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Fitzpatrick, Kathleen (1905-1990)

Also known as
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth (1905-1990)
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth Pitt (1905-1990)
Pitt, Kathleen
Pitt, Kathleen (1905-1990)
Occupation
academic; historian (general)
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-565492

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service to education, particularly in the field of history, on 26 January 1989, Kathleen Fitzpatrick was the first woman council member of the National Library of Australia, and a foundation member of the Australian Humanities Research Council (later the Australian Academy of Humanities).

Fitzpatrick was educated at Loreto Convents (Albert Park and Portland), Presentation Convent (Windsor) and Lauriston Girls’ School (Melbourne) before attending the University of Melbourne. Following completion of her honours degree, in 1926, Fitzpatrick went to Oxford to complete another undergraduate degree - a common practice at the time. Returning to Australia she found employment at the University of Sydney before becoming a tutor in the English department at the University of Melbourne in 1930. Upon marriage, in 1932, to journalist (later historian) Brian Fitzpatrick, she had to resign her position at the University.

Following the failure of her marriage, Fitzpatrick was advised by the University Appointments Board that ‘the only demand for female workers was for good secretaries'. It was recommended that she become proficient in typewriting and shorthand if she wanted to find employment. She enrolled at the Melbourne Technical School (now the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), completed the required subjects and became a teacher of Shorthand and Commercial English at the school. In 1938 Fitzpatrick was offered her old position at the University of Melbourne. Before retiring in 1962 she held positions of lecturer, senior lecturer and associate professor of history.

During World War II Fitzpatrick was president of the Council for Women in War. She negotiated with employers on behalf of University of Melbourne women students working at Shepparton under Manpower regulations. In her retirement Fitzpatrick concentrated on research and writing and was disappointed in not being able to find a publisher for her magnum opus, a book on the novelist Henry James.

Former student, professional historian and close friend Manning Clark read the eulogy at the Requiem Mass for Kathleen Fitzpatrick held at St Thomas Aquinas, South Yarra on Friday 31 August 1990.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

FITZPATRICK, KATHLEEN ELIZABETH (1905-1990), historian, was born on 7 Septem­ber 1905 at Omeo, Victoria, second of four children of Victorian-born parents Henry Arthur Pitt, civil servant, and his wife Gertrude Augusta, née Buxton. The family maintained social contact only with close relatives; Kathleen grew up shy and lacking self-confidence but resolutely feminist. She recalled that her education—at Loreto Convent (Albert Park and Portland), Presentation Con­vent (Windsor) and Lauriston Girls’ School—largely lacked stimulus. At the University of Melbourne (BA Hons, 1926) she studied English and history. As taught by (Sir) Ernest Scott, history enlarged her imagination and academic ambitions. She also became an editor of the new student newspaper Farrago, and was active in student societies ranging from the Literature to the Melbourne University Labor clubs. Pitt proceeded to the University of Oxford (BA, 1928; MA, 1934). Disaster followed: she felt her fellow-students were snobbish and contemptuous of women, and she miscalculated the effort involved in completing a second degree in two years instead of three. She emerged exhausted, the predicted first-class result reduced to a creditable second. She was forever convinced that this meant that she was no academic. Scott disagreed, and found her a stopgap lectureship at the University of Sydney (1929). There followed a tutorship in English at Melbourne, from which she resigned to marry Brian Fitzpatrick at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on 27 August 1932. The marriage was over by 1935 and they were divorced in 1939. She began a business course at Melbourne Technical School and was soon teaching typing and commercial English there.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Related people and organisations

Resources

Selected resources (33)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Solid bluestone foundations and other memories of a Melbourne girlhood, 1908-1928
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990.
    [1983]
    Published: Macmillan, South Melbourne
  2. Australian explorers : a selection from their writings with an introduction
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [1958]
    Published: Oxford University Press, London ; New York
  3. Martin Boyd
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990.
    [1963]
    Published: Lansdowne Press, Melbourne
  4. Sir John Franklin in Tasmania, 1837-1843
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990.
    Published: Melbourne
  5. Webb, Jessie Stobo Watson (1880-1944)
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  6. The Ballad revival in the XVIIIth century
    Pitt, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1925]
  7. PLC Melbourne : the first century, 1875-1975
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990.
    [1975]
    Published: Presbyterian Ladies' College, Burwood, Vic.
  8. History for the homeless : Kathleen Fitzpatrick's vocation and ours.
    [1995]
    Published: Dept. of History, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic.
  9. Women historians and women's history : Kathleen Fitzpatrick (1905-1990), Margaret Kiddle (1914-1958) and the Melbourne History School
    Carey, Jane, 1972- and Grimshaw, Patricia, 1938-
    [2001]
    Published: Dept. of History, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic.
  10. Melbourne University portraits : they called it "The Shop"
    Paper-Clip Collective.
    [1996]
    Published: Dept. of History, University of Melbourne with the assistance of the History of the University Unit, Parkville, Vic.
  11. The letters of Lorna Maneschi to her family in Australia
    Maneschi, Lorna.
    [1999-2000.]
    Published: J. Maneschi, Mosman, N.S.W.
  12. Australian lives: an Oxford anthology
    Hooton, Joy W. (Joy Wendy), 1935-
    [1998]
    Published: Oxford University Press, Melbourne
  13. Shameful autobiographies : shame in contemporary Australian autobiographies and culture
    Dalziell, Rosamund.
    [1999]
    Published: Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic.
  14. Who's who of Australian women
    Lofthouse, Andrea
    [1982]
    Published: Methuen Australia, North Ryde (NSW)
  15. Dear Kathleen, dear Manning : the correspondence of Manning Clark and Kathleen Fitzpatrick 1949-1990
    Clark, Manning, 1915-1991.
    [1996]
    Published: Melbourne University Press, Carlton South, Vic.,
  16. The Half-open door : sixteen modern Australian women look at professional life and achievement
    Grimshaw, Patricia and Strahan, Lynne
    [c1982]
    Published: Hale & Iremonger, Sydney
  17. 150 years, 150 stories : brief biographies of one hundred and fifty remarkable people associated with the University of Melbourne
    Flesch, Juliet and McPhee, Peter
    [2003]
    Published: Department of History, University of Melbourne, Melbourne
  18. Who's who in Australia 1950
    Alexander, Joseph A
    [1950]
    Published: The Herald, Melbourne
  19. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1923 - 1990]
    Student essay, 1923; personal and academic correspondence; lecture notes; broadcasts; book reviews; newspaper cuttings; research material on Sir John Franklin and Governor La Trobe 1930-1974; funeral eulogy by Manning Clark, 1990.
    0.72 m, 6 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    91/9
  20. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1961 - 1990]
    26 letters to Neilma Gantner from Kathleen Fitzpatrick: 23 May, 8 July, n.d. 1961; 17, 9 September 1963; 10 April 1964; 2 July, 5 August 1965; 12 May, 2 June 1966; 12 January 1967; 24 May, 2 September 1968; 10 July, 15 July, 1 September, 16 October 1970; 6 June 1972; 31 July 1973; 27 April 1983; 25 March, 10 April 1987; 23 June 1988; 2 March 1990; two undated. "Henry James as Reader and Critic", Address by KF to the Friends of the Baillieu Library, 27 March 1968, 11 ts.; her review in the Age of a book on James, n.d.; Photograph of KF by Helmut Newton.
    0.02 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    97/7
  21. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    The Brimming Cup; a study of the work of Henry James. Revised manuscript (typed) of her proposed book, with carbon copy.
    0.13 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    92/7
  22. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1950 - 1967]
    Manuscript of work on Henry James, original version, top and carbon copy (1967); correspondence concerning the ms. with Mrs. Marjorie Coppel, c.1964-1969 and one from Dorothy Krook, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, June 1969. Lectures on Henry James and Herman Melville for English C Country students, 1950; Lectures on James given in the English Department 1952.
    0.24 m, 2 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    92/122
  23. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1914 - 1982]
    Letter from Kathleen to the "Hughendens", from Leroet Convent, Portland, 20 July (in pencil, 1914); to Kathleen from "Isobel", 24 December 1982; to Kathleen from K. and A. Inglis, 19 July 1982; "On an Ode to Lorna" by Kathleen; greeting card from M. and A. Colquhoun Christmas 1972. Notebook: "Notes on Henry James - taken in the Reading Room of the British Museum, 1954". Photograph of Kathleen with family aged c. 1914, near waterfall; caricature "Kathleen, 1926", Barry - Eiffel Tower 8.8.26;; her burnt-out house, Lorne, (from newspaper), n.d.
    0.03 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    95/85
  24. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1942 - 1966]
    Correspondence and reports concerning student employment, 1942- 1943; W.E. Hearn Historical Lecture, "Ernest Scott and the Melbourne School of History", 1966.
    0.01 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    80/160
  25. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1970 - 1980]
    Letters to Mr and Mrs John Pitt (brother and sister-in-law), 1970-1980.
    0.05 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    93/41
  26. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1968 - 1970]
    Correspondence between Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Curtis Brown Ltd, literary agents, Macmillan Publishing Co., the Australian Society of Authors and Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., 16 December 1968 - 20 March 1970, concerning her rejected manuscript on Henry James, "The Brimming Cup. Also, letter from Marjorie Pitt to Joyce Nicholson, enclosing the above documents, incompletely dated 3 October.. (Photocopies) Joyce Nicholson's note on the correspondence appears on the envelope. Copies of photographs: Lorna and Kathleen Pitt as children n.d.; Tennis Party at Baynes, group including Ivor Blogg, Bill ?, John Pitt, Kathleen, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lorna Pitt and Mollie Bayne; "The End of the War", showing Keith Macartney, Kathleen, Pat Gray, Dorothy Crozier, Joyce Dunn; two portrait photographs of Kathleen taken by Newton, n.d.; one portrait photograph taken of Kathleen as a young woman by Ronald Esler, Howey Court, Melbourne; oval photograph of the young Kathleen, n.d. Photograph of Gertrude, Kathleen's mother, as a child, by Johnstone O'Shannessy & Company Limited, n.d. The copies of group photographs are accompanied by photocopies of Kathleen's notes written on the back of the originals.
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    98/104
  27. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1941 - 1963]
    Professor R.M. Crawford's recommendations that she be promoted to Senior Lecturer (1941) and to Associate Professor (1945, 1948), and testimonial supporting her application for a Research Fellowship at the the A.N.U. (1946); Registrar's letter conveying Council's Minute of Appreciation on her retirement and her reply (1963); letter from University House advising of her Honorary Membership (1963); her 3 pages on La Trobe's claim to have a university named after him for J.R.A.Glenn and J.Bloomfield's thanks for serving on the L.T.U. Committee (1964).
    0.02 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    92/61
  28. [Biographical cuttings on Kathleen Fitzpatrick, writer and historian]
    National Library of Australia Newspaper Microcopy Reading Room
  29. Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth
    [1962]
    "Historical Studies presented to Kathleen Fitzpatrick; an unauthorized Anthology from the Works of Her Friends". 1962. Typescript,, 30 pp., bound in dark blue leather printed in silver. On verso of fly-leaf: "Kathleen Fitzpatrick Monday 17 December 1962". Inside back cover is taped an envelope containing letters written to her on the occasion of her retirement, together with two sheets of signatures of those at the presentation dinner, and labelled in her hand "On my death, please deliver book and contents to The Archivist"(U of M)
    0.01 m, 1 qto vol.
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    93/65
  30. Half open door, The
    [1978 - 1983]
    Correspondence; structure of the book; unused manuscripts; photographs and sketches; biological notes and material; draft manuscripts; edited manuscripts; galley proofs; promotional material; book reviews; miscellaneous. The collection relates to preparation and publication of "The Half Open Door", a book of sixteen autobiographical chapters by sixteen women of various professions, most of whom were associated with the University of Melbourne. Patricia Grimshaw and Lynne Strahan were joint editors. Patricia Grimshaw wrote the introduction, Lynne Strahan was a contributor along with Barbara Falk, Therese Radic, Nina Christesen, Mary Macqueen, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Joyce Nicholson, Dame Kate Cambell, Helen Gifford, Alison Patrick, Beatrice Faust, Norma Grieve, Deidre FitzGerald, Mary Turner Shaw, Dinan Dyason, Judith Lumley. The portrait illustrations were by Sandra Simon.
    0.36 m, 4 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    83/147
  31. University of Melbourne Department of History
    [1930 - 1971]
    Correspondence and related papers of Professor R.M. Crawford regarding staff appointments, administration and developments in teaching 1937-1969; scripts of school broadcasts 1939-1955; correspondence of Professor J.A. La Nauze 1956-1965; departmental correspondence 1944-1970; tutorial and essay guides 1940-1970; summaries of departmental seminars 1946-1951; student record sheets 1950-1955, results 1938-1955; summaries of departmental seminars 1946- 1951; student record sheets 1950-1955, results 1938-1955; survey of honours graduates conducted by Dr. A.G. Serle.
    5 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    75/33
  32. University of Melbourne Department of History
    [1996]
    Melbourne University Portraits. They Called It 'The Shop'. The Paper Clip Collective. Published by the History Department, The University of Melbourne, with the assistance of the History of the University Unit. 122 pp. This publication is the product of a course taken by Associate Professor Don Garden, Writing History for Publication, in which each student chose an individual associated with the University on whom to write a research essay, and took part in the publishing process.
    0.01 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    96/104
  33. Pitt, Henry Arthur
    [1899 - 1995]
    Correspondence, 1931-1954, incl letters from R.G. Menzies, J.B. Chifley and A.W. Fadden; drafts of sppeches and reminiscences, n.d.; papers relating to Pitt's deceased estate, 1955-1995; publications and newscuttings; photographs. Henry Arthur Pitt was born in Colac in 1872, the son of a rural school teacher. The financial repercussions of his father's early death forced Henry to abandon his plans to study law and instead he entered the Victorian Public Service. After working ten years a clerk of courts in Omeo, he was promoted to the State Treasury in 1909. He studied accountancy part time and made a rapid advancement up the Public Service ranks, serving as Manager of the Australian Wheat Board from 1916-1922 and then Under Treasurer of Victoria, later retitled Director of Finance. He was Agent-General for Victoria in London for a brief period in 1927 and in 1935 he was appointed to the Royal Commiss- ion into Australia's 'monetary and financial systems'. He retired from the Public Service in 1937 and became a partner in the stockbroking firm of Ian Potter & Co. He also served on the boards and committees of the Lawn Tennis Associations of Victoria and Australia, Georges Ltd., the Royal Children's Hospital and University College. In 1899 he married Gertrude Augusta Buxton, with whom he had four children; one was the historian, Kathleen Fitzpatrick. Henry Arthur Pitt, C.M.G., O.B.E. died on 3 August, 1955.
    0.08 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    95/132

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth (1905 - 1990)' - Australian Dictionary of Biography
    Alison Patrick
    [????]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
    Series: Volume 17
    pp 397-398.

Resources By Kathleen Fitzpatrick (14)

  1. Dear Kathleen, dear Manning : the correspondence of Manning Clark and Kathleen Fitzpatrick 1949-1990 / edited by Susan Davies
    Clark, Manning, 1915-1991
    [Book : 1996]
  2. Australian explorers : a selection from their writings with an introduction / by Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    [Book : 1958-1965]
  3. Solid bluestone foundations and other memories of a Melbourne girlhood 1908-1928 / by Kathleen Fitzpatrick ; introduced by Susan Davies
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book, Audio book : 1983-2000]
  4. Solid bluestone foundations : memories of an Australian girlhood / Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1983-1986]
  5. Martin Boyd / by Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1963]
  6. Sir John Franklin in Tasmania 1837-1843 / by Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1949]
  7. PLC Melbourne : the first century, 1875-1975 / [by] Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1975]
  8. Australian explorers : a selection from their writings / Kathleen Fitzpatrick
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1959-1965]
  9. Martin Boyd and the complex fate of the Australian novelist / by Kathleen Fitzpatrick ; and, The poetry of Bernard O'Dowd / by F.M. Todd
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1953]
  10. Henry James and the influence of Italy
    Fitzpatrick, Kathleen, 1905-1990
    [Book : 1968]

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  1. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
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    View 40 matching archived pages
  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
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  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
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  1. Lyceum Club (Melbourne, Vic.).
    ... Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth (1905 - 1990) ...
  2. Grimshaw, Patricia. 1938-
    ... Fitzpatrick (1905-1990), Margaret Kiddle (1914-1958) and the Melbourne History School Carlton, Vic. Dept. of ...
  3. Australian Federation of University Women - Victoria Inc. 1922-
    ... Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Elizabeth (1905 - 1990) ...

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