Guide to the Papers of Christobel Mattingley, 1909-2019

Summary

Collection number:

MS 8290, MS Acc02.165, MS Acc12.006.MS Acc15.031, MS Acc21.014

Creator:

Mattingley, Christobel

Extent:

(193 ms boxes + 8 folio boxes + 1 map folio packet + 32 digital carriers + 32 audiovisual carriers)

Language:

English and English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Christobel Mattingley, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Notice:

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations people are advised that this collection contains names, discussion and images of deceased people and other content that may be culturally sensitive. Please also be aware that you may see certain words or descriptions within these works which reflect the author's attitude, or that of the period in which the works were created, and may now be considered inaccurate, inappropriate or offensive. Other content that may be distressing and/or culturally sensitive includes material relating to; British nuclear tests at Maralinga and its impact on the local Aṉangu peoples; Aboriginal Veterans; the 1967 referendum for Constitutional Recognition for First Nations Peoples; the Hindmarsh Island Bridge; the response to the result of Wik Peoples v The State of Queensland (Wik Decision) which related to native title rights; discussion and first hand accounts of the displacement of indigenous people; issues in the Anglican Murri Church/community (South Brisbane); Reconciliation; the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement regarding the Parliamentary Forum on Nuclear Testing at Maralinga; the Maralinga Piling Trust; research material for Mattingley's books with interviews with, and discussions of, first nations people including the Yalata and Oak Valley Communities; references to Yvonne Edwards and her family; stories of displacement in Aṉangu country; excerpts from the book 'Survival in Our Own Land: "Aboriginal" Experiences in "South Australia" since 1836' with stories from a Kaurna Elder and a Kutata woman; discussions of/references to Maralinga and the Anangu people.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers contains drafts, research notes and correspondence relating to Mattingley's writings and other activities such as her involvement with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Australian Society of Authors and the Library Association of Australia. The collection also includes papers relating to the movement to save 'Nutcote', the home of May Gibbs, a film script entitled the 'Australian women artists', as well as personal papers such as diaries and financial papers.

The original consignment at MS 8290 is arranged into 16 series. The correspondence series, 1969-1991, includes general, overseas and business correspondence. Among the correspondents are Janet Bell, Carol Mills, Joan Allan, Patricia Mullins, Mavis Thorpe Clark, Elizabeth Tomlinson, Barbara Ker Wilson, Michael Horniman, Mem Fox and Elizabeth Jolley. Other series include manuscripts of books and other works, 1963-1989; diaries, 1975-1992; letterbooks, 1972-1984; and, children's art work and fan mail, 1970-1990.

The MS Acc02.165 consignment comprises publications, correspondence, subject files, drafts and background material.

The MS Acc12.006 consignment comprises correspondence, research notes, manuscript drafts, publicity material and reviews pertaining to various articles written for the National Library of Australia magazine as well as Mattingley's books: Battle order 204; Ruby of Trowutta; My father's island; Chelonia Green; and Maralinga: The Aṉangu story. Also includes artwork, transcripts, publisher files, handbooks from the University of Tasmania, fan mail, agreements as well as information related to school visits and travel arrangements.

The MS Acc15.031 consignment comprises: correspondence including letters from readers; diaries; notebooks; documents relating to book launches; awards; conference material; biography and interviews; documents relating to various book publishers; and finances. Documents relating to Mattingley's books and stories including Ruby of Trowutta: recollections of a country postmistress; Survival in Our Own Land; Maralinga: The Anangu Story; After Maralinga: Yvonne's Story, and Asmir in America. The First Nations material in this consignment relates to communities and lands including the Nunyara community, Maralinga, the Aṉangu peoples, the Spinifex peoples and the Kaurna peoples.

The MS Acc21.014 consignment comprises: manuscripts, correspondence, research material and other related material for various published works including: Maralinga: The Aṉangu Story; Survival in Our Own Land: "Aboriginal" Experiences in "South Australia" Since 1836; Our Mob, God's Story: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists Share Their Faith; King of the Wilderness: The Life of Deny King; and Battle Order 204: A Bomber Pilot's Story. Manuscripts and related research material for various unpublished works. Articles, reviews and other material relating to Mattingley's work. Photographs, notebooks, certificates and awards.Correspondence between Mattingley and her family, friends, and professional contacts. Manuscripts, sample covers, correspondence relating to Mattingley's children's books, both published and unpublished. The First Nations material in this consignment relates to communities and lands including Maralinga lands, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankuntjatjara (APY) Lands, the South Australian Ngarrindjeri community, the Yalata and Oak Valley Communities, and the South Australian town of Ooldea or Yuldea.

Collection Retrieval Advice:

Please note: each class in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Reading Room Access Note:

For preservation reasons, we are unable to deliver digital and audiovisual carriers to the Special Collections Reading Room. Please contact (Ask a Librarian) to enquire about access.

Provenance:

The papers at MS 8290 were purchased from Christobel Mattingley in several instalments between 1990 and 1994. Further papers were received in 2002, 2012, 2015 and 2021.

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2708284).

Conditions Governing Use:

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2708284).

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Christobel Mattingley, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

Contact us