General Correspondence

Containers:

Box 3-11 (MS 4887) and Folio 1 (MS 4887)

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

Although the letters date from 1943, the bulk of the general correspondence was written after 1960 and consists of letters Hardy received and copies of some he wrote. His correspondents were mostly Australian and overseas writers, publishers and fellow members of the Communist Party. Their letters discuss ideologies, literature, publishing, royalties, translations, travel and television and radio work.

During 1955 and 1956 Hardy was secretary of the Powderworks Road Transport Committee which was a community group working towards improved transport arrangements for residents of Harbord. The correspondence between Hardy and New South Wales Governments is included.

From the late 1960s he became increasingly in demand as a guest speaker and lecturer. Many of these requests are in this series. Hardy received many letters from writers seeking help with their manuscripts.

The series also contains correspondence between Hardy and the actor James Mason written during 1973, after they met in Europe. At that time they discussed a proposed film to be produced from a script by Hardy and with Mason as the star. The film did not eventuate.

Further letters appear throughout the collection in their relevant series as well as in the 1982 consignment (Boxes 168-174) and the 1988 consignment (Boxes 216-220).

Folio Item 1: Letters from Elena A. Buratakov (sealed at Hardy's request until 20 years after his death i.e. 2014)

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of the writer Frank Hardy were purchased by the Library in seven consignments between 1975 and 1988.

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