Joan Kerr interviewed by Martin Thomas [sound recording]

Prof. Kerr, art historian, recalls her upbringing in Sydney (late 1930-early 1950s), then onto Brisbane, Qld in 1951; her early education; her undergraduate study at the University of Queensland (late 1950s); meeting her future husband at the University and marriage in 1960; her husband's job at QANTAS and their work related overseas travels in Europe and England; her work as a journalist under Donald Horne at the Weekend magazine, Sydney (early 1960s); motherhood; her developing interest in art and architecture, including her studies at Courtauld Institute and Birkbeck College, University of London; her studies and work at the Power Institue of Fine Arts, Sydney, expressing her views on the politics and administration of the Institute.

Prof. Kerr speaks about her doctoral studies on Australian church architecture at York, England; her work at the Australian National University, Canberra as a tutor and postdoctoral fellow; upon her return to Sydney, becoming a lecturer in Fine Arts, University of Sydney (end of 1981); along with Terry Smith teaching the first undergraduate course in Australian art at University of Sydney; her political attitudes and feminism; her research projects including the Dictionary of Australian Artists; her experiences in publishing her scholarly works; her move to the position of research professor at the College of Fine Arts, University of N.S.W. for 3 years; her views on the importance of good publications catalogues for exhibitions, etc; her general views on Australian art.