Guide to the Papers of Julie Lewis, 1931-1995

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9507, MS Acc01.237, MS Acc03.090

Extent:

7.15 metres and (39 boxes + 2 cartons + 1 folio box + 53 sound/av carriers)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Julie Lewis, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part requires permission for research; part not available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS 9507 provides a comprehensive record of Julie Lewis' literary career. The bulk of the papers relate to her work as a biographer. For each book there is a mixture of typescripts, correspondence with publishers, research material, reviews, and papers concerning the launchings. Lewis was a thorough researcher and there are many letters relating to her research.

The correspondence includes a long series of letters from Elizabeth Jolley and other Australian writers. In addition, there are letters from publishers, agents and literary and cultural organisations. Other material includes audio tapes, photographs, scrapbooks and publications.

Further papers were added in 2001 (MS Acc01.237) and 2003 (MS Acc03.090).

Biographical Note:

Julie Lewis (née Heath) was born in Perth, in 1925. She qualified as a teacher in 1944. She taught in various schools in Western Australia and London, where she married fellow West Australian, John Lewis. In 1954 they moved back to Perth, Julie resigned from teaching and became a mother of three children. It was not until 1964 that she began to write radio scripts for the ABC women's session, Scope radio magazine and schools broadcasts. Other writings included short fiction, articles and book reviews.

In 1967 Lewis completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, at the University of Western Australia and in 1970 she returned to the workforce teaching English and literature at various high schools. In 1976 she resigned from teaching to become a full time writer. In the same year she started research on her first biography, On Air; the story of Catherine Kingand the ABC Women's session. Other biographies were to follow as well as her own collections of short fiction, Double exposure (1981) and The walls of Jericho (1987). Her fiction has been published widely in literary journals and her work has been extensively anthologised.

Between 1986 and 1988 she worked as a book review editor for the Fremantle Arts Review and was also joint fiction editor of Westerly.

Throughout her literary career Lewis has conducted many creative writing and literature workshops for secondary and tertiary students, as well as biography and family history workshops for arts centres and literary organisations.

Lewis has served on a number of panels and boards including the Western Australian Arts Council (1980-82), the Bicentennial Publications Committee, the WA Department for the Arts Advisory Panel for Literature and the Literature Board of the Australia Council (1990-93).

In 1992 she received the medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to literature as a writer and teacher.

Lewis has published the following works:

FictionDouble exposure (1981)The walls of Jericho (1987)Who do you love? (1988) (Pseudonym Marianne Vaughan)Biographical WorkOn Air; the Story of Catherine King and the ABC Women's session (1979)Kathleen O'Connor, artist in exile (1987)Jimmy Woods, flying pioneer (1989)Olga Masters, a lot of living (1991)Mary Martin, a double life: Australia-India, 1915-1973 (1997)Editorial WorkReflections (1979)Unlimited Scope (1983)

Biographer, author, and teacher. As a biographer Julie Lewis has published, On air: the story of Catherine King and the ABC Women's session (1979), Kathleen O'Connor, artist in exile (1987), Jimmy Woods, flying pioneer (1989), and, Olga Masters, a lot of living: the compelling biography of this much-loved writer (1991). Lewis' other writings include, Double exposure (1981), The walls of Jericho (1987) and a teenage novel. Her editorial work includes, Unlimited scope (1983), and, Reflections (1979).

Provenance:

The collection was purchased by the Library from Julie Lewis in 1996.

Arrangement:

MS 9507 was received well-organised, and the arrangement has been generally maintained. This material has been organised into 14 series.

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn541691).

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 Julie Lewis, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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