folder 21 Manuscript notes and drafts, photocopy typescript with some amendments, numbered '11'.
Subseries 4.9 The golden oldies (play), c. 1976-1977
First performed in Sydney in 1976.
Folder 22 Two annotated roneoed copies and loose typescript pages, labelled 'Director: Richard Wherrett, Dramaturg: Colin O'Brien'
Folder 23 Roneoed copy and two sound recordings of performances, c. 1977
Subseries 4.10 'Pandora's cross' (musical theatre), 1978
Performed in Sydney 1978.
Folder 24 Notes, poster artwork, early draft and typescript, heavily amended.
Subseries 4.11 'The planter of Malata' (screenplay) with Cecil Holmes, c. 1981-1982
Based on Joseph Conrad's short story.
Folder 25 Synopsis, drafts, typescript copies and correspondence, 1981-1982
Includes a typescript headed 'The problem of its adaptation', commenting on the screenplay, and a photocopy typescript of ' A journey with Joseph Conrad' by Cecil Holmes.
Subseries 4.12 Joan (musical theatre), c. 1975
First performed Sydney 1975, published 1984 in the Yackandandah Playscripts series.
Folder 26 Two notebooks containing manuscript notes and dialogue.
Subseries 4.13 The man from Muckinupin (Mukinupin) (musical theatre), c. 1979-1982
Commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Western Australia, 1979.
Folder 27 Early notes, typescript and photocopied first draft pages with amendments, programs, posters and production photographs, c. 1979-1982
Includes a synopsis for 'Pandora's cross'.
Item 28 Typescript in folder
Annotated 'prompt copy' for Playhouse (National Theatre, Perth) production.
Subseries 4.14 'Catspaw' (musical theatre) c. 1973
Performed in Perth 1973.
Folders 29-32 Early notes and dialogue, amended versions of the playscript and press cuttings used as background material, c. 1973
Subseries 4.15 Rapunzel in suburbia (poetry), c. 1974-1975
Published by Prism, 1975.
Folder 33 Typescript and photocopied poems, no amendments
Folders 34-35 Drafts of poems
Subseries 4.16 'Hardy' (play)
Folder 36 Drafts and notes (mainly trypescript) relating to Thomas Hardy
Subseries 4.17 Windmill country (poetry), c. 1965-1968
Most of the poems in this subseries were published in the anthology, Windmill country, by Overland, 1968.
Folder 37 Poetry drafts
Folder 38 Loose poems and notes
Folder 39 Poetry drafts
Subseries 4.19 Greenhouse (poetry), c. 1978-1979
Folder 41-49 Manuscripts and typescript drafts, c. 1978-1979
Subseries 4.22 Alice in wormland (poetry), 1979-1987
Folders 52-58 Typescript drafts, c. 1979-1987
Folder 59 Roneoed copy
Subseries 4.23 The toucher (novel), 1991-1994
Folders 60-66 Handwritten first draft in eight quarto notebooks
Folders 67-71 Typescripts
Folders 72-73 Final draft
Folder 74 Material supplied by Nicholas Hasluck, 1991
Folders 75-76 Notebooks
Folder 77 Typescript
Folder 78 Draft and notes, c. 1993
Includes a letter from Drusilla Modjeska of Angus and Robertson regarding Hewett's short story, 'The Darkling sisters'.
Folder 79 Draft (copy)
Folio 80 Typescript and galleys returned to Hewett, 1994
Folder 81 Artwork for the book's cover and corrected typescript and notes of 'Writing a novel: notes on The toucher'
Subseries 4.24 'The beautiful Mrs Portland' (play), c. 1976
See also Subseries 4.3, Folder 4.
Folder 82 Roneoed copy
Subseries 4.25 'The Jarrabin trilogy' (plays), c. 1990-1998
Written as three self-contained but connected plays.
Bag 83 Typescripts of 'The wire fences of Jarrabin, 'The memory theatre' and an 'Outline of plays 2 and 3' (marked 'old')
Folder 84 Notes and first draft of 'The wire fences of Jarrabin', c. 1990
Folder 85 Notes on 'The wire fences of Jarrabin'
Folder 86 First draft of 'The Jarrabin trilogy', c. 1990
Bag 87 First draft and revised copy of 'The wire fences of Jarrabin', 1990, 1994
Folder 88 Letter from Aubrey Mellor of the Playbox Theatre and copy of a map possibly related to the plays, c. 1998
Subseries 4.26 Peninsula (poetry), c. 1994
Folder 89 Notebook
Folder 90 Typescript and proofs, c. 1994
Subseries 4.27 'The Darkling sisters' (short story), c. 1993-1994
Appeared in Sisters, editor Drusilla Modjeska, published by Angus and Robertson, 1993.
Folder 91 Drafts and corrected typescript with covering letter, c. 1993-1994
Subseries 4.28 Neap tide (novel), c. 1993-1999
Bag 92 Notebook
Folder 93 'Background notes' (photocopies), notepad and loose notes, c. 1993
Folders 94-95 Drafts, c. 1998
Folder 96 Fourth draft
Folder 97 Proofs, 1999
Bag 98 Notebooks
Folder 99 Second draft
Folder 100 Artwork for book's cover
Subseries 4.29 'The rising (raising) of Pete Marsh' (play), c. 1988
The papers associated with this play, as well as those in Series 5, Folders 37-40, were left by Hewett with Bill Dunstone on completion of the play at the University of Western Australia New Fortune Theatre in 1988.
Bag 101 Notebooks
Folder 102 Loose notes
Folder 103 Draft
Folders 104-105 Acts 1 and 2 (copies)
Folder 106 Amended typescript
Folder 107 Copy of script
Bag 108 Reference material ('Lindow man' videos)
Subseries 4.30 Nowhere (play), 2001
Folders 109-110 Drafts, fragments, 2001
Folder 111 Edited copy, with revisions, 2001
Subseries 4.31 Miscellaneous works, 1967-2001
This subseries contains literary papers either not identifiably associated with a known work or containing papers relating to more than one work.
Folder 112 Short stories
Folders 113-118 Drafts of poems, c. 1971-1991
Folder 119 Typescript drafts of unfinished novels
Folder 120 Manuscripts and corrected typescript prose manuscripts
Folder 121 Miscellaneous handwritten manuscripts, c. 1989
Folder 122 Notebooks
Includes notes for 'The Darkling sisters' and The toucher.
Folder 123 Notepads, c. 1994
Includes drafts of poems and notes for a 1994 Adelaide Festival panel discussion in which Hewett participated.
Folder 124 Miscellaneous poems, c. 1992-1996
Folder 125 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1983-1988
Includes manuscripts fragments, correspondence, notes and financial papers.
Folder 126 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1985-1998
Includes poems, notes, a South Australian Film Corporation memo relating to Hewett's children's play 'Song of the seals', reviews and correspondence.
Folder 127 Miscellaneous articles and papers, c. 1992-1994
Folio 128 Miscellaneous papers
Includes artwork for the cover of Selected poems and a printed poster of Hewett's poem 'Pylons', illustrated with photographs of the poet.
Bag 129 Miscellaneous notebooks, c. 1987-2001
Folder 130 Miscellaneous papers
Includes articles, poems, 'The grandmother' (short story), 'Christina's world' (libretto) and 'The Russian writer' (article).
Folder 131 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1967, c. 2001
Includes 'You can't come home again' (short story), introduction to A baker's dozen and the text of an address by Hewett to a Communist Party meeting in 1967.
Series 5 Wild card and autobiographical material, 1893-1991
The papers in this series include notes and notebooks, photographs, correspondence, draft material, juvenilia, family and financial papers, reviews of Wild card and audiovisual material. The majority of the papers have been identified as reference material or literary manuscripts relating to Hewett's autobiography, Wild card (which appears to have initially been entitled 'Card houses'). Exceptions are Folders 37-40. These papers were received from Bill Dunstone, with whom Hewett left them in 1988 after they had collaborated on a play by Hewett, 'The rising (raising) of Pete Marsh' (see Subseries 4.29, Folders 101-108). The interview of Hewett (transcript) and two files of articles about and by Hewett appear unrelated to this play and have been added to Series 5 by the Library.
Folder 4 Photographs and correspondence, 1939-1952
Includes letters written by Hewett from Europe and China in 1952.
Folder 6 Notebooks, c. 1940-1942
One of the notebooks contains a more recent undated photograph of Hewett and locks of hair.
Series 6 Writings by others, c. 1970-2001
This series comprises poetry and articles by writers other than Hewett, Hewett's work adapted for the screen and writings about Hewett.
Folder 2 Articles, c. 1970-1978
Includes: a typescript article 'Dramatic conventions and techniques in The chapel perilous by Dorothy Hewett' by Carla Dente Baschiere (University of Pisa); a photocopy of a short story, 'A Gippsland wedding. Circa 1970' by Kate Ahearne; a photocopy of 'Boozing with Hawke' by Frank Moorhouse; and an unspecified application by Hewett for a special purposes grant.
Folder 6 Articles about Hewett's work by John Kinsella and Margaret Williams (photocopies), 1989, 1996
Series 7 Press cuttings and reviews, 1960-2001
This series comprises mainly clippings of reviews of Hewett's publications and productions of her plays, together with articles about, and interviews of, Hewett which appeared in newspapers and journals or were supplied by her agents or publishers.
Series 9 Programs and posters, 1939-1999
Largely posters and programs for productions of Hewett's plays.
Series 10 Miscellaneous papers and objects, 1910-1990
Container List
| Series | Folder/Bag/Folio | Box |
| 1 | 1-8 | 1 |
| 1 | 9-16 | 2 |
| 1 | 17-22 | 3 |
| 1 | 23-24 | 4 |
| 2 | 1-4 | 4 |
| 2 | 5-6 | Folio Box 1 |
| 3 | 1-3 | 4 |
| 3 | 4 | Elephant folio |
| 3 | 5 | Folio Box 1 |
| 4.1-4.4 | 1-8 | 5 |
| 4.4-4.5 | 9-15 | 6 |
| 4.5-4.8 | 16-21 | 7 |
| 4.9-4.13 | 22-27 | 8 |
| 4.13-4.15 | 28-33 | 9 |
| 4.15-4.19 | 34-41 | 10 |
| 4.19 | 42-49 | 11 |
| 4.20-4.22 | 50-58 | 12 |
| 4.22-4.23 | 59-65 | 13 |
| 4.23 | 66-74 | 14 |
| 4.23 | 75-79 | 15 |
| 4.23 | 80 | Folio Box 2 |
| 4.23-4.24 | 81-82 | 15 |
| 4.25 | 83-88 | 16 |
| 4.26-4.28 | 89-95 | 17 |
| 4.28 | 96-100 | 18 |
| 4.29 | 101-104 | 19 |
| 4.29-4.30 | 105-110 | 20 |
| 4.30-4.31 | 111-119 | 21 |
| 4.31 | 120-127 | 22 |
| 4.31 | 128 | Folio Box 2 |
| 4.31 | 129-131 | 23 |
| 5 | 1-4 | 23 |
| 5 | 5-12 | 24 |
| 5 | 13-19 | 25 |
| 5 | 20-26 | 26 |
| 5 | 27-31 | 27 |
| 5 | 32-33 | 28 |
| 5 | 34-37 | 29 |
| 5 | 38-40 | 30 |
| 6 | 1-4 | 30 |
| 6 | 5-10 | 31 |
| 7 | 1-2 | 31 |
| 7 | 3-10 | 32 |
| 7 | 11-12 | 33 |
| 8 | 1-3 | 33 |
| 9 | 1-4 | 33 |
| 9 | 5 | Folio Box 2 |
| 9 | 6 | 34 |
| 9 | 7 | Folio Box 2 |
| 10 | 1-3 | 34 |
Appendix 1: Locations of material moved in 2007 review of collection and guide
| Old location | Description | New location |
| Box 1, Folders 1-5 | Correspondence | Series 1, Folders 1-5 |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | This old man comes rolling home (play) | Subseries 4.1, Folder 1 |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | 'The magic mia-mia' | Series 3, Folder 1 |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Miscellaneous works | Subseries 4.31, Folder 112 |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Poems by other authors | Series 6, Folder 1 |
| Box 2, Folder 10 | 'Ah Judas!' (play) | Subseries 4.2, Folder 2 |
| Box 2, Folder 11 | 'The gypsy dancer' | Series 3, Folder 2 |
| Box 2, Folder 12 | Bonbons and roses for Dolly (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.3, Folder 3 |
| Box 2, Folders 13-19 | Bobbin up (novel) | Subseries 4.4, Folders 5-11 |
| Box 3, Folders 20-24 | Chapel Perilous (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.5, Folders 12-16 |
| Box 3, Folder 25 | Diary, 1934, book of poems, (juvenile), history notebook | Series 3, Folder 3 |
| Box 4, Folder 26 | 'Mrs Porter and the angel' (play) | Subseries 4.6, Folder 17 |
| Box 4, Folder 27 | Bonbons and roses for Dolly (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.3, Folder 4 |
| Box 4, Folders 28-29 | 'Fields of heaven' (play) | Subseries 4.7, Folders 18-19 |
| Box 4, Folders 30-31 | 'Zimmer' (mock opera written with Robert Adamson) | Subseries 4.8, Folders 20-21 |
| Box 4, Folder 32 | The golden oldies (play) | Subseries 4.9, Folder 22 |
| Box 5, Folder 33 | 'Pandora's cross' (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.10, Folder 24 |
| Box 5, Folder 34 | 'The planter of Malata' (screenplay based on Joseph Conrad's short story) | Subseries 4.11, Folder 25 |
| Box 5, Folder 35 | 'Joan' (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.12, Folder 26 |
| Box 5, Folder 36 | The man from Muckinupin (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.13, Folder 27 |
| Box 5, Folders 37-40 | 'Catspaw' (musical theatre) | Subseries 4.14, Folders 29-32 |
| Box 6, Folders 41-42 | Rapunzel in suburbia (poetry) | Subseries 4.15, Folders 33-34 |
| Box 7, Folder 43 | 'Hardy' (play) | Subseries 4.16, Folder 36 |
| Box 7, Folders 44-45 | Windmill country (poetry) | Subseries 4.17, Folders 37-38 |
| Box 7, Folders 46-50 | Correspondence (Addition, 8 March 1984) | Series 1, Folders 6-10 |
| Box 8, Folders 51-52 | Reviews, posters, programs | Series 7, Folders 1-2 |
| Box 8, Folder 53 | Miscellaneous | Series 6, Folder 2 |
| Box 8, Folders 54-55 | Reviews, posters, programs | Series 7, Folders 3-4 |
| Box 8, Folio run | Juvenilia | Series 3, Elephant Folio 4 |
| Box 9, Folders 56-58 | Correspondence (Addition August 1992) | Series 1, Folders 11-13 |
| Box 9, Folder 59 | Contracts | Series 2, Folder 1 |
| Box 9, Folder 60 | Financial statements | Series 2, Folder 2 |
| Box 10, Folders 61-66 | Miscellaneous works | Subseries 4.31, Folders 113-118 |
| Box 10, Folder 67 | Selected poems | Subseries 4.18, Folder 40 |
| Box 10, Folder 68 | Windmill country (poetry) | Subseries 4.17, Folder 39 |
| Box 10, Folder 69 | Rapunzel in suburbia (poetry) | Subseries 4.15, Folder 35 |
| Box 11, Folders 70-78 | Greenhouse (poetry) | Subseries 4.19, Folders 41-49 |
| Box 11, Folder 79 | This old man comes rolling home, reviews | Series 7, Folder 5 |
| Box 11, Folders 80 | 'Zoo' (play written with Robert Adamson) | Subseries 4.20, Folder 50 |
| Box 11, Folder 81 | 'Tragedy in concrete' (play) | Subseries 4.21, Folder 51 |
| Box 12, Folders 82-88 | Alice in Wormland (poetry) | Subseries 4.22, Folders 52-58 |
| Box 11, Folders 70-78 | Greenhouse (poetry) | Subseries 4.19, Folders 40-48 |
| Boxes 13-15, Folders 89-107 | Wild card (autobiography) | Series 5, Folders 1-19 |
| Boxes 15-17, Folders 108-123 | The toucher (novel) | Subseries 4.23, Folders 60-75 |
| Box 17, Folders 124-126 | Miscellaneous works | Subseries 4.31, Folders 119-121 |
| Box 17, Folder 127 | Reviews of Hewett's work | Series 7, Folder 6 |
| Box 18, Folder 128 | Robert Adamson material | Series 6, Folder 3 |
| Box 18, Folder 129 | Miscellaneous papers | Series 7, Folder 7 |
| Box 18, Folder 130 | Photographs | Series 8, Folder 1 |
| Box 18, Folder 131 | Publications (including programs) | Series 9, Folder 1 |
| Box 18, unnumbered items | 2 tissue boxes | Series 10, Item 1 |
Appendix 2: Record of instalments
| Series | Folder/Bag/Folio | Year |
| 1 | 1-5 | 1979 |
| 1 | 6-10 | 1984 |
| 1 | 11-13 | 1992 |
| 1 | 14-22 | 1999 |
| 1 | 23-24 | 2005 |
| 2 | 1-2 | 1992 |
| 2 | 3-6 | 1999 |
| 3 | 1-3 | 1979 |
| 3 | 4 | 1984 |
| 3 | 5 | 1999 |
| 4.1-4.3 | 1-3 | 1979 |
| 4.3 | 4 | 1984 |
| 4.4-4.5 | 5-16 | 1979 |
| 4.6-4.9 | 17-22 | 1984 |
| 4.9 | 23 | 1999 |
| 4.10 | 24 | 1984 |
| 4.11-4.13 | 25-27 | 1984 |
| 4.13 | 28 | 1999 |
| 4.14-4.15 | 29-34 | 1984 |
| 4.15 | 35 | 1992 |
| 4.16-4.17 | 36-38 | 1984 |
| 4.17-4.19 | 39-49 | 1992 |
| 4.20-4.22 | 50-58 | 1992 |
| 4.22 | 59 | 1999 |
| 4.23 | 60-75 | 1992 |
| 4.23-4.28 | 76-97 | 1999 |
| 4.28 | 98-100 | 2005 |
| 4.29 | 101-108 | 2003 |
| 4.30 | 109-111 | 2005 |
| 4.31 | 112 | 1979 |
| 4.31 | 113-121 | 1992 |
| 4.31 | 122-128 | 1999 |
| 4.31 | 129-131 | 2005 |
| 5 | 1-19 | 1992 |
| 5 | 20-36 | 1999 |
| 5 | 37-40 | 2003 |
| 6 | 1 | 1979 |
| 6 | 2 | 1984 |
| 6 | 3 | 1992 |
| 6 | 4-9 | 1999 |
| 6 | 10 | 2005 |
| 7 | 1-4 | 1984 |
| 7 | 5-7 | 1992 |
| 7 | 8-11 | 1999 |
| 7 | 12 | 2005 |
| 8 | 1 | 1992 |
| 8 | 2 | 1999 |
| 8 | 3 | 2005 |
| 9 | 1 | 1992 |
| 9 | 2-5 | 1999 |
| 9 | 6-7 | 2005 |
| 10 | 1 | 1992 |
| 10 | 2-3 | 1999 |