File File 1 - Letters from Gwen Harwood and F. W. Harwood to Alison Hoddinott and W. G. Hoddinott

Identity area

Reference code

UQFL332-Series A-File 1

Title

Letters from Gwen Harwood and F. W. Harwood to Alison Hoddinott and W. G. Hoddinott

Date(s)

  • 1960-1973 (Creation)

Level of description

File

Extent and medium

8 folders

Context area

Name of creator

(1920-1995)

Biographical history

Gwen Harwood is one of Australia's best-known poets. She was born in Brisbane in 1920 and lived there until her marriage in 1945, when she moved to Hobart, Tasmania. Harwood's poetry and critical writing appeared regularly in Australian literary journals from the 1960s. She published eight books of poetry. In 1989 she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to literature. She wrote under the names of Francis Geyer, Walter Lehmann, Miriam Stone and T.F. Kline. She died in 1995.

Name of creator

(1918-2001)

Biographical history

Frank William (Bill) Harwood was born in Brighton, Victoria in 1918. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts in 1939 and 1940 respectively. From 1941 to 1945, Harwood served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. After his discharge in 1945, Harwood married Gwendoline Nessie Foster in Brisbane. Soon after, the couple moved to Hobart, Tasmania where Harwood was a linguist and lecturer in the English Department at the University of Tasmania.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

A collection of approximately 150 letters, greeting cards, postcards, poems, newspaper clippings, and notes from Gwen Harwood and her husband F. W. (Bill) Harwood to Alison Hoddinott and W. G. (Bill) Hoddinott. Approximately three quarters of the letters are directly from Gwen Harwood but many with something added by Bill Harwood and vice versa. The letters are handwritten and in typescript. They provide information about the literary and academic activities of the Harwoods, include manuscript poems, and cover many aspects of Gwen Harwood's daily life, including the Bulletin literary hoax. They refer throughout to other significant literary figures. There are 15 cards identified as "Sappho cards". The correspondence began in January 1960 when the Hoddinotts left Hobart for Armidale. There are very few letters for 1960 and 1961 as the Hoddinotts destroyed letters received as per Gwen Harwood's request. Letters are maintained in the folders created and titled by Alison Hoddinott.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged chronologically.
Box 1
Folder 1: 1960-1961
Folder 2: 1962
Folder 3: 1963
Folder 4: 1964
Folder 5: 1965
Folder 6: 1966
Folder 7: 1967-1973

Parcel 1
Folder 1: 1960

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright varies. Can be reproduced for personal research and study. For other uses see About copyright . Please attribute the Fryer Library.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Box 1 Folders 1-7, Parcel 1 Folder 1

Note

Parcel 1 Folder 1 previously housed as Box 1 Folder 1

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Revised, KM, 1-Apr-2025. Created, Linda Justo, 13-Apr-2023.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related people and organizations

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Physical storage

  • Box: UQFL332 Box 1
  • Parcel: UQFL332 Parcel 1