Papers of Hal Missingham, 1899-1989 [manuscript]
- Bib ID:
- 1804479
- Format:
- Manuscript
- Author:
- Missingham, Hal, 1906-1994
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item.
- Related Online Resources:
- Finding aid at National Library of Australia
- Access Conditions:
- Available for research. Not for loan.
- Description:
-
- [1899-1989]
- 1.0 m. (6 boxes) + 1 volume.
- Summary:
-
MS 3940 comprises draft chapters of Missingham's book They kill you in the end, and background notes and original documents used in preparation of the book. Other manuscripts by Missingham in the collection include drafts for Grass trees of Western Australia: blackboys & black gins, and a mock-up of Missingham's book My Australia. The collection also includes a substantial number of letters by Missingham sent to his wife Esther, covering the period 1939-1989; correspondence with Sir Daryl Lindsay concerning the controversy over the appointment of the director of the Australian National Gallery, 1971; correspondence with Ann Hill; biographical notes by Missingham; honours; an indenture of apprenticeship; and a testimonial album containing paintings, drawings, photographs, letters, and verse by 200 Australian artists, presented to Missingham on his retirement as director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1971 (5 boxes, 1 v.).
The Acc07.178 instalment comprises four diaries of Missingham, containing frequent brief entries re appointments, weather and personal administration matters (1 box).
- Biography/History:
-
Artist and art gallery director. Harold (Hal) Missingham was born at Claremont, Western Australia on December 8, 1906 to David Alexander Missingham and Annie Florence (née Summers). He was educated at Perth Boys School, before becoming apprenticed to process engraver J. Gibney & Son, Perth, in 1922. During his apprenticeship he studied drawing at Perth Technical School with Jamie Linton, and evening classes with John Linton. In 1945, he was appointed director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales where he introduced policies of Australian art collecting, and the international exhibitions organised by him made significant contributions to contemporary Australian art development.
Missingham's published works include a children's book, Australian alphabet (1942), and introductions he contributed to books about artists' works, including The etchings of Sydney Ure Smith (1950), and books on his own artworks and photographs, such as My Australia (1969), and an autobiography They kill you in the end (1973). He was honoured throughout his career for his contribution to the arts, receiving the Coronation Medal (1953), Chevalier d'Legion d'Honeur (1953), Cavaliere Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito della Republica Italiana (1957), Knight Cross First Class, Order of St. Olaf (1971), and Officer of the Order of Australia (1978). Missingham returned to Perth to live in the 1980s, where he died in 1994.
- Notes:
-
- Manuscript reference no.: MS 3940, MS Acc07.178.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-233237046
- Related Material:
-
- Portrait of Hal Missingham; Located at; National Library of Australia Pictures collection PIC R11088.
- Hal Missingham interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 1/31-32.
- Hal Missingham interviewed by Diane Dunbar; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 2397.
- Cited In:
- Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia, C801.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Finding aid (21 p.) available in the Special Collections Reading Room.
- Subject:
-
- Missingham, Hal, 1906-1994 -- Archives
- Lindsay, Daryl, 1890-1976 -- Correspondence
- Dobell, William, Sir, 1899-1970
- Whiteley, Brett, 1939-1992
- Art Gallery of New South Wales -- Officials and employees -- Archives
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Art museum directors -- Australia -- Archives
- Arts administrators -- Australia -- Archives
- Art -- Australia
- Art, Australian
- Artists -- Australia
- Time Coverage:
- 1899-1989
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Lindsay, Daryl, 1890-1976
- Terms of Use:
- Copying of Hal Missingham's copyright material permitted for research purposes.
- Exhibited:
-
- A bound volume of paintings, drawings, photographs and poems presented to Missingham on his retirement as the Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1971 exhibited: "Treasures Gallery", National Library of Australia, 7 October 2011 - 15 December 2012.
- A bound volume of paintings, drawings, photographs and poems presented to Missingham on his retirement as the Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1971 exhibited: Treasures Gallery, National Library of Australia, 16a April, 2016 - 19a 4 November 2020.
- Related Records:
-
This is a collection.
This collection contains 1 records. - Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
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- 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
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