Papers of Nancy Cato
MSS 007

Collection Description

The papers of Nancy Cato include correspondence, typescript drafts, research material and photographs

Administrative / Biographical history

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Cato

Nancy Cato was born in Adelaide on 11 March 1917. She was educated at Presbyterian Ladies College, Adelaide before attending the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1939, then completing a two year course at the South Australian School of Arts.

As well as writing fiction, Cato was a poet, a freelance journalist and an art critic working for various newspapers throughout Australia. In 1950 she edited the Jindyworobak anthology (1951); was a founding member with Roland Robinson and Kevin Collopy of the Lyre-Bird Writers (1948), formed for the purpose of getting Australian verse published and co-edited the Southern festival : a collection of South Australian writing (1960). She was actively involved in the South Australian Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (1956-1964) and the Australian Society of Authors (1963-1964). She travelled widely throughout the country helping to promote the publication of Australian writing.

Cato published over twenty books in a range of genres including poetry, historical fiction, plays, local history, biography, children's stories, edited two anthologies of Australian poetry and contributed to Australian literary magazines.

Cato was the recipient of several awards for her novels and poetry including the Tennyson Medal for English Literature (1933), NT Poetry Prize (1961), Farmer's Poetry Prize (1963), Noosa Arts Theatre Playwriting Competition, Best Play Award for Travellers through the night (1978 inaugural winner) and the Society of Women Writers Alice Award (1988). She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1984 and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Queensland in 1990 for her contribution to Australian literature. She was made a life member of the Noosa Parks Association and an honorary park ranger for her contribution to the ecological and environmental protection of the area.

Cato's published works include Darkened window (1950), The trap (1950), 1950 Jindyworobak anthology (edited by Cato) (1951), Dancing bough (1957), All the rivers run (1958 and 1978), Time, flow softly (1959), Green grows the vine (1960), But still the stream (1962), Northwest by south (1964), Sea ants and other stories (1964), Brown sugar (1974 and 1994), Nin and the scribblies (1976), Queen Trucanini, co-authored with Vivian Rae-Ellis (1976), Mr Maloga (1976, revised 1993), Noosa story(1979), Travellers through the night (1982), Forefathers (1983), Lady lost in time (1985), Distant island (1986), Heart of the continent (1989) and Marigold (1992).

Nancy Cato died on 3rd July 2000.

Acquisition Details

Scope and Content

The papers of Nancy Cato include correspondence, typescript drafts, research material, and photographs. The collection provides a record of Cato's writings from 1976 to 1992.

There are drafts for five of Cato's major works, including Forefathers, The lady lost in time, A distant island, The heart of the continent and Marigold. There is research material only for Mr Maloga : Daniel Matthews and his mission, Murray River, 1864-1902 and Queen Trucanini, by Nancy Cato and Vivienne Rae-Ellis.

Correspondents include Diane Barwick, Peter Bladen, John Jefferson Bray, Collins, Vivienne Rae Ellis, Hodder & Stoughton, Harold White of the National Library, New English Library, St. Martin's Press, Roland Robinson, Laurie Muller of the University of Queensland Press, Stephen Murray-Smith and Judith Wright.

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