Blackman, Barbara (1928-)

Field of activity
Patron, Philanthropist and Writer
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35019096
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-742077

Biographies

Barbara Blackman is an author, music-lover, essayist, librettist, letter writer and patron of the Arts. Former wife of Charles Blackman, she worked for many years as an artist’s model. She has conducted countless interviews for the National Library of Australia's oral history program. In 2006, Blackman was presented with the Australian Contemporary Music 2006 Award for Patronage.

Barbara Blackman was born one of twin girls on 22 December 1928 - her sister, Coralie Hilda, lived just 16 days. Barbara’s father, W.H. (Harry) Patterson, died when she was three years old, leaving her mother, Gertrude Olson Patterson, as sole parent. Mother and daughter lived together in a series of homes and boarding houses in Brisbane while Gertrude worked as an accountant.

Barbara attended Brisbane State High School. She was introduced to the music of Shostakovich by fellow students Donald Munro, Roger Covell and Charles Osborne, and began a love affair with contemporary music that continues today. She frequently attended concerts with her mother and her friends. As a teenager, Barbara was the youngest member of the Barjai group of writers in Brisbane. Suffering from poor eyesight throughout her youth, she was diagnosed in 1950 with optic atrophy. Her vision declined rapidly until she became completely blind.

By 1952 Barbara was married to Charles Blackman, then an aspiring artist. The marriage was to last nearly thirty years. The two lived a meagre but happy existence in Melbourne, their income derived from Barbara’s work as an artist’s model and her blind pension, and Charles’ work as a kitchen hand in the evenings. Much of this income went toward feeding ‘the monster who lived with us’ – Charles’ studio. Charles and Barbara were to have three children: Auguste, Christabel and Barnaby. In 1960 Charles was awarded the prestigious Helen Rubinstein Travelling Scholarship and the family moved to London. The Blackmans lived in ten different homes over the course of their marriage.

In later life, Barbara married Frenchman Marcel Veldhoven. The pair spent twelve years together, living in Indooroopilly, before Veldhoven travelled to India to live and study Tibetan Buddhism. Though Barbara was raised in the Christian tradition, she broke away from the Church in her early twenties and today follows the teachings of Sufism.

Barbara Blackman lives in Canberra. In 2004, she pledged $1 million to music in Australia: funds have since been distributed to Pro Musica, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian National University’s School of Music and the Stopera Chamber Opera Company among other groups. Barbara has a long-held tradition of anonymous philanthropy supplementing her more public donations. She was the winner of the Australian Contemporary Music 2006 Award for Patronage, and Lead Donor in the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Capital Challenge.

Barbara published an autobiographical work, Glass After Glass, in 1997. In 2007, the Miegunyah Press published over fifty years of letters between herself and Judith Wright in Portrait of a Friendship.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Barbara Blackman

Selected resources (11)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Certain Chairs
    Blackman, Barbara
    [1968]
    Published: Viking
  2. Portrait of a Friendship: The Letters of Barbara Blackman and Judith Wright
    Cosgrove, Bryony
    [2007]
    Published: The Miegunyah Press
  3. Glass After Glass: Autobiographical Reflections
    Blackman, Barbara
    [1997]
    Published: Viking
  4. A Great Form of Love: Women Philanthropists in Australian HistoryHindsight, ABC Radio National : A Great Form of Love: Women Philanthropists in Australian History
    Lemon, Barbara
    Published: ABC Radio National
    Series: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/
  5. Nigel Thomson Wins 1997 Archibald PrizeThe Age A11 : Nigel Thomson Wins 1997 Archibald Prize
    [1997]
  6. Portraits of a LadyThe Weekend Australian 18-21, 23 : Portraits of a Lady
    Harari, Fiona
    [1997]
  7. Barbara and Charles Blackman Talk About Food
    Taylor, John
    [1979]
    Published: Rigby
  8. In Her Gift: Activism and Altruism in Australian Women's Philanthropy, 1880-2005
    Lemon, Barbara
    [2008]
    Published: School of Historical Studies, University of Melbourne
  9. In Her Gift: Women Philanthropists in Australian History
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2009]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/wiph/home.html
  10. National Film and Sound Archive: The Good Looker: Barbara Blackman Interview (1994)
    Sound recording. Barbara Blackman discusses her memories and relationship with artist Joy Hester. General note: This is an audio recording of the filmed interview which was used in the documentary 'The Good Looker'. Discussions between talent, producer and crew can be heard in between takes.
    515397
  11. National Film and Sound Archive: The Good Looker (1995)
    Documentary directed by Claire Jager. The life and work of controversial Australian artist Joy Hester. -- General note: winner of Best Documentary, AFI Awards, 1995. There is extensive documentation related to the making of the documentary, including oral history interviews, in the NFSA collection.
    308208

Resources by Barbara Blackman (176)

  1. Glass after glass : autobiographical reflections / Barbara Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1997-1999 ]
    At 111 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.713)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 61.713)

  2. Portrait of a friendship : the letters of Barbara Blackman and Judith Wright 1950-2000 / edited by Bryony Cosgrove
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book : 2007 ]
    At 74 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 45.163)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 45.163)

  3. Certain chairs / Barbara Blackman ; with illustrations by Charles Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1968-1999 ]
    At 49 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.701)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.701)

  4. The little lives of certain chairs, a table or two and other inanimates of our acquaintance / by Barbara Blackman ; illustrations by Charles Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book : 1968-1969 ]
    At 35 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.054)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.054)

  5. [Barbara Blackman : Australian and New Zealand Art Files]
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Published ]
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.945)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.945)

  6. Uniquely Barbara
    [ Video : 2008 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.923)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.923)

  7. Barbara Blackman interviewed by Ros Bandt
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Sound : 2008 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.218)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.218)

  8. Laura Murray ; Barbara Blackman / with Caroline Jones
    Murray, Laura
    [ Sound : 1990 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.804)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.804)

  9. Correspondence
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Unpublished : 1950-1998 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.84)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.84)

  10. Barbara Blackman interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection (1974)
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Sound : 1974 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.438)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.438)

More...

Resources about Barbara Blackman (19)

  1. Glass after glass : autobiographical reflections / Barbara Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1997-1999 ]
    At 111 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 59.858)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 59.858)

  2. Portrait of a friendship : the letters of Barbara Blackman and Judith Wright 1950-2000 / edited by Bryony Cosgrove
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book : 2007 ]
    At 74 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.045)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.045)

  3. Certain chairs / Barbara Blackman ; with illustrations by Charles Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1968-1999 ]
    At 49 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.318)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.318)

  4. The little lives of certain chairs, a table or two and other inanimates of our acquaintance / by Barbara Blackman ; illustrations by Charles Blackman
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Book : 1968-1969 ]
    At 35 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.038)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.038)

  5. [Barbara Blackman : Australian and New Zealand Art Files]
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Published ]
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.113)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.113)

  6. Uniquely Barbara
    [ Video : 2008 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.649)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.649)

  7. Barbara Blackman interviewed by Ros Bandt
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Sound : 2008 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.3)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.3)

  8. Laura Murray ; Barbara Blackman / with Caroline Jones
    Murray, Laura
    [ Sound : 1990 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.192)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.192)

  9. Barbara Blackman interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection (1974)
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Sound : 1974 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.431)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.431)

  10. Correspondence
    Blackman, Barbara, 1928-
    [ Unpublished : 1950-1998 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.194)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.194)

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  1. Blackman
    Created by jmm2011, 13 items.

  2. Quarrell Barbara
    Created by lizku, 1 item.

  3. Santa Barbara
    Created by gracepeake, 12 items.

  1. Collinson, Laurence (1925-1986)
    ... feelings as an outsider—Jewish, homosexual and communist—and by what Barbara Blackman ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

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

  2. Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
    ... including Rick Amor, Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, Noel Counihan, Liz Cumming, George Gittoes, Barbara ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

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

  3. Roxon, Lillian (1932-1973)
    ... , and kept up a friendship with Barbara Blackman. Roxon matriculated in 1948, and the following year ...
    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's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 15 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.064)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.064)

  2. Website: Divan
    www.bhtafe.edu.au
    Matching pages:
    • Barbara Blackman - 6/7/2007
    • ... Barbara Blackman [Divan 6] [Contents] [Credits] [Divan Home] [Barbara Blackman] Barbara Blackman...
    View 6 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.031)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.031)

  3. Website: Art Galleries Schubert
    www.art-galleries-schubert.com.au
    Matching pages:
    • Charles Blackman - Barbara - 1/8/2002
    • ... Charles Blackman - Barbara ART  GALLERIES    [Art Galleries Schubert]   SCHUBERT [Barbara] ...
    View 4 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.022)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.022)

  1. Portrait of Barbara Blackman / Cass...
    Cassab, Judy, 1...
    [ Art work : 1974 ]
  2. [Portrait of Barbara Blackman 1989]...
    Evans, Joyce
    [ Photograph : 1989 ]
  3. Charles Blackman, an Australian pai...
    Sun-Herald (Syd...
    [ Photograph : 1969 ]

Maps

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  1. [Biographical cuttings on Barbara Blackman, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.4)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.4)

  2. Dawn Apfel (Bury Hall); Jay Basinger (Bury Hall); Beth Blackman (Bury Hall); Darla Bowers (Bury Hall); Edna Carter (Bury Hall); Mary Carter (Bury Hall); Barbara Dargitz (Bury Hall); Jackie Frost (Bury Hall); Nora Giles (Bury Hall); Mrs. Jensen (Bury ...
    Arizona State College at Flagstaff
    [ Unpublished ]
    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: 0.041)

    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: 0.041)

  3. Elizabeth Blackman (Delta Delta Delta); Marilyn Carlsisle (Delta Delta Delta); Kristin Dunford (Delta Delta Delta); Sari Friend (Delta Delta Delta); Billy Ruth Hill (Delta Delta Delta); Pattie Houser (Delta Delta Delta); Nancy Loveless (Delta Delta D...
    Arizona State College at Flagstaff
    [ Unpublished ]
    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: 0.033)

    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: 0.033)

  1. Alice's adventures in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
    Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898
    [ Book, Audio book, Sound : 1800-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Italian, Chinese, [37 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 173 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.593)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.593)

  2. The great gift of music [Nicole Canham and Barbara Blackman discuss their friendship and their involvement with the Canberra International Music Festival]
    Canham, Nicole; Blackman, Barbara
    Limelight (Kings Cross, NSW)
    [ Article : 2008 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.317)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.317)

  3. On first looking into Blackmans' home life
    Blackman, Barbara
    Overland
    [ Article : 1995 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.238)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.238)

  4. [Book review of Blackman, Barbara. Certain Chairs (1968)]
    Bell, Pamela
    Art and Australia
    [ Article : 1968 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.23)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.23)

  1. Charles Blackman story
    TCN-9 (Television Station : Sydney, N.S.W.)
    [ Video : 1993 ]
    At Art Gallery NSW Lib
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.488)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.488)

  2. Alice's adventures in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
    Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898
    [ Book, Audio book, Sound : 1800-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Italian, Chinese, [37 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 173 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.42)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.42)

  3. The spy next door / by Elaine Shannon & Ann Blackman ; read by Barbara Daniels Korsen
    Shannon, Elaine
    [ Audio book : 2002 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.22)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.22)

  4. Eliza Fraser sings : soprano, flute & piano / Peter Sculthorpe ; text by Barbara Blackman
    Sculthorpe, Peter
    [ Sheet music ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.195)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.195)

  1. Alice's adventures in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
    Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898
    [ Book, Audio book, Sound : 1800-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Italian, Chinese, [37 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 173 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.42)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.42)

  2. Charles and Barbara Blackman / Transcript of a program produced by Robert Peach and broadcast on Sunday night Radio Two, on the 9th September, 1973
    Blackman, Charles, 1928-
    [ Book : 1973 ]
    At Macquarie University
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.394)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.394)

  3. Blackman, Barbara
    [ Book ]
    At The Shaw Research
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.376)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.376)

  4. Private worlds / graphic design and text, Rhonda McFarland ; editor, Barbara Abouchar
    McFarland, Rhonda
    [ Book : 1996 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

  1. Barbara Blackman's radio session for the blind
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 26 July 1978 p 25 Article Illustrated
    ... Barbara Blackman's radio session for the blind The pioneer of a new Australian radio pro- gramme knows from ex- perience just how important her work is - for Barbara Blackman is blind. She knows the ... meant a com Charles and Barbara Blackman with a drawing by Charles called "Barbara worries about her ... 843 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.79)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.79)

  2. No Title
    The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Thursday 30 December 1937 p 9 Article Illustrated
    ... Two smart racegoers yesterday: Miss Barbara English Clarke and Mrs. E. Blackman. ... 12 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.035)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.035)

  3. CHRISTMAS VACATION. LEAVING AGE. SUGGESTED RAISING. SPEECH DAY AT MARYBOROUGH. MARYBOROUGH, December 8.
    The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Friday 9 December 1927 p 21 Article
    ... showed that the academic recordé of the school had been brpken in the 1928 examinations, a very large ... languages: Barbara HiVn. Kingsley prize:' Heather Collins. FORM PRIZES.-Form VI.: Barbara Halpin. 1, Nancy ... handicrafts: Nancy Fullar lon, Jessie Blackman. Commercial work: Xancy Miolnn. Prill prizes: Nancy ... 725 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)