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O'Harris, Pixie (1903-1991)

Also known as
Harris, Pixie O. (1903-1991)
Harris, Rona Olive (1903-1991)
O'Harris, Pixie (1903-)
Pratt, Bruce (Mrs) (1903-1991)
Pratt, Pixie (1903-1991)
Pratt, Rona Olive (1903-1991)
Occupation
Writer; Radio broadcaster
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-553609

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

Pixie O'Harris was an artist and author particularly of children’s books. On 1 January 1976 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) for services to the Arts. In 1953 she was awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal and in 1977 she received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. In 1977 she became patron to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney.

Pixie O’Harris was the daughter of George Frederick and Rosetta Elizabeth (née Lucas). Her father was an artist who was chairman of the Royal Art Society Cardiff. The fifth of nine children she was educated at Sully village school and Allensbank Girl's School Wales. At age 14 she was a member of the South West Art Society.

The Harris family migrated to Australia in 1920 and settled in Perth before moving to Sydney the following year. It was while on the ship to Australia that she adopted the name ‘Pixie.’ Being referred to as ‘the Welsh pixie’ and not liking the name Rhona, she decided to use Pixie. A change in her surname followed after a printer at the Sydney Morning Herald added an apostrophe to her second initial.

During her career she contributed poems, stories and illustrations to many publications as well as illustrating the work of other authors. These included Frank Dalby Davison, Lydia Pender and Kenneth. On 16 July 1928, Pixie O'Harris married Bruce Pratt, editor of the Australian Encyclopaedia. At the time of the births of her three daughters, she found the hospitals cold and clinical and decided to paint fairy-style murals for children. Over 50 children's hospital wards, schools, day nurseries and baby clinics throughout New South Wales have been decorated with her work.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Dictionary of Australian Artists Online

Pixie O'Harris was a mid 20th century painter, children's book illustrator, muralist, cartoonist and writer. It was the birth of her third daughter that prompted O'Harris to paint nearly 50 murals over the following 40 years in a number of children's institutions. She was awarded an MBE in 1976 for her efforts.

Painter, illustrator, muralist, cartoonist and writer, was born on 15 October 1903 in Cardiff, Wales, fifth of the eight children of George Frederick Harris (see National Gallery of Australia australianprints.gov.au website), painter-chairman of the Royal Art Society in Cardiff and RA exhibitor, and Rosetta Elizabeth, née Lucas. In 1920 the family migrated to WA, arriving in 1921. On board the Demosthenes the 16-year old Rhona was given the nickname "Pixie", which she ...

View the full record at Dictionary of Australian Artists Online

Resources for Pixie O'Harris

Selected resources (6)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  2. Authors & Illustrators of Australian Children's Books
    McVitty, Walter
    [1989]
    Published: Hodder and Stoughton (Australia), Rydalmere (NSW)
  3. Australian women writers : a bibliographic guide
    Adelaide, Debra
    [1988]
    Published: Pandora Press, London ; Sydney
  4. Who's who of Australian women
    Lofthouse, Andrea
    [1982]
    Published: Methuen Australia, North Ryde (NSW)
  5. Pixie O'Harris - papers
    10 boxes
    State Library of New South Wales
    MLMSS
  6. Pixie O'Harris and Bruce Pratt - papers
    1 box
    State Library of New South Wales
    MLMSS

Resources By Pixie O'Harris (102)

  1. Was it yesterday? / Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1983]
  2. Our small safe world : recollections of a Welsh childhood / by Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1986-1989]
  3. Alice's adventures in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
    Carroll, Lewis 1832-1898
    [Book, Audio book : 1865-2010]
    Available online
  4. Little round house / by Gladys Lister ; decorated by Pixie O'Harris
    Lister, Gladys
    [Book : 1939-1949]
  5. Loveleaves returns to the bush / Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1988]
  6. Woman's budget
    [Periodical : 1906-1934]
  7. The Pixie O'Harris nursery rhyme book
    [Book : 1981-1986]
  8. Fragrance and flavour : the growing and use of herbs / by Rosemary Hemphill
    Hemphill, Rosemary
    [Book : 1959-1979]
  9. Pearl Pinkie and Sea Greenie : the story of two little rock-sprites / told and decorated by Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1935-1980]
  10. The Pixie O'Harris Treasury of animal verse / written and illustrated by Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1980-1985]

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Resources About Pixie O'Harris (16)

  1. Was it yesterday? / Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1983]
  2. Our small safe world : recollections of a Welsh childhood / by Pixie O'Harris
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Book : 1986-1989]
  3. Alice's adventures in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
    Carroll, Lewis 1832-1898
    [Book, Audio book : 1865-2010]
    Available online
  4. Little round house / by Gladys Lister ; decorated by Pixie O'Harris
    Lister, Gladys
    [Book : 1939-1949]
  5. [Biographical cuttings on Pixie O'Harris, author, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [Published : 1900-1990]
  6. Pixie O'Harris interviewed by Barbara Blackman
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Sound : 1985]
    Available online
  7. The hunter two part-song / words by Pixie O'Harris ; music by Colin J. Jenkins
    Jenkins, Colin J
    [Sheet music : 1972]
  8. Pixie O'Harris illustrations and paintings
    Batty, Shirley
    [Book : 1982]
  9. Pixie O'Harris interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Sound : 1969]
  10. Letters and poems
    O'Harris, Pixie, 1903-1991
    [Unpublished : 1938-1976]

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Australian newspapers (1803 – 1954)

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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
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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. [Bookplate for Kylie Corrigan] Pixi...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Photograph : 1976]
  2. [Bookplate for David Corrigan] Pixi...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Photograph : 1970-1976]
  3. [The white feather, portrait of Mil...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Art work : 1900]
  4. Philip's book, bookplate, ca. 1935 ...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Art work : 1920-1950]
  5. Barbara's book, bookplate, ca. 1935...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Art work : 1920-1950]
  6. I say, old bean, I've run out of pe...
    O'Harris, Pixie...
    [Art work : 1939]