Papers of C.J. Dennis and Hal Gye collected by Harry F. Chaplin, 1913-1966 [manuscript]
- Bib ID:
- 1082157
- Format:
- Manuscript
- Author:
- Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James), 1876-1938
- Related Online Resources:
- Finding aid at National Library of Australia
- Access Conditions:
- Available for research. Not for loan.
- Description:
-
- [1913-1966]
- 2.85 m. (10 boxes) + 3 fol. boxes.
- Summary:
-
MS 6480 comprises the collection of books, manuscripts and papers of C.J. Dennis and Hal Gye assembled by Harry Floyd Chaplin. They include typescripts and manuscript drafts of The Glugs of Gosh, notes by Gye on the frontispiece of Backblock ballads and later verses, an album of letters and photographs titled "Early life in Auburn and Laura" relating to Dennis' early life in South Australia. The collection also comprises typescript poems by Dennis, an album of photographs and drawings of Dennis and Gye, letters of Dennis including to Alex Chisholm, and correspondence between Gye and Chaplin. There are also some notes by Hugh McCrae and letters of Sir John Monash, John Masefield, T. Inglis Moore, Dame Mary Gilmore and Olive Dennis (10 boxes, 3 fol. boxes).
- Biography/History:
-
Poet and journalist. Clarence Michael James Dennis was born on 7 September 1876 in Auburn, South Australia and educated at Gladstone Primary School, St Aloysius College, Sevenhill, and Christian Brothers' College, Adelaide. He joined the Adelaide Critic as a journalist in 1898 for a year, returning in 1901 and becoming editor in 1904. In 1906, he founded the satirical journal The gadfly, contributing items of verse and prose until his departure for Melbourne in 1907. In 1908, he turned to freelance journalism, later moving to Toolangi in Victoria with the artist Hal Waugh where he worked on writing verse. He married Olive Harriet in 1917.
Dennis' publications include Backblock ballads and other verses (1913), The songs of a sentimental bloke (illustrated by Hal Gye, 1915), The moods of Ginger Mick (1916), The Glugs of Gosh (1917), Doreen (1917), Digger Smith (1918), Jim of the hills (1919), A book for kids (1921) and The singing garden (1935). In 1922, he joined the literary staff of the Melbourne Herald, writing a daily column of verse and prose. Dennis died in Melbourne on 22 June 1938.
Artist and writer. Harold Frederick Neville Gye was born in Ryde, Sydney on 22 May 1888. Initially a law clerk in Melbourne, he became an artist and writer. Gye contributed political cartoons, caricatures and other illustrations to numerous newspapers and magazines. He contributed to the weekly Adelaide serial The gadfly during 1906-1907 and later met C.J. Dennis in Melbourne. He illustrated C.J. Dennis' The songs of a sentimental bloke and provided the illustrations for most of Dennis' works until a disagreement over the work Rose of spadgers (1924) terminated the partnership. Gye also illustrated works by Henry Lawson, Will Ogilvie and A.B. Paterson for Angus & Robertson.
From the 1930s, Gye concentrated on writing and wrote short stories under the pen name of James Hackston as well as two collections of short fiction, Father clears out (1966) and The hole in the bedroom floor (1969). In the 1940s and 1950s, he wrote verse for the Bulletin as Hacko. Gye died in Melbourne on 25 November 1967.
- Notes:
- Manuscript reference no.: MS 6480.
- Cited In:
- Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia ; E29.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Finding aid available in the Special Collections Reading Room and on the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms6480
- Subject:
-
- Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James), 1876-1938 -- Archives
- Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James), 1876-1938 -- Illustrations
- Gye, Hal, 1888-1967 -- Archives
- Poets, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives
- Authors, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives
- Illustrators -- Australia -- Archives
- Humorists, Australian -- Archives
- Australian poetry -- 20th century
- Illustration of books -- Australia
- Time Coverage:
- 1913-1966
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Exhibited:
- Selected items exhibited: “Story Time: Australian Children’s Literature”, National Library of Australia, 22 August 2019 – 16 February 2020.
- Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
If you wish to copy or order copies, contact us. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- A Manuscript Collection may have a range of formats and dates.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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