Biographical papers and documents, 1920s-1997

Component identifier:

Series 29

Content Summary:

The family papers and documents in this series include school reports; family history information; copies of Stivens' curriculum vitae and will, cuttings relating to his career; transcripts of interviews; papers relating to his divorce and obituraries and tributes on his death in 1997. Stivens was a keen gardener and there are papers relating to his development and maintenance of both the house and the garden at Lindfield, Sydney over a number of years. He also took an active role in protesting about proposed building and land developments in his neighbourhood and there are drafts of protest letters to officials, together with papers relating to disputes with neighbours over proposed building projects.

Stivens inherited a property called 'Beckom', which was next door to the bank in West Wyalong where his father had worked. Included in this series are letters relating to the rental of this property.

The Australian Folklore Association honoured Stivens' achievements with publication of a 35-page tribute to him in its journal Australian Folklore, No. 11, July 1996. A copy of the journal is included in this series.

There are three undated original caricature drawings of Stivens by 'Wiz' and 'Hanna' and a pencil sketch of him by Mimi Jaksic Berger (1972).

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were purchased from Stivens in several small instalments from 1971 to 1973 and in one large instalment from Stivens' companion, Juanita Cragen, in 1999.

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