Norman Bartlett Papers: Correspondence, 1921-1992

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

The general correspondence of Norman Bartlett in folders 1-34 covers a range of personal, career, education and subject matters spanning the years from his youth to his retirement. There are letters from his wife, his sister, sister-in-law, brother and friends. Correspondence with publishers and others discuss his published and unpublished works: 'Enigma of Japan', 'Momentous decade: society and thought, Australia, 1838-1848', 'The skiing doctor', 'New Britain to Noemfoor', Island victory, 'Blind man's ditch', The pearl seekers, 'One night in Siam', 'Some thoughts from abroad', Australia and America through 200 Years 1776-1976. In folders 1-34 the correspondence was divided by Bartlett into general subject areas or time periods. These groups have been retained and basically arranged chronologically within each theme.

Private correspondence in folders 35-43 was arranged by Bartlett by date. This order has been retained. Correspondents include relatives, friends, publishers and booksellers. Also included are greeting cards, postcards and business letters relating to domestic life.

Folders 44-51 contain Bartlett's correspondence with publishers. Bartlett filed this correspondence in folders under the main headings of 'Publishers etc.' or 'Literary correspondence etc.' with various subheadings which did not necessarily correspond to the folder contents. The original irregular arrangement has been retained. Publishers include Allen and Unwin, William Collins, Rigby, Hodder and Stoughton, Penguin, Transworld, Quadrant, Hutchinson Group, Longman, Curtis Brown, Horwitz Group, Angus Robertson, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, Kangaroo Press and the Australian War Memorial.

Other correspondence includes personal letters from Bartlett to Lionel Wigmore, Australian High Commission, New Delhi, 1960-1963, with copies of Wigmore's replies; letters from Bartlett to his sister-in-law, Sybil Elliott, 1984-1985, describing his travels in the United Kingdom; letters of condolence to Sybil Elliott after Bartlett's death and the eulogy for Norman Bartlett, 5 January 1993.

The major correspondents represented in Files 1-34 are: Alexander, Frederick; Angus Robertson; Aske, S.; Australia Council Literature Board; Australian Book Publishers Association; Australian Embassy, Tokyo; Australian Institute of Political Science; Australian Literary Fund; Australian National University; Australian Quarterly; Australian Society of Authors; Australian War Memorial; Baldwin, B.; Barsdell, Len; Bolt and Watson; Clark, C. Manning, Prof.; Coleman, Peter; Crocker, Walter; Cuddy, D.L.; Cultural Grants Advisory Council; Davidson, Jim; Easterbrook, R.W. Pty. Ltd.; Elliott, Sybil; Fraser, A.; Harper and Row; Hasluck, Paul; Herald; Hutchinson Group (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.; Infinite Productions; Ingamells, Rex; Innes, Hammond; Jacaranda Wiley Ltd; Jarrolds Publishers; John Farquharson Ltd.; Journalists' Club; Macmillans; Maimahod, A.; McAuley, James; Meanjin; Mitchell Library; Murdoch, Walter; New Australian Encyclopaedia; News and Information Bureau; Packer, Frank; Park, Ruth; Paul Hamlyn Pty. Ltd.; Quadrant; Rayner, H.R.; Rigby Ltd.; Sampson, R.; Sheppard, Alex; Simpson, Colin; Smith, Sam Ure; Sun Books; Waller, Sir Keith; Wigmore, Lionel; Wiley, J.; William Collins and Sons Co. Ltd.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was donated to the Library by Dr Norman Bartlett in 1981 with an addition in April 1989. After Bartlett's death in 1992, a further addition was donated by his nephew, Michael Paul, in February 1996.

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