Maisie (then Newbold) studied art at the George Bell School, Melbourne in the mid 1930s. Fellow students included Peter Purves-Smith and Russell Drysdale. Maisie married Purves-Smith in 1946. Prior to his participation in WWII he had begun to develop a name for himself as a talented and innovative artist. Purves-Smith died in 1949 and after his death, Maisie undertook librarianship studies in Melbourne. After completing her studies, she held several positions in the public library systems of that city, with her particular interest being children's literature. In 1964 Maisie married Russell Drysdale, one of Australia's leading artists. Following their marriage, their lives revolved around the art world, travel overseas and Bouddi Farm, which was their home on the Central Coast of NSW. After Drysdale's death in 1981 Maisie continued with her interest in these areas.
From the description of Papers of Maisie Drysdale, [ca. 1880]-2001 [manuscript]. [ca. 1880]-2001. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225123109
