Guide to the Papers of Hal Missingham, 1899-1989

 

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Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 3940
Creator:
Hal Missingham
Extent:
1 metre and (5 boxes + 1 volume)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Hal Missingham, National Library of Australia, MS 3940, [series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers include: draft chapters of Missingham's book They kill you in the end (Sydney : Angus and Robertson, 1973), and background notes and original documents used in preparation of the book. Other manuscripts by Missingham in the collection include drafts for Grass trees of Western Australia : blackboys black gins (Fremantle, W.A. : Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1978), and a mock-up of Missingham's book My Australia (Sydney: Collins, 1969).

The collection also includes: a substantial number of letters by Missingham sent to his wife Esther, covering the period 1939-1989; correspondence with Sir Daryl Lindsay concerning the controversy over the appointment of the Director of the Australian National Gallery 1971; correspondence with Ann Hill; biographical notes by Missingham; honours; an indenture of apprenticeship; and a testimonial album containing paintings, drawings, photographs, letters, and verse by 200 Australian artists and presented to Missingham on his retirement as the Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1971.

Biographical Note:

Harold (Hal) Missingham was born at Claremont, Western Australia on December 8 1906, to David Alexander Missingham and Annie Florence (née Summers). He was educated at Perth Boys School, before becoming apprenticed to process engraver J. Gibney Son, Perth, in 1922. During his apprenticeship he studied drawing at Perth Technical School with Jamie Linton, and evening classes with John Linton.

In 1926 Missingham signed on as a crew member of the S.S. Benalla on the P. O. Branch Line service to London, via South Africa. Having arrived in London Missingham roomed with Jamie Linton, before travelling to Paris where he again roomed with Linton and studied at Academie Colarossi, Grande Chaumiere, and Julians Academie. In late 1926 Missingham returned to London and enrolled at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Between 1928-1930 took up a number of jobs including working at Stoll Picture Theatre, designing and making colour advertisement slides and film bill-boards, working as a Studio artist at Daniel's Studio, Kensington, working as a commercial artist with Fleet Illustrating Service, and working as an assistant in the Book Illustrating Deaprtment, Central School of Arts and Crafts. On July 24 1930 Missingham married Esther Mary Long at Holborn Registry Office, Bloomsbury.

Missingham returned to Australia to live in 1941. In 1945 he was appointed director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). He introduced policies of Australian art collecting, and the international exhibitions organised by him made significant contributions to contemporary Australian art development. His long administrative career, 1945 to 1971, was climaxed by his supervision of the new building extensions to the Gallery.

Missingham published works throughout his career, including a childrens book Australian alphabet (Sydney: Consolidated Press, [1942]), regular contributions of introductions to books about artists work such as The etchings of Sydney Ure Smith (Sydney: Ure Smith, 1950), books on his own artworks and photographs such as My Australia (Sydney: London: Collins, c1969), and his autobiography They kill you in the end (Sydney : Angus Robertson, 1973).

Missingham was honoured throughout his career for his contribution to the arts, receiving the Coronation Medal (1953), Chevalier d'Legion d'Honeur (1953), Cavaliere Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito della Republica Italiana (1957), Knight Cross First Class, Order of St. Olaf (1971), and Officer, Order of Australia (1978). Missingham returned to Perth to live in the 1980s, where he died in 1994.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The papers of Hal Missingham were donated to the Library in instalments by Missingham and his wife from 1975 to 1995.

Arrangement:

Order has been imposed on the collection by the Library.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1804479).
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 Hal Missingham, National Library of Australia, MS 3940, [series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: