MS 9459
Papers of Patricia Clare
Scope and Content Note
Papers
1907-2000
0.92 m. (5 boxes + 1 folio box)
Partly restricted.
The papers were purchased by the Library from Patricia Clare in June
2000.
The papers were assembled by Patricia Clare and fall into two
categories. The earliest material is associated with Bland Holt and comprises
two letters from him to Violet Canty, the sister of Clares father, a New
Year message and two Christmas messages, dating from 1907 to 1922. There is
also a photo of Violet Canty as Maida in The breaking of the
drought produced by Bland Holt. This group of documents includes a
photograph of Claire Canty, Clares mother who was a great niece of Sir
Henry Parkes. There is a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement
between The Olympia (Entertainments) Co. and Claire Parkes to sing in Max
Reinhardts production The Miracle in London in December
1911.
The second category comprises the papers of Clare and includes
correspondence, press cuttings, literary works and photographs. There are two
photos of Dame Mary Gilmore and a copy of her anthology Marrid and
other verses [s.d.] inscribed by Gilmore to Patricia Canty. The
Occasional book of Patricia Clare contains poetry, newspaper cuttings and
memorabilia of Clares husband, Harry Scholer (1914-1986).
The collection includes several articles and short stories published by
Clare, the scripts for a number of Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio
broadcasts, and a copy of her book The struggle for the Great Barrier
Reef (1971) with a typescript Index prepared by Clare, and reviews of her
book. There is also a group of documents relating to Patrick White. They
include two letters written by White in 1975 and 1986, and Whites list of
books by Edmund Wilson that he owned. There is an inscribed copy of
Whites book Patrick White speaks and a copy of the script of
The Aunts story, by Patrick White, dramatised for radio by
Clare.
The collection also includes correspondence with publishers. Finally,
there are many letters written by Clare to various animal rights groups,
embassies, Parliamentary Committees and Government Ministers and Premiers on
such themes as the battery cage system, the use of animals to test commercial
products, trade in fur products, the transportation of live animals and
whaling.
Among the correspondents are E.G. Whitlam, R.J. Hawke, Premiers J. Fahey
and N.F. Greiner, Patricia Nosher of The New Yorker and Suzanne
Martell of Harpers magazine.
Restricted material
Correspondence with The New Yorker (1961-98) regarding short
stories and poems submitted for publication, including the short story On
Logans Hill. This correspondence is restricted until Clares death
(folder 24).
Clares typescript diary and notes covering the period February
1996 to December 1997. These documents are restricted for thirty years after
Clares death (folder 25).
Biographical Note
Clare, who lives in Sydney, is the author of short stories, original
plays, features and dramatisations for radio. She has worked as a professional
journalist. In 1971 her book The struggle for the Great Barrier Reef
was published in England and the U.S. The book had a critical success, although
the title imposed on it was not generally liked (one critic called it
deadly). Clares preferred title had been Scenes in the
life of the Great Barrier Reef, expressive of the fact that the book
dealt with more than the struggle against the crown of thorns and
would-be exploiters. It was also an account of the sea creatures, land
creatures, Aborigines, big-game fishermen and other characters of the area: and
it presented scenes in the authors journey through the islands and along
the adjacent coast as she searched out incidents and people to illuminate Reef
life.
Clare was married to civil engineer, Harry Albert Scholer: they divorced
but maintained a close friendship.
Source:
Letter from P. Clare to G. Powell, 31 August 2000.
Folder/Item List
Folder/Item Title
Family documents
1 Two letters from Bland Holt to Violet Canty (1907-08). Good luck
1913 card (unsigned). Christmas 1918 poem by Florence and Bland Holt.
Christmas 1922 card from Florence and Bland Holt. Photograph of Violet
Canty
2 Photo of Claire Parkes (later Canty). Copy of the Memorandum of
Agreement between The Olympia (Entertainments) Co. and Claire Parkes
(1911). Photo of Violet Canty
Papers of Patricia Clare
3 Two letters written by Patrick White (1975 and 1986). Patrick
Whites list of his Edmund Wilson shelf
4 Patrick White speaks (Sydney: Primavera Press, c1989)
inscribed by the author
5 Script of The Aunts story by Patrick White
dramatised for ABC Radio in five episodes by Clare (1989)
6 The occasional book of Patricia Clare with Index
7 Marrid and other verses by Mary Gilmore (Melbourne: G.
Robertson, n.d.) inscribed by Mary Gilmore to Patricia Canty
8 Two photos of Mary Gilmore. Three photos of Coen
9 Stories and articles by Pat Scholer (Clare) published in People
magazine, 1960-67
10 Correspondence re the play Parakeet Park (1972). Script
of Parakeet Park
11 Article entitled In search of Uncle Henry published by
the Readers digest (Jan. 1975)
12 Two photos of Clare (1971 and 1993). Correspondence with
Harpers magazine re reviews published in 1974 Correspondence
with E.G. Whitlam (1973). Reviews of The struggle for the Great Barrier
Reef and the authors Index to the book
13 The struggle for the Great Barrier Reef (London: Collins,
1971) and typescript copy of the authors Index
14 Script of ABC Radio drama The immortality machine
(1986)
15 Annotated draft and script of ABC Radio drama Black snow.
Letter from Clare to the ABC (1987)
16 Script of ABC Radio dramas Exchanges and Luncheon
at Antoines (to accompany Exchanges)
17 Script of ABC Radio drama Last images of Diegelman
18 Script of ABC Radio feature Sir Richard Burton and his
wife
19 Script of ABC Radio feature The enigma of Richard
Strauss
20 Typescript of story Arturus Transit broadcast by ABC
Radio (story sent originally to The New Yorker: its reply
restricted)
21 Correspondence and press cuttings re animal welfare issues,
1982-88
22 Correspondence and press cuttings re animal welfare issues,
1990-94
23 Correspondence and press cuttings re animal welfare issues,
1995-2000
Restricted material
24 Short story On Logans Hill printed by The New
Yorker. Letter from The New Yorker enclosing manuscript of
On Logans Hill (1961). Correspondence with The New
Yorker re Clares article on the the Sydney Opera House (1965-67).
Letter from The New Yorker re short story Arturus Transit
(1997). Correspondence with The New Yorker re two poems by Clare and
copies of the poems (1998)
25 Typescript diary and notes (1996-97)
Box List
| Box |
Folder/Item |
| 1 |
1-7 |
| 2 |
9-13 |
| 3 |
14-19 |
| 4 |
20-23 |
| 5 |
24-25 |
| Folio Box |
Folder/Item |
| 1 |
8 |
August 2000 |