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Gilmore, Mary (Dame) (1865-1962)

Also known as
Cameron, Mary Jean
Cameron, Mary Jean (1865-1962)
Gilmore, Dame, Mary Jean (1865-1962)
Gilmore, Mary Cameron (1865-1962)
Gilmore, Mary Cameron (Dame) (1865-1962)
Gilmore, Mary Jean (1865-1962)
Occupation
autobiographer/memoirist; columnist; contemporary-affairs commentator; essayist; journalist; pacifist; poet; schoolteacher; socialist; utopian
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-463377

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

For her services to literature, Mary Gilmore was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 February 1937. The major themes of her work covered nationalism, the spirit of pioneering, motherhood, women's rights, history, Aboriginal welfare, treatment of prisoners, health and pensions.

Dame Mary Gilmore is the female face of the Australian $10 note. When she died, aged 97, Dame Mary was given a State funeral by both the Federal and New South Wales state governments. Her funeral was attended by all members of the New South Wales Cabinet. Dame Mary donated the Archibald winning portrait painted by William Dobell in 1957 to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Due to the itinerant lifestyle of her parents, Donald and Mary Ann Cameron, Mary was educated at a number of country state schools. Aged 16 she became a pupil-teacher at the Superior Public School for Girls in Wagga Wagga, and was transferred to the Infants' Department in 1884. She taught at Beaconsfield Provisional School in 1886, followed by Illabo Public School, and in October 1887 was appointed temporary assistant at Silverton Public School near Broken Hill, New South Wales. In May 1889, Mary wrote to the Chief Inspector at the Department of Public Instruction requesting a move from Silverton back to Sydney on the grounds that her home was in Sydney and that the climate of the Barrier District was too severe for her constitution. She returned to Sydney in 1890 and taught at Neutral Bay, though her name and the dates of her residency are still proudly displayed on the Silverton Public School sign.

During the 1890s Mary became interested in social reform and supported the maritime and shearers' strikes. So as not to break the rules of the Department of Public Instruction, through which she was employed as a teacher, Mary wrote under the pen names Em Jaycey, Sister Jaycey and Rudione Calvert. At about this time she met and became a life-long friend of Henry Lawson.

Mary became the first woman member of the Australian Workers Union, which she claimed she joined under her brother's name. She later became a member of the executive. By 1895 Mary had given up teaching to join William Lane's New Australia Movement. She sailed to his Cosme settlement in Paraguay, arriving January 1896 and there married shearer William Gilmore (1866-1945). A year after their only son William (1898-1945) was born, the family left the settlement and returned to Australia after visiting Henry Lawson and family in London.

From 1902-1912 the Gilmores lived at William's parents' farm in Casterton in Western Victoria. Here Mary was able to re-establish her writing and political links. In 1903 she was featured on the Bulletin's 'Red Page' and she helped with campaigning for the Labor Party in the 1906 and 1910 federal elections for the seat of Wannon. In 1908 Mary commenced editing the woman's page of the Australian Worker, a position she held until 1931. In 1910 her first collections of poems Marri'd, and other verses was published.

In 1912 Mary and her son Billy went to live in Sydney while William joined his brother at Cloncurry in North Queensland. By 1918 her second book of poetry, The Passionate Heart was published, followed by books of prose: Hound of the Road (1922) and The Tilted Cart (1925). Mary's writing was regularly in print, with her last collection of poetry, Fourteen Men, published in 1954 when she was 89 years old.

Besides being a prolific writer, Mary was also a founder-member of the Lyceum Club (Sydney), founder and vice-president of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, member of the New South Wales Institute of Journalists and life member of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dame Mary Gilmore's ashes were buried in her husband's grave at Cloncurry cemetery.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

GILMORE, Dame MARY JEAN (1865-1962), writer, was born on 16 August 1865 at Mary Vale, Woodhouselee, near Goulburn, New South Wales, eldest child of Donald Cameron, a farmer, born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, and his native-born wife Mary Ann, née Beattie. Her father had migrated to Australia in 1838 from Fort William, and her mother's family had come from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1842. The Camerons and Beatties owned adjoining properties.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Related people and organisations

Resources

Selected resources (36)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Great poet was once a £13 a week teacher
    [1973]
  2. Some Outstanding Women of Broken Hill and District
    Camilleri, Jenny
    [2002]
    Published: Jenny Camilleri (Broken Hill Historical Society/Broken Hill Council), Broken Hill, NSW
  3. Mary Gilmore - A Memoir
    Foster, I. M
    [1972]
  4. The Complete Book of Great Australian Women: Thirty-six women who changed the course of Australia
    De Vries, Susanna
    [2003]
    Published: HarperCollins, Sydney
  5. Gilmore, Mary (1865 - 1962)
    Elford, Ross G
    [2002]
    Published: University of Melbourne
  6. The Weekly's War
    Baker, Suzanne
    [1982]
    Published: Film Australia, Lindfield, NSW
  7. Biographical cuttings (available reading room NLA)
  8. 100 great Australians
    Macklin, Robert
    [1983]
    Published: Currey O'Neil Ross, South Yarra, Vic.
  9. Australian Feminism: A Companion
    Caine, Barbara
    [1998]
    Published: Oxford University Press, Melbourne
  10. Victorian Women's Roll of Honour: Women Shaping the Nation
    [2001]
    Published: Centurary of Federation Victoria
  11. Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia
    Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre
    [1994]
    Published: Reed Reference Publishing, Port Melbourne (Vic.)
  12. The Changemakers : Ten Significant Australian Women
    Suzane Fabian and Morag Loh
    [1983]
    Published: Jacaranda Press, Milton, Qld.
  13. 1000 Famous Australians
    [1978]
    Published: Rigby
  14. Gilmore, Mary Jean (1865-1962)
    Wilde, W. H.
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  15. Australian women writers : a bibliographic guide
    Adelaide, Debra
    [1988]
    Published: Pandora Press, London ; Sydney
  16. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  17. Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
    Australian National University
    [2006]
  18. List of Electoral Divisions Named After Women
    Australian Electoral Commission
  19. Papers, [manuscript] 1923-1962
    [1923 - 1962]
    Letters, dated 1923-1962, most of which are from Mary Gilmore to Alec Chisholm. Also contains a few carbon copies of Alec Chisholms letters to Mary Gilmore. Manuscript copies of 7 poems printed in various newspapers & journals. Newspapers cuttings concerning Mary Gilmore including letters written by her to newspapers, obituaries reviews of her work. Pamphlets, notes, photograph of most of Mary Gilmore by Raynor Holl.
    0.02 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 1880
  20. Papers, [manuscript]. 1837-1962
    [1837 - 1962]
    Poems; original notes of "Arrows"; correspondence, including letters from John Hargrave, Mrs. Kathleen Murchie, Clem Christeson, Karol Boyar, and Helen Cameron Roberts; two postcards; several periodicals; corrected proofs of the Tilted Cart; and miscellaneous press clippings on a wide variety of subjects of interest to Mary Gilmore. The collection also comprises: drafts of poetry; letters to W.A. Woods, Mrs Gollan Lewis, Mrs W.A. Woods; correspondence received by W.A. Woods from A.G. Stephens and Rose Webster concerning Mary Gilmore; press cuttings concerning Mary Gilmore. A finding aid is available, linked to the on-line catalogue record
    0.3 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 1662
  21. Papers, [manuscript] 1883-1962
    [1883 - 1962]
    Manuscripts and typescripts of poems; sheet music; scrapbook; correspondence; miscellaneous printed items received by Mary Gilmore; photographs; press cuttings; diaries.
    16 boxes
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 727
  22. Dame Mary Gilmore Papers
    [1911 - 1950]
    Diaries, 1940-1949; letters received, including correspondence with Henry Lawson; papers re misc. literary societies and women's organisations; poems and articles; biographical material; writings by other authors; misc. postcards, photographs, invitations, programmes, newcuttings etc.
    1 m
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
    ? A3552-A3293
  23. William Morrow - recordings of addresses given by Jessie Street, and interviews with Jessie Street, 1953-1960
    [1953 - 1960]
    Sound recordings - 7hrs 40mins. 1953; Recording of the 50th anniversary celebration of women's suffrage in Australia, including a welcome to delegates, speakers include Dame Mary Gilmore and Henrietta Greville, 16 December 1953. (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/1) n.d.; Recording of Jessie Street in conversation on nuclear disarmament (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/2) 1960; Recording of Dr Linus Pauling and Mrs Pauling speaking at St Pancras Town Hall, England, on why the world must disarm, 17 July 1960 (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/3) 1959; Recording of the Deserted Wives Conference, speakers include Jessie Street (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/4-5) n.d.; Recording of Jessie Street speaking on aspects of China; and a recording of a news item in which Jessie Street comments on allegations that the Conference on Disarmament was a communist initiative. (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/6) n.d.; 'A World without War', being a recording of the British Peace Party National Conference on Disarmament (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/7) n.d.; Interviews by Jessie Street with suffragettes including Lilian Lenton, Charlotte Marsh, Eileen Casey and Mary Leigh. They recall being in prison, confrontations with the police, and hunger strikes. (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/8) n.d.; 'Women of Britain. The Story of their Struggle', by Nancy Brush, read by Pat Burke; and interviews by Jessie Street with Charlotte Marsh, Eileen Casey and Mary Leigh (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/9) n.d.; Recording of Jessie Street speaking about China including illiteracy, living conditions and nomadic minority races (Locn No.: CY MLOH 52/10-12)
    12 reels.
    Mitchell Library and Sir William Dixson Research Library, State Library of New South Wales
    Z MLOH 52
  24. Papers, [manuscript] 1902-1962
    [1902 - 1962]
    This collection of papers has been arranged into the following series: I. Correspondence, 1905-1961, business and personal. Major correspondents include Larry Chaplin, Joan Hendry, Enid Morton (Acting Secretary Mary Gilmore Awards), Hilda Brotherton (President Brisbane Writers Guild), Marjorie Hancock (Deputy Librarian Mitchell Library, Sydney), Dame Sybil Thorndike and Walter J. Hucker (Director Air Programs Australia). II. Dame Mary Gilmore's writings. This includes manuscripts and draft typescript of addresses, articles, letters to editors, poetry and other writings. III. Newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, printed material, publications and miscellaneous papers, 1902-1962. Included is a copy of a guide to the Mitchell Library's holding of Gilmore papers. An On-line finding guide is available from the catalogue record.
    1.54 m, 11 boxes + 2 folio items
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 8766
  25. Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore [manuscript]. 1948
    [1948]
    Typescripts (corrected and later version) of The First (Phantom) Coat of Arms. The Coat-of-Arms was thought out by Mary Gilmore's father, and his kinsman Mr Ogilvie of Yugilbar in about the year 1870-71. It was made as the breast-plate of "Bobby, Chief of the Yugilbar Tribe". Breastplates were given as protection by squatters to the Aboriginal people working for them. Her father cut the model from which the copper breast plate was to be copied. Dame Mary Gilmore presented the breast plate to the National Library. Also includes a letter by Mary Gilmore to William Farmer Whyte regarding the breastplate.
    0.01 m, 1 folder
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 9595
  26. Diaries of Dame Mary Gilmore, 1940-1949 [manuscript]
    [1940 - 1949]
    Unbound original typescript made by Dame Mary Gilmore from her manuscript diary.
    0.7 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 614
  27. Gilmore, Dame Mary
    [Typescript ]
    Folder containing articles and notes on her early teaching career.
    Outback Archives, Broken Hill City Library
    Filing system by name
  28. Bluett, W. P. (William Philip), 1871-1968 [Correspondence and diaries]
    [1910 - 1962]
    Correspondence (mostly letters from Dame Mary Gilmore), clippings and farm diaries
    0.3 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 4714
  29. Australasian Book Society [Records]
    [Printed material, Photocopies : 1895 - 1962]
    (I) Papers concerning Mary Gilmore comprising photocopies of letters from A. G. Stephens to Mr. Woods re the publication of her poetry, and some original MSS, and photocopies of poems. (II) letter by A. G. Stephens to George Black at Parliament House, referring to the printing of an article by Stephens. (III) Memorial volume; minute book and letter relating to its publication. (IV) Correspondence between Shaw Neilson and A. G. Stephens, and two letters from Hilda Malmgren and a publishing agreement.
    4 folders
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 2037
  30. Baker, Kate, 1861-1953 [Papers]
    [1893 - 1946]
    The collection consists mainly of correspondence relating to Australian literary interests and figures, particularly to Joseph Furphy and his writings. The main sections are letters from Furphy to his mother, to Kate Baker and to William Cathels; from Kate Baker to Margaret Boyd and A.K. Wilson; and from A.G. Stephens to Furphy and Baker. Correspondents in the collection include: J.S. Neilson, Guy Innes, C. Winterbottom, Vance and Nettie Palmer, Miles Franklin, Charles Bryde, Gerald Bryne, J.K. Ewers, H.B. Grattan, F. Wilmot, the editor of the Bulletin, the Australian Literature Society and publishers and booksellers such as Angus and Robertson. Other items include photographs, presscuttings, typescript copies of articles, MS copies of poems by J. Furphy and Kate Baker's Silhouettes - articles about such Australian literary figures as Ada Cambridge, J.K. Ewers, J.S. Neilson, Alice Henry, R.H. Croll, D.O'Reilly, Canon Hughes, Vance & Nettie Palmer, Dame Mary Gilmore Hubert Church, B. O'Dowd, A.G. Stephens, C. Winterbottom, C. Bryde, M. Franklin, G. Byrne, Edith Coleman, E. Coulson Davidson, C. Lang, C. Strong and Victor Kennedy.
    1.5 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 2022
  31. Photographs of Women literary figures
    [Photographs ]
    Photographic copies of 77 black and white photographs mainly of notable writers and literary figures including Dame Mary Gilmore, Sir Lionel Lindsay, Norman Lindsay, Ethel Turner, Zora Cross, Tom Inglis Moore and Ruth Park.
    1 folder
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 6191
  32. [Personal Papers of Prime Minister Curtin] Correspondence 'G' [Mrs F R Gale - Gordon Branch Australian Labor Party, includes poem sent to Mrs Elsie Curtin by Dame Mary Gilmore]
    [30 September 1941 - 30 April 1942]
    1.5 m
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    1516079
  33. National Council of Women of New South Wales - further records, ca. 1895-2004
    [1895 - 2004]
    material concerning the Centenary year, 1996; Captain Cook Bi-centennial celebrations, 1970; minute books; newsletters; annual reports; photographs including Rose Scott, Lady Windeyer, Miles Franklin, Dame Mary Gilmore, Margaret Windeyer; balance sheets; booklets; seminars and papers; reports and letters; audio tapes; video tapes; newscuttings.
    12 boxes
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
    Original : MLMSS
  34. Miles Franklin - Papers, 1841-1954
    [Textual Records and Photographs : 1841 - 1954]
    The collection comprises personal and literary papers of Miles Franklin. Personal papers include diaries and notebooks and an extensive collection of correspondence. Literary papers include manuscripts and publishing papers of Miles Franklin, as well as literary papers of Mary Fullerton. The collection also includes family papers of the Franklin and Lampe families and papers received from the estates of Alice Henry and Mary Fullerton. It is a very large collection of 116 vols, 14 boxes, 3 folders. Some of the collection has been preserved on microfilm. The following 74 manuscript volumes/boxes have been copied onto preservation microfilm and will be issued in place of the originals: MLMSS 364/2-42, 44-55, 59-60, 62-67, 76-77, 80-81, 83-84, 86-88, 92, 113X-115. For further details of reel numbers, please consult staff at the Mitchell Library Information Desk. The following 49 original volumes/boxes are unfilmed and may be issued: MLMSS 364/43, 56-58, 61, 68-75, 78-79, 82, 85, 89-91, 93-112, 116-124. There is a detailed index at MLMss 364/1 There is also an on-line finding guide accessible at : http://findaid.library.uwa.edu.au/cgi-bin/nph-dweb/dynaweb/findaid/franklin1/@Generic__BookView;cs=default;ts=default
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
    MLMSS 364
  35. Papers of Eleanor Dark
    [1923 - 1974]
    The collection consists of newspaper clippings (1936-1954) mainly reviews of Eleanor Dark's novels, and letters (1923-1974) from a number of the prominent Australian literary figures of the period. The correspondents include Manning Clark, Kate Baker, Jean Devaney, Flora Eldershaw, Mary Gilmore, Vance and Nettie Palmer, Miles Franklin, Eric Lowe, Marjorie Barnard, Ethel Turner, Xavier Herbert, Frank Dalby Davison, Brian Fitzpatrick, Alec Chisholm, Kylie Tennant, Meta Mackan, Ruth Park, Ethel Curlewis, C.B. Christesen.
    0.1 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 4998
  36. Australasian Literary Commemorative Association [Papers]
    [Correspondence : 1945 - 1948]
    A collection of papers consisting of letters from the following (number of letters indicated): Baker, Eric (1); Baker, Kate (25); Croll, R.H. (1); Cronin, Bernard (1); Gilmore, Dame Mary (1); Mattingley, A.H.E. (5); Kennedy, Victor (13); Murdoch, Sir Keith (1); minutes of meetings, 1946-1947; Articles of Association.
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Gilmore, Dame Mary Jean (1865 - 1962)' - Australian Dictionary of Biography
    W. H. Wilde
    [1983]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
    Series: Volume 9
    pp 14-16.

Resources By Dame Mary Gilmore (151)

  1. Old days, old ways a book of recollections / by Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book, Audio book : 1934-2004]
  2. Letters of Mary Gilmore / selected and edited by W.H. Wilde and T. Inglis Moore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book : 1980]
  3. The collected verse of Mary Gilmore / edited by Jennifer Strauss
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book : 2004-2007]
  4. Mary Gilmore : a tribute / by Dymphna Cusack, T. Inglis Moore and Barrie Ovenden
    Cusack, Dymphna, 1902-1981
    [Book : 1965]
  5. More recollections / by Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book : 1935]
  6. Under the Wilgas : poems / by Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book : 1932]
  7. Papers
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1902-1962]
  8. Papers of Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1865-1962]
  9. Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1837-1962]
  10. Papers of Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1883-1962]

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Australian Newspapers (1803-1954)

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  1. Website: State Library of New South Wales [website]
    www.sl.nsw.gov.au
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  2. Website: National Library of Australia staff papers
    www.nla.gov.au
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  3. Website: National Conference (Curriculum Corporation (Australia))
    www.curriculum.edu.au
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    • Biographies--Dame Mary Gilmore - 23/5/2002
    • ... Mandaway Yunupingu Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962) Mary Gilmore was born near Goulburn, New South Wales. She...
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  1. Litchfield, Jessie Sinclair. 1883-1956
    autobiographer/memoirist; essayist; journalist; magazine/journal editor; newspaper editor; short story writer
    ... Gilmore, Dame Mary Jean (1865 - 1962) ...
  2. White, Charles. 1845-1922
    federationist; historian (general); journalist; newspaper editor
    ... Gilmore, Dame Mary Jean (1865 - 1962) ...
  3. Taylor, Harry S., (Harry Samuel).
    Congregationalist lay leader; journalist; magazine/journal editor; newspaper owner; pro-conscriptionist; single taxer; utopian
    ... Gilmore, Dame Mary Jean (1865 - 1962) ...

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  1. Old days, old ways a book of recollections / by Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book, Audio book : 1934-2004]
  2. The passionate heart / by Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Book, Audio book : 1908-1983]
  3. Pro patria Australia verses by Dame Mary Gilmore ; music by Alfred Hill
    Hill, Alfred, 1869-1960
    [Sheet music : 1900-1995]
  1. Mary Gilmore, 1865-1962
    Fabian, Sue, 19...
    [Poster, chart, other : 1985]
  2. Portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore Marie...
    McNiven, Marie
    [Art work : 1945-1958]
  3. Dame Mary Gilmore
    [Photograph : 1952]
  1. Papers of Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1865-1962]
  2. Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1837-1962]
  3. Papers of Dame Mary Gilmore
    Gilmore, Mary Dame, 1865-1962
    [Unpublished : 1948]