VANCE PALMER PAPERS: PLAYS

Component identifier:

Series 5

Content Summary:

Keith Macartney wrote in 1959 'Vance Palmer's dramatic work ... is perhaps more significant for its potentialities than for its actual achievement'. Vance recognised that the dramatic form was not suited to him and his output in this field was comparatively small. There are handwritten and typescript drafts of nine of his plays in this series.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The first and largest consignment of the Vance and Nettie Palmer collection wasreceived by the National Library in 1965 from their daughters Aileen and HelenPalmer, after some years of negotiations. Further batches arrived in 1966 and 1967.It was found necessary to house the collection in different parts of the Library, foran important part of it consisted of non-manuscript material. The large library ofbooks and pamphlets are housed as a distinct collection in the Australian book stackswith each publication bearing a special Palmer book plate. The portraits of thePalmer and Higgins families are held in the Pictorial Section.

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