George Brodsky papers

MLMSS 8610

fonds

approximately 1918-approximately 1985

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Ephemera, Moving Images, Photographs, Nonmusical Sound Recordings

411873

Digitised : Applies to MLOH 670

0.86 metres of textual, photographic, video and material (1 folder, 3 boxes, 1 outsize box)
5 audiocassettes (2 hr., 30 min.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

George Brodsky, linguist, lawyer and writer, born 1915 in Berlin, Germany, of Russian Jewish parents, immigrated to Australia via England in 1938 aboard the mail steamer ‘Jervis Bay’. Nominated lecturer in Spanish of the Modern Languages Association of N.S.W., part time interpreter, representative of a pharmaceutical firm. Volunteered for the Australian Armed Services in 1939 but was rejected as medically unfit. He married Marjorie Purvis Proctor in 1941 and persisted in his applications to the Army and later passed fit allocated as a gunner, then transferred to the Army Education Service as Instructor of Languages. He wrote courses in 7 languages which formed his book ‘All Services Polyglot Diary’ published in 1945. Honourably discharged, Brodsky continued teaching languages in his own school, The Brodsky School of Languages and In 1948 Brodsky began to study law at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1952, and became a Barrister of the Supreme Court of N.S.W. and of the High Court of Australia. He later became Chief Government Interpreter and Translator of the Department of the Attorney General and of Justice of N.S.W. After 23 years service, Brodsky retired aged 62 in 1977 and resumed his practice as a Barrister with chambers in Elizabeth Street, Sydney. George Brodsky also wrote poetry, prose, music, and family correspondence, researched and wrote on Nostradamus, and was a swimmer and rower. He remained committed to his Jewish faith and connected to the Great Synagogue in Sydney.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

MLMSS 8610

FOLDER 1
Correspondence between George Brodsky and his fiancé Marjorie Purvis Proctor ca. 1941 – (Restricted)

BOX 2
Biographical documents of George Brodsky, manuscript and typescript poetry, Typescript – ‘Creative Contemplation: collected poems of George Brodsky’, Late Poems, correspondence regarding poems, printed music – ‘Australia’s Voice be Free and True!, Prose file containing essays and short stories, newspaper cuttings

BOX 3
Typescript – ‘The Future Revealed through Nostradamus and other prophets’ by George Brodsky, 1982, Poems – Originals Part 1, Poems – Originals Part 2

BOX 4
Correspondence re. fathers estate, papers relating to war service and ‘All Services Polyglot Diary’, 1945, translation documents and testimonials, documents concerning George Brodsky’s disagreement regarding the decision to transfer his department to another ministry leading to his early retirement, ‘Excursion into History’, 1968, printed invitations, school notebook – ‘Morphologie’, 1934

MLMSS 8610/Box 5X
University of Sydney, Bachelor of Laws certificate, 1952, New South Wales Justices Association membership certificate, 1953, various black and white photographic portraits of George Brodsky, ca. 1918 – 1977

VIDEORECORDING
Brodsky, G. Australia’s voice be free and true! 3 versions: Neil Williams / Werner Baer, Neil Williams / NSW Police Band / Mike Butcher / Colin Gill. Housed separately from the collection at MLMSS 8610. For enquiries about this material please contact Manuscripts Section.

SOUNDRECORDINGS (Call Number: MLOH 670)
Series 01: George Brodsky sound recordings

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 8610/ Folder 1
For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian: Prior approval from donor is required for access to this folder. Any requests for access will be referred to donor by the Head of Manuscripts.

This material is held offsite and is usually available after 4pm on the next business day. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to MLMSS 8610

Copyright status:: In copyright
Reproduction Restricted:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

The description of this material has been supplied from the Oral History Digitisation Program, undertaken 2014 to 2017 of the Library's oral history collections.

Record relating to George Brodsky's wife Marjorie Proctor-Brodsky is entitled 'Marjorie Proctor-Brodsky scrapbooks and clippings ca.1959-1964' and is available at PXE 1677.