Guide to the Papers of Libby Gleeson, 1977-2012

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9229.MS Acc14.071

Creator:

Libby Gleeson

Extent:

(33 ms boxes + 6 sound/av carriers + 4 digital carriers)

Language:

English and English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Libby Gleeson, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS 9229 includes: 1. Correspondence with publishers, Gleeson's literary agent, Australian illustrators and children. 2. Drafts of Eleanor Elizabeth, I am Susannah, Dodger, Love me, love me not, One Sunday, Mum goes to work, Where's Mum?, Big dog, Uncle David, Sleep time, The princess and the perfect dish and of television scripts for "Bananas in pyjamas" and "Magic Mountain". 3. Other writings, reviews, publicity material, photographs, newspaper cuttings and material relating to the Melbourne and Sydney Writers' Festivals, Public Lending Right Committee, Children's Book Council of Australia. Principal correspondents are Aiden Chambers, Jenny Rowe, Larry Lucas, Naida Wheatley, Craig Smith, Armin Greder, Donna Rawlins and Jill Hickson (25 boxes).

MS Acc14.071 contains papers relating to many of Gleeson's books including Hannah Plus One, Hannah the Famous, Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, Writing Hannah, The Rum Rebellion, Ray's Olympics, Skating on Sand and Uncle David. The papers include notebooks with early notes for most titles, printed drafts (most hand-annotated), publishers proofs, cover ideas, research material such as ephemera, reviews, promotional material and book-sellers catalogues. There are also papers relating to short stories (including contracts and correspondence with publishers), and typed speeches given in various educational settings and libraries. (8 boxes).

Biographical Note:

Elizabeth (Libby) Gleeson was born at Young, New South Wales, 19 September 1950, the daughter of Bill and Gwynn Gleeson. When she was three years old, the family moved to Glenn Innes where her father took the position of English/History Master at the Glenn Innes High School. In 1960 her father was appointed Deputy Principal of the Dubbo High School and the family moved to Dubbo.

Gleeson attended the Dubbo Primary and Dubbo High Schools where she had a distinguished academic, sporting and debating career. In 1970 Gleeson entered the University of Sydney to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated in 1973 with honours in history and completed a Diploma in Education in 1974. Gleeson taught English and History with the New South Wales Department of Education at Picton High School for two years until she resigned to travel overseas.

Gleeson spent five years living and travelling in England and Europe before returning to Australia in 1980. While in England she did further academic studies to qualify as a teacher of English as a second language (ESL). She taught ESL in England and Italy between 1976 and 1980.

In 1981 Libby Gleeson married Euan Tovey, a New Zealand research scientist in biochemistry. They have three children, Amelia, born 1982, Josephine, born 1985 and Jessica, born 1987.

As well as writing, parenting and community activities, Gleeson has been variously employed as a teacher of ESL at the University of New South Wales, a coordinator of teacher training programs in ESL, an occasional lecturer in children's literature and creative writing to post-graduate students at the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and University of Western Sydney and to teachers' and librarians' professional associations.

Gleeson's other activities and awards include:

1986, 1987 - recipient of a fellowship for new writers from the Literature Board of the Australia Council

1992, 1993 - supported by a category A fellowship from the Literature Board

1989-1997 - writer representative on the Public Lending Right Committee

1991-1997 - Deputy Chair of the Public Lending Right Committee

1998 - executive member of the Australian Society of Authors

1994-1997 - Committee member for the Sydney Writers' Festival

1998 - Board member of the Sydney Writers' Festival

1997 - Lady Cutler Award for Services to Children's Literature.

Gleeson's novels and short stories are written for children of various ages from pre-schoolers to teenagers. In her stories, she explores a wide range of social issues, emotions and problems associated with growing up, such as, fear, jealousy, loneliness, conflict and death. Gleeson's work has consistently received good reviews and many of her books have won awards. Several of her works are available in braille and as sound recordings and have also been published in the United States and translated into foreign languages including Danish, Italian, German and Dutch.

Collection Retrieval Advice:

Please note: each consignment 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.

Provenance:

The initial instalment of papers was purchased by the Library from Libby Gleeson in 1998. Further papers were purchased in 2014.

Arrangement:

Libby Gleeson kept her papers in good order with most of her material in labelled files. The order has been preserved by the Library with the file titles and notes recorded on the folders and in the descriptive list.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Youth
Literature

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1927367).

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 Libby Gleeson, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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