Guide to the Papers of Mem Fox
MS 9190
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | January 2004 |
| Last updated: | March 2006 |
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Separated Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 General Correspondence, 1961-2002
Series 2 Correspondence with Australian writers and illustrators, 1985-2001
Series 3 Correspondence with overseas writers and illustrators, 1984-2001
Series 4 Correspondence with school children, 1989-1995
Series 5 Correspondence with literary agents and publishers, 1986-2000
Series 6 Correspondence with Omnibus (Restricted), 1984-1992
Series 7 Copies of letters written by Mem Fox, 1989-2001
Series 8 Wombat Book Club, 1985-1987
Series 9 Writings, 1982-2001
Series 10 Unpublished writings, c.1987-2002
Series 11 Juvenile writings, c.1962-1980
Series 12 Miscellaneous drafts and notes, 1984-1995
Series 13 Scrapbooks, 1965-1985
Series 14 Personal papers, 1975-1996
Series 15 Photographs, 1963-1997
Series 16 Academic career, 1963-1997
Series 17 Cuttings, book reviews and other papers, 1984-1997
Series 18 Printed material, 1984-1995
Series 19 Videos, 1986-1996
Series 20 Papers of Chloë Fox, 1994-1996
Series 21 Papers of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, 1972-1992
Series 22 Other papers, 1978-2001
Container List
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Fox, Mem, 1946- |
| Title: | Papers of Mem Fox |
| Date Range: | 1961-2002 |
| Collection Number: | MS 9190 |
| Extent: | 4.92 m. (30 boxes and 2 folio boxes) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers include correspondence, drafts of published, unpublished and juvenile writings, speeches and talks, scrapbooks, photographs, papers relating to Fox's academic career, cuttings, printed material and family papers.
The major correspondents are Terry Denton, Lorraine Ellis, Morris Gleitzman, Andrea Goldsmith, Vivienne Goodman, Kilmeny Niland, Pamela Lofts, Patricia Mullins, Craig Smith, Barbara Wels, Paul Jennings, Julie Vivas, Nancy and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (parents), Jan Delacourt (sister), Caroline Lurie (Australian Literary Management), Omnibus (Publisher) and Harcourt Publisher. Copies of many of Fox's letters are included.
Arrangement
Mem Fox has kept her papers in very good order. Wherever possible, the Library has preserved the original order and the file titles.
Access
The collection is partly available for reference, partly restricted and partly closed.
Series 1 (folder 7) and Series 6 are restricted until 2017. Series 14 (folder 1) and Series 16 (folders 11-12) are closed until 2017.
Provenance
Mem Fox donated, under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme, the bulk of the collection to the Library in 1997. Papers in Boxes 19-30 and Folio Box 2 were donated under the Cultural Gifts Program in October 2002.
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.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Mem Fox, National Library of Australia, MS 9190, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
Mem (Merrion) Partridge, daughter of Nancy and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, was born in Melbourne in 1946. In the same year, Fox's parents moved to Rhodesia to work as missionaries. Fox spent her childhood in the Hope Fountain mission near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. She went to school in Bulawayo.
In 1965 Fox went to London to study drama at the Rose Bruford College. She graduated from the College in 1968. Between 1968 and 1969 she taught in Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
In 1969 she married Malcolm Fox, whom she had met at Rose Bruford College. The following year they left Africa and emigrated to Adelaide, where Fox taught drama at Cabra Dominican College, Adelaide. Later she taught at the South Australia Institute of Technology (1973 and 1979), Sturt College of Advanced Education (1973-79) and Flinders University (1973-1996).
Her first book, Possum magic, was published in 1983. It was to become her best selling book and has sold more copies than any other Australian children's book. Possum magic won the New South Wales State Literary Award.
Fox has published numerous children's books, an autobiography and three textbooks. Her books have been translated into many languages, including Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, German and Hebrew. She has won numerous awards and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 General Correspondence, 1961-2002
The series comprises correspondence concerning Fox's writings, the publication of her books, personal news and her work as an Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Flinders University (1994-1996). In some cases the letters are in the form of printouts of email messages she received.
The correspondents include other academics at Flinders University, Fox's students, Jan Delacourt (sister), Chloë Fox (daughter), Nancy and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (parents), Barbara Aldworth, Phillip Adams, Phyllis Hohnen, Mark Woodforde (one card), Lucy Calkins (Teachers College, Columbia University), American fans, Harcourt Publisher, Mondo Publishing and The Trumpet Club (School Book Club based in New York). Copies of some of Fox's letters are also included.
Papers in folders 8-14 were added in October 2002.
Series 2 Correspondence with Australian writers and illustrators, 1985-2001
The series includes correspondence with illustrators who have worked with Fox on some of her books, as well as other Australian writers, including children's writers. They discuss their writings and reviews of their books, as well as personal news. Copies of some of Fox's letters are also included.
The major correspondents include Terry Denton (Night noises and an untitled forthcoming book), Lorraine Ellis (Feathers and fools), Morris Gleitzman, Andrea Goldsmith, Vivienne Goodman (Guess what?), Kilmeny Niland (Just like that), Pamela Lofts (Koala Lou and Sail away), Patricia Mullins (Shoes for grandpa and Hattie and the fox), Craig Smith (Sophie), Barbara Wels, Paul Jennings and Julie Vivas (Possum magic and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge).
The series also include correspondence, usually only one letter or card, with Colin Thiele, Gillian Rubenstein, Leslie Rees, Christobel Mattingley, Robin Klein, Carmel Bird, James Bradley, Duncan Ball, Pam Gilbert, Hazel Edwards, Janine Baker, Tim Winton, Nadia Wheatley, Eleanor Nilsson, Sophie Masson, Sally Morgan, Thomas Keneally, Max Harris, Marion Halligan and Phil Cummings.
Papers in folders 10-12 were added in October 2002.
Folder 6 Various correspondence, c.1985-c.1995
Kilmeny Niland, 1989
Pamela Lofts, 1986-1992
Patricia Mullins, 1985-1995
Craig Smith, n.d.
Series 3 Correspondence with overseas writers and illustrators, 1984-2001
The correspondence is mostly with British and American writers, illustrators and educators, including Natalie Babbitt, Nick Bantock, Jim Gurney, Shelley Harwayne, Charlotte Huck, Pat Hutchins, Lois Lowry, Margaret Mahy, Daniel Pennac, Marc Rosenthal, Elivia Savadier, Barbara Trapido, Jim Trelease. The subjects include comments on Fox's books, their own writings, books they have read and personal news.
Papers in folder 5 were added in October 2002.
Series 4 Correspondence with school children, 1989-1995
The series comprises children's letters from primary schools in Australia and America and Fox's transcripts of some of the letters.
Series 5 Correspondence with literary agents and publishers, 1986-2000
The bulk of the series comprises business and personal correspondence with Caroline Lurie of Australian Literary Management and Jenny Darling (Fox's literary agent). Other correspondents include Goodman Associates (literary agent), Rigby Heinemann, Harcourt Publisher, Penguin Group, Curtis Brown (literary agent), Writers House and V.R. Dye and Co. (accountants).
Papers in folders 6 and 7 were added in October 2002.
Folder 1 Personal correspondence with Caroline Lurie, including copies of Fox's letters and a poem by Fox, 1993-1997
Series 6 Correspondence with Omnibus (Restricted), 1984-1992
Omnibus, an Adelaide publisher, was the first publisher to accept Possum magic for publication and subsequently published four of Fox's other books. The series comprises correspondence with the directors (Sue Williams, Jane Coverton and Pam Evers), as well as copies of Fox's letters, cuttings and a photocopy of illustrations for Possum magic.
Series 7 Copies of letters written by Mem Fox, 1989-2001
Fox kept copies of her own letters, including those written to Caroline Lurie, Frank Hodge, Jan Delacourt (sister), Chloë Fox (daughter), Malcolm Fox (husband), Nancy and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (parents), Louise Howton and Allyn Johnston. Among the subjects she describes were her writings, teaching, staff appointments at Flinders University and personal news.
Papers in folder 4 were added in October 2002.
Series 8 Wombat Book Club, 1985-1987
Fox contributed monthly letters to the Wombat, a book club journal for school children. The folder contains copies of the journal, draft of some of Fox's letters and cuttings.
Series 9 Writings, 1982-2001
Handwritten drafts, typescripts, correspondence with the publishers, drawings, cuttings, mock-ups, signed copies of the books and other papers relating to the books listed.
Papers in folders 31-72 were added in October 2002.
Subseries 9.1 Possum Magic (1983)
Folder 1 Scrapbook, 1983-1985
Folder 2 First draft, 1978
Folder 3 Miscellaneous papers, 1982-1985
Folder 4 Two signed copies of the book (one of them is the German translation)
Subseries 9.2 Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984)
Folder 5 Handwritten draft entitled 'Precious as gold', 'Round five', 1983
Folder 6 Typescripts, including 'Memories, memories', 1983
Folder 7 Play script adapted by Mem Fox and Sheryn Dee, 1987
Folder 8 Correspondence with Sue Williams (Omnibus), Jenny King, Julie Smith, Kane/Miller Book Publisher (Fox's US Publisher) and Martin Bachmann, concerning the creation of the Wilfrid puppet show, 1982-1995
Folder 9 The Wilfrid Award, 1996-1997
The Award, established by the Hammond Care Group, recognises schools that offer special curriculum activities focussing on building bridges between children and senior citizens in their community.
Folder 10 Miscellaneous papers, including cuttings and photocopies of reviews, 1981-1987
Folder 11 Cassette and a roll of film produced by Weston Woods Studios (USA)
A signed copy of the book
Subseries 9.3 Zoo looking (1986)
Folder 12 Correspondence with Maureen Sullivan, Louise May, Diane Snowball and Mark Vineis of Mondo Publishing, New York, 1995-1996
The corrected drafts are often included.
Folder 13 Illustrations
Folder 14 Two signed copies of the book
Press cuttings, American reviews, leaflets and other papers, sent by Louise May,1995-1996
Subseries 9.4 The straight line of wonder (1987)
Folder 15 A mock-up and a signed copy of the book
Correspondence with Maureen Sullivan and Louise May, 1995-1996
Subseries 9.5 A bedtime story (1987)
Folder 16 A mock-up and two signed copies of the book
Correspondence with Maureen Sullivan and Elivia Savadier, 1995
Subseries 9.6 Guess what? (1988)
Folder 17 A signed copy of the book
Miscellaneous papers and a mock up, 1984-1990
Subseries 9.8 With love at Christmas (1988)
Folder 19 A signed copy of the book
Correspondence with Abingdon Press and Lutheran Publishing, drafts and other papers, 1987-1995
Subseries 9.9 Night noises (1989)
Folder 20 Drafts, correspondence with Harcourt Publisher and other papers, 1985-1989
Subseries 9.10 Feathers and fools (1989)
Folder 21 Correspondence with Ashwood House (Publisher), drafts and other papers, 1985-1989
Folder 22 Mock-up of the US edition
A signed copy of the book and a video
Subseries 9.11 Shoes from Grandpa (1989)
Folder 23 Three signed copies of the book (Indonesian, Chinese and Japanese editions)
Correspondence and other papers, 1987-1990
Subseries 9.12 Sophie (1989)
Folder 24 Two signed copies of the book
Correspondence with Harcourt Publisher and Ian Drakeford Publishing, drafts and other papers, 1985-1995
Subseries 9.14 English essentials (non-fiction, 1993)
Folder 26 A signed copy of the book
Correspondence with Macmillan and other papers, 1991-1993
Subseries 9.15 Radical reflections (non-fiction, 1993)
Folder 27 Three copies of the book (one Australian and two American editions)
Correspondence with Harcourt Publisher, 1992-1993
Subseries 9.17 Boo to a goose (1996)
Folder 29 A signed copy of the book
Correspondence with Hodder Headline Australia, reviews, illustrations and other papers, 1995-1996
Subseries 9.18 Other writing
Folder 30 Drafts of 'The paths of story lead but to the graves' published in Primary education, May/June, 1984
Subseries 9.19 Just like that (1986)
Folder 31 Signed copy of the book (Hodder and Stoughton Australia)
Subseries 9.20 Time for bed (1993)
The book was on Oprah's list of the '20 all time best books for children' and Fox's biggest seller in America.
Folder 32 Correspondence with Jenny Darling (literary agent), Jane Dyer (illustrator) and Harcourt Publisher, and production first proof, 1991-1995
Folder 33 Signed copy of the US hardcover edition of the book
Folder 34 Signed copy of the US paperback edition of the book
Subseries 9.21 Wombat divine (1995)
Folder 35-36 Drafts, notes, cuttings and correspondence, 1992-1997
Folder 37-38 Signed copies of the book
Subseries 9.22 Whoever you are (1997)
Folder 39 Drafts
Folder 40 Signed copy of the paperback edition
Subseries 9.24 Harriet you'll drive me wild (2000)
The book was originally published as Just like that in 1986.
Folder 43 Drafts, 1998
Folder 44 Signed copy of the book
Subseries 9.25 Handbook for writers of children's books (2001)
While in Uganda and Tanzania in January/February 2000, to run writing workshops under the auspices of UNESCO, Fox was invited to write a booklet that can be used worldwide by the organization.
Folder 45 Drafts and correspondence, 2000
Folder 46 Signed copy of the book
Subseries 9.26 Reading magic (2001)
Pan Macmillan in Australia and Harcourt Publisher in America published the book.
Folder 47 Papers relating to the book, 1993-2000
Folder 48 Drafts, n.d.
Folder 49 Redrafted chapter of the Read aloud miracle, Aug. 1999
Folder 50 One notebook containing Allyn Johnston's (Fox's editor) suggestions, Mar. 2000
Folder 51 Draft 7, Feb. 2000
Folder 52 Draft 8, 2000
Folder 53 Chapters 1-12, 11 Sept. 2000
Folder 54 The first final draft, Adelaide, 11 Sept. 2000
Folder 55 Draft, 20 Sept. 2000
Folder 56 Discarded drafts, post 20 Sept. 2000
Folder 57 Draft, c. Nov. 200
Folder 58 Draft 14, 11 Nov. 2000
Folder 59 Draft 15, 23 Nov. 2000
Folder 60 Draft 16, 27 Nov. 2000
Folder 61 Draft 18, 4 Dec. 2000
Folder 62 Final draft (US edition), 29 Jan. 2001
Folder 63-65 Third and final lot of drafts, March 2001
Folder 66-69 Third and final lot of drafts (Australian edition), 2001
Folder 70 Signed paperback (Australian edition) copy of the book
Folder 71 Signed paperback (US edition) copy of the book
Folder 72 Signed hardcover (US edition) copy of the book
Series 12 Miscellaneous drafts and notes, 1984-1995
Fox was one of the founding members and President of the South Australia Story Telling Guild. The papers include notes and drafts for story telling and talks of speeches and talks given at various conferences and lectures.
Series 13 Scrapbooks, 1965-1985
Series 14 Personal papers, 1975-1996
The series includes financial records, employment records (South Australia College of Advanced Education and Flinders University), letter of application and supporting documents used when Fox applied for the position of Associate Professor/Reader at Flinders University in 1995, essays and other papers.
Folder 2 Employment records: South Australian College of Advanced Education and Flinders University, 1975-1994
Series 15 Photographs, 1963-1997
The series includes personal and family photographs, including photographs of Fox's wedding (1 folder)
Series 16 Academic career, 1963-1997
The series includes papers relating to Fox's teaching career at the South Australian College of Advanced Education and the School of Education, Flinders University.
Papers in folders 13 and 14 were added in October 2002.
Bag 1 Notes used in teaching at the South Australian College of Advanced Education
'Memories are made of this', 1990
'Putting on the brakes: avoiding the wrecks in whole language', 1996
'The weighty compendium', 1996
'The Noarlunga Basin Schools: Literacy and Poverty Project', 1995-1996
'Making language come alive!' n.d.
'The metamorphosis of a teenage non-writer: a study in overcoming writing reluctance', 1981
Folder 6 'The fat book', used for teaching the last semester of Fox's teaching career at the School of Education, Flinders University, 1996
Series 17 Cuttings, book reviews and other papers, 1984-1997
The series contains cuttings, bestseller lists, book reviews and photocopies of articles concerning Fox and her books.
Papers in folder 3 were added in October 2002.
Series 20 Papers of Chloë Fox, 1994-1996
Cuttings and photocopies of articles from the Advertiser written by Chloë Fox (1 folder)
Series 21 Papers of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, 1972-1992
Fox's father, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, worked as a missionary in Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe between 1946 and 1992. The papers include photocopies and cuttings of articles written by and about Partridge, a copy of United College of Education: Bulawayo 1967-1981 (1985) and a card from Mem Fox from London (1979). (1 folder)
Container List
| Series | Folder/item | Box |
| 1 | 1-6 | 1 |
| 1 | 7 (Restricted) | 17 |
| 1 | 8-14 | 19 |
| 2 | 1-9 | 2 |
| 2 | 10-12 | 20 |
| 3 | 1-4 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 4 | 1-3 | 3 |
| 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | 2-5 | 4 |
| 5 | 6-7 | 20 |
| 6 | 1-4 (Restricted) | 17 |
| 7 | 1-3 | 4 |
| 7 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | 1 | Folio box 1 |
| 9 | 2-8 | 5 |
| 9 | 9-14 | 6 |
| 9 | 15-19 | 7 |
| 9 | 20-23 | 8 |
| 9 | 24-27 | 9 |
| 9 | 28-30 | 10 |
| 9 | 31-32, 35-38 | 21 |
| 9 | 33-34, 40, 42 | Folio box 2 |
| 9 | 39, 41, 43-47 | 22 |
| 9 | 48-52 | 23 |
| 9 | 53-58 | 24 |
| 9 | 59-63 | 25 |
| 9 | 64-66 | 26 |
| 9 | 67-69 | 27 |
| 9 | 70-72 | 28 |
| 10 | 1 | 10 |
| 10 | 2-4 | 28 |
| 10 | 5-7 | 29 |
| 11 | 1-2 | 10 |
| 12 | 1 | 10 |
| 12 | 2-6 | 11 |
| 13 | 1-2 | 11 |
| 14 | 1 (Closed) | 18 |
| 14 | 2-7 | 12 |
| 14 | 8-9 | Folio box 1 |
| 15 | 1 | 13 |
| 16 | 1-5 | 13 |
| 16 | 6-10 | 14 |
| 16 | 11-12 (Closed) | 18 |
| 16 | 13-14 | 29 |
| 17 | 1-2 | 14 |
| 17 | 3 | 29 |
| 18 | All | 15-16 |
| 19 | All | 16 |
| 20 | All | 16 |
| 21 | All | 16 |
| 22 | 1-4 | 30 |