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.
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 Vincent Buckley |
Manuscript Number | MSS 229 |
Last Updated | August 2021 |
Extent | 1.3 m (10 boxes + 1 folio) |
Location | Special Collections, UNSW Canberra |
Abstract | This collection comprises manuscript papers and related material by Vincent Buckley. |
The papers of Vincent Buckley include correspondence, notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, variant versions, page proofs, book reviews, author's legal agreement, newspaper clippings and lecture notes.
1937-1992
Special Collections staff has imposed the series arrangement of this collection to describe and preserve context and relationships.
Vincent Thomas Buckley was born 8 July 1925 in Romsey, Victoria and died 12 November 1988. He was educated at St. Patrick's College, 1938-1942 and the University of Melbourne, where he received a B.A., 1949 and M.A., 1953, before undertaking further study at Cambridge University, 1955-1957. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War and worked as a public servant before joining the teaching staff at Melbourne University in 1951. He was the inaugural Lockie Fellow in Australian Literature and Creative Writing, 1958-1960, Senior Lecturer, 1961-1963, Reader, 1964-1967, held the Personal Chair in Poetry until his early retirement, 1967-1987 and was a member of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Buckley was a poet, academic, editor and critic of Australian and Irish literature. In the 1950s and 1960s, he had considerable intellectual and literary influence in Melbourne through his writing and teaching. He published eight volumes of poetry and several critical studies, and edited several anthologies of verse and the magazines Prospect (1958-1963) and was poetry editor of the Bulletin (1961-1963). In 1969, he founded the Committee for Civil Rights in Ireland, and throughout his later life he visited and lived in Ireland.
Buckley was the recipient of several awards, including:
Festival Awards for Literature (SA), John Bray Award for Poetry, 1992, winner for Last poems
Northern Territory Literary Awards, Red Earth Poetry Award, Open Section, 1984, winner for 'Synchrony'
FAW Christopher Brennan Award, 1982, winner
Dublin Prize, 1977, winner
Myer Award for Australian Poetry, 1967, winner for Arcady and other places : poems
Australian Literature Society Gold Medal, 1962, winner for Masters in Israel
The Quadrant Prize for Contributions to Issue Numbers 23-26, 1962 - 1963, winner for 'Parents'
Australian Literature Society Medal, 1959
The Borestone Mountain Poetry Award, 1951
Buckley's publications include:
The world's flesh (1954)
Essays in poetry : mainly Australian (1957)
Australian poetry (editor, 1958)
Poetry and morality : studies on the criticism of Matthew Arnold, T. S. Eliot and F. R. Leavis (1959)
Henry Handel Richardson (1961, 2nd ed. 1970)
Masters in Israel (1961)
The Campion paintings, by Leonard French; introduction and annotation of plates by Buckley (1962)
Eight by eight (editor, 1963)
Arcady and other places (1966)
Poetry and the sacred (1968)
Ulster : why?, compiled by Vincent Buckley (1973)
Golden builders and other poems (1976)
Late-winter child (1979)
The pattern (1979)
Selected poems (1981)
Cutting green hay : friendships, movements and cultural conflicts in Australia's great decades (1983)
Memory Ireland : insights into the contemporary Irish condition (1985)
Last poems (edited, with a foreword by Penelope Buckley, 1991; published posthumously)
The Faber book of modern Australian verse (editor, 1991; published posthumously).
The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize instituted in memory of Buckley, and which alternates between Australian and Irish poets, was awarded for the first time in 1993; the recipient was Lisa Gorton, for a poem sequence entitled 'Tidings'.
References:
The Oxford companion to Australian literature, 2nd ed. (1994)
The bibliography of Australian literature. A-E (2001)
AustLit Australian Literature Gateway database, 2003
Ozlit: Australian Literature Resources on the Net, Books & Writers Database, 2003
Papers of Vincent Buckley, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, MSS 229, Series [Number], Folder [Number].
The collection was acquired by the Library in several instalments from Penelope Buckley from 1991-1993.
Further papers of Vincent Buckley are held by the National Library, in the Vincent Buckley Papers, at MS 7289.
Poets, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives.
College teachers -- Australia -- Archives.
Australian poetry -- 20th century.
This series comprises two subseries of correspondence relating to Buckley's personal, writing and professional life. There is correspondence from family, friends, students, literary associates, agents, publishers and admirers regarding Buckley's university appointments and work, lectures and addresses, and various literary endeavours. There is also correspondence with Dr Penelope Buckley regarding publication of The Faber book of modern Australian verse (1991). Arrangement is alphabetical by name of correspondent or company, then chronological.
Much of the correspondence is from notable Australian literary personalities, including Bruce Beaver, R. D. FitzGerald, Helen Garner, Mary Gilmore, Gwen Harwood, Xavier Herbert, Jack Hibberd, A. D. Hope, Manfred Jurgensen, F. R. Leavis, David Malouf, David Martin, James McAuley, Rhyll McMaster, Dennis O'Driscoll, Bernard Smith, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Patrick White and Fay Zwicky.
Buckley's correspondence reflects the intensity of thought, debate and the copious exchange of political attitudes, ideas and thoughts between leading intellectuals in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s. His letters with Irish correspondents, and details of his visits to Ireland and Irish universities show his ties between Australian and Irish culture and writing.
1.1 Personal correspondence, 1952-1988
This subseries comprises personal correspondence with Vincent Buckley. Arrangement is alphabetical, then chronological with attributions by Buckley.
Folder 1
Personal correspondence A-H, 1952-1988
Including Ron Ayling, Bruce Beaver (3), Kevin Hart (3 notes), Seamus Heaney, T. R. Henn (1), Jack Hibberd (1) and A. D. Hope, together with drafts of his poetry
1.2 Professional correspondence, 1951-1990
This subseries comprises professional correspondence with Vincent Buckley with newspaper editors, literary associates, colleagues and students concerning Buckley's university appointments, work and university affairs, lectures and addresses and various literary endeavours.
Principal correspondents include The Age, Angus & Robertson, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian National University, The Australian, Max Charlesworth, Peter Cravan, Faber & Faber, Robert D. FitzGerald, Barbara Giles, Mary Gilmore, Robert Harris, Les Harrop, Xavier Herbert, Manfred Jurgensen, Tim Kelly, Thomas Kinsella, Peter Kuch, Brian Matthews, James McAuley, Thomas McCarthy, Meanjin, Les Murray, Mark O'Connor, Dennis O'Driscoll, Dinny O'Hearn, Vincent O'Sullivan, Outrider, Oxford University Press, K. K. Ruthven, John Sendy, Paul Simpson, Richard Tipping, Dimitris Tsaloumas, Ian Turner, University of Melbourne, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Gerard Windsor and Fay Zwicky. Arrangement is alphabetical, then chronological with attributions by Buckley.
Folder 1
Business correspondence A, 1969-1988
Including letters to the Age, letters from Angus & Robertson, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Bob Brissenden and David Brooks of the Australian National University, and The Australian
Folder 2
Business correspondence B-G, 1956-1988
Including the British Broadcasting Corporation, correspondence to Manning Clark (1), Danny Cusack (2), Deakin University, John Dormer (1), Robert D. FitzGerald (1) and Mary Gilmore (1)
Folder 3
Business correspondence relating to the release of the Hungarian writers and intellectuals still in prison appeal, 1959-1961
Including letters, lists and signatures of Australian writers and intellectuals and letters from H. R. Krygier of the Australian Association for Cultural Freedom, J. F. Cairns, Louise de Villefosse of the Comité Tibor Déry, K. D. Gott, Tibor Meray and Elizabeth Young
Folder 4
Business correspondence H-L, 1960-1988
Including Les Harrop, Xavier Herbert relating to Herbert's profound thanks for Buckley's review in Meanjin, vol.29 no.1, 1960, p.13-30 of Capricornia (1), Grahame Johnston, Paul Kane, Thomas Kinsella and Peter Kuch
Folder 5
Business correspondence M-N, 1952-1988
Including Brian Matthews (1), James McAuley, Thomas McCarthy (3) and Meanjin
Folder 6
Business correspondence O, 1960-1988
Including Mark O'Connor (1), Dennis O'Driscoll, Vincent O'Sullivan, Outrider and Oxford University Press
Folder 7
Business correspondence P-T, 1959-1987
Including Barbara Giles of P.E.N. (2), Barry Pittard (1), Ravan Press (1), royalty payment details, Peter Cravan of Scripsi, Robert Harris of Seahore Publications (1), John Sendy (1), Paul Simpson (3), Les Murray of South Head Press (1), Richard Tipping (1), together with his poetry, Dimitris Tsaloumas (2), together with his poetry and Ian Turner (1)
Folder 8
Business correspondence Universities-Z, 1968-1988
Including Jonathan White of the University of Essex (2), Irish universities including Tom Dunne of University College, Cork (1), Seán Lucy of University College, Cork (2), Leland [Lyons?] of the University of Dublin (1), Robert Welch of the University of Ulster at Coleraine (1), Tadhg Foley (2) and Patrick F. Sheeran (1) of University College, Galway, Christopher Pollnitz (5) and Paul Kavanagh (1) of The University of Newcastle, Lynn Hard (2), Harry Heseltine and Trish Middleton of the University College, UNSW, Manfred Jurgensen of the University of Queensland (5), John Winter of The University of Tasmania (1), Dennis Haskell of the University of Western Australia (2), copies of letters concerning the Vietnam conflict, Gerard Windsor (2) and Fay Zwicky (1)
Folder 9
Business correspondence illustrating academic life within the University of Melbourne, 1960s-1988
Correspondents include Marion Campbell, Anne Coulthurst, Neil Courtney, Tim Kelly, Dinny O'Hearn, Kevin Presa, K. K. Ruthven, A. L. Turner, Chris Wallace-Crabbe; letters concerning Buckley's retirement, letter from Buckley to the Vice-Chancellor regarding the Lockie Fellowship, letters with Buckley regarding the Farrago controversy, 1967 and Max Charlesworth
Folder 10
Business correspondence, University of Melbourne, 1983-1988
Including references, examiner's reports and correspondence with students
Folder 11
Business correspondence concerning Buckley's application for the Archbishop Mannix Travelling Scholarship for 1954, 1951-1957
Including photocopies donated to the Library by Anthony Strazzera of Buckley's letter to Fr. Rector [Murphy], references from A. D. Hope, Ian Maxwell, Clem Christesen and Father Golden, copies of letters to Father Gleason during his Cambridge period (6) and Buckley's handwritten curriculum vitae
Folder 12
Business correspondence relating from friends and admirers of Poetry and morality (1), Arcady and other places (1), Golden builders (1), Cutting green hay (27) and Memory Ireland (5),1959-1988
Including John ?, Thomas Butler, Neil Coughlan, Jean Crowcroft, Seamus Grimes, Bernard Jordan, Peter [Kelly], David Martin, Melbourne University Press, Denis O'Leary, Peter O'Shaughnessy, Penguin Books, Geoff Sharp and John J. Scullion
This series comprises notebooks, multiple versions of manuscript and typescript drafts of both published and unpublished poetry by Buckley including poems from Arcady and other places and Last poems.
This material is arranged chronologically and correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the poetry is included in Series 1.
2.1 Miscellaneous poetry, 1947-1981
This subseries comprises manuscript, typescript, carbon and photocopy drafts of Buckley's poetry published in literary magazines and anthologies, together with drafts of unpublished poetry and poetry used for The world's flesh (1954), Masters in Israel (1961), Arcady and other places (1966), Golden builders and other poems (1976), Late-winter child (1979), The pattern (1979) and Selected poems (1981)
Folder 1
Manuscripts, typescripts, carbons, photocopies and fragments of unfinished and finished poems, 1947-1970s
Folder 2
Manuscripts, typescripts, photocopies and fragments of unfinished and finished poems, 1950s-1970s
2.2 Arcady and other places (1966)
This subseries comprises manuscript drafts of Arcady and other places, published by Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1966 and miscellaneous poetry drafts.
2.3 Golden builders and other poems (1976) and Late-winter child (1979)
This subseries comprises a contract for Golden builders and other poems, published by Angus & Robertson, London, 1976, and a notebook containing drafts of Late-winter child, published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1979, and miscellaneous poetry drafts.
2.4 Last poems (1991)
This subseries comprises notebooks, manuscript, typescript, word-processed and photocopy drafts of poems from Last poems, by Vincent Buckley; edited and with a foreword by Penelope Buckley, published posthumously by McPhee Gribble, Ringwood, Vic., 1991. Some of these poems have been published in magazines and in earlier published volumes in the same or earlier versions. There are finished poems and some in draft.
Last poems consists of two sections. The first section entitled 'A poetry without attitudes' contains all the poems left on the word-processor in the Melbourne University English Department by Vincent Buckley, together with a few selected by Penelope Buckley as they thematically belonged. The second section entitled 'The watch's wheel - pieces and songs', is something of a workshop collection consisting of pieces, poems and songs originally selected for inclusion in the book by Vincent Buckley and updated by Penelope Buckley and Chris Wallace-Crabbe.
The arrangement of about half the poems in 'A poetry without attitudes' was according to a list of contents left in manuscript by Vincent Buckley; the rest were arranged by Penelope Buckley. The arrangement of 'The watch's wheel - pieces and songs' was made by Penelope Buckley in consultation with Chris Wallace-Crabbe, who also reduced the projected size to half.
Folder 1
Annotated manuscripts, typescripts, photocopies and word-processed drafts for 'A poetry without attitudes'
Folder 2
Annotated manuscripts, typescripts, photocopies and word-processed drafts for 'A poetry without attitudes'
Folder 3
Three notebooks containing manuscript drafts, chiefly 'The watch's wheel - pieces and songs'
Folder 4
Proof corrections and changes; preliminary pages; correspondence and proof changes for the second edition, 1991-1992
This series comprises manuscript and typescript drafts of various prose works written by Buckley, including short stories, an autobiography, articles, criticisms, reviews and lectures. Correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of this material is included in Series 1.
Series 3.1 Short stories, 1937 or 1938
This small subseries comprises one folder containing an exercise book with two juvenile short stories.
Series 3.2 Autobiographical Works, 1976-1983
This small subseries comprises one folder regarding Cutting green hay, published by Penguin Books, Ringwood, Vic., 1983.
3.3 Articles and Reviews, 1960-1988
This small subseries comprises one judges' report, articles, criticisms and book reviews written by Buckley for Australian and overseas literary journals and newspapers.
3.4 Lectures, 1960-1980s
This subseries comprises course notes, teaching notes and manuscript drafts of university lectures. This material is arranged alphabetically by lecture title.
3.5 The Faber book of modern Australian verse, 1983-1990
This subseries comprises lists, acknowledgements list, notes, notebook, manuscript, typescript and photocopy drafts of Buckley's introduction for The Faber book of modern Australian verse, edited by Vincent Buckley and published posthumously by Faber and Faber, London, 1991. Correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the this material is included in Series 1, folders 13 and 14.
Folder 3
Introduction - foolscap notebook with annotated typescript insertions; typescript fragments with Buckley's emendations only, sent to Craig Raine of Faber and Faber, 17/4/89
Folder 6
Introduction - annotated typescript and photocopy draft fragment; annotated typescript and photocopy drafts of Penelope Buckley's 1st re-write, her short c.v. relating to the project and Acknowledgements corrections together with a covering letter to Ms Hill, Desk Editor of Faber and Faber, 18/9/90
This series comprises a scrapbook, copies of published works and photocopies of reviews, articles and criticisms concerning Buckley's work as an intellectual, academic and writer, published in literary journals, newspapers and university magazines.
Folder 1
Scrapbook of reviews about Buckley's published works; articles by Buckley; criticisms about Buckley's works and a letter from A. A. Phillips dated 21/9/1957, 1954-1958
Folder 2
Reviews of The world's flesh, Essays in poetry, mainly Australian and Australian poetry 1958, 1954-1959
Folder 3
Reviews and criticisms of Poetry and morality : studies on the criticism of Matthew Arnold, T. S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis, 1959
Folder 4
Reviews and criticisms of Poetry and morality : studies on the criticism of Matthew Arnold, T. S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis and Masters in Israel, together with a carbon copy of a letter from Wilbur Sanders, 1959-1961
Folder 7
Reviews of Golden builders and other poems, Late-winter child, The pattern and Memory Ireland, 1976-1986
Folder 8
Reviews of Cutting green hay : friendships, movements and cultural conflicts in Australia's great decades, together with a copy of a letter from Buckley to Dr Walter of Griffith University, concerning Dr Edward Duyker's review, 1983-1984
This small series comprises one audiocassette produced for ABC Radio National's Encounter program on Vincent Buckley and donated to the Library by Graham Rowlands.