Guide to the Papers of the Fife family, 1778-2009

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 8183; MS Acc09.145; MS Acc12.133
Extent:
0.37 metres and (2 ms boxes + 1 security binder)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of the Fife family, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Part available for research; part requires permission for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS 8183 chiefly comprises Fife family correspondence. Included are letters from William Fife to his son Nixon in Australia, 1860-1881, and correspondence between Nixon Fife and his cousins Josephine Cowan and Minnie Davidson from the United States, 1870-1945. There is a folder of papers relating to Wal Fife's 2004 publication Mary Ann's children, which is about Thomas Whittaker, Mary Ann Hardy, James Lester and their descendants. There are original letters, together with transcriptions, birth and marriage certificates and a 3rd class passenger ticket purchased by Whittaker for travel from Liverpool to Australia in 1869 aboard the SS "Great Britain". The collection also comprises material relating to the Sherwin's Flat Wyatts, 1778-1991, and includes research material, draft family histories, and family correspondence about family reunions and other matters (2 boxes, 1 security binder).

The Acc09.145 instalment comprises family papers kept by Myrtle Elizabeth Fife (née Wyatt), William Clyde Fife and James Nixon Fife. Included are birth, death, and marriage certificates; documents on the estate of William Fife, Rosemont, Goulburn; letters to Myrtle and Clyde; notes by Myrtle including details of the estate of William and Isabella Wyatt; wartime letters to Ken Fife (son of Jim); Myrtle's school exercise and text books; Myrtle's piano examination results and a copy of a Catechism for pianoforte students; and, notebooks relating to the family businesses Fife Bros. and Fife Bakeries.

There are also papers kept by Myrtle on overseas tours in the 1960s to Europe and Japan including diaries, passports and postcard collections; receipts and warranties for player piano and household furniture; Myrtle's autograph book, cigarette card collection and postcard album; ephemera including an invitation to the opening of Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre; royal visit to Riverina in 1954; playbill from the Wagga Wagga production of "Oklahoma"; and, a commemorative flyer on the 1982 anniversary of Wagga Wagga radio station 2WG (1 box, 3 fol. boxes).

The Acc12.133 instalment comprises materials pertaining to the Fife Family and includes: 2 bibles, one formerly belonging to Elizabeth Isabella Wyatt (nee Gane) and one formerly belonging to Elizabeth Cole; Wesley's Hymns, formerly belonging to Faithy Fife; Second Wyatt Family Reunion guestbook (1985); Third Wyatt Family Reunion photograph album (2007); documentation pertaining to the Charleyong Memorial (2009); and correspondence subsequently published in "Over the Foaming Billows" (2 boxes).

Collection Retrieval Advice:

Please note: each class in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

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-vn1179416).
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-vn1179416).
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of the Fife family, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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