James, Florence

Also known as
James, Florence (1902-1993)
Field of activity
Writer and Journalist
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35995856
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-596102

Biographies

Florence James (1902-1993) was a novelist, editor and reviewer. She was born in New Zealand and educated at Sydney University where she began her long association with Dymphna Cusack. Together James and Cusack wrote two books, 'Four Winds and a Family', a story for children, and 'Come in Spinner' which won the Sydney Daily Telegraph prize in 1948. Florence James went to England in 1927. She shared a bedsitting room with Christina Stead for a short time, and worked mainly as a journalist and independent literary agent until her return to Australia in 1938. James went to England again in 1947 and from 1951 worked as an independent literary agent and reader for Constable and Co. and for Richmond, Towers and Benson Limited. While in London she acted as a talent scout for Australian and New Zealand writers including Mary Durack, Nene Gare, Maurice Shadbolt, David Martin and Sylvia Ashton-Warner. James maintained a close friendship with many of the women she met at University and with the writers whose work she promoted. In the early 1970s she became an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia. James married William ('Pym') Heyting in 1932. They divorced in 1948. They had two daughters. Florence James died in 1993.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Florence James

Selected resources (5)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Come in Spinner
    Cusack, Dymphna and James, Florence
    [1951]
    Published: Heinemann
  2. Yarn spinners : a story in letters, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, Miles Franklin
    North, Marilla
    [2001]
    Published: University of Queensland Press
  3. Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales: Florence James - Papers (1890 - 1993)
    The collection comprises 20 manuscript record series. You may navigate to a more detailed description of each series from this collection record. Diaries, 1931-1993 Correspondence with her family, 1916-1992 Correspondence with personal and literary friends, 1928-1992 Publishing correspondence and related material, 1951-1993 Papers concerning the novel 'Four winds and a family', 1946-1953, 1963-1974 Papers concerning the novel 'Jungfrau' by Dymphna Cusack, 1989 Papers concerning the novel 'Come in spinner', 1947-1992 Papers concerning the television mini-series 'Come in spinner', 1980-1993 Papers concerning books about Australia and New Zealand which Florence James was commissioned to write (not published), 1963-1992 Papers concerning her work as an editor and journalist, 1940-1991, nd Papers concerning literature, writing method and talks about literature, 1947-1992 Papers concerning International PEN and Australian Society of Authors, 1955-1981 Travel diaries and related papers, 1934-1987 Papers concerning Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), ca.1960-1991 Legal and financial records, 1934-1992 Miscellaneous papers, 1951, 1972-1990 Personal documents and papers concerning family history, 1890-1993 Photographs, 1929-1991 Printed material, 1921-1990 Oral history tapes, 1991
    MLMSS 5877
  4. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Franklin, Miles, 1879-1954, correspondence and literary papers (1887 - 1954)
    Literary notebooks, 1934-c1948 (15 v.) -- General correspondence and correspondence with Joseph Furphy, Mary Fullerton, C. Hartley Gratton, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James -- Family correspondence: Barton-Cotteril, Franklin Family, Graham-Lampe, Maxwell-Wilkinson -- Novel: Within a footstep of the goal, 1896 -- Novels: Incomplete drafts and notes for various novels, [c189-]-[19--] -- Novels, For sale to the highest bidder, 1896 -- Short stories, [189-]-1901 -- Plays, 1945-[195-] and verse, 1897-1940 -- Research materials re Catherine Helen Spence, 1853-1939 --Papers re Joseph Furphy, 189?-1907 --Joseph Furphy research material, 1867-1939 --Novels, 1899-193-: My brilliant career, Some everyday folk and Dawn, Old Blastus of Bandicoot -- Various published and unpublished novels and sketches -- Brent of Bin Bin novels and stories; Personal correspondece and papers, 1929-53 -- Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1841-1950; Family papers.
    Mfm G 247427-27477
  5. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Nancy Cato (1939 - 1995)
    Letters, novel "Towards the source", "Green grows the vine", miscellaneous verse, photographs, editor's "mock up" of the Jindyworobak Anthology, 1950. Also includes letters, mainly personal, from other writers commenting on her work, (1946-1976). Correspondents include Ian Mudie, Mary Durack, John Bray, Gwen Harwood, R.H. Morrison, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Douglas Stewart, Dorothy Green, C. B. Christesen, Kylie Tennant, Dymphna Cusack, Nancy Keesing (added 9.12.76). Other letters added to the collection include those of: Florence James, Nancy Keesing, Judith Wright, Dorothy Green, Gwen Harwood and Flexmore Hudson (added 30.5.96) and Andrew Hay, son of William Gosse Hay (added 16.6.96). A number of letters refer to the formation of Lyrebird Writers, of which Cato and Roland Robinson were founding members. The collection also contains a transcript of dictated excerpts from the diary of Daniel Matthews, 1889, together with photcopies of his diaries, 1899-90, used in research for Mr Maloga (added 30.5.96).
    MS 757

Resources by Florence James (13)

  1. Yarn spinners : a story in letters, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, Miles Franklin / edited by Marilla North
    Cusack, Dymphna
    [ Book : 2001 ]
    At 86 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.553)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.553)

  2. Come in spinner / Dymphna Cusack & Florence James
    Cusack, Dymphna, 1902-1981
    [ Book, Audio book : 1951-2005 ]
    Languages: English, German, French, [4 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 107 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.539)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.539)

  3. Great spinnner of a true tale. -From an interview with Florence James by Davis, Sharon which previously appeared in Word of Mouth-
    James, Florence
    24 Hours
    [ Article : 1991 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.997)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.997)

  4. Four winds and a family / by Dymphna Cusack and Florence James ; illustrated by Nan Knowles
    Cusack, Dymphna, 1902-1981
    [ Book : 1947-1966 ]
    At 33 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.369)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.369)

  5. My grandmother's footsteps : the life of Florence James
    [ Video : 1994 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.135)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.135)

  6. Come in Spinner: an addendum. -Synopsis of Come in Spinner in both its abridged and complete versions-
    James, Florence; North, Marilla
    Meanjin (Melbourne)
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.864)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.864)

  7. Come in spinner
    Magna Pacific
    [ Video : 1989-2005 ]
    At 56 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.592)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.592)

  8. Come in spinner / Dymphna Cusak and Florence James
    Cusack, Dymphna, 1902-1981
    [ Sound : 1999 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.971)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.971)

  9. Jimmy Brockett [Book Review]
    James, Florence
    Meanjin
    [ Article : 1952 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.62)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.62)

  10. London Letter: The Cultural Cringe Abroad
    James, Florence
    Meanjin
    [ Article : 1951 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.62)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.62)

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Resources about Florence James (17)

  1. Yarn spinners : a story in letters, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, Miles Franklin / edited by Marilla North
    Cusack, Dymphna
    [ Book : 2001 ]
    At 86 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.791)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.791)

  2. [Biographical cuttings on Florence James, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.507)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.507)

  3. Great spinnner of a true tale. -From an interview with Florence James by Davis, Sharon which previously appeared in Word of Mouth-
    James, Florence
    24 Hours
    [ Article : 1991 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.681)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.681)

  4. Florence James 90th birthday
    [ Video : 1992 ]
    At State Library of NSW
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.303)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.303)

  5. Studio portrait of Florence James
    unknown
    [ Photograph : 1940-1949 ]
    View online
    At Baillieu Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.429)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.429)

  6. Vale, Florence James. -Obituary-
    Cato, Nancy
    Australian Author
    [ Article : 1993 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.246)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.246)

  7. Come in Spinner: an addendum. -Synopsis of Come in Spinner in both its abridged and complete versions-
    James, Florence; North, Marilla
    Meanjin (Melbourne)
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.738)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.738)

  8. Dymphna Cusack and Florence James
    unknown
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At Baillieu Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.728)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.728)

  9. Florence James: literary spinner
    Musgrave, Anne
    Ita
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.518)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.518)

  10. My grandmother's footsteps : the life of Florence James / written by Pipa Bailey and Margie Bryant
    Australia. Special Broadcasting Service
    [ Video : 1994 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.128)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.128)

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  1. marriage of William allwood Rae and Florence Julia Johnson
    Created by matildamary1941, 1 item.

    William Allwood Rae and Florence Julia Johnson were married on the 7th of November 1871 William was the son of John Rae of Sydney and Florence had come by ship from Valparaisio Chili

  2. Montague, Edmund and Florence Roughley, Tasmania
    Created by montybeel, 1 item.

    Familiy of Edmund Montague and Florence Roughley
    Tasmania

  3. Florence Jones
    Created by glenniah, 1 item.

  1. James, Florence
    ... Florence James (1902-1993) was a novelist, editor and reviewer. She was born in New Zealand and ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.247)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.247)

  2. Bennett, Portia Mary (1898-1989)
    ... , working with Muriel Southern, Florence Hall and Margaret Johnson to establish a place for women artists in ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.071)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.071)

  3. Warden, Florence (1857-1929)
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.042)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.042)

  1. Studio portrait of Florence James
    unknown
    [ Photograph : 1940-1949 ]
  2. Florence Bean James
    Unknown;
    [ Art work : 1953 ]
  3. Dymphna Cusack and Florence James
    unknown
    [ Photograph ]
  4. Florence Bean James
    Erickson, Richa...
    [ Art work ]
  5. Florence Bean James
    Unknown;
    [ Art work : 1952 ]
  6. Florence Bean James and Richard Moo...
    Unknown;
    [ Art work : 1953 ]
  1. James (Dido) Norton / by Florence Parker
    Parker, Florence
    [ Unpublished : 1960 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.703)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.703)

  2. Captain James A. Sayles letter to his sweetheart, Florence Lee, March 14, 1864
    Sayles, James A.;
    [ Unpublished : 1864 ]
    View online
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.446)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.446)

  3. Captain James A. Sayles letter to his sweetheart, Florence Lee, June 16, 1864
    Sayles, James A.;
    [ Unpublished : 1864 ]
    View online
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.434)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.434)

  1. Bathymetry of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and vicinity / by Florence L. Wong, and Dan L. Mosier
    Hein, James R
    [ Map : 2007 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.216)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.216)

  2. Among the Deep Sea Fishers, Volume 15, Issue 4 (January 1918)
    Bailey, Florence H.; Barnes, William J.; Curtis, Charles S.; Greene, Theodore A.; Grenfell, Wilfred Thomason, Sir, 1865-1940; Paddon, Harry, 1881-1939...
    [ Map, Periodical : 1918 ]
    View online
    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: 0.078)

    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: 0.078)

  3. Springdale Estate, sections 4 and 5 / special terms and particulars from James G. Edwards & Co: 5 Moore Street Sydney
    James G. Edwards & Co
    [ Map : 1900-1909 ]
    View online
    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: 0.057)

    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: 0.057)

  1. Florence Austral : one of the wonder voices of the world / James Moffat
    Moffat, James, 1963-
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At 49 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.682)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.682)

  2. Jungfrau / Dymphna Cusack ; introduced by Florence James
    Cusack, Dymphna, 1902-1981
    [ Book : 1936-1989 ]
    At 53 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.07)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.07)

  3. Yarn spinners : a story in letters, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James and Miles Franklin / edited by Marilla North
    North, Marilla, 1945-
    [ Book : 2001 ]
    At State Library of QLD
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.531)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.531)

  4. A travel guide to Renaissance Florence / James Barter
    Barter, James, 1946-
    [ Book : 2003 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.323)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.323)

  1. Interview with Florence Martin / interviewer, James Gleeson
    Martin, Florence Beresford, 1908-
    [ Sound : 1979 ]
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.647)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.647)

  2. Florence Nightingale, 1820-1910 / Cecil Woodham-Smith
    Woodham-Smith, Cecil, 1896-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1950-1983 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 85 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.464)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.464)

  3. [Interview with James Alexander West & Peggy Florence West (nee Sparrow)] [interviewed by Anthea Kalazich]
    West, James Alexander, 1915-2009
    [ Sound : 2003 ]
    At WA State Library
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.464)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.464)

  4. A room with a view / E.M. Forster
    Forster, E. M. (Edward Morgan), 1879-1970
    [ Book, Audio book : 1905-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Arabic, [3 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 121 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.125)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.125)

  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 84 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.829)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.829)

  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 52 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.829)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.829)

  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: 0.598)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.598)

  1. Reel Paradise: Sisters in Law.(Steve James, Florence Ayis and Kim Longinotto)
    Malkowski, Jennifer
    Film Quarterly
    [ Article : 2007 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.505)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.505)

  2. Nathan James Florence
    Surfing
    [ Article : 2010 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.265)

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  3. Postcard written from James Chillman to William Ward Watkin, from Florence, Italy
    Chillman, James H., Jr., 1891-1972.
    [ Poster, chart, other, Article : 2004-2007 ]
    View online
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.974)

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  4. The Flourance, Florance, Florence families of Old Prince William County, Virginia
    Florence, James Edward, Sr.
    [ Article : 2001 ]
    View online
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.603)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.603)

  1. A THEATRICAL DIVORCE SUIT. FLORENCE ST. JOHN [?] (St. James's Budget.)
    The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Tuesday 19 January 1892 p 6 Article
    ... A THEATRICAL DIVORCE SUIT. FLORENCE ST. JOHN [?] (St. James's Budget.) The hearing of ... Evmrscn. Sir Challes Russell having oponed the caso, Miss Florence St. John was called'and examined by Mr. Inderwick. She said she'was first married to Mr. St. John, and afterwards to Mr. James Smith. At ... 3184 words
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.25)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.25)

  2. ENTERTAINMENTS. Palace To-Night. Florence Vidor in James Cruze's Paramount Feature, "Mary Me."
    Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Wednesday 2 June 1926 p 3 Article
    ... ENTERTAINMENTS. Palace- To-Night. Florence Vidor In James Cruze's Paramount Feature, "Mary Me," The screening of the big James Cruze feature, "Marry Me/' at the Palace to-night is a crackerjack situ ... histrionic ability, James Cruzv, the director, hus every reason to point to his latest screen creation ... 299 words
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.419)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.419)

  3. ENTERTAINMENTS. Palace To-Night. Florence Vidor in James Cruze's Paramount Feature, "Mary Me."
    Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Tuesday 1 June 1926 p 3 Article
    ... ENTERTAINMENTS. Palace To-Night. Florence Vidor In James Cruze's s Paramount Feature, "Mary Me. The Thc' screening of the big James Cruze feature, "Marry Me," at» the Palace to-night is a ... is one of thc photo- play's* most outstanding features,1 Florence. Vidor, as thc lovable 'audi ... 267 words
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.418)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.418)