Shaw Neilson: A quarter bound leather folder of association and interest.

Component identifier:

Item 72

Content Summary:

(a) Autograph letter from Neilson to Mrs Bernard O'Dowd. In pencil. 5pp, 8vo. Dated 28 May 1914. After acknowledging an invitation to visit, Neilson continues: "Of course I can, like thousands of others, claim to know Mr O'Dowd through his works, but I am pleased to know that he takes an interest in my verses. I am afraid that when he "sees me he will find a remarkably stupid person. I have been all my life in the scrub and have done little reading of any sort...it is a comforting idea when one thinks that all our bush ballads, our imperfect lyrics and rude bush songs, go to make something in the end." His letter ends with eulogy of Mary Gilmore, Neilson describing her prose as "in a class of its own".

(b) Dictated letter, signed "Shaw Neilson", 4pp, 4to., December 1934. To a young woman who had sent the poet a Christmas gift, asking him also to comment upon some verses she had written. Neilson thanks her for the gift and offers friendly criticism and advice. He includes a specimen of a ballad upon which he has stressed the syllables. Concludes: "I will be pleased to read any you may send me; but rhyme is a difficult thing to express your thoughts in. You will probably find it hard to get your meaning expressed clearly in lines of correct length".

(c) Autograph letter from Kate Baker to James Devaney, 6pp, 4to. Dated 20 November 1942. She transcribes copies of letters received by her from A.G. Stephens relating to Neilson's Ballad and Lyrical Poems. She also mentions the misunderstanding between A.G.S. and Mrs Louise B.M. Dyer about Dr W.G. Whittaker, and the sending by Mrs Dyer of her remaining copies to the care of a bookseller in Bourke Street, Melbourne. She records that had these books been available she could have sold many copies. A.G.S. had also written to Mrs Dyer offering to sell on her behalf any copies of the book which she had on hand, crediting the proceeds to her bank account in Melbourne. His letter ended: "The demand for copies here justifies me in saying that the edition will soon be exhausted and that there is no commercial reason why you should suffer one penny of loss in connection with your friendly guarantee".

(d) Correspondence with Maggs Brothers Ltd., London, concerning instructions by H.F.C. respecting certain Neilson papers offered for sale at auction by Sotheby's Ltd., London, March 1953. A list of the items is included: they wore acquired by the National Library, Canberra. They formed portion of a collection of Australiana sold by an Australian art critic living in London. He told me in 1956 that he was much surprised at the high prices realised.

(e) Shaw Neilson Memorial. Record of correspondence relating to a proposal by the Nhill Historical Society in 1961, to establish a Fund for the erection of a Memorial to Shaw Neilson, near Nhill, Victoria. This includes letter from Mr L.J. Blake to H.F.C., 2 August 1961, together with copy of H.F.C.'s reply, 5 August 1961. Also copy of letter from H.F.C. to Mr J. Lynch (Editor of Bohemia, the Journal of the Bread and Cheese Club, Melbourne), 27 June 1963. Accompanying the correspondence is copy of the booklet Shaw Neilson in the Wimmera, prepared by Mr L.J. Blake for sale in aid of the Fund.

(f) Shaw Neilson's Grave Record of correspondence between H.F.C. and Mr J. Lynch, regarding the offer by H.F.C. to pay for the renovation of the grave of Shaw Neilson at Footscray Cemetery. Included also is receipt from stonemason to H.F.C., acknowledging payment, accompanied by copy of Bohemia, December 1963, making comment thereon.

Names:

John Shaw Neilson

Access and use