Stephens Collection
Collection highlights
AG Stephens, Will Donald, Returned Soldiers Association of New South Wales and Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia, Anzac memorial , 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37362638
AG Stephens, Will Donald, Returned Soldiers Association of New South Wales and Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia, Anzac memorial , 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37362638
AG Stephens, Will Donald, Returned Soldiers Association of New South Wales and Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia, Anzac memorial , 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37362638
AG Stephens, Will Donald, Returned Soldiers Association of New South Wales and Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia, Anzac memorial , 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37362638
Key items in the collection
Highlights from this collection demonstrate its historical significance and variety.
The Stephens Collection comprises manuscripts of poems and stories and letters, assembled in the years he was editing the 'Red Page' of the Bulletin and later the Bookfellow.
Over 70 writers are represented in the collection, including:
- Arthur Adams
- Frank Anstey
- Arthur Bayldon
- Louis Becke
- Randolph Bedford
- Francis Birtles
- Barcroft Boake
- Zora Cross
- Victor Daley
- CJ Dennis
- Louis Esson
- Mary Gilmore
- Henry Lawson
- Will Lawson
- Hugh McCrae
- Nina Murdoch
- Will Ogilvie
- Dowell O'Reilly
- Vance Palmer
- Marie Pitt
- Roderick Quinn
- CH Souter
- David Souter
- Louis Stone
- BR Wise
- David McKee Wright.
The Quinn manuscripts are the most substantial, amounting to 72 poems, while there are 8 poems of Lawson.
Other papers in the collection include:
- A letterbook of William Farrer, primarily concerning wheat despatches from Lambrigg Station (1906)
- Copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates for Henry Kendall and Henry Lawson
- Correspondence to R.A. Broinowski regarding The Spinner (1924)
- A 53-page typescript by Stephens containing biographical notes on Australian and New Zealand authors, artists, and musicians
About Alfred Stephens
Alfred George Stephens (1865–1933) was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, and was educated at Toowoomba Grammar School and Sydney Technical College.
Journalism
Stephens's father had been part-owner of the Darling Downs Gazette and, for most of his life, Stephens was deeply involved in literary journalism.
Stephens edited the Gympie Miner (1888–1890) and Cairns Argus (1891–1892). He also wrote leaders for the Boomerang and literary supplements for the Miner and the Argus.
In 1894 he joined the staff of the Bulletin in Sydney and within 2 years was responsible for the reviews, articles, extracts and notes that made up the 'Red Page'.
Literary critic
For the next 20 years Stephens was the most widely read and respected literary critic in Australia. In 1906 he left the Bulletin and from 1907 to 1925 he brought out 123 issues of the Bookfellow.
As an editor, Stephens exerted enormous influence on both readers and writers, not only by his criticisms and his terse, witty judgments but also by his choice of authors for publication in his journals.
Promoted finest writers
He promoted the work of some of the finest writers of his generation:
- Victor Daley
- Miles Franklin
- Joseph Furphy
- Mary Gilmore
- John Le Gay Brereton
- Hugh McCrae
- John Shaw Neilson
- Bernard O’Dowd
- Will Ogilvie
- Steele Rudd.
He was a fervent nationalist and insisted that Australian writing should be judged against international standards.
Books authored
Among Stephens’s many books were:
- A Queenslander’s Travel-notes (1894)
- Victor Daley (1905)
- The Pearl and the Octopus and Other Exercises in Prose & Verse (1911)
- Anzac Memorial (1916)
- The Wild Colonial Girl (1917)
- Henry Kendall (1928)
- Chris Brennan (1933).
Background to the collection
Most of the manuscripts were purchased from Stephens in 1923. Some items were acquired from him in later years, such as the Kendall and Lawson certificates, which were received in 1928.
The Stephens Collection (Australian literary manuscripts 1852-1929 (bulk 1880–1929)) is held in the Manuscripts Collection.
- Occupies 2 boxes.
- Has been catalogued as a collection.
- Is available online.
- Has a 4-page finding aid.
This guide was prepared using these references:
- Leon Cantrell (editor), AG Stephens: Selected Writings, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1977.
- Stuart Lee, Alfred George Stephens (1865–1933), Australian Dictionary of Biography online.
- Vance Palmer (editor), AG Stephens: His Life and Work, Robertson and Mullens, Melbourne, 1941.
Continue your journey
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