Family papers, 1889-1970

Component identifier:

Series 9

Content Summary:

Comprises Items 1-538.

This series consists largely of family correspondence, including: letters written by Slessor as a boy to various members of his family; letters to Slessor from his first wife Noela (1940-1943); and letters from his son Paul while at school (1958-1963). It also contains correspondence concerning the estate of Slessor's mother, Mrs Margaret Slessor. Slessor's grandfather, C.W. Adolph Schloesser, was a pianist and composer who held the position of Pianoforte Professor at the Royal Academy of Music from 1881 to 1903. In this series there are newspaper and journal articles about C.W.A. Schloesser, as well as articles by him, published in the R.A.M. Club magazine and The musical herald. Personal documents in the series include Slessor's birth certificate together with a note about the change of his surname from Schloesser to Slessor in 1914, the marriage certificate for his first marriage to Noela Senior in 1922, and copies of his will and that of his brother (1964). Other papers include early verse and prose by Slessor's son, Paul, and the Slessor family tree.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of the poet and journalist Kenneth Slessor were offered to the National Library by his brother Robin Slessor, executor of the will, after his death in 1971. The National Library purchased the papers in 1972. Eight additional consignments of papers received by the Library between 1979 and 2000 were variously purchased from Robin Slessor, Paul Slessor and Peter Elder.

Names:

Slessor, Kenneth, 1901-1971

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