Correspondence and papers, 1940s-1998

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

Contained in this series is correspondence and papers relating almost exclusively to Cracknell's career. There are a large number of letters, notes and cards from the public, congratulating her on various of her performances and providing evidence of Cracknell's enduring popularity with the public. There is a file of letters containing comments from listeners to the radio program Person-to-person, a current affairs chat-show which Cracknell co-presented with Roger Climpson in 1967. Cracknell also received many letters congratulating her on her performance in the television series Mother and son.

There is only a small amount of correspondence with performers, friends or family. It chiefly comprises brief notes, cards and telegrams, most of which are congratulatory in nature. Correspondents include Phillip Adams, Judith Anderson, Betty Archdale, Gillian Armstrong, Geoffrey Atherden, Gordon Chater, Patrick Cook, Hector Crawford, Nick Enright, Doris Fitton (founder of the Independent Theatre), Colin George, Ron Haddrick, Lionel Harris, Harry Heseltine, Andrea Hull, Barry Humphries, Betty Jeffrey, Manoly Lascaris, Ray Lawler, Reg Livermore, John McKellar, Kirrily Nolan, Moffatt Oxenbould, Dinah Shearing, Ngaire Thomson, Joy Warren, Richard Wherrett, David Williamson and Jill Wran.

A small amount of general business correspondence is included in this series and there are copies of several BBC performance contracts from the 1950s. There is one file of correspondence and papers relating to Cracknell's involvement with the protest group Sydney Citizens Against Proposed Monorail (SCAMP) which was active in 1986.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated by Ruth Cracknell in 1999, under the Cultural Gifts Program.

Names:

Cracknell, Ruth, 1925-2002

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