MS 7401
Papers of Brenda Niall (1930- )
- Papers
- 1911-91
- 2.38m (13 boxes and 1 folio)
- Available for reference
The papers of Brenda Niall were donated in two instalments to the
Library in October 1987 and April 1995 under the Taxation Incentive for
the Arts Scheme. The collection comprises drafts, typescripts,
correspondence, newspaper cuttings, and copies of official papers relating
to research for and publication of two of Nialls books.
Niall kept her papers in good working order, and the Library has
maintained this arrangement. The following list of series to the
collection is based on lists received from Niall.
Brenda Niall
Brenda Niall was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1930. She gained her
Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne prior to moving to
the Australian National University where she gained her MA. In 1964 she
took up an appointment as a teaching fellow with the English Department at
Monash University where she gained her PHD. She became a Senior Lecturer
in 1975 and a Reader in 1994.
Dr Niall has held visiting fellowships at Michigan and Yale
Universities. She was American Council of Learned Societies Visiting
Research Fellow in 1975 and Visiting Scholar, Humanities Research Centre
at the Australian National University, in 1983 and 1987.
Dr Niall retired from her position as Reader in English Literature at
Monash University of Victoria in 1995. She was the recipient of the Nettie
Palmer Award for non-fiction in the Victorian Premiers awards for
Georgiana: a biography of Georgina McCrae, painter, diarist, pioneer.
Her biography Martin Boyd: a life received the National Book
Council (Banjo) Award in 1989.
Dr Nialls books include:
- Martin Boyd: a bibliography (1977)
- Seven little Billabongs: the world of Ethel Turner and Mary Grant
Bruce (1979)
- Australia through the looking glass: childrens fiction
1830-1980 (1984) [a social history of childrens fiction with
Frances ONeill]
- Martin Boyd, a life (1988)
- Georgiana: a biography of Georgiana McCrae, painter, diarist,
pioneer (1994)
- She has also edited
- The Oxford book of Australian schooldays (1997) [with Ian
Britain]
- The Oxford book of Australian letters (1998) [with John
Thompson]
Martin à Beckett Boyd
Martin à Beckett Boyd was born in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1893 of
Anglo-Australian parents. He was brought to Australia at six months old.
Boyd was a member of a distinguished artistic family. His father, Arthur
Merric Boyd, and his mother, Emma Minnie à Beckett, were painters;
his brother Merric was a potter and Penleigh a painter.
Boyds original areas of interest were theology and architecture.
He joined an English regiment at the start of World War One, and later the
Royal Flying Corps, serving in France from 1915-18. His experiences there
permanently influenced his attitude to war and the British ruling class
and he became both anti-authoritarian and a pacifist. After a short time
with his parents in Melbourne in 1921 he returned to England where he
undertook a religious vocation in a Franciscan order in the Church of
England. It was after this he started his career as a novelist.
Boyds writing reflects a strong sense of tradition and
aristocratic, anti-bourgeois beliefs, pacifism and cultural ties to both
Europe and Australia. His first major work The Montforts (1928)
received the Australian Literature Societys gold medal. Among his
most striking literary achievement are Lucinda Brayford (1946) and
the Langton tetralogy: The cardboard crown (1952), A difficult
young man (1955), Outbreak of love (1957) and When
blackbirds sing (1962).
Boyd returned to Australian in 1948 and settled in his grandfathers
house at Berwick. However ill health and dissatisfaction with post-war
Australian life led him to return to England in 1951 where he remained
until 1957, when he moved to Rome. He died there in June 1972.
- Australia through the looking glass; letters from writers,
1981-82
- Martin Boyd, a life; correspondence, 1972-86
- Martin Boyd, a life; research material, 1923-89
- Martin Boyd writings, 1911-85
- Martin Boyd, a life, 1985-91
Original instalment October 1987
| Series 1 |
Australia through the looking
glass; letters from writers 1981-82 |
| This series contains 40
letters received by Brenda Niall while researching her book Australia
through the looking glass: childrens fiction 1830-1980 (1987).
The letters are from writers of Australian childrens books in
reply to a questionnaire sent by Brenda Niall requesting details of
their experiences and views on the emergence of a distinctively
Australian literature for children. Copies of the questionnaire
are included. Writers who replied to the questionnaire included Nance
Donkin, Simon French, Ruth Manley, Ruth Park, Eleanor Spence, Colin
Thiele and Patricia Wrightson (2 letters). |
|
|
| Folder |
|
| 1 |
A copy of the questionnaire form sent by
Niall and the responding letters, 1981-82 |
Instalment added June 1995
| Series 2 |
Martin Boyd: a life,
correspondence 1972-86 |
This series contains letters
to and from Brenda Niall while researching her book Martin Boyd: a
life (1988). Also included are copies of her original letters.
The correspondents include Desmond OGrady, Geoffrey Dutton, Graham
Pollard, Alan Shadwick, Shelley Fausset, Isla à Beckett Marsh and
Terry ONeill. |
| Folder |
|
|
|
| 1 |
Correspondence with Desmond OGrady, 1972-84 |
| 2 |
Correspondence with Geoffrey Dutton, 1973-85 |
| 3 |
Correspondence, 1970-85 |
| 4 |
Correspondence, 1977-87 |
| 5 |
Correspondence, 1982-88 |
| 6 |
Correspondence, 1986 |
| 7 |
Correspondence, 1988-89 |
| 8 |
Correspondence A-L, 1985-86 |
| 9 |
Correspondence M-Z, 1984-86 |
| Series 3 |
Martin Boyd, a life: research
materials, 1923-89 |
| This series contains copies
of letter from Martin Boyd received by others; notes and copies of
official documents and papers held privately and in institutions
including publishers archives; references, index cards,
photocopies of printed sources, annotated books, a copy of a thesis on
Penleigh Boyd; notes by other researchers, particularly Terry O
Neill on visits to family members; photographs and lists of where the
original photographs were held. |
|
|
| Folder |
|
| 1-4 |
Copies of Martin Boyds letters A-E, 1923-71. Correspondents
include Joan Burnett, W. R. Crocker and Curtis Brown (publishers). |
| 5-6 |
Copies of Martin Boyds letters F-L, 1926-83. Correspondents
include, Shelley Fausset, Rachel Geering and R. D. FitzGerald. |
| 7-8 |
Copies of Martin Boyds letters L-Z, 1919-71. Correspondents
include Marion McNaughton, Isla à Beckett Marsh, Lloyd ONeill,
Graham Pollard and Alan Shadwick. |
| 9-10 |
Copies of letters from Martin Boyd to Guy and Phyllis Boyd, 1961-72 |
| 11 |
Correspondence between Martin Boyd and Arthur and Yvonne Boyd,
1961-72 (copies) |
| 12 |
Letters from Martin Boyd to Arthur Boyd, 1953-72 (copies) |
| 13 |
Letters from Martin Boyd to Arthur and Guy Boyd, undated |
| 14 |
Letters about Martin Boyd, 1978-82. Correspondents include Alan
Shadwick and Terry ONeill. |
| 15 |
Letters from Martin Boyd to Joan Lindsay and Mim Pollak, 1940-68 |
| 16 |
Letters from Dallas Kenmare to Martin Boyd, 1960-65 |
| 17 |
Letters from Martin Boyd to Dallas Kenmare, 1960-65 |
| 18 |
Copy of Letters from Martin Boyd (1950-71) by Quin Geering,
1983 |
| 19 |
J.G. Murray correspondence, 1956-72. Correspondents include John
Grey Murray, John Bull and A. D. Peters. |
| 20-21 |
James B. Pinker correspondence (James Pinker & Sons Inc.
Literary, Dramatic and Motion Picture Agents), 1926-78. Correspondents
include D. L. Chambers and Nancy Wyatt Greene. |
| 22 |
Boyd family, 1860-1983. Includes copies of wills and receipts from
the Office of Probates and index cards on the exhibitions of Emma
Minnie Boyd. |
| 23 |
Captain J. T. T. Boyd, 1908-86. Includes copies of death notices,
certificates and extracts from published sources. |
| 24 |
Captain J. T. T. Boyd Glenfern, 1882-1986. Includes
copies of newspaper articles on Glenfern and a handwritten list of
references to Glenfern from La Trobe University. |
| 25 |
à Beckett family, 1832-1985. Includes a list of newspaper
references to Emma à Beckett paintings extracts from her
diaries and a copy of a thesis on Sir William à Beckett. |
| 26 |
Sir William à Beckett, 1789-1987. Includes a list of
references to Literary news (1837) and extracts from the Melbourne
monthly magazine (1855). |
| 27 |
Copies of Argus references to Sir William à Beckett,
1849-53 |
| 28-29 |
Dr Robert Martin, 1789-1986. Includes a copy of the death notice of
Dr Martin from the Argus, 1874. |
| 30-32 |
John Mills, 1833-1987. Includes a transcript from the Surgeons
report from the Marion (1845) and correspondence between
Brenda Niall and the Bristol City Records Office. |
| 33 |
Mills/Robinson dispute, 1856-1984. Includes copies of the Victorian
Law Times and the Observer from May 1856 regarding the
legal dispute over John Mills will. |
| 34 |
Wills, Probate records, 1858-1974. Includes copies of the wills of
John Mills, Emma à Beckett and Martin à Beckett Boyd. |
| 35 |
Julian Ashton Geering, undated. Includes a copy of Martin Boyds
horoscope. |
| 36 |
Letters from Brian Marsh and Guy Boyd granting permission to Brenda
Niall to quote from the papers of Isla Marsh and Martin Boyd, 1987
Copy of Hannah Robinsons will, undated. |
| 37 |
Boyd family: Emma Minnie, Arthur Merric and Gilbert. Includes Nialls
notes on Emma Minnie; list of exhibitions of Emma Minnies art
work; copies of the wills of Emma Minnie and Arthur Merric; typescript
of a letter from Emma Minnie to Annie Langford (1896); transcript of
Argus report on the death of Gilbert Boyd (1896). |
| 38 |
Arthur Merric Boyd, 1911-84. Includes copy of an extract from the
Australian Dictionary of Biography, and a typed list of
records checked from the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. |
| 39-40 |
Copies of poems and stories written by Emma Minnie Boyd, 1932. |
| 41 |
Penleigh Boyd, 1918-23. Includes a list of letters to Edith Boyd in
the Australian War Memorial; a copy of an extract from Salvage
with drawings by Penleigh Boyd, published by the British
Australasian. |
| 42-43 |
Thesis on Penleigh Boyd by Hamish McDonald, 1986 |
| 44 |
Copies of extracts from Fanny Barbers diary, 1887-1985 |
| 45 |
Copies of auction notices for Penleigh House, 1897-1966 |
| 46 |
World War One, 1915-87. Includes an information booklet on Boyds
regiment; a list of Boyds services and promotions; an original
letter from Helen Harben to Brenda Niall regarding Boyds time in
England in the 1920s. |
| 47 |
Lists of Boyds addresses from 1957-72; copies of the British
Australasian (1923-72). |
| 48 |
Copy of Frank Davidsons article Australias challenge
to Martin Boyd published in Spar in 1987; copies of Table
talk (1890); copies of the series list from the Martin Boyd Papers
at the National Library of Australia. |
| 49 |
Martin Boyd, biographical details and family background, 1920-84.
Includes copies of newspaper articles written after his death in 1972;
notes on his association with the Melbourne Club; notes on Luciano
Trombini taken from Boyds diary. |
| 50 |
Martin Boyds early records: school/family/home, 1917-86.
Includes a copy of an article written by Martin Boyd on Trinity
Grammar School; a copy of article written by Joan Lindsay for Overland
(1985) entitled Student days. |
| 51 |
Copies of Table talk (1890); copy of an article by Paul M.
St Pierre entitled Martin Boyd: the last years; copies of
photographs of Martin Boyd. |
| 52 |
Copies of newspaper articles on Martin Boyd, 1929-72. |
| 53 |
Pacifist materials, 1978. Includes copies of I sit at the window
by Stephen Spender (undated) and Haunted by Walter de la Mare
(undated); a copy of a letter from Shelley Faussett to Terry ONeill
explaining Boyds role in producing pacifist broadsheets. |
| 54-55 |
Copies of extracts from Alan Shadwicks diaries with notes on
references to Martin Boyd, 1946-56 |
| 56 |
Notes made by Brenda Niall and Geoffrey Dutton from Emm à
Becketts diaries (1837-1905) |
| 57-58 |
Notes made by Brenda Niall from Martin Boyds diaries, 1953-72 |
| 59 |
Photographs of the Boyd and à Beckett families, 1860-1965.
Mostly prints with small number of originals; transparencies of
paintings The Grange interior with Figures 1875 by Emma
Minnie Boyd and à Beckett Road, Harkaway by Arthur
Boyd, 1949 |
| 60 |
Notes made by Brenda Niall from the Terry ONeill interviews,
1978-82 |
| 61 |
Notes made by Brenda Niall on family sources used in Martin Boyds
novels, 1985 |
| 62 |
Typescript of an interview with Joan Burnett talking about Boyds
time in Italy (undated); notes made by Brenda Niall from an interview
with Bill and Joan à Beckett (1985). |
| 63 |
Anne, Arthur and Yvonne Boyd, 1984-86. Includes typed notes on Anne
Boyd and handwritten notes from an interview with Martin Boyd. |
| 64-65 |
Interview notes; including 16 cassettes of interviews conducted by
Brenda Niall 1985-89 |
| 66 |
Transcripts of Terry ONeill interviews on Martin Boyd.
Interviewees include Alan Shadwick, F.A.W. Mann and Lady Hay. |
| 67 |
Published sources including Sir Williams muse by
Clifford Pannam (1992) and Merric Boyd: the late drawings by
Gavin Fry (1985) |
| 68 |
Typed list of materials and sources used during the research for
Martin Boyd; a life. Undated, not checked by Brenda Niall |
| Series 4 |
Martin Boyd writings, 1911-85 |
| This series contains
photocopies and transcripts of Boyds letters to newspapers; lists
of his reviews; lists of his literary contracts and photocopies of Boyds
novels |
|
|
| Folder |
|
| 1 |
Photocopies of poems written by Boyd; copies of newspapers and
publications containing his work including the British
Australasian, the Westminster Gazette and The book
lover. 1911-43 |
| 2 |
Copy of Brangane, 1921 |
| 3 |
Copy of The aristocrat - a memoir, 1928 |
| 4 |
Copy of The Madeleine heritage, 1928 |
| 5 |
Copies of The cats tail, They have ears,
A dream realised and Expatriates dine,
Short stories written by Martin Boyd, 1929-69 |
| 6 |
Copies of handwritten poems by Martin Boyd, including Certainty,
Kings Chapel and To Margaret who is ill;
copy of a handwritten unfinished poem; copy of a handwritten fragment
of a play by Boyd; copy of an article written with Shelley Fausset
entitled What will happen if I dont fight Hitler,
1943-79 |
| 7 |
Photocopies of newspaper articles written by Martin Boyd, 1920-61 |
| 8 |
Photocopies of letters to newspapers, written by Martin Boyd,
1942-68 |
| 9-10 |
Photocopies of book reviews written on Boyds novels, 1920-85 |
| 11 |
Typescript of letter from Ian Donaldson relating his mothers
(Elizabeth Weigall) speculation on sources for Lucinda Brayford
1978; copy of an article by Brenda Niall on The Montfords
(1978) published by the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New
Zealand |
| Series 5 |
Martin Boyd, a life 1985-91 |
| This series contains notes
and handwritten drafts of chapters; copies of the final draft; notes for
an unpublished lecture on Martin Boyd; letters received by Brenda Niall
after publication commenting on the book, cuttings and photocopies of
reviews. |
|
|
| Folder |
|
| 1 |
Chapter notes and copies of Boyd family
letters, 1891-1988 |
| 2 |
Notes made by Brenda Niall on chapter 2
including early handwritten drafts, undated |
| 3-4 |
Final draft with publishers layout
and notes; including a final draft on disc, 1988 |
| 5 |
Reviews and letters, 1985-91. Includes
copies of letters from Sir Paul Hasluck, A. J. Hassall, Lloyd ONeil,
Sir Walter Crocker, Joan Ells and Alan Shadwick; newspaper cuttings of
reviews, including a review by Manning Clark and an article on Niall
receiving the Banjo award. |
|
Box |
Series |
|
1 |
1/1 |
|
1 |
2/1-2/9 |
|
2 |
3/1-3/6 |
|
3 |
3/7-3/15 |
|
4 |
3/16-3/23 |
|
5 |
3/24-3/33 |
|
6 |
3/34-3/41 |
|
7 |
3/42-3/47 |
|
8 |
3/48-3/55 |
|
9 |
3/56-3/61 |
|
10 |
3/62-3/67 |
|
11 |
3/68 |
|
11 |
4/1-4/8 |
|
12 |
4/9-4/11 |
|
12 |
5/1-5/3 |
|
13 |
5/4-5/5 |
|
Folio |
3/29, 3/31 |
|
Folio |
4/2 |
Guide prepared January 1999 |