Clark, Mavis Thorpe

Also known as
Clark, M. R.
Clark, M. Thorpe
Clark, Mavis Thorpe (1909-1999)
Thorpe Clark, Mavis
Field of activity
Author
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35028653
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-459130

Biographies

Mavis Thorpe Clark was a prolific writer of children's fiction who, in late life, also wrote for adults. In the process of researching her first adult book, Pastor Doug, the biography of Sir Douglas Nicholls, she created a large archive of letters and correspondence of relevance to indigneous scholarship.

Mavis Thorpe Clark was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1909. Her writing career began at the age of 14, when the Australasian published, as a children’s serial, her work The Red School, by no means a masterpiece, but her first literary endeavour. Her first published book, written when she was 18 and sold to Whitcombe and Tombs in 1930 for the then handsome sum of £30, was Hatherley’s First Fifteen, a boy’s adventure story about Rugby football.

Her first book for adults, Pastor Doug, the biography of Sir Douglas Nicholls, Aboriginal pastor later appointed Governor of South Australia, was published in 1965 and re-issued in 1973 in a revised second edition. In 1979, she published another Doug Nicholls’s biographical account under the title The Boy from Cumeroogunga. In order to complete this task, she researched Aboriginal archives and associated with Aboriginal people, and has left a large amount of personal notes, correspondence, research files, etc. of relevance to Aboriginal scholarship.

Unlike most authors, Clark did not suffer rejection of any book submitted for publication. She became an extremely prolific writer and published 32 books, mostly for children, five of which were broadcast as serials by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Her book The Min Min won the 1967 Australian Children’s Book of the Year award, and film rights to The Sky Is Free were bought by the Walt Disney organisation. Clark died in Melbourne in 1999, at the age of 90. She has been honoured by having the national Fellowship of Australian Writers Mavis Thorpe Clark Award named after her.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Mavis Thorpe Clark was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1909. Her writing career began at the age of 14, when the Australasian published, as a children’s serial, her work The Red School, by no means a masterpiece, but her first literary endeavour. Her first published book, written when she was 18 and sold to Whitcombe and Tombs in 1930 for the then handsome sum of £30, was Hatherley’s First Fifteen, a boy’s adventure story about Rugby football. Her first book for adults, Pastor Doug, the biography of Sir Douglas Nicholls, Aboriginal pastor later appointed Governor of South Australia, was published in 1965 and re-issued in 1973 in a revised second edition. In 1979, she published another Doug Nicholls’s biographical account under the title The Boy from Cumeroogunga. In order to complete this task, she researched Aboriginal archives and associated with Aboriginal people, and has left a large amount of personal notes, correspondence, research files, etc. of relevance to Aboriginal scholarship. Unlike most authors, Clark did not suffer rejection of any book submitted for publication. She became an extremely prolific writer and published 32 books, mostly for children, five of which were broadcast as serials by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Her book The Min Min won the 1967 Australian Children’s Book of the Year award, and film rights to The Sky Is Free were bought by the Walt Disney organisation. Clark died in Melbourne in 1999, at the age of 90. She has been honoured by having the national Fellowship of Australian Writers Mavis Thorpe Clark Award named after her.

View the full record at Libraries Australia

Resources for Mavis Thorpe Clark

Selected resources (8)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Aborgines in society: the man from CummeragunjaSmoke Signals 7 1 20 : Aborgines in society: the man from Cummeragunja
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [1968]
  2. Trust the Dream: an autobiography
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [2004]
    Published: Rhonda Hall
  3. Papers of Mavis Thorpe Clark
    National Library of Australia
    [2004]
    Series: http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms7847
  4. No mean destiny : the story of the War Widows' Guild of Australia 1945-85
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [1986]
    Published: Hyland House
  5. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Mavis Thorpe Clark, 1923-1987
    Manuscripts, typescripts, notes, newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to Clark's work as a writer. The correspondence is mostly with publishers and editors, including: Cole Turnley, E. W. Cole, W. Heinemann, George Robinson, Edward Vidler, Derek Smith, Sir Donald Bradman, Zola Kay, Chris Tangey, Catherine Hennessy, Jackie McDonald.
    MS 7847
  6. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Letters: to Grade Fives, Blackburn South Primary School (2 August 1974 - )
    Letter from Mavis Thorpe Clark addressed to the Grade Fives of Blackburn South Primary School. Also a newsclipping showing her at Blackburn Library
    MS 12847
  7. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Papers of Mavis Thorpe Clark (1980?)
    Comprises documents, letters and notes relating to Mavis Thorpe Clark's associaiton with International P.E.N., the Austrlaian Society of Authors and the National Book Council
    PA 99/124
  8. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Manuscript and research files of Mavis Thorpe Clark (1950 - 1980)
    Comprises orignal manuscirpt of the book 'Pastor Doug: the story of Sir Douglas Nicholls, Aboriginal leader'. Also, research files containing correspondence, newspaper clippings, published material photgraphs and research notes
    PA 01/59

Resources by Mavis Thorpe Clark (68)

  1. Trust the dream : an autobiography / Mavis Thorpe Davis
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book : 2004 ]
    At 45 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.997)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.997)

  2. The min-min / Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book, Audio book : 1966-2000 ]
    Languages: English, German
    At 54 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 40.72)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 40.72)

  3. Solomon's child / Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book, Audio book : 1981-1987 ]
    At 48 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 36.732)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 36.732)

  4. The boy from Cumeroogunga / Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book : 1979-1987 ]
    At 56 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 35.077)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 35.077)

  5. Iron mountain / [by] Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book, Audio book : 1968-1989 ]
    Languages: English, German
    At 37 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.81)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.81)

  6. Pastor Doug : the story of Sir Douglas Nicholls, Aboriginal leader / [by] Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book : 1965-1975 ]
    At 50 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 31.092)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 31.092)

  7. No mean destiny : the story of the War Widow's Guild of Australia 1945-85 / Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book, Audio book : 1986-1988 ]
    At 57 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.784)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.784)

  8. Wildfire
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book, Audio book : 1973-1995 ]
    Languages: English, German
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 44 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.045)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.045)

  9. Papers of Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Unpublished : 1920-1999 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.62)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.62)

  10. Gully of gold / Mavis Thorpe Clark ; illustrated by Anne Graham
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book : 1958-1969 ]
    At 34 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.059)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.059)

More...

Resources about Mavis Thorpe Clark (19)

  1. Trust the dream : an autobiography / Mavis Thorpe Davis
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Book : 2004 ]
    At 45 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.465)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.465)

  2. Papers of Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Unpublished : 1920-1999 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.14)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 28.14)

  3. Mavis Thorpe Clark interviewed by Hazel de Berg for the Hazel de Berg collection
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Sound : 1967-1976 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.668)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.668)

  4. [Biographical cuttings on Mavis Thorpe Clark, writer, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.173)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.173)

  5. [Biographical cuttings on Mavis Thorpe Clark, author, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.173)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.173)

  6. Manuscript and research files
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Unpublished : 1950-1980 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.404)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.404)

  7. Papers
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Unpublished : 1980 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.855)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.855)

  8. Background to a book. -Taken from a talk given at Hall School, A.C.T., 1976. Includes bibliography of Mavis Thorpe Clark's works-
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    Writing and Illustrating for Children
    [ Article : 1985 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.009)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.009)

  9. Words about an author
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    The Early Dreaming: Australian Children's Authors on Childhood
    [ Article : 1980 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.601)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.601)

  10. Australian children's authors: Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Wageningen, Jenni van
    South Australia. Education Department. School Libraries Branch. Review
    [ Article : 1979 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.227)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.227)

More...

No Comments for this person

 

Add a comment



Possibly related

Digitised newspapers and more

Searching...

Minimise

Diaries, letters, archives

Searching...

Minimise

Archived websites (1996 – now)

Searching...

Minimise

Pictures, photos, objects

Searching...

Minimise

Books

Searching...

Minimise

Music, sound and video

Searching...

Minimise

People and organisations

Searching...

Minimise

Journals, articles and data sets

Searching...

Minimise

Maps

Searching...

Minimise

Lists

Searching...

Minimise
  1. C H Clark
    Created by EADavey, 6 items.

    Clive Harrison Clark was an extremely successful exhibitor in poultry shows in the 1910's, 20s and 30s. He also established and managed the firm Clark, King and Co which produced poultry feed. This a ...

  2. CLARK - GLEN HUON
    Created by RosemaryBronkhorst, 21 items.

    Family of Hedley Victor and Jean Elizabeth (Fraser) CLARK

  3. Peter Clark LYONS
    Created by mwillis17, 1 item.

    Items related to Peter Clark LYONS (-1927)

  1. Clark, Mavis Thorpe
    ... Mavis Thorpe Clark was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1909. Her writing career began at the age of ...
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.555)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.555)

  2. Mayo, Edith (1915-1995)
    ... Australia. [1] No Mean Destiny by Mavis Thorpe Clark p. 71 ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  1. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 41 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.39)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.39)

  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 47 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.37)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.37)

  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 9 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.998)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.998)

Maps

No results

Minimise
  1. "You're a failure as a parent, Joe Edwards!": reconfiguring the male parent in Australian realist fictions for children 1966-1986
    Pennell, B. (Beverley)
    Papers (Victoria Park, WA)
    [ Article : 1999 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.919)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.919)

  2. The thirty-nine steps / John Buchan
    Buchan, John, 1875-1940.
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, [5 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 107 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.064)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.064)

  3. Golf: New captains drive in at Greetham Valley
    Europe Intelligence Wire
    [ Article : 2007 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

  4. OBITUARIES.(Obituaries)
    The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
    [ Article : 2008 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

  1. The brown land was green / Mavis Thorpe Clark ; illustrated by Harry Hudson
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe, 1909-1999
    [ Book : 1956 ]
    At 22 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.902)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.902)

  2. They came south / Mavis Thorpe Clark ; illustrations by Joy Murray
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe, 1909-1999
    [ Book : 1963 ]
    At 18 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.539)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.539)

  3. Missing gold / Mavis Thorpe Clark
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe, 1909-1999
    [ Book : 1900 ]
    At State Library of QLD
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.877)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.877)

  4. A pack tracker / Mavis Thorpe Clark ; ill. by Shirley Turner
    Clark, Mavis Thorpe, 1909-1999
    [ Book : 1968 ]
    At State Library of QLD
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.404)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.404)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Mavis Thorpe Clarke, writer, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.942)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.942)

  2. Letters : to Grade Fives, Blackburn South Primary School
    Clarke, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Unpublished : 1974 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.246)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.246)

  3. Papers of Christobel Mattingley
    Mattingley, Christobel, 1931-
    [ Unpublished : 1909-2001 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.014)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.014)

  1. The boy from Cumeroogunga [Mavis Thorpe Clarke]
    Clarke, Mavis Thorpe
    [ Audio book : 1983 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.531)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.531)

  2. The early dreaming : Australian children's authors on childhood / compiled by Michael Dugan
    Dugan, Michael, 1947-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1980-1983 ]
    At 65 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.059)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.059)

  3. The thirty-nine steps / John Buchan
    Buchan, John, 1875-1940.
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, [5 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 107 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.058)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.058)

  4. Recorded proceedings of Annual Writers' Seminar
    Fellowship of Australian Authors
    [ Sound : 1976 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.048)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.048)

  1. DARK POOL Island By MAVIS THORPE CLARK
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 29 January 1947 Supplement: Playtime p 6 Article Illustrated
    ... By MAVIS THORPE CLARK ExCEPT for that tiny hole," Ted said, "There's nothing interesting ting about it. In fact, anybody who didn't have the treasure beetle on his mind, would never give it another thought." "Let's chip off some of the wood." Bill suggested; "now that we've gol it out we might as ... 1977 words
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.457)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.457)

  2. Realism in children's books
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 21 November 1973 p 41 Article Illustrated
    ... Realism in children's books Melbourne author Mavis Thorpe Clark believes children "want to read ... proach Mavis Thorpe Clark daily sets aside a certain time for writing. "Otherwise you tend to say you ... ore-train driver. Away from writing. Mavis Thorpe Clark likes to listen to music and work ... 581 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.03)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.03)

  3. SWIMMING Central Girls' School CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
    Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) Wednesday 18 January 1933 p 4 Article
    ... pressed with this young swimmer end «ince his visit her style and speed have improved. Mavis Bates easily won th« junior championship. Results: Under 12.-Mavis Bates 1. S. Offord 18 years and over.-Elsie Jones (ser.) 1, Beryl Galbraith (scr.) 2. Breaststroke, under 12.-Mavis Bate« 1. S. Offord 2. ... 328 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.029)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.029)