Guide to the Papers of Joyce Lee [MSS 338]

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Manuscript Name Papers of Joyce Lee
Manuscript Number MSS 338
Last Updated June 2008
Extent 2.70 m (21 boxes)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract This collection comprises manuscript papers and related material produced or accumulated by Joyce Lee in the course of activities as a poet, writer and member of various community groups.

Scope and Content

This collection comprises personal and professional correspondence, poetry and prose drafts, newspaper cuttings, theatre and concert programs, photographs and audio cassette tapes; her tutorial notes and copies of students work; and papers relating to her husband Norman E. Lee.

Date Range of Content

1915-2007

Organization

Special Collections staff has imposed the series arrangement of this collection to describe and preserve context and relationships.

Biographical Note

Joyce Isabel Lee née Evans was born on the 19 June 1913 at Murtoa in the Wimmera country of Victoria. Educated at Murtoa High School and later at Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne. In 1931 she began training as a pharmacist, and graduated in 1934. On 18 December 1937 at Wesley College chapel, she married Norman Edward Lee, a teacher and author. She worked part-time, raised two sons and retired from pharmacy in 1970. She always wanted to be a singer and studied singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium.

Lee began writing poetry in June 1965 when she was 52; her first poem started as a prayer she wrote for a women's church meeting entitled 'My bird'. She drew most of her material from personal relationships and from the Mallee landscape of her youth. She published several collections of poetry, and her work appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers and anthologies.

Lee taught poetry writing at Victoria College (now Deakin University) between 1981 and 1987, won several prizes and was published in many magazines and anthologies. Among her influences Lee recognised the worlds of art and drama and also Bel Canto singing. A biographical introduction to Lee in Walking the dogs : the Pariah Press anthology notes that many hours in church and time spent with music and the classics seemed to be symbols for Lee of something larger. Eventually 'writing poetry, like life, became the search'.

Lee has received various awards and grants for her work, including:
Australia Council Grants, Literature Board grants, 1982
Australia Council Grants, Literature Board grant, 1977
Maryborough Golden Wattle Festival Literary Competition, 1987
McGregor Literary Competition, 1982: joint winner of Section 2 (Poetry) for 'Miriol'
Warana Poetry Prize, 1982
Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Award, Verse, 1981: highly commended for 'Portland'
Society of Women Writers, New South Wales, Awards, Charles Meeking Prize for Verse, 1981: highly commended for 'Portland'
Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Award, Verse, 1980: runner up for 'George Freeman and the steam engine'
Society of Women Writers, New South Wales, Awards, Charles Meeking Prize for Verse, 1979: very highly commended for 'George Freeman and the steam engine'
Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Award, Verse, 1978: winner for 'The past walks noiselessly'
FAW John Shaw Neilson Poetry Award, 1977: commended for 'Grass and blue and the underground tank'
Maryborough Golden Wattle Festival Literary Award, 1977: winner for 'It is nearly dark when I come to the Indian Ocean'

Joyce Lee died on February 22, 2007 in Malvern, Victoria.

References:
AustLit : the Resource for Australian Literature, 26 November 2007
Joyce Lee biographical material from manuscript collection
The Oxford companion to Australian literature, 2nd ed., 1994, p. 459
Directory of Australian poets 1980, p. 159-160

Administrative Information

Access

The collection is available for research.

Restrictions on Use

No copying is permitted without the permission of the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

[Manuscript Item], Papers of Joyce Lee, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, MSS 338, Series [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired in several instalments from 1996-2007.

Access Terms

Personal Names

Lee, Joyce, 1913-2007 -- Archives

Topical Subjects

Poets, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives

Australian poetry -- 20th century

Women poets, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives

Occupations

Poets

Pharmacists

Series List and Descriptions

 

Series 1 Correspondence, 1919-2006

This series comprises personal and business letters, postcards, greeting cards and invitations received by Lee from friends, colleagues, former students and poetry editors relating to her personal and professional life, spanning the years 1935-2006. Correspondents include, Rosemary Dobson, Geoffrey Dutton, Rodney Hall, Kate Llewellyn, Philip Martin, Gerald Murnane, Rosemary Nissen, Stephen Williams and Judith Wright.

Folder 1
Correspondence, 1919-1981

Folder 2
General correspondence, 1982-1984

Folder 3
General correspondence, 1983-1988

Folder 4
General correspondence, 1989-1996

Folder 5
General correspondence, 1997-2006

 

Series 2 Personal Papers, 1923-2007

This series comprises personal material relating to Joyce Lee and her husband Norman. Folio material relating to this series is located in Series 8.

Folder 1
Material relating to Lee's high school education at Murtoa High School and Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne, also included is material relating to school reunions and school newsletters, and two certificates from the Australian Music Examinations Board, 1925-1994

Folder 2
Correspondence and professional documents relating to Lee's pharmaceutical apprenticeship and studies at the Victorian College of Pharmacy, Melbourne, renewal of her pharmacy registration, and employment offers, 1929-1982

Folder 3
Biographical notes for publishers; loose diary and journal entries, 1929-1993

Folder 4-5
Miscellaneous material relating to Lee and her family, 1923-2005

Including:
Interviews
Newspaper cuttings
Publicity material about poetry workshops, writer's festivals, conferences, seminars and women's meetings that Lee attended and/or participated in

Folder 6
Information relating to Lee's poetry prizes, 1970-1982

Folder 7
Material relating to Murtoa, 1970-2004

Including:
Correspondence, 1970-1971
Copy of Marma Gully : a quasi-historical approach in black and white, 2004
Laminated colour photograph of Murtoa Grain Store
Lee's Victorian L.G.U. Handicap Certificate and papers relating to Murtoa Gold Club
Murtoa's Centenary, 1972
Murtoa Annual Show booklet, 1981
Murtoa State School Centenary, 1975

Folder 8-9
Papers relating to Methodist Church activities, 1984-2007

Including:
Annotated typescript booklet entitled 'Ballad of Joseph' in 7 scenes, 20 p.
Annotated manuscript draft entitled 'Ballad of Joseph' in 7 scenes, 29 p.
Annotated typescript draft entitled 'The breaking of God' concert of seven voices, in three parts by Arthur Davies, 23 p., 29 p., 25 p.
Annotated manuscript draft entitled 'Bridal chorus', 8 p.
Annotated typescript draft entitled 'Feast of St. Joseph', 1949, 4 p.
Manuscript draft entitled 'Nativity' in four voices, 19 p., together with a manuscript note on the work
Manuscript draft entitled 'Sacrifice of Isaac', 2 p.

Folder 10
Concert programs and material relating to the Dorian Singers and the Oriana Madrigal Choir, 1959-1963

Folder 11
Concert programs, 1947-c. 1965

Folder 12
Papers relating to Norman E. Lee, 1927-1978

Including:
Typescript poem entitled 'A winter's morning', by Norman E. Lee, 1927
Correspondence, c. 1937-1978

Folder 13
Reviews relating to Harvests and harvesting through the ages, by Norman E. Lee (1960), 1960-1963; correspondence and notes and maps on Longerenong Station 1976; typescript notes on Eminent Australians

 

Series 3 Literary Works, 1965-2007

This series comprises drafts of published and unpublished poems, plays, short stories, articles and interviews. Most items have extensive annotations and notes, including publication details in Lee's handwriting. There are multiple drafts and/or copies of many items. The poetry drafts date from 1965 to 2007, and some also include extensive narrative notes on the poems. One computer disc relating to this series is located in Series 7.

3.1 Poetry

This subseries comprises correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts for Lee's published volumes of poetry, together with drafts of unpublished poems. Multiple versions of most poems are included. Reviews and correspondence regarding development and publication of the poetry is also included.

Folder 1
Sisters poets, 1 : Anne Lloyd, Kate Llewellyn, Joyce Lee, Susan Hampton, edited by Rosemary Dobson, published by Sisters Publishing, Carlton, Vic., (1979), 1979-1984

Including:
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Photocopy of Lee's poems from the book
Reviews

Folder 2
Abruptly from the flatlands, published by Pariah Press, Kew, Vic., (1984), 1984-1989

Including:
Correspondence
Corrected draft, 64 p.
Publisher's report
Press release
Reviews

Folder 3
Plain dreaming : new and selected poems, published by Pariah Press, Kew, Vic., (1991), 1990-1992

Including:
Correspondence
Annotated typescript draft of the earlier version entitled 'Hidden lines'
Annotated typescript draft (incomplete)
Annotated galley proofs, 68 p.
Typescript draft of Chris Wallace-Crabbe's launch speech
Press release
Review

Folder 4
The whispering ear, published by Pariah Press, Altona North, Vic., [1997], c. 1997

Including:
Correspondence
Annotated typescript draft
Cover design and artwork
Press release
Reviews

Folder 5-9
It is nearly dark when I come to the Indian Ocean : the collected poems of Joyce Lee, published by Stephen J. Williams, [Melbourne], (2003), 2002-2003

Including:
Correspondence
Annotated typescript drafts (2)
Corrected typescript draft
Proofs (2)
Cover design and artwork
Press releases

Folder 10-12
Bountiful years : poems, published by J. Lee with the assistance of Rebus Press, (2007). Launched by Jennifer Strauss at the Phyllis Hore Meeting Room, Kew Library, Victoria, on 21 May 2007 after Lee's death, 2006-2007

Including:
Correspondence
Typescript drafts of Chris Wallace-Crabbe's introduction (3)
Joyce's originals: annotated typescript drafts
Joyce's originals, not including in Sue's first ordering: typescript drafts with loose manuscript notes
Annotated typescript draft sent to Chris
Typescript draft with acknowledgements and introduction

Folder 13
Photocopy typescript collection of poems entitled 'My heart still wishes : poems', by Lee, June 1965-1977

Folder 14
Correspondence and photocopy typescript collection entitled 'Vagabond harvest : poems', by Lee, 61 p., 1989

Folder 15
Folder labelled Poems from paintings: annotated typescript drafts

Folder 16
Folder labelled old poems: manuscript, annotated typescript and carbon typescript drafts, and folder labelled very early poems: manuscript drafts, 1965-1975

Folder 17
Annotated typescript and photocopy typescript poems from binders

Folder 18
Folder labelled lines to keep

Folder 19
Folder labelled unfinished poems: manuscript drafts

Folder 20
Folder labelled handwritten poems

Folder 21-23
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, A

Folder 24-26
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, B

Folder 27-29
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, C

Folder 30-32
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, D

Folder 33-35
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, E

Folder 36-38
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, F

Folder 39-40
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, G

Folder 41-42
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, H

Folder 43-45
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, I

Folder 46
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, J-K

Folder 47-49
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, L

Folder 50-54
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, M

Folder 55
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, N

Folder 56
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, O

Folder 57-59
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, P

Folder 60
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, Q

Folder 61-62
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, R

Folder 63-65
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, S

Folder 66-72
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, T

Folder 73
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, U

Folder 74
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, V

Folder 75-77
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, W

Folder 78
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts, Y

Folder 79
Published and unpublished miscellaneous poetry drafts: manuscript, annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts with multiple poems on each page

Folder 80
Miscellaneous published poems

Folder 81
Lists of published poems; comments by other poets on Lee's poetry; typescript contents entitled 'Directions for a pilgrim : poems', 3 p.

Folder 82
Reviews of poetry anthologies in which Lee's work appeared

Folder 83
Correspondence, typescripts and annotated typescripts drafts of poems, notes and copies of photographs for poetry readings, 1990-2004

3.2 Dramas, c. 1973-1978

This subseries comprises dramas on human relationships, movement and Christian themes, written, co-written and or produced by Lee.

Folder 1
Two dramas by the Cairnmillar Institute/Augustine Theatre Church entitled 'We didn't find it in earthquake, wind or fire' and 'A celebration of the twelve days of Christmas', October and December 1973

Includes:
Annotated typescripts, annotated carbon typescripts, annotated roneoed scenes
Annotated music scores
Annotated cue cards
Folders
Roneoed programs

Folder 2
'History for the People Flinders 200', by Alan Morgan, 24 March 1974

Includes:
Programs (3)
Joyce's original annotated lyrics and music
Roneoed sheet music
Roneoed drafts of annotated manuscript and typescript lyrics and verse

Folder 3
Rime of the ancient mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; choreography by Arthur Turnbull; production by Maree Marsden, 1975

Includes:
Programs (2)
Original and copy of newspaper reviews
Original and roneoed choreography notes
Joyce's original annotated verse of Rime of the ancient mariner

Folder 4
'Cry clown laugh', by Sue Swinbourne, Joyce Lee and Diana Taylor, c. 1976

Includes:
Program for Cairnmillar Theatre Company - Season 21
Manuscript, annotated typescript and carbon typescript drafts - early draft
Roneoed copy

Folder 5
'A presentation of survival and human potential', devised and written by Joyce Lee, Elaine Hall, Maree Parry and Carol Matthews; directed by Maree Marsden, 1977

Including:
Manuscript and annotated carbon typescripts drafts, roneoed draft
Flyer
Program for The Community Theatre Company in conjunction with YMCA National College - Season 22
Newspaper review

Folder 6
'Becoming Australian, history for the people', 11 July 1978

Includes:
Research papers
Programs (3) - Season 23, 11 July, 1978 (original, annotated and layout)
Program - typed amendment notes (2)
Manuscript, annotated and carbon typescript drafts
Annotated copy of the music and lyrics
Roneoed, annotated verse
Copied verses (various)
Copy newspaper article - 'Sham justice for a mass murder : Myall Creek Massacre, 1938'
Newspaper review

Folder 7
Two dramas by entitled 'Vaudeville and melodrama' and 'Funds for fun', c. 1977

Including:
'Vaudeville and melodrama', The Cairnmillar Theatre in conjunction with The Cairnmillar Association; directed by Maree Marsden; choreography by Arthur Turnbull; music by Lynne Barty - program; annotated photocopy (2) and roneoed drafts (2)
'Funds for fun', 1977; directed by Maree Parry; The Community Theatre Company - typescript and roneoed drafts

Folder 8
Miscellaneous dramas, c. 1970s

Including:
'Murtoa kitchen', by Joyce Lee - annotated typescript draft, 8 p.
'The chess man', by Martin Brown and Joyce Lee - manuscript, annotated typescript and annotated carbon typescript drafts, 4 p.
'The sound of apples : an imaginary episode in the life of Johnny Appleseed', by Stanley Young - annotated roneoed draft, 22 p.
'They're a weird mob', by Nino Culotta - annotated typescript draft, 4 p.
'Lets pretend to be close : a play on communications', by Sue Swinbourne and Joyce Lee; produced by Maree Parry - notes, annotated typescript and annotated carbon typescript draft, flyer

Folder 9
Miscellaneous dramas, c. 1970s

Including:
Untitled play set in McCusky house, Act 1, scene 18, roneoed photocopy draft, 5 p.
'Choosing a new address' - annotated typescript and annotated carbon typescript drafts, 2 p.
'My body tells me who I am' - manuscript, annotated typescript and annotated typescript draft, 1 p.
'The search' - roneoed copy, 2 p.
'What is a thing?', 1976 - carbon typescript draft, 1 p.
Untitled work on movement - annotated carbon draft, 4 p.
Notes on dialogue between scenes - carbon typescript draft, 1 p.
Carol service, 21/12/1975 - roneoed draft
Psalms, 1975 - typescript and carbon typescript drafts of Psalms, including 'The Lord is my shepherd' (22) and 'Out of the depths' (19)

3.3 Prose, c. 1970-2006

This subseries comprises drafts for unpublished prose writings including 'Water from the underground tank', 'The past walks noiselessly' and 'Edie and my grandmother's kitchen'. Also included are drafts and notes on various subjects.

Folder 1-2
'Water from the underground tank', 1988-1998

Including:
Correspondence
Manuscript and annotated typescript and photocopy drafts

Folder 3-4
'The past walks noiselessly', c. 1970s-1980s

Including:
Research notes
Manuscript and annotated typescript drafts

Folder 5
'Edie and my grandmother's kitchen', c. 1990s

Including:
Research notes
Manuscript and annotated typescript drafts

Folder 6
Manuscript and annotated typescript drafts for an untitled novel, c. 1990s

Folder 7
Drafts, 1977-1986

Including:
'Love story : a novella' - annotated typescript drafts (3), 27 June 1977
'Etienne and the horse : a short story' - notes, manuscript and annotated typescript drafts (2)
'Mirrala : daughter of the shepherd king : a short story' - manuscript and annotated typescript drafts, 3 June 1977
Untitled manuscript draft, 7 p., 16 October 1978
Untitled manuscript drafts of a story about Marie, chapter 1, 7 p., 20/9/1986
Untitled manuscript drafts 1st and 2nd version, 13/11/1995

Folder 8-9
Manuscript and annotated typescript drafts of miscellaneous prose articles by Lee, c. 1970s-2006

Folder 10-11
Manuscript and annotated typescript drafts of articles on higher consciousness and dreams by Lee, c. 1970s-1996

 

Series 4 Lectures, 1981-2000

The series includes manuscript and typescript drafts of lectures, tutorials and talks by Lee on poetry writing at Victoria College (now Deakin University) and to various writing groups, together with annotated drafts of student's poetry and notes on poets.

Folder 1-2
Manuscript and typescript drafts of lectures, tutorials and talks by Lee on poetry writing, 1981-2000

Folder 3
Annotated drafts of students poetry, 1981-1987

Folder 4
Anonymous miscellaneous poetry and prose typescripts and photocopy typescript drafts, 1981-1988

Folder 5
Notes on poets, 1981-1987

 

Series 5 Miscellaneous Papers, 1946-1996

This series comprises a drawing sent to Lee by Moonyean McNeilage for the poem 'The past walks noiselessly', copies of poems by other writers.

Folder 1
Miscellaneous material, 1970-1990

Includes:
Drawing by Moonyean McNeilage for the poem 'The past walks noiselessly', 1978
Poetry sent to Lee by other writers
Postcards of India
Copy of Angry Penguins broadsheet, No. 3, [1946]
Copy of Digest newsletter, American Biographical Institute Research Association, Special ed., Spring, 1996

Folder 2
Binders from Series 3, folder 17

Folder 3
Miscellaneous manuscript and typescript papers by Lee

 

Series 6 Audio Visual, 1980-2002

This series comprises audio cassettes and one computer disc relating to Lee's works.

Folder 1
Computer disc of poems for It is nearly dark when I come to the Indian Ocean : the collected poems of Joyce Lee, 8/6/2002

Folder 2-6
Audio cassettes of poetry readings and poetry interviews on 3CR

Folder 7
Audio cassette of 'My father's country', 1980

Folder 8
Audio cassette of Joyce Lee for the 'Poets tongue', broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Commission

Folder 9
Audio cassette of Joyce Lee reading her poems, Writer's seminar

Folder 10
Audio cassette of Lee's dream experience

Folder 11-12
Audio cassette of Myrtle Bryden and Joyce songs

Folder 13
Audio cassette of 'People in performance', 17/2/1985

Folder 14
Audio cassette of Festival of praise, Cornish hymn singing

Folder 15
Audio cassette of interviews: Judith Wright and Tony Maniaty

Folder 16
Audio cassette of reading by Anne Elder (damaged tape)

Folder 17
Audio cassette of Walter Konig interview

 

Series 7 Photographs, 1915-c. 2001

This series comprises photographs of Lee at various social functions, and photographs used for research.

Box-folder 1
Miscellaneous photographs, 1915-c. 2006

Including:
Poems on posters, b/w photograph of 'Nightmare for middle-age', by Lee
Photographs taken at various social functions x 10 (colour)
Photographs of Joyce Lee, August 2001 (1 b/w and 1 colour)
Photographs used for research, 1915-1920s x 6 (b/w)
Photograph and 4 photocopies of Jordie's grandfather (b/w)

 

Series 8 Folios, 1929-1990

This series comprises Lee's apprenticeship indenture forms, newspapers relating to Murtoa and Methodist Church activities and one published work, 1929-1990.

Box-folder 1
Folio material relating to or collected by Joyce Lee, 1929-1990

Including:
Lee's apprenticeship indenture forms (2), 1929
Newspapers relating to Murtoa, 1959-1990
Published copy of The flour milling industry, 1968
Newspapers relating to Methodist Church activities, 1965-1966