Research papers on Walter Burley Griffen, 1901-88

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

Peter Harrison had an abiding interest in the work of Walter Burley Griffin and is acknowledged as one of the earliest people to undertake serious and scholarly study into Griffin's life and career. Griffin received scant respect from many of his colleagues in his own lifetime. Despite his fame as the designer of the Australian national capital, relatively little study had been made of Griffin. In 1933 Nancy Price, who is thought to have worked briefly with him as a summer student, wrote a slim thesis on Griffin. From the 1950s Harrison undertook his own research, making contact with colleagues of Griffin including Eric Nicholls, Edward Fielder Billson and Roy Lippincott. Other Griffin scholars, both American and Australian, made contact with Harrison to seek his advice and share ideas: first the American Mark Peisch, then in later years James Birrell, Donald Johnson, James Weirick and others. It was not until 1970 that Harrison completed his major work on Griffin, an MA thesis titled 'Walter Burley Griffin: Landscape Architect'. He at first planned to publish this work, but eventually decided against the idea, despite encouragement from a major publisher. Harrison's expertise on Griffin was an important factor in his appointment as Director of Town Planning at the National Capital Development Commission in 1958. Elements of Griffin's vision for Canberra influenced Harrison in his work for the Commission and in subsequent years as a Canberra planning activist.

The papers in this series were accumulated by Harrison over a long period and include research material spanning Griffin's career in the United States, Australia (principally in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney) and India. Included is correspondence of Harrison ; records of his interviews with Griffin contemporaries ; photographs of Walter Burley Griffin, Marion Mahoney Griffin and their works ; printed material of various kinds including articles and cuttings ; Harrison's own research notes ; a partial set of photocopies of Marion Mahoney Griffin's 'The Magic of America' ; listings and copies of Griffin holdings in American libraries ; and other published and unpublished sources. Of special interest is the original draft of Nancy Price's thesis with annotations in Griffin's hand (piece 35). There is also a large tracing and watercolour drawing made by Harrison of Griffin's perspective submitted for the Canberra design competition in 1912 (piece 44).

In the 1950s Harrison borrowed documents and photographs originally owned by the Griffins that later passed to Eric Nicholls. Some of these documents were found in the Harrison Papers at the time of processing and were separated to form the E.M. Nicholls Collection. The listing below indicates where this has occurred. In 1996 the Nicholls Collection was returned to the Nicholls family. Copies of the Nicholls material were occasionally made by Harrison and these have been retained in the Harrison Papers.

Peter Harrison's writings on Griffin, including various drafts and a bound copy of 'Walter Burley Griffin: Landscape Architect', together with illustrations intended for the book, are located in Series 5.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated to the Library by Sheila Harrison in 1991. Small additions were made by Mrs Harrison in 1996 and by Ed Wensing in 1997.

Names:

Harrison, Sheila, Mrs.

Contents

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