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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'A girl from a working class background, Ida Leeson successfully penetrated the bourgeoisie to become a woman of achievement in what was still predominantly a man's world. When she was appointed Mitchell Librarian in 1932 there was very public controversy over whether it was appropriate to appoint a woman to such a senior position.
'In what we now acknowledge to be a heroic period of Australian writing and publishing, Ida became a trailblazer for women, for librarians, and a champion of the lively literary culture of Australia in the 1930s and 1940s. She was friendly with many of the leading literary figures of the time, such as James McAuley, Christopher Brennan, Marjorie Barnard, Flora Eldershaw and most notably Miles Franklin, for whom she was a kind of honorary proof-reader and literary advisor (she was even written into the novel Pioneers on Parade by Miles Franklin and Dymphna Cusack).
'She was also a close friend of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, and for some time both Ida and her partner, Florence Birch, lived as part of the bohemian enclave the Griffins established around them at Castlecrag. Brought to vivid life by Sylvia Martin, here is the story of a pioneering woman who lead an extraordinary life.' (Publisher's blurb)
Notes
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Dedication: For my mother Rose Laurie Martin (1910-2001).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Untitled
2009
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Feminist Studies , September vol. 24 no. 61 2009; (p. 382-384)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
Undercover
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26-27 July 2008; (p. 26) -
Review
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: Archives and Manuscripts , May vol. 35 no. 1 2007; (p. 96-98)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
Untitled
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , May vol. 23 no. 1 2007; (p. 129-130)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
Untitled
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Historical Studies , vol. 38 no. 129 2007; (p. 196-197)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography
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Woman of Letters
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 15-16 July 2006; (p. 14-15)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
Leeson's Legacy: The Woman Who Shaped the Mitchell Library
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 22 July 2006; (p. 14)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
In Short : Nonfiction
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 29-30 July 2006; (p. 35)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography ; A Public Life : The Memoirs of Zelman Cowen 2006 single work autobiography -
Nonfiction
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 5 August 2006; (p. 24)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography ; One Day in July 2006 single work autobiography -
Books Non-Fiction
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 5 - 6 August 2006; (p. 24)
— Review of Ida Leeson : A Life 2006 single work biography -
Undercover
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26-27 July 2008; (p. 26)