Guide to the Papers of Dorothy Porter [MSS 115]

Finding Aid Index Request Information

 

Overview | Administrative Information | Container List

Each Finding Aid can be keyword searched using the Ctrl F function on your keyboard.

Manuscript Name Papers of Dorothy Porter
Manuscript Number MSS 115
Last Updated September 2021
Extent 6.45 m (48 boxes)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract The papers of Dorothy Porter include correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts, notes, notebooks, research material, posters and photographs, together with several unpublished works. The collection provides a near-complete record of Porter's writings.

Collection Subject Type

Literary

Scope and Content

The papers of Dorothy Porter include correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts, notes, notebooks, research material, posters and photographs.

The papers contain detailed documentation of Porter's writings from 1963, including her poetry, novels, short stories, dramas, reviews, poetry readings, interviews, book launches, workshop lectures and articles, as well as several unpublished works. There are drafts for seven of Porter's major works, including Little hoodlumBisonNight parrotDriving too fast, Rookwood, AkhenatenThe monkey's mask and Crete. The collection provides a near complete record of Porter's writings, from her early poetry and prose attempts as a teenager, to publication of Crete.

The collection has been rearranged into 12 artificial series to describe and preserve context and relationships.

Date Range of Content

1963-1996

Biographical Note

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Porter

Dorothy Featherstone Porter was born on 26 March 1954 in Sydney, New South Wales. She lived in Sydney and the Blue Mountains until her move to Melbourne in 1993. She was educated at the Queenwood School for Girls in Sydney and graduated from Sydney University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English and History, and from the Sydney Teacher's College with a Diploma of Education. She worked on an Israeli kibbutz, as a bus conductor on the Sydney buses, and taught creative writing in schools, prisons and community workshops. She lecturered part-time in Poetry and Writing at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Porter was a highly accomplished poet-performer who performed who regularly read extracts from her books and unpublished writings at a variety of venues and festivals in Australia and overseas.

Porter won numerous awards for her poetry and children's books. Some of her works have been adapted for theatre and radio, and The Monkey's Mask was made into a feature film by Arenafilm in 2000.

In 2006 she was engaged on a film version of The Eternity Man, an opera she wrote in collaboration with composer Jonathon Mills which was based on the life of Edgar Stace, a Sydney man who, for decades, chalked the word 'Eternity' around Sydney. At the time of her death, Porter was working on the libretto for a rock opera, January, with Tim Finn.

Porter won various awards for her poetry and children's books:
Melbourne Prize, Melbourne Prize for Literature, 2006: finalist
FAW Christopher Brennan Award, 2001: winner
Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships, Literature Board Fellowship, Category A Fellowship, 1994
Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships, Literature Board Fellowship, Category A Fellowship, 1993
Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing, Best Novel, 2008: nominated for El Dorado
Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Fiction, 2008: shortlisted for El Dorado
The Age Book of the Year Award, Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize, 2007: shortlisted for El Dorado
Festival Awards for Literature (SA), Premier's Award for the Best Overall Published Work, 2004: winner for Wild Surmise
Festival Awards for Literature (SA), John Bray Award for Poetry, 2004: winner for Wild Surmise
Miles Franklin Literary Award, 2003: shortlisted for Wild Surmise
Colin Roderick Award, 1997: shortlisted for Crete
NBC Banjo Awards, NBC Turnbull Fox Phillips Poetry Prize, 1996: shortlisted for Crete
Festival Awards for Literature (SA), John Bray Award for Poetry, 1996: shortlisted for The Monkey's Mask
NBC Banjo Awards, NBC Turnbull Fox Phillips Poetry Prize, 1995: joint winner for The Monkey's Mask
Braille Book of the Year Award, ca.1995: winner for The Monkey's Mask
The Age Book of the Year Award, Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize, 1994: winner for The Monkey's Mask.

Dorothy Porter died on the 10 December 2008 in Melbourne, Victoria.

References:
AustLit : The Australian Literature Resource, Dorothy Porter https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5888 retrieved January 2019

 

Administrative Information

Access and Copying Conditions

Access: The collection is open access with the exception of personal correspondence (Series 1.1/Folders 1-22, 24-35) and diaries (Series 2). The permission of the Literary Executors is required to access these items which are closed until 2033.  Access to Series 1.1/Folder 23 is restricted and requires the permission of Gerard Wilson.

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy. 

Copying: No copying is approved.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Dorothy Porter, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 115, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired from Dorothy Porter by the Library in several instalments from 1989-1996.  An additional folder, containing correspondence with Steve Wilson (Series 1.1/Folder 23), is of separate provenance and was added to the collection in 1993.

 

Additional Information

Related Material

An oil portrait of Porter (2001-02) by Rick Amor is held in the National Portrait Gallery (Canberra) collection.

Separated Material

This collection originally included a number of publications, listed below. These works have been catalogued separately, and added to the Library collection.

Porter, Dorothy. Little hoodlum . Sydney [N.S.W.] : New Poetry for the Poetry Society of Australia, 1975.

Porter, Dorothy. Bison. Sydney : Prism Books, 1979.

Porter, Dorothy. The night parrot. Wentworth Falls, N.S.W. : Black Lightning Press, 1984.

Porter, Dorothy. Driving too fast. St. Lucia, Qld : University of Queensland Press, 1989.

 

Subject Keywords

Subjects

Australian 20th century poets

Australian 20th century poetry

Australian 20th century literature

Australian women poets

Performance poetry

Australian children’s literature

 

Series List and Descriptions

 

Series 1 Correspondence, 1963-1995

This series comprises two subseries of correspondence relating to Porter's personal and professional life, spanning the years 1963-1996. Arrangement is chronological, then alphabetical by name of correspondent or company.

1.1 Personal correspondence, 1963-1992 (All personal correspondence is closed until 2033, with the exception of Folder 23 to which access is restricted)

This subseries comprises personal correspondence received and copies of letters sent by Porter, from 1963-1992. Principal correspondents include Lyn Hughes, Elizabeth Jenkins, Andrew Munro, Joyce O'Neill, Nyree Dawn Porter, Geoffrey Pulford, Michael Tedeschi-Roberts and Steve Wilson.

 

Box 1

Folder 1 
Personal correspondence, 1963-1969

Folder 2 
Personal correspondence from Michael Tedeschi-Roberts, 1969

Folder 3 
Personal correspondence, 1970

Folder 4 
Personal correspondence, 1971

Folder 5 
Personal correspondence, 1972

Folder 6 
Personal correspondence received by Porter at the Sdot-Yam kibbutz, Israel 1972-1973,

 

Box 2

Folder 7 
Personal correspondence from Joyce O'Neill, 1972-1975

Folder 8 
Personal correspondence from Geoffrey Pulford, 1972-1975

Folder 9 
Personal correspondence, 1973

Folder 10 
Personal correspondence, 1974

Folder 11 
Personal correspondence, 1975

 

Box 3

Folder 12 
Personal correspondence, 1976

Folder 13 
Personal correspondence, 1977

Folder 14 
Personal correspondence with Nyree Dawn Porter, 1969-1978

Folder 15 
Personal correspondence, 1978

 

Box 4

Folder 16 
Personal correspondence, 1979

Folder 17 
Personal correspondence, 1980

Folder 18 
Personal correspondence, 1981

 

Box 5

Folder 19 
Personal correspondence, 1982

Folder 20 
Personal correspondence, 1983

Folder 21 
Personal correspondence, 1984

 

Box 6

Folder 22 
Personal correspondence, 1985

Folder 23 
Personal correspondence with Steve Wilson (now Gerard Wilson), 1983, 1985, 1987

Folder 24 
Personal correspondence with Ian Close, 1975, 1985, n.d.

Folder 25 
Personal correspondence with Elizabeth Jenkins, 1979, 1980s and n.d.

Folder 26 
Personal correspondence and birthday and Christmas cards, 1986

Folder 27 
Birthday and Christmas cards, 1970s-1980s, n.d.

Folder 28 
Personal correspondence, 1987

 

Box 7

Folder 29 
Personal correspondence, 1988-1989

Folder 30 
Personal correspondence, 1989

Folder 31 
Personal correspondence from Lyn Hughes, 1989

Folder 32 
Personal correspondence, 1990

Folder 33 
Personal correspondence together with poetry from Andrew Munro, 1990

 

Box 8

Folder 34 
Personal correspondence, 1991

Folder 35 
Personal correspondence, 1992

 

1.2 Professional correspondence, 1974-1995

This subseries comprises professional correspondence with literary magazine and newspaper editors, Australian and overseas publishers, literary organizations and societies and Australian literary figures. Principal correspondents include Black Lightning Press, the Literature Board Grants Committee, Penguin Books, University of Queensland Press, Hyland House and Australian Literary Management.

 

Box 9

Folder 1 
Professional correspondence, 1974-1975, n.d.

Including the Poetry Society of Australia containing correspondence, publications order form, poetry reading programmes, publicity blurbs and press releases relating to a series of four booked-out poetry readings in the Music Room, Sydney Opera House, organised by Cheryl Creatrix under the auspices of the Poetry Society of Australia, on 4 March, 7 June, 5 September and 9 December 1975, together with photocopies of the constitution and the Society's minutes for 1975 when Porter was Vice-President and from the Literature Board, Overland, South Head Press and The Saturday Centre

Folder 2 
Professional correspondence, 1975

From Sydney University student societies

Folder 3 
Professional correspondence, 1976-1977

Including magazine and newspaper editors and the Literature Board

Folder 4 
Professional correspondence, 1978

Received from magazine and newspaper editors and royalty receipts

Folder 5 
Professional correspondence, 1979, 1984

Including a book review, receipts, invitations and replies for the launching of Bison (1979); magazine and newspaper editors, royalty receipts and the Literature Board

Folder 6 
Professional correspondence, 1980-1981

Including magazine and newspaper editors and royalty receipts

 

Box 10

Folder 7 
Professional correspondence, 1982

Including magazine and newspaper editors, royalty receipts, travel arrangements, receipts and from Dane Thwaites, editor Black Lightning Press

Folder 8 
Professional correspondence, 1983

Including magazine and newspapers editors, royalty receipts, Australia Council, the Literature Board regarding Poets-in-Schools project and Black Lightning Press

Folder 9 
Professional correspondence regarding Night parrot 1983-1985, 1989

Including Dane Thwaites, Black Lightning Press regarding grant applications, publication details and costs and invitations and acceptances for the book launch; Barrett Reid Overland, Albert Tucker (cover design), Joanne Burns together with a typescript copy of her launch speech, Bruce Beaver and invoices/receipts for book sales

 

Box 11

Folder 10 
Professional correspondence, 1984

Including magazine and newspaper editors, royalty receipts, Australia Council, the Literature Board regarding Poets-in-Schools project and the Australian Taxation Office

Folder 11 
Professional correspondence, 1985

Including magazine and newspaper editors, poetry competitions and the Literature Board regarding Poets-in-Schools project

Folder 12 
Professional correspondence, 1986-1987

Including magazine and newspapers editors, royalty receipts, Macmillan Company of Australia, Penguin Books, The Australasian Publishing Company, poetry readings, anthology contributions, Literature Board and the NSW Department of Corrective Services

Folder 13 
Professional correspondence, 1987

Including magazine and newspapers editors, royalty receipts, Penguin Books, Blue Light Lounge performance poetry reading, Tasmanian Poetry Festival and teaching applications

Folder 14 
Professional correspondence, 1988

Including magazine and newspaper editors, royalty receipts, Mosman Bicentennial Committee, Australia Council, Pengiun Books and for various poetry readings

 

Box 12

Folder 15 
Professional correspondence, 1988-1989

Including magazine and newspaper editors, Australia Council, Helen Daniel regarding publication of The good reading guide(1989) compiled by Helen Daniel, South Head Press, ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), royalty receipts, Geoffrey Dutton, editor Sydney Morning Herald Literary Supplement and John Synott together with a typescript copy of 'The peace sutra of Tyrtaeus the third'

Folder 16 
Professional correspondence for 'Raising the dead', 1986-1990

Including Allen & Unwin, The Australasian Publishing Company, Collins Angus & Robertson, Hale & Iremonger, McPhee Gribble Publishers, Penguin Books, Simon & Schuster and the University of Queensland Press

Folder 17 
Professional correspondence regarding Rookwood, 1990-1992

From Barbara Ker Wilson Editorial Services and the University of Queensland Press

Folder 18 
Professional correspondence regarding Driving too fast, 1987-1991

Including Sue Abbey, University of Queensland Press, invitations and replies for the book launch, typescript copy of Drusilla Modjeska's launch speech, 22/10/1989 and receipts

Folder 19 
Professional correspondence, 1989-1990

Including magazine and newspaper editors, poetry readings, anthology contributions and PLR (The Public Lending Rights Scheme)

 

Box 13

Folder 20 
Professional correspondence, 1991-1993, 1995

Including magazine and newspaper editors, various writer's programs, residencies and readings, SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) and three letters regarding Akhenaten, 1991-1992

Folder 21 
Professional correspondence for The monkey's mask, 1991-1992, 1994-1995

From Sue Abbey, University of Queensland Press; Kathy Gale, The Women's Press Ltd; Jenny Darling, Australian Literary Management together with a photocopy of Option and Deed of Agreement between Arenafilm and Porter; Andrew Wilkins of Hyland House Publishing, Barry H. Hicks, Geoffrey Cains, readers congratulatory letters, royalty statements and the National Book Council

 

Series 2 Diaries, 1967-1992 (All diaries are closed until 2033)

This series comprises Porter's personal diaries mostly written in exercise books, appointment calendars, address books and one typescript draft together with a letter to Hilary McPhee, spanning the years 1968-1986.

This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding possible publication of the diaries is included in Series 1.

 

Box 14

Folder 1 
Diaries, 1968-1969, contained in two exercise books

Folder 2 
Diaries, 1969-1970

Written in two exercise books

Folder 3 
Diaries, 1970-1971

Written in two exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 4 
Diaries, 1971

Written in two exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 5 
Diaries, 1971-1972

Written in two exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 6-7 
Diaries, 1972

Written in one exercise book together with loose manuscript pages

 

Box 15

Folder 8 
Diaries, 1972-1973

Written in two exercise books together with loose manuscript pages written by Porter at the Sdot-Yam kibbutz, Israel

Folder 9-10 
Diaries, 1973

Written in three exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 11 
Diaries, 1973-1974

Written in one exercise book together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 12-14 
Diaries, 1974

Written in three exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

 

Box 16

Folder 15 
Diaries, 1974-1975

Written in one exercise book together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 16-17 
Diaries, 1975

Written in two exercise books together with loose manuscript pages

Folder 18 
Diaries, 1975-1976

Written in two exercise books

Folder 19 
Diaries, 1976-1977

Written in one spiral bound exercise book

Folder 20 
Appointment calendars and address books (9), 1967, 1973, 1975-1978

 

Box 17

Folder 21 
Appointment calendars and address books (5), 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986

Folder 22 
Diary, 1985-1986

Typescript together with a letter to Hilary McPhee regarding publication

Folder 23 
Appointment calendar and address book (2), 1987

Folder 24 
Appointment calendars and address books (4), 1988-1990

Folder 25 
Appointment calendars (2), 1991-1992

 

Series 3 Poetry, 1968-1994

This series comprises notebooks, workbooks, research material, manuscript and typescript drafts of both published and unpublished poetry by Porter.

Multiple versions of most poems are included for both the unpublished and published poetry including Little hoodlum (1975), Bison (1979), 'The Nashville poems' (1970s-1984), The night parrot (1984), Driving too fast (1989) and Crete (1996) and for the verse novels Akhenaten (1991) and The monkey's mask (1994).

This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the poetry is included in Series 1.

3.1 Miscellaneous poetry, 1968-1975

This subseries, folders 1-27 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts of Porter's poetry published in literary magazines, newspapers and anthologies, together with drafts of unpublished poetry and poetry used for Rookwood (1991).

 

Box 18

Folder 1 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1968-1969

Folder 2 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1970

Folder 3 
Notebook, workbook and loose manuscript and typescript pages, 1971-1972

Folder 4 
Manuscript drafts, 1972

 

Box 19

Folder 5-6 
Loose manuscript drafts 1973, and one workbook containing poetry written by Porter at the Sdot-Yam kibbutz, Israel, 1972-1973

Folder 7 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1974

Folder 8 
Manuscript and typescript drafts and one workbook, 1975

 

Box 20

Folder 9 
Manuscript and typescript drafts and three workbooks, 1976-1977

Folder 10 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1977

Folder 11 
Manuscript and typescript drafts and one workbook, 1978

Folder 12 
One workbook and one notebook containing notes and drafts, 1979-1980

 

Box 21

Folder 13 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages and one notebook containing notes and drafts, 1976-1980

Folder 14 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages and one notebook containing notes and drafts, 1981

Folder 15 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1982

Folder 16 
'The big bang', 1982-1983

First manuscript draft, 6/4/1983 33 p.; second manuscript draft, 19/4/1983, 23 p.; typescript photocopy draft 14 p. together with reading dates and venues and loose manuscript and typescript pages

Folder 17 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, one notebook containing notes and drafts and a list of poetry accepted for publication in magazines, newspapers and anthologies, 1983

Folder 18 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, newspaper clippings with photocopies and a list of poetry accepted for publication in magazines, newspapers and anthologies, 1984

 

Box 22

Folder 19 
Two workbooks containing notes and drafts of poems and research material, 1984

Folder 20 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1985

Folder 20 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1985

Folder 21 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1986

Folder 22 
Three workbooks containing notes and drafts of poems and research material, 1985-1987

Folder 23 
Loose typescript and manuscript pages, 1987

Including 'In the Blue Mountains' sequence and 'Thylacine' sequence, a list of poetry accepted for publication in magazines, newspapers and anthologies and one notebook containing notes, drafts of poems and book launch speech for Judith Beveridge's The domesticity of giraffes (1987)

 

Box 23

Folder 24 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, 1988

Including one notebook containing notes and drafts and a list of poetry accepted for publication in magazines, newspapers and anthologies

Folder 25 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, 1989

Including two notebooks containing notes and drafts and a list of poetry accepted for publication in magazines, newspapers and anthologies

Folder 26 
Miscellaneous poetry and drafts for Rookwood, 1990

Loose manuscript and typescript pages and one notebook written from both ends containing drafts of poems and notes, some used for Rookwood

Folder 27 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1991, 1992, 1994

 

3.2 Little hoodlum (1975)

This subseries, folders 1-2 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts and reviews of Porter's first published book entitled Little hoodlum, published by [Prism] New Poetry for the Poetry Society of Australia, Sydney, 1975.

 

Box 24

Folder 1 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1971-1975

Folder 2 
Annotated typescript together with handwritten contents list and reviews, 1975-1976

 

3.3 Bison (1979)

This subseries, folders 1-2 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts of Bison, published by Prism Books, Sydney, 1979.

Folder 1 
Manuscript and typescript drafts and one review, 1975-1978

Folder 2 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages from 'The water poems' sequence published in Bison, 1975-1978

 

3.4 'The Nashville poems', 1978-1980

This subseries, folders 1-4 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts for an unpublished work entitled 'The Nashville poems'. In these poems Porter explores the relationship between 'real' and vicarious experience. Some of these poems have been individually published in magazines, newspapers and anthologies.

 

Box 25

Folder 1-4 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages and two notebooks containing notes and drafts, 1978-1980

 

3.5 The night parrot (1984)

This subseries, folders 1-2 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts, book reviews, sales figures and newspaper clippings for The night parrot, published by Black Lightning Press, Wentworth Falls, N.S.W., 1984.

Folder 1-2 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, book reviews and correspondence with sales figures, 1979-1983, 1987, 1990

 

3.6 Driving too fast (1989)

This subseries, folders 1-5 comprises research material, manuscript and typescript drafts and reviews of Driving too fast, published by the University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld., 1989.

 

Box 26

Folder 1-2 
Loose manuscript and typescript pages, research material and newspaper clippings with photocopies, 1979-1988

Folder 3 
Typescript with proofreader and editors marks and comments, 79 p. and correspondence from Sue Abbey, University of Queensland Press, 6 March 1989

Folder 4 
Spare typescript

Folder 5 
Reviews, invitations and newspaper clippings with photocopies, 1989-1990

 

3.7 Akhenaten (1992)

This subseries, folders 1-9 comprises research notes, notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, cover designs, and reviews of Akhenaten, published by the University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld., 1992.

Folder 1 
Notebook begun 27/8/1987, Mt. Victoria, containing notes and drafts of poems, 1987-1988

Folder 2 
Two notebooks containing notes, drafts of poems, subject listing for the poems, and notes on Porter's Egyptian and South African trip, 13 January to 3 March 1989, 1988-1989

 

Box 27

Folder 3 
Loose manuscript pages from different notebooks and research notes written at 57 Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, July 1989

Folder 4 
Typescript photocopy, 1987-1989

Folder 5 
Annotated typescript draft together with handwritten character list, glossary and notes, [1989-1990]

Folder 6 
Annotated typescript draft together with glossary and general notes, 1989

 

Box 28

Folder 7 
Annotated typescript drafts of pages 1-30, 1990

Folder 8 
Annotated and edited typescript, [1990-1991]

Folder 9 
Miscellaneous, 1988-1992

Typescript drafts not used for the book, notes for poetry to be reworked, research material, original illustration designs and a flyer for the book launch by Judith Beveridge; manuscript and typescript drafts of an article written by Porter for Writer's Block entitled 'The soul of the unicorn', 11 March 1989

 

3.8 The monkey's mask (1994) and Crete (1996)

This subseries, folders 1-19 comprises research notes, notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, reviews, criticisms, interviews, galley proofs, and a launch speech for the verse novel The monkey's mask, published by Hyland House, South Yarra, Vic.,1994, and for Crete, published by Hyland House, South Melbourne, 1996, together with notes for The witch number, published by University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld, 1993, and a draft of 'Poor Jill.'

Folder 1 
Two notebooks containing notes and drafts of poems and notes used for The monkey's maskCrete and The witch number, 1990-1991

Folder 2 
Three notebooks containing drafts of unpublished poems and poems for The monkey's mask and Crete, 1991-1992

Folder 3 
Two notebooks containing drafts of unpublished poems and manuscript draft no. 3 of The monkey's mask and drafts of Crete, 1993

Folder 4 
One notebook written from both ends containing drafts of unpublished poems and used poems for The monkey's mask and Crete, 24/5/1993

 

Box 29

Folder 5 
The monkey's mask, 27/8/1990-29/4/1992

Annotated typescript draft with setting out notes

Folder 6 
The monkey's mask, 1992-1994

Typescript draft no. 2 containing editorial suggestions and editing by Andrea Goldsmith and notes from Lyn Hughes

Folder 7 
The monkey's mask, 1993

Typescript draft no. 3, 266 p. containing new poems up to 27/7/1993, last edit 1/8/1993 and notes 2/2/1993

 

Box 30

Folder 8 
The monkey's mask, September 1993

Typescript draft photocopy with Andrea Goldsmith's editorial suggestions

Folder 9 
The monkey's mask, 8/10/1993

Typescript draft of the final edit with Andy [Andrew Wilkins]

Folder 10 
The monkey's mask, 1993-1994

Author's annotated typescript draft 14/10/1993, with final draft 27/1/94 and final edit before galleys 10/3/1994

 

Box 31

Folder 11 
The monkey's mask, 1993

Agent's typescript photocopy

Folder 12 
The monkey's mask, 1993-1994

Typescript photocopy

Folder 13 
The monkey's mask, 1994

Including rejected poetry, editorial suggestions from Lyn Hughes, 17/1/1994 and notes on the manuscript's progress

 

Box 32

Folder 14 
Reviews of The monkey's mask, 1994-1995

Folder 15 
The monkey's mask, 1994-1995

Literary criticisms published in Australian literary magazines and a transcript of a research-in-progress report and discussion by Priya Kalnins entitled 'Dorothy Porter : The monkey's mask' [1995]

Folder 16 
Interviews regarding The monkey's mask published in Australian magazines and a transcript of an interview with Barbara Bursill entitled 'Beguiling, challenging and even hostile' [1995], 1994-1995

Folder 17 
Miscellaneous material regarding The monkey's mask including Gwen Harwood's launch speech, awards information, newspaper clippings with photocopies and booksellers' lists, 1994-1995

Folder 18 
U.S.A. book tour for The monkey's mask, published by Arcade Publishing, New York (1995), 1994-1995

Including correspondence with Hyland House, the Australia Council and David Szanto to publish and promote the American edition, itineraries, business cards, American newsletters and newspaper clippings, three typescript drafts of Porter's clarification notes on unique Australian language

 

Box 33 (Folio)

Folder 19 
Corrected proofs and one dust jacket, 28/3/1994 and 29/3/1994

 

Series 4 Novels, 1968-1991

This series comprises notebooks, workbooks, manuscript and typescript drafts and galley proofs for several unpublished pieces of prose and Porter's published volume of young adult fiction entitled Rookwood (1991), spanning the years 1968-1991.

This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the novels is included in Series 1.

 

Box 34

Folder 1 
'A school girl's dream', 1968-1969

Manuscript drafts written in four exercise books

Folder 2 
'Blisters on a rough ride', 1971-1973

Manuscript drafts written in three exercise books. Unfinished sequel to 'A school girl's dream'

Folder 3 
'They dance in my smoke', 1972-1973

Manuscript draft of an incomplete novel written in two exercise books

Folder 4 
'They dance in my smoke', 1972-1973

Three typescript drafts

 

Box 35

Folder 5 
'Raising the dead', 1981-1982, 1984

1st manuscript draft written in two exercise books

Folder 6 
'Raising the dead', 1984

2nd manuscript draft written in five exercise books

Folder 7 
'Raising the dead', [1984]

One typescript draft, p. 1-49 and notes

Folder 8 
'Raising the dead', 1985

Corrected typescript with handwritten amended page numbers, p. 1-306

 

Box 36

Folder 9 
'Raising the dead', 1985

Corrected carbon typescript with handwritten amended page numbers, p. 1-305

Folder 10 
'Raising the dead', 1988

Rewrite on the original typescript with manuscript insertions

Folder 11 
'Raising the dead', 1988

Final typescript draft, p. 1-313

 

Box 37

Folder 12 
Rookwood, published by the University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld, (1991), 1990

One exercise book of chapters 1-3 and one typescript draft of chapters 4-6

Folder 13 
Rookwood, 1990

Including one typescript draft, p. 1-189, together with a new typescript version of chapter 12, handwritten chapter notes and research material

Folder 14 
Rookwood, 1990

University of Queensland Press edited typescript, p. 1-188

 

Series 5 Short Stories, 1968-1987

This series comprises unpublished and published manuscript, typescript and carbon drafts of short stories by Porter from 1964 to 1987.

This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the short stories is included in Series 1.

 

Box 38

Folder 1 
Loose manuscript and typescript drafts and two notebooks late 1960s-1970

Containing short stories entitled 'What happened to me and the Beatles' together with newspaper clippings, [1964-1965]; 'It was a dog's life', fragment p. 1-21; 'A piece of nostalgia - Birdie'; 'The children who played with fire', 18 pages; 'Contemplations on a rainy morning'; 'The disappearance of John O'Connors'; 'The headmistress', p. 1-18; 'The pick up', 12 pages; 'Smoke without fire', 5 pages; manuscript (4 pages) and typescript (14 pages) drafts of 'To perform a waif' and two untitled short stories

Folder 2 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1979-1985

Containing short stories entitled 'The arrangement', 18 pages; manuscript (13 pages) and typescript (6 pages) drafts of 'Australian dissidents'; four typescript drafts of 'Brownie Cottage'; 'The buses', 3 pages; 'Song of songs', 2 pages; two typescript drafts of 'Heartbreak ' 2 pages; 'Pericles', 8 pages and one manuscript (30 pages) and typescript carbon (11 pages) drafts of Proverbs (1984)

Folder 3 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1979-1985

Containing short stories entitled 'Psalms' together with a letter from The Billy Blue Group, one manuscript (16 pages) and four typescript drafts (6 pages); 'The Shipley Tea-room murders', 9 pages; 'With the weathermen'; one manuscript (12 pages) and one typescript (4 pages) drafts of 'Ted's bereavement'; one manuscript (20 pages) and typescript (8 pages) drafts of 'Yours in solidarity'; one manuscript (18 pages) and one typescript (5 pages) drafts of 'Card only' and a short story idea for 'We all live in a yellow submarine'

Folder 4 
Typescript drafts, 1987

Containing short stories entitled 'The arrows', three typescript drafts (1990); three typescript drafts of 'The beauty contest'; two typescript drafts of 'The guinea pig who went for a grant' 2 pages; two typescript drafts of 'On planet Mary Joan Clarke' (1988) and two typescript drafts of 'Tyger, tyger',

 

Series 6 Dramas, 1960s-1986

Folders 1-3 comprises unpublished handwritten and typescript plays from the late 1960s to 1986, including three play written by Porter when she was an adolescent.

This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding the publication of the dramas is included in Series 1.

Folder 1 
Manuscripts and typescripts, late 1960s-1970

Including three untitled adolescence manuscript and typescript dramas; one manuscript draft, two typescript drafts and one carbon copy entitled 'And then there were two'

Folder 2 
Typescript draft of 'Judy's Getting Married', 1978

Folder 3 
Typescript draft of 'Right in this post office' and correspondence to Pieter Dirk Uys, 1986

 

Series 7 Reviews, 1970s-1992

Folders 1-5 comprises manuscript and typescript drafts of unpublished and published book reviews written by Porter for literary magazines, newspapers and anthologies, from the 1970s to 1992.

This material is arranged alphabetically by book title and correspondence regarding the publication of the reviews is included in Series 1. The notebook in folder 4 contains a draft of a poem entitled 'Poor Jill' from the Monkey's mask Series 3.

 

Box 39

Folder 1 
A-B, 1970s-1992

Folder 2 
F-P, 1988-1992

Folder 3 
T plus reviews of different books for the same journal, 1988-1992

Folder 4 
Manuscript and review drafts, 1992

Hard cover notebook written from both ends containing manuscript drafts of book reviews and a draft of the poem 'Poor Jill' from The monkey's mask

Folder 5 
Manuscript and typescript drafts for Porter's five contributions to The good reading guide : 100 critics review contemporary Australian fiction, compiled by Helen Daniel, published by McPhee Gribble, Melbourne, Vic. (1989), 1988-1989

 

Series 8 Other Prose, 1978-1992

Folders 1-2 comprises both unpublished and published manuscript and typescript drafts and one letter for festivals, poetry readings, interviews, book launches, workshop lectures, one reader's report and articles published in various literary journals, 1978-1992.

Correspondence regarding the publication of this material is included in Series 1.

Folder 1 
Manuscript and typescript drafts, 1978-1992

Including 'The triumph of popular music', 16/11/1978; notes used for ABC interview and reading, [1979]; 'Writing poetry', 24/4/1987; 'Marcus Clarke', 4/3/1988; 'COSAW - two writers', [1988]; book launch speech by Porter for Vida's child, by Freda Galloway, 16/12/1989; 'Sydney : the opera'; 'Turning point' published title Poetry and music (1991); lecture notes for the F.O.D.S. creative writing night, 30/11/1990; 'The writing machine : technologies and teaching', Sydney Festival, 26/1/1991; 'Poetry - from here to where?', Montsalvat National Poetry Festival, 10/3/1991; untitled poetry reading for Heritage Week at the Springwood Library, 7/4/1991 and Porter's launch speech for Pink Ink : an anthology of Australian lesbian and gay writers, edited by Kerry Bashford ...[et al.], 26/10/1991

Folder 2 
Correspondence and one notebook, 1989-1990

Including manuscript drafts for Warana Writers' Week, 14-20 September 1990; Porter's reader's report for Redress Press, 1989 and correspondence and two typescript copies of 'Looking for platypus', by Porter and Elizabeth Jenkins, 1985

 

Series 9 Miscellaneous, 1966-1990s

This series comprises material from 1966 to the early 1990s, including school books, travel itineraries and scrapbooks, containing teaching notes, posters, art drawings, newspaper clippings and flyers, leaflets and handbills advertising poetry competitions, readings and Australian literary festivals. This material is arranged chronologically.

 

Box 40

Folder 1 
Juvenilia, 1967-1969

Folder 2 
Miscellaneous school material, 1966-1971

Folder 3 
Photocopy of A comic masque, by Robert Duncan

Folder 4 
Sydney University societies and Sydney University Poetry Society, 1979

Includes copies of broadsheets, news-sheets, manuscript and typescript drafts of poetry by contributor's, notes on readings, festivals and workshops, 1973-1975

 

Box 41

Folder 5 
Maps, brochures, handbooks, airline tickets, receipts and itinerary for Porter's overseas trip, 1976

Folder 6 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings and notes, 1972-1979

Folder 7 
Scrapbook containing minutes of literary meetings, literary programmes, newspaper clippings and notes, 1980

Folder 8 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings, drawings, flyers and leaflets advertising poetry and short story competitions and readings and miscellaneous notes by Porter, 1981-1982

Folder 9 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newsletters, newspaper clippings, flyers and leaflets advertising poetry competitions and readings, 1983

Folder 10 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newsletters, newspaper clippings, flyers and leaflets advertising poetry competitions and readings and receipts, 1984

 

Box 42

Folder 11 
Scrapbook containing one bird-watching notebook, newsletters, newspaper clippings, drawings, flyers and leaflets advertising poetry competitions and readings and receipts, 1985

Folder 12 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newsletters, newspaper clippings, flyers, leaflets, and correspondence advertising poetry competitions and readings and receipts, 1986

Folder 13 
Scrapbook containing minutes of meetings, newsletters, newspaper clippings, flyers, leaflets, and correspondence advertising poetry and short story competitions and readings, 1987-1990

Folder 14 
Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, leaflets, receipts and notes by Porter, 1981-1992

Folder 15 
Publisher's and booksellers brochures and literary articles, 1981-1992

Folder 16 
Itineraries, brochures, tickets and booklets relating to Porter's trip to Egypt and South Africa, 1989

 

Box 43

Folder 17-19 
Teaching notes, 1970s-1990s

Folder 20-21 
Correspondence, notes, advertising and programmes concerning poetry competitions, writers' festivals and readings, 1990-1994

 

Box 44

Folder 22 
Correspondence, notes, advertising and programmes concerning poetry competitions, writers' festivals and readings, 1990-1994

Folder 23 
Student writing project, 1992

Including one notebook, notes and correspondence from the students

Folder 24 
Correspondence, itinerary and notes concerning the Victorian Women Writers' Train, 1992 trip, 1991-1992

Folder 25 
Arts Education Summit programme, 1993

Folder 26 
Correspondence, brochures and itinerary for the Canberra Wordfest, 1992-1993

Folder 27 
Miscellany items consisting of coins; badge; bookplates; toy car and one newspaper clipping

Folder 28 
Poetry for Porter by friends, 1981-1991

 

Box 45 (Folio)

Folder 29 
Posters, art drawings, newspaper clippings, 1967-1994

 

Series 10 Photographs, 1957-1994

This series comprises a number of miscellaneous colour and black and white photographs and seven negatives including Porter, her family and friends and photographs relating to the book launches for Driving too fast and The monkey's mask.

 

Box 46

Folder 1 
Photographs, 1957-1994 
Photographs of unidentified Australian literary figures, 1975 (3);
Two juvenile girls;
Nyree Dawn Porter;
Two figures in a kitchen;
Peter Stossel, 1976;
Graduation group, 1979;
Ian and Dorothy Porter, 1980, Avalon, Angophora Reserve, Blackheath (11);
Ian, Blue Mountains, Pope's Glen Walk, 1980 (2);
Mark, 1980?;
Peter Humphries, 1982 (2);
Dorothy Porter, at the platypus pool (2);
Elizabeth Jenkins, at the platypus pool;
Dorothy Porter;
Wendy and Elizabeth Jenkins (Tiddy), 1980;
Elizabeth Jenkins and Emma, 1980 (2);
Elizabeth Jenkins (3);
Porter with two unidentified women, early 1970s;
Ian, 1979 (2);
Dorothy Porter (4);
Dorothy Porter and her grandmother?;
Steve Wilson, early 1980s (3);
Dorothy Porter, 1984, taken for Women Australia (7);
Porter at a zoo (3);
Dorothy Porter and unidentified male;
Unidentified boy and girl, 1957;
Eleni, 1984;
Unidentified man and women, 1984?;
Prince Felix Boateng;
Unidentified group of women;
Jean and Chester Porter, 1981;
Jean Porter and her mother?;
Dorothy Porter at Rookwood Cemetery, 1982 (3);
Lucille's workshop class, 2/12/1985;
Samuel, 1985 (2);
Lyn Hughes and her daughter, 1985
Kate and Mary, 1989 (2);
Porter at the Driving too fast book launch, 1989 (8); 
Kiya and Jasmine, 1991;
Self-portrait, 1992 entitled 'Acoustic shadow' (suggested cover);
Victorian Women Writer's Train, 1992 (2);
The Adelaide Writers' Centre, Adelaide, poetry reading at Tapas, 1992 (3);
The monkey's mask, Melbourne book launch, 16/10/1994;
Dorothy Porter (2);
Group of women;
Dorothy Porter and Andrea Goldsmith?;
Dorothy Porter, 26/6/93;
Negatives of Dorothy Porter (7)

 

Series 11 Audio-visual

This small series comprises a film, 3D viewer and one audio cassette.

 

Box 47

Folder 1 
Film sliced by frame entitled 'Top cat' and 'Alice in wonderland', together with a 3D viewer

Folder 2 
Audio cassette entitled 'A fresh start', by John Chapman

 

Series 12 Folios, 1975-1988

This small series comprises three posters, dating from 1975-1988.

 

Oversize run

Folder 1 
Promotional poster entitled 'A rabbit as king of the ghosts' at the Sydney Opera House Music Room, 1975

Correspondence regarding the development of this poster is included in Series 1.

Folder 2 
Poster of Naguib Mahfouz, drawn to dedicate his Nobel prize win for literature in 1988

Folder 3 
Poster advertising the 'Women's War and Peace Art Exhibition', 18-30 January 1987