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Unknown photographer
Ray Mathew in Italy 1960
Ray Mathew, MS5634; Manuscripts Collection

The National Library of Australia acquired the first instalment of the papers of the writer Ray Mathew in 1977. Aside from the original manuscripts of his publications, correspondence comprises the bulk of the collection, describing in particular the literary and theatrical scene in Australia from the 1940s to the 1960s. Pixie O'Harris, Russell Cope, Nancy Keesing, Christopher Koch, Mary Gilmore and Nancy Cato were among his correspondents.

After some years as a teacher, a freelance journalist and a lecturer at Sydney Universiry, Mathew left Australia for Europe in 1960. There he spent time in London and Italy before settling in New York, where he lived for the rest of his life.

A friend and patron, Mrs Eva Kollsman, in addition to donating further papers of Ray Mathew, has expressed her intention to make a generous bequest to the Library in his memory. This bequest will be used to promote and encourage the work of young Australian writers.

 

April 2004 Volume XIV Number 7

RAY MATHEW--AN AUSTRALIAN FOR LIFE

Valerie Helson asks why this talented author, who removed himself from the ’smallness' of his own large country, remained relatively unknown elsewhere

FINDING AUSTRALIA--THE AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE IN THE ENGLISH HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT

Roslyn Russell discovered extra significance in the landscape when she embarked on a literary 'tour' of England last year

'THE BANDAR-LOG': A LITERARY HOT POTATO

The Colin Roderick Papers, in the Manuscripts Collection, include a cache of material from the early 1960s that illuminates an intriguing incident in Australia’s political and literary history

IMAGES OF AUSTRALIA IN ASIAN LANGUAGES

Andrew Gosling uncovers Asian perceptions of Australia contained in the Library’s collections and gives details of a project set up for this purpose

MR WHITE'S STATION AT CHARLTON

Jennifer M.T. Carter explores the background to a recent National Library acquisition

OBITUARY: NORA HEYSEN AM, 1911-2003

FRIENDS

A regular news page about the activities of the Friends of the National Library of Australia

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