Guide to the Papers of Edith Harrhy, 1902-1992

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 5414, MS Acc08.082
Creator:
Edith Harrhy
Extent:
3.45 metres and (14 MS Boxes + 3 Small Folio Boxes + 1 Medium Folio Box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Edith Harrhy, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
The collection includes photographs, an autograph book, student reports from Guildhall, and two scrapbooks containing cuttings, programs, music scores and some letters, including one from Peter Dawson. The second consignment is mainly music scores, including the operas Alaya, The jolly friar, the plays David and Myfanwy, Perhaps one day, and published works such as Some Australian songs for children and Four songs of Australia. There is also some correspondence with William F. Morriss, six discs and a manuscript titled 'Edith Harrhy musician extraordinaire: a personal memoir' by her daughter, Honor Marianne Coutts. The collection includes about 154 letters to Harrhy from Con Daly.
Biographical Note:

Edith Harrhy, singer, pianist, and composer of songs and light opera, was born in London in December 1893. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London from 1909 to 1913. She married an Australian, W.C. Daly, in 1919, and later that year they settled in Melbourne. Harrhy gave recitals and broadcasts throughout Australia and in New Guinea. From 1935 to 1952 she was associated with the National Theatre Movement in Melbourne and was also musical director of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, the Lyric Light Opera Society, and other bodies. Her works include two light operas, 'Alaya' and 'The jolly Friar', and about 1000 songs, 200 of which were published. Harrhy died in Brisbane in 1969.

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the National Library by Harrhy's daughter Mrs Honor Coutts in several instalments between 1971 and 1995. Papers were purchased by the Library from Mrs Coutts in 1997. Further papers were added in 2008. This collection also incorporates papers which were previously held at MS 2949.

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Performing arts

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn692356).
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 Edith Harrhy, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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