Finding Miles Franklin’s last diary
Australian literary legend Miles Franklin made a name for herself with the publication in 1901 of her much loved classic “My Brilliant Career”. Now the namesake of both a prestigious literary award and prize, she is woven into the fabric of Australian history and culture, and also has a connection with Dubbo through relative Kim V. Goldsmith who today (Thursday, March 8) will share her story about finding the last diary of Stella Miles Franklin. As told to YVETTE AUBUSSON-FOLEY.
How did you discover the last diary of Miles Franklin?
I’d loaned my grandfather’s suitcase of memorabilia, given to me by my mother, to distant relative and family historian with the Buddong Society, Margaret Francis of Wagga Wagga, as it contained photos that were of interest to her for the third volume of the family history.
She’d seen the photos years before when my grandfather still had them.
I knew there were other bits and pieces in the suitcase as well – an address book, a small diary, a few photo albums and various documents – all knocking around together, with few names on anything.
Margaret’s knowledge of the family’s history and Miles Franklin’s life is considerable. She recognised the significance of one of the items in the suitcase immediately, ringing me to say she had something important to tell me that couldn’t be done over the phone.
What did she have to say?
She came to Dubbo. Sitting at my dining room table over cups of tea, Margaret asked me to stay seated as she told me very quietly and calmly that the suitcase contained Miles Franklin’s last diary – the last entry written only days before her death.
My stomach hit the floor. I broke out in a cold sweat. I simply didn’t know what to say!
Why is that? Was the diary known about before the discovery?
Jill Roe’s biography of Miles, “Stella Miles Franklin: A Biography”, references the missing Kim V. Goldsmith with the suitcase handed down the generations, containing personal effects of Miles Franklin (left) and her last diary (below). PHOTOS: DARCEE NIXON. ARCHIVE
Having known of my family’s connection to Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin most of my life (her mother Susannah and my great, great grandfather Gus Lampe were siblings), having studied “My Brilliant Career” in high school, as well as going on to become a print and radio journalist, avid reader of Australian literature, and a creative in my adult life, the significance of this wasn’t lost on me, but it made me feel quite ill. diary (p.553):
“From 1 January 1909 to 1 January 1954, there is some kind of record of what Miles Franklin was doing on virtually every day of her life... There was a pocket diary for 1954 – Miles checked it in May regarding correspondence with David Martin – but it does not survive; and even if it had, she would hardly have been able to write in it.”
Despite her ill health that year, noted by those around her and commented on in correspondence, Miles did write in her diary – not quite every day – until only days before she died. Her last entry was Tuesday, September 14, 1954. She died on September 19 at the age of 75.
What has happened since?
Reading the last diary along with various letters from the last years of her life, as well as meeting relatives who remember Miles not as a writer but as a family member, has made her feel more real