Talk:Kate Baker

Research

1920s

• Palmer, Vance (14 April 1922). "W. J. Miles and "Such is Life."". The Socialist. No. 803. Victoria, Australia. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Mr. Miles wrings my withers, though, when he suggests that the second edition of "Such is Life" (published in 1917) was not launched "with sufficient acumen," and advances this as a reason for not having heard of it. There were errors of "business judgment," he says. Probably, but l am interested in finding out what they were. The launching of the second edition was entrusted to Mr. Frederick Macartney and myself, a having been assuredby the "Bulletin" (from whom the sheets were obtained) that there were no commercial possibilities in the venture, we canvassed for possible subscribers. A prospectus was sent out containing critiques of "Such is Life," including one from Mr, Bernard O'Dowd, who spoke of the book as Australia's finest achievement in prose. An exhaustive search was made for people who might be expected to be interested and they were invited to subscribe. ... No; I can assure Mr. Miles that it is not easy to find a public in Australia for a good book of Australian origin. Probably Joseph Furphy's work would have been left for some antiquarian in the Mitchell library to unearth if it had not been for the enlightened energy of Miss Kate Baker. Not all writers are lucky enough to have such a devoted friend to act as their literary trustee.
• "Pioneers of the Pen". The West Australian. Vol. XLV, , no. 8546. Western Australia. 9 November 1929. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. But its enormous, length (approximately 550 pages when printed) was sufficient to scare even the most enthusiastic publisher, and no publication offer was forthcoming unless the author could bring it to a more conventional bulk. This Furphy was loth to do, but a close examination revealed one section that could profitably be deleted without in any way detracting from the story. This was done, and ultimately "Such Is Life" appeared between covers in 1903. The expurgated portion was printed serially in "Barrier Truth," a weekly newspaper published at Broken Hill, in 1905-6, under the title of "Rigby's Romance." This novel, which is a complete story in itself, was rescued from the files, by the initiative and energy of Kate Baker, a woman whose sterling character played a large part in the author's life, and was entered in 1921 in the Australian Novel Competition promoted by the short-lived C. J. De Garis Publishing House, Melbourne.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)

1930s

• "Telamon" (6 June 1931). "Australiana". The West Australian. Vol. XLVII, , no. 9032. Western Australia. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. A movement for the erection in Shepparton (Victoria) of a memorial tablet to Tom Collins (Joseph Furphy) has been launched by Miss Kate Baker and is receiving considerable support. When the full story of Tom Collins comes to be written, the untiring zeal of his standard-bearer, Kate Baker, will occupy a prominent place. 'Such is Life' was published by "The Bulletin" in 1903, but was quickly lost to the book-buying public. In 1916, Miss Baker collected and edited "The Poems of Joseph Furphy." In 1917 she was responsible for the second edition of "Such in Life,"this time by The Specialty Press, Melbourne, while, in 1921, she was responsible for the publication of "Rigby's Romance," which she had entered in the De Garis prize novel competition, securing honourable mention for the book. It is safe to say that no other Australian writer has ever had such a zealous sponsor of his work as Tom Collins has in Miss Kate Baker. He died in 1912 at Fremantle, but "Such is Life," the work by which his name is honoured in the annals of Australian literature, was written at Shepparton, where he spent 20 years of his life.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Joseph Furphy Memorial". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 494. Victoria, Australia. 1 October 1934. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Tribute was paid to Miss Kate Baker, East Melbourne, who suggested the memorial.
• "Poetry Lovers' Society". The Age. No. 25377. Victoria, Australia. 15 August 1936. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Lawson Society Tribute". The Herald. No. 19142. Victoria, Australia. 23 September 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. The Henry Lawson Memorial and Literary Society presented Miss Kate Baker with a life membership certificate in recognition of her services
• "Literary Prize to Women". Daily News. Vol. 1, no. 227. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Baker, Kate (18 June 1938). "Correspondence". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4685. Victoria, Australia. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Tom Collins: Neglected Australian Writer". Advocate. Vol. LXII, , no. 4041. Victoria, Australia. 29 January 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Robert Samuel Ross". Labor Call. Vol. XXV, , no. 1296. Victoria, Australia. 15 October 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Henry Lawson Society". Labor Call. Vol. XXVI, , no. 1331. Victoria, Australia. 23 June 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Henry Lawson Society". The Age. No. 26, 032. Victoria, Australia. 23 September 1938. p. 9. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. At the monthly meeting of the Henry Lawson Memorial and Literary Society, Miss Kate Baker was presented by the president (Mrs. G. A. Hunter) with a life membership certificate in recognition of her services to Australian literature and to the Lawson Society.
• "Selfless Service". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4609. Victoria, Australia. 12 December 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. In 1913 Miss Baker suffered a severe breakdown and retired from the Education Department. Three years later she published "The Poems of Joseph Furphy," and a year later bought from the publishers some 800 unbound copies of "Such Is Life," and so brought out another edition of that fine book, which had been unprocurable
• "Women win prize". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. IV, , no. 132. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Author's Friend". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 28, 173. Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1936. p. 20. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. The bronze plaque of Miss Kate Baker to be presented to her on December 14.
• "Joseph Furphy". Shepparton Advertiser. Vol. I, , no. 413. Victoria, Australia. 6 September 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Arrangements for the ceremony are in the hand of Miss Kate Baker, of 76 George Street, East Melbourne...{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Publications Received". The Workers' Weekly. No. 930. New South Wales, Australia. 26 August 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. An Interview with Miles Franklin, by Kate Baker, O.B.E.
• Coleman, Edith (19 December 1939). "Furphy Biography". Letters to the Editor. The Argus. No. 29118. Victoria, Australia. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Wanted — A Biographer". The Age. No. 26009. Victoria, Australia. 27 August 1938. p. 1 ("The Age" Literary Supplement). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Teachers Honoured". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 29087. Victoria, Australia. 13 November 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Scribbler" (8 December 1934). "Australian Literature". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 4, no. 254. New South Wales, Australia. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Joseph Furphy". Worker. Vol. 48, , no. 2612. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1937. p. 18. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Australian Literature". The Mercury. Vol. CXLVII, , no. 20, 902. Tasmania, Australia. 20 November 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Henry Lawson Essay". The Age. No. 26068. Victoria, Australia. 4 November 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Ada Cambridge Memorial". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 5116. Victoria, Australia. 6 December 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Mechanics' Institute". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4434. Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Mr. [Edward Henry] Baker held the honorable position for five consecutive periods of Mayor of Hurstville; in which his integrity of character gained the respect of every section of the community. Mr. Baker is the brother of our respected townsmen, Messrs. Thomas Edward and Frances Sheffield Baker, and of Miss Kate Baker, at one time a teacher at both the Central and North Williamstown State Schools.
• "The Bread and Cheese Club". The Age. No. 26135. Victoria, Australia. 21 January 1939. p. 10. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. "Kate Baker, O.B.E." — Ed. Harrington
• "The Coronation". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4630. Victoria, Australia. 15 May 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker has been given an O.B.E. decoration by the King for her work in connection with Australian literature. She is a sister of Mr Frank Baker, of Osborne street, and was a pupil, and later, teacher at the North State school, and afterwards at Newport.
• "Local Author's Success". The Propeller. Vol. XXIX, , no. 1485. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker, [Miles Franklin's] collaborator in the win ning entry, has just left, Carlton for Melbourne after residing here with Miss Franklin for six months, during which period she attended meetings of the League.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "North School Function". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4757. Victoria, Australia. 18 November 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Among the gathering were several of the teachers who had been on the staff during the regime of Mr Ulbrick ... Miss K. Baker, O.B.E.
• "From Patricia's Notebook". Shepparton Advertiser. Vol. 3, , no. 488. Victoria, Australia. 12 December 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker who is well known for her work for Joseph Furphy and through whose efforts "Such Is Life" has been kept before the public, left Melbourne recently to reside in Sydney.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• P. I. O'L (21 April 1932). "General Talk". Advocate. Vol. LXV, , no. 4105. Victoria, Australia. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia}. I was born in Ireland, God bless her—at Cappoquin, County Waterford. The very sound of the name "Ireland", gives me a sort of nostalgia of love and longing. I think the little village in which my childhood was passed could easily have been the original of "The Deserted Village." There, folk lived in amity and love. My mother (my father died when I was three months old), I remember, was held in a kind of worship by the simple country people.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "CORONATION HONORS". The Age. No. 25, 759. Victoria, Australia. 6 November 1937. p. 27. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Kennedy, Victor (25 September 1934). ""Tom Collins" Memorial". The Courier-mail. No. 336. Queensland, Australia. p. 12. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. The function is the culmination of a patient woman's faith and hopes over a number of years— that of Miss Kate Baker, of Melbourne, friend, sponsor, editor, and literary executor of Joseph Furphy. Miss Baker conceived the idea of a memorial some years ago, and in 1932 she sought co-operation in Shepparton (Victoria), where Furphy lived for twenty years, and where 'Such is Life' was written. There was no response, and the ultimate choice of scene was Yarra Glen, where, it was found, a State school stood on the very site of the Furphy natal shack. Even then the form or scope of the memorial was not defined. Miss Baker's modest and almost solitary efforts attracted the notice of writers and critics, then of the Director of Education, and the movement became a public one.
• "Yarra Glen School". Healesville And Yarra Glen Guardian. Victoria, Australia. 22 September 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Instrumental in having the unveiling ceremony carried out in a fitting manner is Miss Kate Baker, of 76 George street, East Melbourne,
• Barrymore, Freda (2 February 1937). "Books Received". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LIX, , no. 28. Queensland, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Periodically there comes alone, by whom sent is a mystery as yet unsolved, a copy of a little paper, 'All About Books,' published in Melbourne. One of the most interesting pages of a recent number is devoted to Miss Kate Baker, and tells of the occasion when a group of her admirers presented her with a Portrait Plaque in Bronze by Wallace Anderson, Sculptor. In his presentation address which is printed In full, Bernard O' Dowd, the Australian poet, began by stating the reason of the meeting was to do bonor to Miss Kate Baker, who for many years, with simple devotion to an ideal, with unobtrusive patience, and considerable self sacrifice, and with an indomitable persistence that would have left many weary with aims unaccomplished, has tended the altarof our young literature, and has saved from the silver fish and mice some of the most precious of the archive, of that literature'. It was Kate Baker who. out of scanty means help ed to put Tom Collins, author of 'Such is Life' on the Literary map. In her reply to Bernard O' Dowd, and in expressing her thanks to those who had presented the plaque, Miss Baker's fine mind and human personality was revealed. On the cover of this little magazine is a reproduction of 'The Plaque of Miss Kate Baker, presented to her by admirers of her work, on behalf of Australian Literature'. This shows a woman with a fine brow, penetrating eyes, well shaped mouth, and a general look of big-mindedness and sincerity.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Henry Lawson enters the University". General Talk. Advocate. Vol. LXIX, , no. 4349. Victoria, Australia. 24 December 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. AS one who has been shown several kindnesses by Miss Kate Baker, who, made possible the publication in book form of "Tom Collins's" "Such Is Life," I wish to record my pleasure at the thought which moved her admirers to commission Mr. Wallace Anderson, the sculptor, to "do" the handsome bronze plaque of her now on exhibition in Robertson and Mullens' window, Elizabeth-street. The plaque is being presented to Miss Baker for "her selfless services to Australian literature and writers." Such women as Miss Baker are in the true Horniman and Lady Gregory tradition. May her years be long.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Miss Kate Baker, O.B.E." Biographies. The West Australian. Vol. 53, , no. 15871. Western Australia. 11 May 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker, of George-street, East Melbourne, for over 20 years has been doing very good work in the interests of Australian literature. It was due to her efforts after she had read the manuscript that the works of Joseph Furphy (better known as Tom Collins) were published. She was also largely responsible for the publication of the poems of another Australian, John Shaw Neilson.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• Baker, Kate; Collins, Tom (2 August 1931). "Conundrums". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 3514. Victoria, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Books received". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LVIII, , no. 268. Queensland, Australia. 7 November 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. For some time now It has been impossible to obtain a copy of this book ["Such is Life"]. The one I have just read was sent to me from Victoria, by one of those anxious to make Tom Collins live in the minds of the present generation. Before long though Jonathan Cape the London publisher, will put the long-out-of-print book on the market.
  This new edition is the result of the work of Miss Kate Baker, who might claim, if she were less modest, that she 'discovered Tom Collins.' As a young woman, Miss Baker went as school teacher in the district where the author's parents lived. In those days he had not written anything that had been printed. He lived away from home. During one of his infrequent visits be and Miss Baker met, and had it not been for her suggestion, after reading some of bis writings, he might never have thought of trying to publish his books. Most of them had been written after strenuous work had been finished, but from a boy he had been a brilliant student, had a remarkable memory, a thirst for knowledge, and a love of learning. His work took him over rough country, brought him into contact with pioneers, adventurers, and he could sum up a man, or a woman as easily as he could describe the conditions under which they lived.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Tribute for Service to Australian Literature". What Women Are Doing. The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. IV, , no. 33. Australia, Australia. 16 January 1937. p. 27. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Tribute to Miss Kate Baker". The Age. No. 25473. Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1936. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Baker, Kate (13 October 1934). "The Furphy Memorial". Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Reception for Miss Kate Baker". The Age. No. 25481. Victoria, Australia. 15 December 1936. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Tribute to Miss Kate Baker". The Age. No. 25473. Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1936. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Local author's success". The Propeller. Hurstville, Sydney. 24 August 1939.
• "S. H. Prior Memorial Prize". Current topics. Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Social and Personal". World of Women. The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 9 December 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker left yesterday on a visit to Miss Miles Franklin in Sydney
• "Modest and Effective". The Victorian Worker. The Australian Worker. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1936. p. 13. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia. The sponsors for the circular state that 'at long last public appreciation of her work is to receive recognition; her selfless service in the cause of Australian literature and authors is to receive its just reward while she is still with us.'
• "Authors' Friend". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1936. p. 20. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

1940s

• Baker, Kate (3 September 1943). ""Such is Life."". Letters to the Editor. Williamstown Chronicle. No. 4952. Victoria, Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Baker, Kate (1 June 1945). "A Williamstown Novelist". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 5040. Victoria, Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Baker, Kate (8 February 1947). "Bushmen Were Readers". Letters to the Editor. The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31339. Victoria, Australia. p. 13. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• ""Tom Collins": Memorial tablet to be Unveiled". Shepparton Advertiser. Vol. 69, , no. 77. Victoria, Australia. 9 September 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Joseph Furphy Number Of Literary Magazine; "Southerly" edited by R.G. Howarth". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 88, , no. 27343. South Australia. 25 May 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Furphy Centenary". Cairns Post. No. 12993. Queensland, Australia. 18 October 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker, O.B.E., last year transferred all her rights in the copyright of Furphy's best work. "Such is Life," to his youngest and sole surviving son: Samuel Furphy.
• "Books of the Week; Furphy: Bushman and Bookworm". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 33451. New South Wales, Australia. 10 March 1945. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Tom Collins remembered". The Age. No. 26541. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1940. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Ilia" (4 December 1943). "Meanjin Papers". The Daily News. Vol. LXI, , no. 21425. Western Australia. p. 14 (First Edition). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "SOME RECENT COLLECTORS' ITEMS". The Age. No. 28, 885. Victoria, Australia. 22 November 1947. p. 7 (FINAL EDITION). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. The' first edition, first issue, was put out in 1903. During World War I, Vance Palmer, visiting Sydney, inquired at the "Bulletin" office as to the terms on which the copyright would be sold. A search was made, and half the original issue of "Such is Life" was found lying among lumber, unbound and unregarded. The entire remaining stock, plus the copyright, were bought by Furphy's old friend, Miss Kate Baker, for £60. It was made available to the public with few changes from the original format. The binding bore the original pattern, an art-nouveau modification of the waratah; pages of advertisements were dropped; the new issue had a foreword by Mr. Palmer.
• "THE ARGUS LITERARY SUPPLEMENT PAGES Conducted by IAN MAIR". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 998. Victoria, Australia. 5 January 1946. p. 10 (The Argus WEEK-END MAGAZINE). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. After that, I can only say about the newly arrived Australian Nursery Rhymes, by Harold Charles, with pictures by Esther and Betty Paterson and foreword by Kate Baker, OBE, that it looks very nice indeed to me - but who am I?

1950s

• "Joseph Furphy Collection for Public Library". Shepparton Advertiser. Vol. 64, no. 83. Victoria, Australia. 28 September 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Joseph Furphy Collection for Public Library". The Age. No. 30083. Victoria, Australia. 28 September 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker has presented to the Public Library a collection of original writings and photographs of the Australian author Joseph Furphy, whose book "Such Is Life" won world-wide recognition. The Chief Librarian (Mr. McCallum) received the collection at a function In the Gallery.
• "She Served Australian Letters". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20986. Western Australia. 24 October 1953. p. 18. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Local Residents Pass". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 7060. Victoria, Australia. 23 October 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. A former resident of this city for 60 years, Miss Kate Baker, O.B.E., died on Wednesday, 7th October, at the' advanced age of; 93 years. She had latterly been residing at 58, Athelstan Road, Camberwell.
• "Obituary". The Age. No. 30, 714. Victoria, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. The funeral will leave St. Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, for Spring Vale crematorium after a service commencing at 9.30 this morning.
• "She served Australian literature". The Herald. No. 23827. Victoria, Australia. 7 October 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Kate Baker dies". The Courier-mail. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Fitzpatrick, Brian (10 October 1953). "A Tribute to Kate Baker". Letters to the Editor. The Age. No. 30716. Victoria, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Late Kate Baker". Cairns Post. No. 16104. Queensland, Australia. 21 October 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Ewers, John K. (24 October 1953). "Kate Baker Bore Joseph Furphy's Standard". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20986. Western Australia. p. 18. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Catherine Baker dead". The Mercury. Vol. CLXXIII, , no. 25836. Tasmania, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Death of arts leader". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 33415. Victoria, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Late Kate Baker". Cairns Post. No. 16, 104. Queensland, Australia. 21 October 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• Fitzpatrick, Brian (10 October 1953). "A Tribute to Kate Baker". The Age. No. 30716. Victoria, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Kate Baker was a member of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties from its foundation 17 years ago, and was appointed a vice-president of that organisation a fort night before her death. She wrote to me from the Camberwell Hospital, in which she died, to say that she did not expect to leave that place, but would be with us in spirit to the end.
• "Death of arts leader". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 33, 415. Victoria, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Kate Baker dies". The Courier-mail. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
• "Catherine Baker Dead". The Mercury. Vol. CLXXIII, , no. 25, 836. Tasmania, Australia. 8 October 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Baker, who was born in Ireland, came to Australia with her mother in 1870, and taught at Victorian schools until her retirement in 1913. She met Furphy while teaching at Wanalta State School in 1886, and suggested he write his outback memoirs.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)

1990s

• Dunlevy, Maurice (18 November 1995). "Furphy's success against the odds". The Canberra Times. Vol. 71, no. 22129. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 63. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Furphy was one of Franklin's mentors and offered her the kind of encouragement he himself had received from the young school teacher Kate Baker who came to love him, mainly from a distance, and who preserved many of these letters.
• "He Wrote "Such Is Life"". Advocate. Vol. LXXI, , no. 4425. Victoria, Australia. 9 June 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Miss Kate Baker O.B.E.—whose interest in Australian writers has always been real and practical—contributes a Preface{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• "Miscellaneous". Reviews of New Books. The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CV, , no. 46. Tasmania, Australia. 4 May 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• Dunlevy, Maurice (12 January 1991). "A modern classic praised but not widely read". The Canberra Times. Vol. 65, no. 20363. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 16. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. For a long time [Joseph Furphy's] literary and intellectual interests were shared mainly with a young primary school teacher, Kate Baker, who recognised his intelligence and enjoyed his conversation. She was 44 and he 25 when they met and it's one of the revelations of this new biography that she was probably in love with him

To follow up

• Barnes, John (1991). The Order of Things: A Life of Joseph Furphy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195531879.
• Baker, Delys (2013). "The End of the Road: Joseph Furphy and Tom Collins in Western Australia". Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. 13 (1). University of Western Australia.
  • ”In 1929, Ewers persuaded the editor of the West Australian newspaper to publish a series of articles he had written on Australian writers. Called ‘Pioneers of the Pen’, the third was on Joseph Furphy. A copy, Ewers writes in his autobiography, Long Enough for a Joke (1983), ‘found its way’ to Furphy’s close friend and champion, Kate Baker, and they struck up a correspondence. With her first letter to him Baker sent Ewers a copy of C Hartley Grattan’s Australian Literature ‘with its 2 pages on Furphy’ (Long Enough 116). From then on, Ewers became ‘willingly the slave of Kate Baker in the service of Joseph Furphy’ (Long Enough 116). Then in 1938 Hartley Grattan himself briefly visited Perth and a small group of local writers (pictured here) entertained him at dinner. Inspired by this meeting, they went on to establish a West Australian branch of the Federation of Australian Writers (FAWWA), with Ewers as its Foundation President.”
• Burt, Sandra. "Kate Baker and 'a matter of national importance'". La Trobe Library Journal. Spring 1996 (58): 33–37. ISSN 0041-3151.
• She wrote a book, Silhouettes. Needs to be located at State Library.
• Barnes, John (1991). The Order of Things: A Life of Joseph Furphy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195531879.
• Hyde, William H.; Hooton, Joy; Andrews, Barry, eds. (2005) [1994]. "Baker, Kate (1861–1953)". The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195533811.
• "It's a Furphy". Hindsite (Podcast). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 September 2008. Event occurs at 34:15.
• Lever, Susan (2013). "'Double Line to the Terminus': Marriage, Sex, Romance and Joseph Furphy". Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. 13 (1). Perth, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University. When he met Kate Baker in 1886, his family, especially his mother, had no qualms about leaving the two of them alone to talk late into the night. His family accepted Joe's loquaciousness and must have known he was desperate for educated listeners. Later, when Baker, in the delirium of illness, wrote an apparently compromising letter to him, Leonie intercepted it and the whole family acted to prevent Furphy's planned visit to Melbourne for the Exhibition of 1888 (OT 180-81). Baker was one of his intellectual lifelines, however, and Furphy was not going to give her up because of the concerns of his wife and family. He persisted in the friendship, and she remained devoted for the rest of her life.

Aussie Article Writer (talk) 01:55, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

Interesting info

• Holloway, Bill (15 January 2019). "Australian Women Writers Gen 2 Week 13-19 Jan. 2019". theaustralianlegend.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
• Driehuis, Raymond (1999), Man makes man: a study of uplifting and upbuilding in the novels of Joseph Furphy, Perth, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University
• Osbourne, Roger (2010). ""Temper democratic; bias offensively Australian"—Published in Chicago: The American Edition of Such is Life" (PDF). Script & Print. 34 (4): 240–249. ISSN 1834-9013.
• "The joke's on us". Culture/Books. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 26 July 2003. Retrieved 2020-09-03.

Aussie Article Writer (talk) 07:10, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

Misc

• https://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/mn/mn1501_2000/mn1870.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 06:58, 5 October 2020 (UTC)
• https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-franklin-typewriter-any-clean-up.html?m=1
• https://web.archive.org/web/20160315170736/http://www.nationalunitygovernment.org/content/plaques-unveiled-confrontation-between-wurundjeri-and-border-police — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 07:17, 5 October 2020 (UTC)
• https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/baker-of-ours/
• http://www.yarraglenhistory.com.au/img/uploaded/412011Nov.pdf - info on plaque in Yara Glenn — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 11:12, 29 May 2021 (UTC)
• "A Williamstown Novelist". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 5040. Victoria, Australia. 1 June 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
• locating Australian literary memory — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 13:17, 30 May 2021 (UTC)

Homes

• 76 George St, East Melboure - "Joseph Furphy: Pilgrimage to Yarra Glen". Shepparton Advertiser. Victoria, Australia. 6 September 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
• 58, Athelstan Road, Camberwell - "Local Residents Pass". Williamstown Chronicle. No. 7060. Victoria, Australia. 23 October 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia. A former resident of this city for 60 years, Miss Kate Baker, O.B.E., died on Wednesday, 7th October, at the' advanced age of; 93 years. She had latterly been residing at 58, Athelstan Road, Camberwell.

Timeline

• Boards with Joseph Furphy’s mother
• meets Furphy in 1886, corresponds
• Had an affair? c.f. ABC podcast — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 11:57, 5 October 2020 (UTC)
• encourages Furphy to write “Such is Life”.
• Furphy takes “Such is Life” to The Bulletin in 1887, but at 1,125 pages it is uneconomical to print. Cuts out chapter 5, makes further changes.
• "Such is Life" is published in 1903 by The Bulletin, to not much acclaim from anyone other than the literary establishment
• Expurgated chapter is serialised in The Barrier Truth from 1905-6 under title “Rigby’s Romance”
• Furphy dies in 1912, seems that Baker had a nervous breakdown
• Retires from teaching in 1913 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aussie Article Writer (talk • contribs) 12:00, 5 October 2020 (UTC)
• In 1916, Baker collected and edited "The Poems of Joseph Furphy." In 1917 she was responsible for the second edition of "Such in Life,"this time by The Specialty Press, Melbourne
• Baker locates “Rigby’s Romance”, which she “entered in 1921 in the Australian Novel Competition promoted by the short-lived C. J. De Garis Publishing House, Melbourne”.

Aussie Article Writer (talk) 17:51, 4 October 2020 (UTC)

GA Review

This review is transcluded from Talk:Kate Baker/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Reviewer: Whiteguru (talk · contribs) 09:32, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

 

Starts Good Article Review Page. Hopefully we will start the review shortly. Thank you       --Whiteguru (talk) 09:32, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

 

---

Observations

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, and grammar): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (reference section): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

   • Reference tags without correct match </ref>* {{cite news|last=ewers|first=jo The script found references tags that didn't have the correct end or beginning tags.

   • I corrected this some time ago, I don’t know why it is still showing up. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:36, 13 June 2021 (UTC)
     • It's gone, now! Y

   • Reference 25 should read Rigby's Romance

   • Fixed, thanks! - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:37, 13 June 2021 (UTC) Y

   • Reference 53 tells that the award of OBE was for promotion of Australian literature, and does not reference Furphy.

   • Corrected. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:38, 13 June 2021 (UTC) Y

   • Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 May 1937 (Kings Coronation Honours) page 3095 cites the award of in the Civil Division of the Most Excellent order (OBE) to Miss Kate Baker, for "literary services in the Commonwealth of Australia". This award does not mention Joseph Furphy. Kindly do the needful.

   • The ADB says those services were largely Joseph Furphy. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:20, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

   • upon further consideration, you are right. I have corrected this. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:09, 13 June 2021 (UTC)Y

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

   • When Furphy died in 1913, she had a nervous breakdown; Furphy passed in 1912. Reference 20 does not give an indication that the nervous breakdown was on account of Furphy's death. How do you connect the two?
   • the article still states Furphy passed in 1913.

   • fixed, also changed the “when” to “after”. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 01:49, 14 June 2021 (UTC)Y

   • This citation is confusing: Roy Duncan has noted seemed "completely unmindful that there may have been other reasons for this than loyalty to a mistress [which revealed] something of [Baker's] own personality .. is this a sexual imputation? An imputation of infatuation? The matter is unclear.

   • I’m not sure what is unclear. His comment is that she seemed to be unaware that there might be other things at foot. He does not elaborate. I will not be imputing what he does not say. He merely says that she seems unaware there may have been reasons for not wanting to leave other than devotion to Cambridge. It could have been pressure to marry. We cannot say, other than a key source says she seems to have not considered there are other reasons for not wanting to get married. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:34, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

   • I have reconsidered. I see your point. I think the point by Duncan, one of the chief secondary sources for Baker, is important but his comment never expanded on what the reason might have been. I have noted his comment is oblique. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:56, 13 June 2021 (UTC) Y

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

   • Page created 3 October 2020
   • Page has 515 edits by 18 editors, currently at A class.
   • Page has 1,486 page views in the last 90 days, average of 4 views per day.
   • Page history and talk page show no edit warring, simply steady editing
   • Page is considered stable.

6. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have fair use rationales):

   b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

   • File:Portrait of Kate Baker, O.B.E.png = This image is of Australian origin and is now in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired.
   • File:SLNSW 822160 29a Joseph Furphy Tom Collins 31103.jpg = This image is of Australian origin and is now in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired.
   • File:Cover of Such is Life abridged edition.png = (non-free version) used for visual identification of the object of the article. Qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law.
   • File:Bronze plaque of Kate Baker.png = (non-free version) used to support encyclopedic discussion of this work in this article. Minimal use applies upon request. Non-free fair use applied.
   • File:Miles franklin.jpg = is of Australian origin and is now in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired.

7. Overall:
   • The overall sense is that this article focuses too much on the relationship between Baker and Furphy. The citation from the podcast is gossip and speculation and not worthy of encyclopaedic inclusion.
     • actually, it is from the family and supports the claims by Annie Furphy that they were in love. It comes from a reputable podcast. It is clear that the Furphy family believed there had been an affair. As this came directly from the family, it is appropriate to include this into the article. And the article is not overly focused on Furphy. Whilst I can see why you think that, in fact all sources have noted that was her chief focus in life. In fact, all evidence from contemporary peers confirms it- Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:29, 13 June 2021 (UTC)Y
       • In terms of the beliefs of the family, it was important but when I look at it, I think it better to just state the belief. It is the quoting that causes undue focus and makes it salacious. I have removed the quote, interested readers are pointed to the time stamp of the discussion with the Great-grand-nephew. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:17, 13 June 2021 (UTC)Y
   • Burt writes, Baker might best be remembered as an advocate for Australian literature rather than an interpreter of it. Two paragraphs on, Burt writes, Clearly Baker's mental and physical robustness was largely sustained by her devotion to Australian literature and her family, as exemplified by her voluminous correspondence. In the next paragraph, citing Brian Fitzpatrick, A few days after she died Brian Fitzpatrick wrote a letter of tribute which paid homage to her contribution to “the development of an Australian literary tradition”
     • the Australian literary tradition being Furphy. Could you clarify the issue? - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:37, 13 June 2021 (UTC)
   • Coverage of Baker's contributions to “the development of an Australian literary tradition” is not covered sufficiently in this article. There needs to be a balance between her contribution and support for Furphy and his works (after his demise) and Baker's contributions, activity and support for the Australian literary tradition. Consider.
     • I disagree. I think the balance is correct. Her largest contributions were to publishing Furphy’s work. All sources agree that largely without her efforts, Furphy would have gone unnoticed. Her devotion to Furphy allowed her to contribute other, more minor, efforts towards other literary figures. NPOV means appropriate balance. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:29, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

---

I would like to point out the sources used:

• Delys Baker: “ With her first letter to him Baker sent Ewers a copy of C Hartley Grattan’s Australian Literature ‘with its 2 pages on Furphy’ (Long Enough 116). From then on, Ewers became ‘willingly the slave of Kate Baker in the service of Joseph Furphy’”
• Burns, in the ADB: “ the rest of her long life was devoted to the memory of Furphy, whose death in 1912 affected her deeply.”
• Burt, “ Although her letters discuss other topics, notably family and world events (details of her early life and teaching career are a noticeable omission), most are directed to a definite end — the promotion of Joseph Furphy and Australian literature.”
• Duncan, “There seem to have been two successive sources of her central inspiration. The first and more powerful was that ofJoseph Furphy himself. People such as Miles Franklin and Sam Furphy. who were in a good position to know, thought she had been in love with him away back in the "nineties when Such Is Life was being written.”

All of these sources show her primary focus and notability is largely around Furphy. I have taken pains to ensure her other contributions are detailed, but it would be unbalanced to give them more prominence than her relationship and contributions to championing and promoting Furphy. Indeed, it is my belief any reasonably serious scholar of Furphy or Baker would find it strange to give undue weight to her other contributions. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 20:30, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

noted

Conclusion: Some minor corrections are noted above. Focus and balance in this article needs consideration. --Whiteguru (talk) 05:10, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for your review! I appreciate the effort you have undertaken. Whilst I disagree with your conclusion about balance, I thank you for your review. When I have a moment I will correct the issues that need action. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:44, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

 

Your comments are noted and accepted. Please attend to the minor issue of Furphy's passing. --Whiteguru (talk) 23:02, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

 

All matters sorted. Article passes GA review. --Whiteguru (talk) 03:05, 14 June 2021 (UTC)

 

 Passed

sfn

I need to switch this to {{sfn}} notation. Mainly because I didn't know about this template. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 00:24, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

Authority control

Why collapse the authority control? We don’t do that in any other articles. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 19:17, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

Did you know nomination

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: by MeegsC (talk) 20:36, 13 July 2021 (UTC)

(

• Comment or view
• Article history

)

Portrait of Kate Baker, OBE

• ... that Kate Baker (pictured), an influential Australian literary figure, once wrote a love letter to the author of the Australian novel Such Is Life, Joseph Furphy, whilst suffering from typhoid fever? Source: Barnes, John (1991). "Baker of Ours". The Order of Things: A Life of Joseph Furphy. Oxford University Press, p. 191. ISBN 978-0195531879.
  • ALT1:... that Kate Baker (pictured) arranged to republish the Australian novel Such Is Life by Joseph Furphy after locating half the original manuscript under some lumber in the offices of The Bulletin?
  • For finding the MSS: I.R. (22 November 1947). "Some recent collectors' items". The Age. Victoria, Australia. p. 7 (FINAL EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  • For literary influence, I cite: Duncan, Roy (1980). "Kate Baker, 'Standard-Bearer'". Australian Literary Studies. 9 (3): 379–385. doi:10.20314/als.9c1ec3d53e. ISSN 1837-6479.; also Ewers, John Keith (9 November 1929). "Pioneers of the Pen". The West Australian. Western Australia. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia, and also Barnes, John (1979). "Baker, Catherine (Kate) (1861–1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 7. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 4 October 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  • For quintessential (meaning the typical example that influenced Australian novels of the period), I refer you to the fact The Bulletin published it, it influenced Miles Franklin to write “Who was Joseph Furphy?”, it was celebrated by and influenced multiple literary figures as seen throughout the article. I will change it to “for the period”.

• Comment: I just got this to GA status

Improved to Good Article status by Aussie Article Writer (talk). Self-nominated at 06:55, 14 June 2021 (UTC).

General: Article is new enough and long enough
New enough: Long enough:

Policy: Article is sourced, neutral, and free of copyright problems
Adequate sourcing: Neutral: Free of copyright violations, plagiarism, and close paraphrasing:

Hook eligibility:

• Cited: - Could you please pinpoint the exact sources for influential figure in the main hook and quintessential Australian novel for both hooks?
• Interesting:

Image: Image is freely licensed, used in the article, and clear at 100px.
Freely licensed: Used in article: Clear at 100px:

QPQ: - Have you done one?
Overall: ALT1 is more interesting. JBchrch talk 18:48, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

@JBchrch: I have given references. I have limited it to “quintessential novel of its period”. I suspect I would need to quote dozens of sources for this, all of which are in the article. Perhaps a different word may be needed for DYK? Would “important” be better? - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 01:00, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

• ALT1 is over 200 characters, would it be possible to make it shorter? Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 13:34, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

@Aussie Article Writer: further to Narutolovehinata5, do you think we could maybe remove the quintessential Australian novel of its period language? It would improve the length problem and also solve the sourcing issue. ALT1 is interesting enough to me without it. JBchrch talk 13:53, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

That would work. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 13:55, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

I am fine with this :-) - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 00:33, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

for ALT1. I see that no QPQ is necessary in your case (less than 5 DYK noms): however, feel free to review another nomination! JBchrch talk 09:10, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

Just noticed QPQ, I’ll do some reviews :-) thanks! - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 10:35, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

Denial of OABot

Is there any specific reason for OABot to be excluded from editing this page? The template was added in Special:Diff/1031479908, and I don't see why the editor decided to block the bot. I can't ask the editor in question as they have since been ArbCom blocked. If no one can see a reason for this to be here, I'd say the bot should be un-denied. Aidan9382 _(talk) 19:41, 8 June 2022 (UTC)