412179
- TitleWhiteley family - Letters received mainly from Brett Whiteley, 1950-1988, ca 1993. Includes some letters co-written with Wendy Whiteley.
- Creator
- Call numberMLMSS 6380 (Safe 1/225a-c)
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
1950-1988 - Type of material
- Reference code412179
- Issue CopyMicrofilm : CY 4210, frames 1 - 312
- Physical Description1 item of textual material (contains drawings) - visible image 47 x 56 cm, in frame 74.3 x 80.3 cm
0.4 metres of textual material (3 boxes) - manuscript, some illustrated - ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Brett Whiteley was born on 7 April 1939 at Longueville, Sydney. From 1948 he attended boarding school at The Scots School, Bathurst, and briefly attended The Scots School, Sydney, during 1954 and 1955. He left boarding school in mid-1956, having completed the Leaving Certificate in 1955.
In 1959 he was awarded the Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship, judged by Russell Drysdale at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Whiteley left Australia for Italy in January 1960. He had studios in Rome, where his mother Beryl stayed with him, and later in Florence. In June his father Clem and Wendy Julius arrived in Paris where they were met by Brett. Wendy returned with him to Florence.
From July to September 1960, Whiteley exhibited work in a group show at McRoberts & Tunnard Gallery, London. In August, he and Mike Johnson spent three days visiting the Venice Biennale. In November Brett and Wendy moved to London where they married on 27 March 1962.
During 1962, from April to September, Brett and Wendy travelled through Europe with Clem during his second visit to Europe. After Clem's return to Australia, the Whiteleys spent five months with Wendy Paramour in Sigean, France before travelling to the United States where they visited Beryl Whiteley and her partner John McCarthy. They returned to London in November.
In 1963 Whiteley's work was selected for inclusion in the `Australian painting' exhibition at the Tate Gallery, London, and `British painting in the 60s' at Whitechapel Gallery, London.
On 6 November 1964, the Whiteleys' daughter Arkie was born in London. In December the following year, the family returned to Australia for the summer. During May to June 1967, they travelled in Majorca, Tangier and Spain before sailing to New York in September where they lived in a penthouse apartment at the Chelsea Hotel.
In July 1969, Brett travelled to Fiji, and was later joined by Wendy and Arkie where they stayed in Navutuleva village for five months. They sailed from Fiji to Australia and moved to Lavendar Bay, Sydney. During the 1970s Whiteley continued to work and exhibit. He befriended Patrick White who acquired a number of his works. In 1976 Whiteley was awarded both the Archibald prize for `Self-portrait in the studio' and the Sulman Prize for `Interior with time past'.
In 1977 he travelled to London, and spent the summer with Joel Ellenberg at Arthur Boyd's Italian house in Pisa. Brett moved to a studio in Reibey Place, Circular Quay in 1981. In 1985 the Whiteleys' purchased an old factory in Raper Street, Surry Hills which they converted into a studio. Wendy and Brett separated during the 1980s, and divorced in 1989. Brett Whiteley died in Thirroul, New South Wales, in 1992. - Scope and ContentMLMSS 6380/1/1
1950; Letter received by Brett Whiteley from his teacher, L. J. Erikson
ca 1950; One pound note, drawn by Brett Whiteley
1950; `Treasure Map...', signed and dated `B. Whiteley 50', lower right
MLMSS 6380/1/2
1954; Second term report for Brett Whiteley, Form 3, The Scots College, Bellevue Hill, Sydney
MLMSS 6380/1/3
February - November 1955; Letters (7, including 2 incomplete; many illustrated) received by Beryl and Clem Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written from The Scots School, Bathurst. Includes school photograph.
1955; Second and third term reports for Brett Whiteley, Form 4, The Scots School, Bathurst; Intermediate Certificate in 5 subjects: History, Geography, Physics, Business Principles and Art.
MLMSS 6380/1/4
February - March 1956, undated; Small sketches or studies by Brett Whiteley (21; various media)
1956; Birthday card (illustrated) from Brett Whiteley; addressee unknown.
15, 17 February, 11 March 1956; Letters (3) received by Beryl and Clem Whiteley, one with envelope, from Brett Whiteley; written from The Scots School, Bathurst. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
2 May 1956; Letter received by Clem Whiteley from Alan Mitchell, Headmaster, The Scots School.
1956; First term report for Brett Whiteley, Form Five, The Scots School, Bathurst.
MLMSS 6380/1/5
January, ca March 1960; Telegram received by Beryl Whiteley, from Brett Whiteley; written from Sydney; with postcard. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
5 May 1960; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Florence
ca June 1960; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Florence
ca June 1960; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Florence
ca June / July 1960; Letters (with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley and Wendy Julius (verso); written in Florence
ca July 1960; Letter (with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley and Wendy Julius; written in Florence.
21 July 1960; Letter received by Brett Whiteley from N. L. McRoberts, McRoberts & Tunnard Gallery, London; forwarded to Beryl Whiteley.
ca August 1960; Letter (incomplete) written to Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Florence. Includes 4 black & white proof photographs of Beryl in Italy.
20 August 1960; Letters (2; illustrated; with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley and Wendy Julius (verso); written in Florence. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
31 August - 2 September 1960; Letter (illustrated; with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
17 Septmber 1960; Letter (with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Florence. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
28 November 1960; Letter (with fabric letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
November (?) 1960; Letter (with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
1960; Sketch by Brett Whiteley (pen & ink)
MLMSS 6380/1/6
6 January 1961; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
January 1961; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
15 January 1961; Aerogram received by Beryl Whiteley (addressed to Mrs B. McCarthy) from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
30 January 1961; Letter (illustrated; with hand-illustrated letterhead) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
1961; Report on the Paris Convention, October 1961, by Brett Whiteley.
1961 / 1962 ?; `Report' by Brett Whiteley, on the Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship, (illustrated; incomplete?)
MLMSS 6380/1/7
August ? 1962; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Sigean, France. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
August ? 1962; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley from Wendy Whiteley; written in Sigean, France.
18 September 1962; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley and John McCarthy from Brett Whiteley; written in Sigean, France.
November 1962; Letter received by John McCarthy from Brett Whiteley; written in London. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
26 November 1962; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley and John McCarthy from Wendy Whiteley; written in London.
4 December 1962; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley and John McCarthy from Brett Whiteley; written in London. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
December 1962; Letter received by Clem Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in London.
1962; `Statement' by Brett Whiteley about London Conference, 1960-1961
MLMSS 6380/2/1
18 January 1963; Letter received by Brett and Wendy Whiteley from Beryl Whiteley; forwarded to Fran and Richard Hopkirk by Brett, with note (illustrated).
MLMSS 6380/2/2
26 January 1964; Letter received by Brett Whiteley from Sidney Nolan; written in Antarctica
MLMSS 6380/2/3
1965; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett and Wendy Whiteley; written in Australia. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
December 1965; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Australia.
December 1965; Note received by Beryl Whiteley from Wendy Whiteley; written in Australia.
MLMSS 6380/2/4
1966; Letters (incomplete; illustrated by Arkie Whiteley) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley and Wendy Whiteley (verso).
MLMSS 6380/2/5
12 June 1967; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Tangier.
20 June 1967; Postcard received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Madrid.
MLMSS 6380/2/6
1968; Letters received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley (incomplete) and Wendy Whiteley (verso); written in New York. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
MLMSS 6380/2/7
1969; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in New York. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s
ca May 1969; Letter (incomplete) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written en route to Fiji.
June ? 1969; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl, Wendy and Arkie Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Fiji.
July ? 1969; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Fiji.
November 1969; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written en route from Fiji to Australia, and in Sydney.
MLMSS 6380/3/1
1971; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley and Fran Hopkirk from Brett Whiteley; includes photograph `at Paul & Jean's at Hill End last year'; written in Sydney.
1972 ?; Letter received by Brett Whiteley from Bryan Westwood, probably referring to `Portraits and Other Emergencies', Bonython Art Gallery, Sydney, February –
MLMSS 6380/3/2
March 1972. Forwarded to Beryl Whiteley, with postscript written by Brett Whiteley.
1972; Envelope addressed to Beryl Whiteley.
MLMSS 6380/3/3
January 1973 ?; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley, probably referring to `Alchemy' exhibition, Bonython Gallery, Sydney, January - February 1973.
8 March 1973; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Bernhard Baer, Ganymed Original Editions Ltd, London.
17 November 1973; Telegram received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; sent from Sydney.
MLMSS 6380/3/4
27 June 1974; Letter (illustrated) received by Beryl Whiteley, with postscript, from Brett Whiteley; written in Sydney.
4 November 1974; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley, refers to `Lavendar Bay' series exhibiton, Australian Galleries, Melbourne; written in Sydney.
MLMSS 6380/3/5
1976; Note received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley, on verso of invitation to opening of `Recent interiors, Still lifes, Windowscapes, Sculpture and Ceramics' exhibition, Australian Galleries, Melbourne.
MLMSS 6380/3/6
January 1977; Telegrams (2) of congratulation on winning Archibald and Sulman Prizes for 1976, received by Brett Whiteley from Neville Wran, Premier of New South Wales, and Gil Docking.
1977; Letter received by Beryl and Arkie Whiteley from Brett Whiteley.
1977; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Italy. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
MLMSS 6380/3/7
29 January 1979; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Sydney. Includes note written by Beryl Whiteley, 1990s.
ML 1234
24 April 1981; Letter (illustrated recto and verso; framed) received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written at Reiby Place, Circular Quay.
MLMSS 6380/3/8
1988 ?; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley; written in Sydney.
25 May 1993 ?; Letter received by Beryl Whiteley from David Marr, returning a letter received by Brett Whiteley from Patrick White, 12 January 1974; includes postscript written by Brett Whiteley. (Not used in `Patrick White Letters', 1994)
8 April 1979; Inscription (photocopy) to Beryl Whiteley from Sandra McGrath's biography: Brett Whiteley (Sydney: 1979)
1990s; Envelopes with notes written by Beryl Whiteley and in an unknown hand. - System of arrangementChronological
- Copying ConditionsCopyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
- General note
Collection includes copy of Sandra McGrath's biography: Brett Whiteley (Sydney: 1979); signed, limited edition 170/200; inscribed by Whiteley to his mother, Beryl Whiteley. Transferred to Mitchell Rare Books collection: MRB/Q1. - Creator/Author/Artist
- Name
- Subject
- Exhibited in
Art & About Sydney: Public Space - Private Lives - State Library of New South Wales (20 September - 20 October, 2013). Applies to: Box 1 page 3 - Open Rosetta viewer
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