Paul Brunton OAM Senior Curator of the Mitchell Library with some of the library’s precious Henry Lawson Collection he is bringing with him to the Henry Lawson Festival.
The State Library of New South Wales
Henry Lawson Collection.
The Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts is very proud to be able to host The State Library of New South Wales Henry Lawson Collection as part of the official 2012 festival program. Mr Paul Brunton OAM, Senior Curator of the Mitchell Library will be bringing this collection to Grenfell on festival Saturday of the June long weekend.
This excellent collection of Henry Lawson’s personal effects offers festival goers a rare and insightful look into Henry Lawson the writer and Henry Lawson the man.
The exhibition will be held in the Grenfell Library in Main Street on Saturday June 9th from 10am until Noon then again from 3pm until 5pm.
Paul will also be hosting a half-hour presentation on Henry Lawson at the Library from 11.30am until Noon.
We encourage festival goers to come along for a taste of authentic Lawson. We highly recommend also taking this opportunity to meet Paul Brunton OAM. He is a most remarkable man and we are extremely thankful for this wonderful opportunity to host such an exhibit. Listed below are the contents for the exhibit.
Paul will also present the awards at the Opening and Awards Reception awards on festival Saturday evening. More information to follow.
Henry Lawson Short stories in prose
and verse Sydney, L. Lawson, 1894.
Lawson’s first book, published by his mother, Louisa.
This copy was given to David Scott Mitchell with the following inscription: This is my first book. Only a few copies were published, fortunately. I withdrew the book from publication. The book should be interesting as a curiosity in printing.’
Letter from Henry Lawson to
David Scott Mitchell, 4 February 1900
Original manuscript
‘I am writing to you because I haven’t got the pluck to come out and see you myself about what I want you to do for me.’
Lawson asks the famous book collector to lend him £50 to help him go to London. Mitchell agreed. This was the first, but not the last, financial assistance Mitchell would give to Lawson.
Letter from Henry Lawson to Emma Brooks, Bourke, 21 September 1892
Original manuscript
‘The bush between here and Bathurst is horrible. I was right, and Banjo wrong. Country very dry and dull, but I am agreeably disappointed with Bourke. It is a much nicer town than I thought it would be.’
Emma Brooks was Lawson’s aunt.
Henry Lawson, Bourke, 1892
Photograph
Henry Lawson
Old Stockman’s Lament
Original manuscript
First published in the Bulletin, April 1915. This is the copy annotated by Bulletin staff. Published in book form in My army, oh my army, 1915.
Henry Lawson’s pipe
Presented to the Mitchell Library by Mrs Lucy Cassidy, 1950
Opening & Awards Reception festival Saturday evening.
The awards reception will be held on the Saturday evening and is an opportunity to acknowledge the winners and present their statuettes. It is a pleasant evening with nibbles and drinks and is a chance to immerse yourself in the arts components of the Henry Lawson Festival.
The venue for the awards reception is the Grenfell Bowling Club on Cross Street on Saturday June 9th. Starting at 6pm with awards presentation commencing from 6.30pm and will conclude at 8pm. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students, and price includes entertainment, light refreshments and finder food. Tickets will be available from Grenfell Shoes and limited tickets will be available at the door. The Festival Charity Queen will be crowned at 8pm.
Steven Tandy Reads Henry Lawson
On Saturday even after the Awards Reception at the Grenfell Bowling Club, Steven Tandy will be performing in his one man show “Steven Tandy Reads Henry Lawson” directed by Alan Ingram.
Commences: 8.15pm
Venue: Grenfell Bowling Club
Tickets: $10 per person or free to those also attending the Awards Reception. Tickets available at the door.
This will be a performance you can’t afford to miss. For more information on Stephen Tandy we encourage you to have a look at Stephens impressive BIO on the festival website www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au
