Monash Memo - 22 August 2001

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Library Friends go north

The Friends of Monash University Library are hosting an evening on 23 August to coincide with the launch of the latest publication from Monash University’s Ancora Press, a selection of verses titled Songs of the North.

Originally published in the Arctic in 1851, the verses were written by members of the Austin searching expedition at their winter quarters during their quest for survivors of Franklin’s North-West Passage Venture.

Mr Brian McMullin, of Ancora Press, will introduce the evening with an account of Austin’s expedition, the attempts to make contact with the Franklin survivors, and the various forms of printing undertaken by Austin’s officers and men.

 Ancora Press, which has been operating at the university since 1976, is an old-style hand press based in the Centre for the Book, part of the School of Literary, Visual and Performance Studies.

Songs of the North has been illustrated with lino-cuts created by Dominique Dunstan, who will talk about the part she has played in creating the new volume.  

Many of the verses written and printed in the Arctic were designed to be sung to popular tunes of the period, and a selection of these will be performed by baritone Trevor Jones. 

To RSVP or for further information, contact Ms Merrilyn Sorrensen on extn 52670.