Guide to the Papers of Nancy Cato [MSS 007]

Finding Aid Index Request Information

 

Overview | Administrative Information | Container List

Each Finding Aid can be keyword searched using the Ctrl F function on your keyboard.

Manuscript Name Papers of Nancy Cato
Manuscript Number MSS 007
Last Updated August 2021
Extent 1.35 m (10 boxes)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract The papers of Nancy Cato include correspondence, typescript drafts, research material and photographs

Collection Subject Type

Literary

Scope and Content

The papers of Nancy Cato include correspondence, typescript drafts, research material, and photographs. The collection provides a record of Cato's writings from 1976 to 1992.

There are drafts for five of Cato's major works, including ForefathersThe lady lost in timeA distant islandThe heart of the continent and Marigold. There is research material only for Mr Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902 and Queen Trucanini, by Nancy Cato and Vivienne Rae-Ellis.

Correspondents include Diane Barwick, Peter Bladen, John Jefferson Bray, Collins, Vivienne Rae Ellis, Hodder & Stoughton, Harold White of the National Library, New English Library, St. Martin's Press, Roland Robinson, Laurie Muller of the University of Queensland Press, Stephen Murray-Smith and Judith Wright.

Date Range of Content

1870-1992

Biographical Note

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Cato

Nancy Cato was born in Adelaide on 11 March 1917. She was educated at Presbyterian Ladies College, Adelaide before attending the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1939, then completing a two year course at the South Australian School of Arts.

As well as writing fiction, Cato was a poet, a freelance journalist and an art critic working for various newspapers throughout Australia. In 1950 she edited the Jindyworobak anthology (1951); was a founding member with Roland Robinson and Kevin Collopy of the Lyre-Bird Writers (1948), formed for the purpose of getting Australian verse published and co-edited the Southern festival : a collection of South Australian writing (1960). She was actively involved in the South Australian Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (1956-1964) and the Australian Society of Authors (1963-1964). She travelled widely throughout the country helping to promote the publication of Australian writing.

Cato published over twenty books in a range of genres including poetry, historical fiction, plays, local history, biography, children's stories, edited two anthologies of Australian poetry and contributed to Australian literary magazines.

Cato was the recipient of several awards for her novels and poetry including the Tennyson Medal for English Literature (1933), NT Poetry Prize (1961), Farmer's Poetry Prize (1963), Noosa Arts Theatre Playwriting Competition, Best Play Award for Travellers through the night (1978 inaugural winner) and the Society of Women Writers Alice Award (1988). She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1984 and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Queensland in 1990 for her contribution to Australian literature. She was made a life member of the Noosa Parks Association and an honorary park ranger for her contribution to the ecological and environmental protection of the area.

Cato's published works include Darkened window (1950), The trap (1950), 1950 Jindyworobak anthology (edited by Cato) (1951), Dancing bough (1957), All the rivers run (1958 and 1978), Time, flow softly (1959), Green grows the vine (1960), But still the stream (1962), Northwest by south (1964), Sea ants and other stories (1964), Brown sugar (1974 and 1994), Nin and the scribblies (1976), Queen Trucanini, co-authored with Vivian Rae-Ellis (1976), Mr Maloga (1976, revised 1993), Noosa story(1979), Travellers through the night (1982), Forefathers (1983), Lady lost in time (1985), Distant island (1986), Heart of the continent (1989) and Marigold (1992).

Nancy Cato died on 3rd July 2000.

 

Administrative Information

 

Access and Copying Conditions

Access: Check with Curator

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy. 

Copying: Check with Curator

Preferred Citation

Papers of Nancy Cato, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 007, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired by the Library in several instalments from 1989-1993.

Separated Material

Further papers of Nancy Cato are held by the State Library of South Australia, PRG 217; University of Adelaide, Barr Smith Library Special Collections in the Nancy Cato Papers, MS SUA; National Library, Papers of Nancy Cato, MS 757 and The University of Queensland Library, Fryer Library, Guide to the Papers of Nancy Cato, UQFL 107.

 

Subject Keywords

 

Subjects

Women novelists, Australian literature, women authors, 20th century authors.

Personal Names

Nancy Cato 1917-2000

Occupations

Novelists

 

Container List

 

Series 1 Correspondence, 1967-1989

This small series comprises one folder of correspondence relating primarily to Cato's writing career. There is correspondence regarding research for and publication of Mister Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902 (1976), Forefathers (1983), The lady lost in time (1986) and The heart of the continent (1989). There are also letters from admirers of All the rivers run (1958 and 1978), together with personal letters from friends and other writers.

Folder 1 
Personal and business correspondence, 1967-1989

Including Diane Barwick, Peter Bladen, Stan Breeden, Patrick Brady, John Jefferson Bray, Kay Brown, Ken Cameron, Collins, Vivienne Rae Ellis, , Hodder & Stoughton, J.H. Love, Eugene Lumberg, Laurie Muller, of University of Queensland Press, Stephen Murray-Smith, M. Jean Napier, New English Library, Roland Robinson, St Martin's Press, Nick Webb, Sir Harold White of the National Library, Gwen Windle and Judith Wright; together with a letter from the Commonwealth Literary Fund regarding the 1968 Commonwealth Literary Fund Fellowship, and including typescript poem 'Murdering Creek' on verso

 

Series 2 Prose, 1976-1992

This series comprises original, carbon and photocopy typescript drafts of literary works published by Cato from 1976-1992. The series includes the Forefathers (1983), The lady lost in time (1986), A distant island (1988), The heart of the continent(1989), Marigold (1992), Mister Maloga (1976) and Queen Trucanini (1976)

Correspondence regarding development, editing and publication of this series is included in Series 1.

2.1 Forefathers (1983)

Annotated original, carbon and photocopy typescripts of Forefathers, published by New English Library, London, 1983.

Folder 1 
Annotated typescript of the Prologue entitled 'An ever branching tree' and Book one entitled 'The shining scorpion'

Folder 2 
Annotated typescript fragment of Book two entitled 'The golden fleece'

Folder 3 
Annotated typescript fragment of Book three entitled 'The rainbow's gold'

Folder 4 
Annotated typescript fragment of Book five entitled 'The budding leaf'

Folder 5 
Annotated photocopy typescript fragments of the Prologue and Book one

Folder 6 
Annotated photocopy typescript of Book two

Folder 7 
Annotated photocopy typescript fragment of Book three

Folder 8 
Annotated photocopy typescript of Book four

Folder 9 
Annotated photocopy typescript fragment of Book five

2.2 The lady lost in time (1986)

Annotated original and photocopy typescript of The lady lost in time, published by Collins, Sydney, 1986.

Folder 10 
Proofreader's annotated typescript

2.3 A distant island (1988)

Annotated original, carbon and photocopy typescripts and research material for A distant island, published by New English Library, London, 1988.

Folder 11 
Miscellaneous research material and copy-editor's suggestions, 5 June 1985

Folder 12 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapter 1

Folder 13 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapter 2

Folder 14 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 3 and 4

Folder 15 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 5 and 6

Folder 16 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 7 and 8

Folder 17 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 9-11

Folder 18 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 12 and 13

Folder 19 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 14-16

Folder 20 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 17 and 18

Folder 21 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 19 and 20

Folder 22 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 21 and 22

Folder 23 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 23 and 24

Folder 24 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 25-27

Folder 25 
Annotated typescript fragments of Chapters 28, 29 and Epilogue

Folder 26 
Typescript photocopy with the reader's editorial notes and report

2.4 The heart of the continent (1989)

Annotated original, carbon and photocopy typescripts and research material for The heart of the continent, published by New English Library, London, 1989.

Folder 27 
Original 1st draft annotated typescript fragment of Book 1, chapters 1-19

Folder 28 
Original 1st draft annotated typescript fragment of Book 1, chapters 20-35

Folder 29 
Original 1st draft annotated typescript fragment of Book 2, chapters 1-13

Folder 30 
Original 1st draft annotated typescript of Book 2, chapters 14-24

Folder 31 
Original 1st draft annotated typescript fragment of Book 2, chapters 25-35

Folder 32 
Carbon, original and photocopy draft annotated typescript fragment of Book 1, chapters 1-36

Folder 33 
Copy-edited photocopy and original typescript, with revisions and additions before photocopying (top copy) of Book 1, chapters 1-36

Folder 34 
Copy-edited photocopy typescript, with revisions and additions before photocopying (top copy) of Book 2

Folder 35 
Research material, typescript comments on copy-edited manuscript to Carolyn Caughey, concerning corrections and additions of books 1 and 2

3.5 Marigold (1992)

Annotated original and photocopy typescript of Marigold, published by New English Library, Sevenoaks, Kent, 1992.

Folder 36 
1st unedited annotated typescript

2.6 Mister Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902 (1976)

Research notes for Mister Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902, published by University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld., 1976.

Photographs used to illustrate the book are included in Series 3.

Folder 37 
Miscellaneous research material

2.7 Queen Trucanini (1976)

Cato's deletions and retypes and research material for Queen Trucanini, by Nancy Cato and Vivienne Rae-Ellis, published by Heinemann, London, 1976.

Folder 38 
Miscellaneous research material and typescript fragments deletions and retypes

 

Series 3 Photographs, 1870-1972

This series comprises photographs chiefly relating to Cato's publication Mister Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902, together with personal photographs and negatives.

Folder 1 
Including:
Nancy Cato
Nancy Cato negatives (2)
Nancy Cato defending a gum tree (col)
Photographs used to illustrate Mister Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902, 1870-1972: including Tommy Walker, 1889
Tommy Gilmour, 1870 (2)
Jemima Wandon, c1875
Daniel Matthews' proteges - Jimmy Martin, Mary Parker and Jimmy Turner (negative)
Matthews family, 1909
Martin and Mathilda Simpson
Israel Cobb
Metco Mission, Mannum, SA, 1900
King Johnnie receiving blankets in front of Maloga House, 1883
Setting off for a picnic to Moira Lakes, 1883
Mrs Emily Hall, c1875
Manunka landing place, Forster district, SA, 1901 (transparency)
John Thomas Matthews, 1909
Photostat of letter from Janet Matthews dated Oct. 21st 1903
Manunka Mission correspondence, 21 Oct. 1903
Rev. E.R. Gribble (2)
Miss Esther Rainey
Samson Barber, aged 11
Murray Jack 'King of the Wolgal'
Bagot Morgan
Group at Cumeroonguna, early 1900s
John Matthews, 1927
Single women's Mia-mia, Maloga, c1880
Laying the foundation stone, Manunka Mission, c1902
Nerelle Princess, Moruya Tribe, 1880
Sir Douglas Nicholls, 1972
Old bark-roofed hut, Maloga Mission, Emma, Harriet, Old Gracie (men unknown), c1883
Mrs Florence Nicholls and son Doug