Writings, 1961-83

Component identifier:

Series 2

Content Summary:

This series consists of the drafts of Jessie Street's autobiography entitled Truth or repose (1966) and poems, mainly written by her.

The correspondence relating to Street's autobiography ranges from 1961 to 1967. The letters are mainly to and from her publisher David Higham (Folder 1). Correspondence concerned with the Centenary Song Competition dates from June 1934 to August 1935 (Folder 2).

The manuscript Truth or repose is in two parts. The first draft consists of 24 chapters with an index (Folders 3-6). The second draft consists of 24 chapters without an index (Folders 3-6). The second draft consists of 24 chapters without an index (Folders 7-12). Newspaper reviews of the published work are included with the second draft (Folder 13).

Street's poetry was written between 1915 and 1941 (Folder 14). Of her published poems, Australia, Happy Isle, is perhaps the best known, since it won the 1934 Centenary Song Competition. Allan and Co. published this poem in 1934 and Lindley Evans wrote the music for the song. Included with her prize-winning poem are the conditions of entry, entry form and newspaper clippings relating to the poem (Folder 15). Other published poems are Woman to man, a poem with greetings (n.d), Dream or memory (n.d), To the War Memorial, - Sydney 1934. This last poem appeared in the Sunday Sun and Guardian on 25th November 1934.

Other poems are located in Folder 16 and include some poems written by various other writers (mostly anonymous).

Immediate source of acquisition:

Jessie Street's husband, Sir Kenneth Street, donated the papers to the National Library in 1970. Her son, Sir Laurence Street, made a substantial addition in 1972. Further small additions were made to the collection between 1973 and 2001.

Subjects:

Women's rights

Contents

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