University of Sydney Library
Rare Books and Special Collections

Guide to the Christopher Brennan Collection, 1900 - 1976

Descriptive Summary

Collection Number:	RB017
Collection Dates:	1887 - 1976
Title:	Christopher Brennan Collection
Creator:	E.L. Hadley and M. Delmer
Languages Represented:	English, French, Latin
Extent:	2 boxes
Repository:	University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections
Abstract:	Christopher Brennan (1870-1932) was an Australian poet and scholar. He was a graduate of the University of Sydney (philosophy and classics) and studied at the University of Berlin from 1892-94. After discovering the poetry of Stéphane Mallarmé he returned to Australia to devote the next ten years of his life to poetry, in which he explored the theme of the search for Eden. He worked at the Public Library of New South Wales from 1895 to 1907. He was appointed lecturer in French and German at the University of Sydney in 1909. From 1920 to 1925 he was associate professor in German and Comparative Literature. The Christopher Brennan Collection contains correspondence, part of a proof copy of Brennan's poems (1913), lecture notes, books, newspaper cuttings and etchings.

Administrative Information

Provenance

Purchased from and donated by Miss E.L. Hadley and Miss M. Delmer. Miss Esme Hadley (died 1970) studied at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1914 with a BA Honours in French and German. It was during her time at the university that she met Christopher Brennan. During the 1930s she studied in Germany where she saw Hitler's first rally and attended the Berlin Olympic Games. She taught at Sydney Girls High from 1933 - 37 and from 1945 to her retirement in 1956.

Access

The Christopher Brennan Collection is available for research in the Rare Books and Special Collections reading room, Fisher Library.

Copyright Information

The status of copyright of materials described in this guide and other collections of papers in the custody of the University of Sydney Library is governed by copyright law in Australia. Special provisions, access conditions and restrictions apply governing the use of, photoduplication or publication of the items described. Readers should consult with Rare Books and Special Collections Library staff for further information concerning these conditions.

Preferred Citation

Christopher Brennan Collection, Rare Books and Special Collections, University of Sydney Library.

Scope and Content Note

The Christopher Brennan Collection contains correspondence from Christopher Brennan to F.S. Delmer and Brennan to Esme Hadley, part of a proof copy of Brennan's poems, Brennan's lecture notes on Stéphane Mallarmé, books, newspaper cuttings relating to Christopher Brennan, 2 etchings by Lionel Lindsay.

Subject Headings

Brennan, Christopher John, 1870 - 1932.

Lindsay, Lionel, Sir, 1874 - 1961.

Description of Series

Series I: Correspondence

Series I: Correspondence

Box	Folder	Contents
1	1	Letters from Christopher Brennan to F.S. (Frederick Sefton) Delmer, 14 December 1900, Easter 1901 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series I: Correspondence Letters from Christopher Brennan to F.S. (Frederick Sefton) Delmer, 14 December 1900, Easter 1901 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 1 2 autograph letters signed Includes transcriptions. F.S. Delmer taught at Sydney Grammar School with Dowell O'Reilly and was responsible for introducing Brennan and O'Reilly.
1	2	Letter from Dowell O'Reilly to F.S. (Frederick Sefton) Delmer, undated University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series I: Correspondence Letter from Dowell O'Reilly to F.S. (Frederick Sefton) Delmer, undated contained in Box: 1 Folder: 2 1 autograph letter signed Includes transcription
1	3	Letters from Christopher Brennan to Esme Hadley; 1 letter from John Le Gay Brereton to Esme Hadley, 1914 - 1923 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series I: Correspondence Letters from Christopher Brennan to Esme Hadley; 1 letter from John Le Gay Brereton to Esme Hadley, 1914 - 1923 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 3 6 autograph letters signed
1	4	Correspondence between Professor A.R. Chisholm, Department of French, University of Melbourne and Mr E.V. Steel, Librarian, Fisher Library, University of Sydney, February - October 1955 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series I: Correspondence Correspondence between Professor A.R. Chisholm, Department of French, University of Melbourne and Mr E.V. Steel, Librarian, Fisher Library, University of Sydney, February - October 1955 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 4 20 letters

Series II: Writing

Series II: Writing

Box	Folder	Contents
1	5	C.J. Brennan, Poems, 1913 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series II: Writing C.J. Brennan, Poems, 1913 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 5 Proof copy, corrected Pages 129 - 194 only
1	6	C.J. Brennan, The Burden of Tyre, 1953 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series II: Writing C.J. Brennan, The Burden of Tyre, 1953 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 6 Sydney : Privately printed by Harry F. Chaplin, 1953. First edition. Number 193 of 300 copies.
1	7	Brennan's lecture notes on Stéphane Mallarmé, 1913 -14 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series II: Writing Brennan's lecture notes on Stéphane Mallarmé, 1913 -14 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 7 Manuscript notes, 8 pages
1	8	C.J. Brennan, I am so deep in day, 1931 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series II: Writing C.J. Brennan, I am so deep in day, 1931 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 8 Typescript poem Unpublished poem. With Death by John Le Gay Brereton, published in Fellowship, Vol 5, No 10, May 1919.

Series III: Other Publications

Series III: Other Publications

Box	Folder	Contents
1	9	Stéphane Mallarmé, Poesies (Edition complète, 5ème édition), 1913 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series III: Other Publications Stéphane Mallarmé, Poesies (Edition complète, 5ème édition), 1913 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 9 Paris : Nouvelle Revue Française, 1913. With Christopher Brennan's signature tipped in.
1	10	Stéphane Mallarmé, L'après-midi d'un faune (Nouvelle édition avec frontispice, ex-libris, fleurons et cul de-lampe par Manet), 1887 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series III: Other Publications Stéphane Mallarmé, L'après-midi d'un faune (Nouvelle édition avec frontispice, ex-libris, fleurons et cul de-lampe par Manet), 1887 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 10 Paris : Leon Vanier, 1887. Delmer's copy.
1	11	Ad van Bever et Paul Leautaud, Poètes d'aujourd'hui, 1880 - 1900, morceaux choisis, 1900 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series III: Other Publications Ad van Bever et Paul Leautaud, Poètes d'aujourd'hui, 1880 - 1900, morceaux choisis, 1900 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 11 Paris : Société du Mercure de France, 1900.
1	12	Lucretius, De rerum natura, libri sex, 1901 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series III: Other Publications Lucretius, De rerum natura, libri sex, 1901 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 12 London : G. Bell and Sons, 1901. With Christopher Brennan's signature tipped in.

Series IV: Pictures

Series IV: Pictures

Box	Folder	Contents
1	13	Studio portrait of F.S. Delmer, undated University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series IV: Pictures Studio portrait of F.S. Delmer, undated contained in Box: 1 Folder: 13 Black and white photograph
2	14	Etchings by Lionel Lindsay, undated University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series IV: Pictures Etchings by Lionel Lindsay, undated contained in Box: 2 Folder: 14 Framed etchings Item 1: Brennan as Cardinal Wolsey, with signature by Brennan; Item 2: Brennan as Marlowe, with poems by Brennan.

Series V: Newspaper Cuttings

Series V: Newspaper Cuttings

Box

Folder

Contents

Newspaper cuttings relating to Christopher Brennan, 1915 -1960
1 folder

Series VI: Miscellaneous

Series VI: Miscellaneous

Box	Folder	Contents
1	16	Book Lover, 1914, 1915 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series VI: Miscellaneous Book Lover, 1914, 1915 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 16 2 issues Vol 17 No 181, 6 May 1914 inscribed by John Le Gay Brereton; Vol 18 No 198, 1 October 1915
1	17	Provenance notes relating to material in Christopher Brennan Collection, 1955 -1976 University of Sydney Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Call no. RB017 Christopher Brennan Collection Series VI: Miscellaneous Provenance notes relating to material in Christopher Brennan Collection, 1955 -1976 contained in Box: 1 Folder: 17 Manuscript notes by Miss Esme Hadley

University of Sydney Library Rare Books and Special Collections