Occupation Literary editor Name Clem Christesen | Spouse Nina Maximov | |
Born 1911 Townsville, Queensland, Australia Died June 28, 2003, Templestowe, Melbourne, Australia Books The Troubled Eyes of Women Parents Susan Byrne, Patrick Christesen | ||
Education University of Queensland | ||
Clement Byrne Christesen (1911–2003) was the founder of the Australian literary magazine Meanjin. He served as the magazine's editor from 1940 until 1974.
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Early years
Clement Byrne Christesen was born and spent his early life in Townsville. His father, Patrick, was of mixed Irish and Danish descent, while his mother Susan Byrne, was mostly Irish. The family moved to Brisbane in 1917, where Clem later attended the University of Queensland.
Career
After leaving university, Clem worked as a journalist at Brisbane's Courier-Mail and the Telegraph, as well as a publicity officer for the Queensland government.
Meanjin Papers was first published in 1940, following Christesen's return from overseas travel.
With an offer of full-time salary and commercial support for the publication, the magazine and its editor moved to the University of Melbourne in 1945.
He retired as editor in 1974.
Awards
Christesen was granted several awards and state honours in recognition of his achievements: