Guide to the Papers of Richard Hughes, 1927-1995
Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- MS 7259
- Creator:
- Richard Hughes and Hughes, Ann
- Extent:
- (17 manuscript boxes + 1 phase box + 1 shared binder)
- Language:
- English and English
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Richard Hughes, National Library of Australia, MS 7259, [series and file/item number]'.
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Available for research. Not for loan.
- Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Notice:
-
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this collection contains images of deceased people and other content that may be culturally sensitive.
Background
- Content Summary:
- The papers consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, cables, financial documents, notebooks, articles and drafts, photographs, cartoons, menus, biographical information, subject files and many printed items. The correspondence ranges from ca. 1951-1983, and is mainly between Richard Hughes and his publishers, although there are some letters from Ian Fleming. The bulk of the collection is contained in the newspaper clipping series. There are some notes on Wilfred Burchett.
- Biographical Note:
-
Richard Hughes was born 5 March 1906 in Melbourne, and educated at Christian Brothers College, St Kilda between 1912-1920. At 14 he left school to join the Victorian Railways where he worked as a Shunter. In 1934, on deciding to try Journalism as a way of being able to travel, he joined The Melbourne Star and subsequently the Sydney Daily Telegraph. In 1940 Hughes visited Japan and Shanghai on holiday and stayed for six months as foreign correspondent, correctly predicting Japan's entry into the Second World War. During the latter years of the war he served as a war correspondent in North Africa, then returned again to Japan to report the aftermath of the war in the Orient. Hughes's desire to stay in Japan led hm to resign from The Daily Telegraph and take on the job of manager of the Foreign Correspondent's Club in Tokyo. In 1948 with the aid of Ian Fleming (at that time Foreign Editor of the London Sunday Times) Hughes was taken on by the London Sunday Times and The Economist. (Both Fleming and John Le Carré later used Hughes as a character in one of their novels: Fleming used him as "Dikko Henderson" in You only live twice, Le Carré as "Old Craw" in The Honourable Schoolboy). Hughes then moved to Hong Kong where he wrote for such newspapers as the London Times, The Sunday Times, The Economist, the Melbourne Herald and the Far Eastern Economic Review.
In 1956, Hughes achieved an International scoop with an exclusive interview of Burgess and Maclean after their defection to Moscow. Richard Hughes was the author or editor of a number of books, the best known of which is Hong Kong: Borrowed Place, Borrowed Time, published in 1968.
In 1980, Hughes was made a Commander of the British Empire.
He married three times. His first wife (1930-1933) was May Bennett. They had one son Richard. His second wife (1945-1950) was Adele Redapple and his third wife (1973- ) was Ann Lee. Richard Hughes died in 1984 and is survived by his wife Ann and son Richard.
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1089429).
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1089429).
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Richard Hughes, National Library of Australia, MS 7259, [series and file/item number]'.
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: