Patricia Clarke (historian)

Mary Patricia Clarke OAM FAHA (30 July 1926 – 9 March 2026) was an Australian writer, historian and journalist who wrote about 19th century women in Australia.[1][2]

Early life and education

Clarke was born in Alphington, Melbourne on 30 July 1926, to John L. Ryan, a teacher, and Annie T. Ryan (nee McSweeney).[3] She was educated in Melbourne until the family moved to Sale where she went to secondary school and then at the University of Melbourne.

Career

Clarke worked as a journalist at the Australian News and Information Bureau in Melbourne and Canberra, for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the Press Gallery, Parliament House, Canberra, as journalist and editor for Maxwell Newton Publications and as Editor of Publications for the National Capital Development Commission. She has published numerous books about women in Australian history, with a particular interest in female journalists.[1]

She was an honorary fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities,[4] fellow of the Federation of the Australian Historical Societies[5] and awardee of a Medal of the Order of Australia for contributions to literature on Australian history.[6]

Death

Clarke died in Canberra on 9 March 2026, at the age of 99.[7]

Awards

Bibliography

  • Bold Types: How Australian women journalists blazed a trail (National Library of Australia Publisher, 2022)
  • Great Expectations: Emigrant Governesses in Colonial Australia (National Library of Australia Publisher, 2020)
  • Eilean Giblin: A feminist between the wars (Monash University Publishing 2013). Short-listed for 2014 Magarey Medal for Biography.
  • With Love and Fury: Selected Letters of Judith Wright, ed., with Meredith McKinney (National Library of Australia 2007)
  • The Equal Heart and Mind: Letters between Judith Wright and Jack McKinney, ed. with Meredith McKinney (University of Queensland Press, 2004)
  • Steps to Federation: Lectures marking the Centenary of Federation, ed.. (Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2001)
  • Rosa! Rosa! A Life of Rosa Praed, Novelist and Spiritualist. (Melbourne University Press, 1999)
  • Tasma's Diaries (Mulini Press, 1995)
  • Tasma: The Life of Jessie Couvreur, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994. Joint winner Society of Women Writers' Non-fiction Award.
  • Life Lines: Australian Women's Letters and Diaries 1788–1840 (with Dale Spender). (Allen & Unwin, 1992)
  • Pioneer Writer: The Life of Louisa Atkinson, Novelist, Journalist, Naturalist. (Allen & Unwin,1990.)
  • Pen Portraits: Women Writers and Journalists in Nineteenth Century Australia. (Allen & Unwin, 1988; Pandora, London 1988)
  • A Colonial Woman: The Life and Times of Mary Braidwood Mowle 1827–1857. (Allen & Unwin 1986, Eden Killer Whale Museum and Historical Society, 2001, 2003, 2006)
  • The Governesses: Letters from the Colonies 1862–1882. (Allen & Unwin 1989)

References

  1. ^ a b "Clarke, Patricia (1926-) - People and organisations". Trove. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Vale Dr Patricia Clarke". National Library of Australia. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  3. ^ Who's who of Australian Writers. Crown content Pty Ltd. 2009. ISBN 978-1-74095-351-1.
  4. ^ a b "Fellow Profile: Patricia Clarke". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  5. ^ Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "Clarke, Patricia - Woman - The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Mrs Mary Patricia CLARKE". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Clarke, Patricia". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Patricia Clarke". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
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