Guide to the Papers of F. J. H. Letters, 1930-1964
Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- MS 7208
- Creator:
- Francis Joseph Henry Letters
- Extent:
- 0.6 metres and (4 ms boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of F. J. H. Letters, National Library of Australia, MS 7208, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Available for research. Not for loan.
Background
- Content Summary:
-
The papers of the late Dr F.J.H. Letters were preserved and donated to the Library by his wife Mrs Kathleen Letters. The papers include correspondence, manuscripts of essays and poems, speeches and lecture notes, passports and knight-hood papers and newspaper clippings of historical value.
Francis Letters, who was a devout Catholic, was Associate Professor of Classics at the University of New England. The collection consists of original drafts of essays, poems and his letters to his friends and literary Societies. It also includes some of his essays and poems published in various journals and news-letters.
The newspaper cuttings comprise reviews of his writings, news of his receiving his Papal Knighthood, and obituaries published after his death. Since the papers were collected by his wife, she has made various notes and comments that the user will find useful when using the Collection. In most cases the order according to the notes has been maintained.
The manuscripts have been arranged in five series:- 1) Correspondence 2) Essays and poems (published and unpublished.) 3) Lecture notes and speeches 4) Miscellaneous personal items and 5) Newspaper cuttings.
- Biographical Note:
-
Francis Joseph Henry Letters was born in Gympie, Queensland on 6th December 1897. He was educated at Christian Brothers College and Sydney University from where he graduated with an honours degree in classics and English in 1918. Three years later he became a Master of Arts in Classics, winning prizes for Latin verse and prose writing. In 1926 he graduated Bachelor of Laws and after a year in Europe studying modern languages he was called to the Bar of New South Wales. He practised as a Barrister for eleven years.
He joined the staff of New England University College in 1938 as one of the original five members of staff. In 1956 he was granted an honorary Doctorate in Literature by the National University of Ireland. The following year he was made an Associate Professor at the University of New England.
His devotion to his Church was recognised in 1960 by his Holiness the Pope who conferred on him the knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory. He retired from the University in early 1964 and died on 23 September 1964 after a short illness.
Sources: 1. Who's who in Australia 14th ed. Melbourne, The Herald, 1959.; 2. For Service to Classical Studies: essays in honour of Francis Letters edited by Maurice Kelly Melbourne, F.W. Cheshire, 1966.
Indexed terms
- Names:
- Francis Joseph Henry Letters
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2285505) for the access conditions.
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of F. J. H. Letters, National Library of Australia, MS 7208, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: