Writers' Retreats, 1957, 1966-1968

 
Component identifier:
Series 24
Content Summary:

Comprises Items 1-139.

This series contains papers relating to the first and second Writers' Retreats held at the University of New England, Armidale NSW, 5 January to 3 February 1967 and 19 May to 1 June 1968. The retreats were organised by Derek Whitelock, senior lecturer in the Department of University Extension at the university. Slessor was consultant tutor for a week at the first retreat and one of the selectors of members for the second retreat. Other consultant tutors at the first retreat were Frank Hardy, Ivan Southall, Judith Wright, John Thompson and Thomas Keneally, while Judah Waten, Harold Lander, Rodney Hall and Al Alvarez were tutors at the second retreat.

The series includes: correspondence about the organisation of retreats and the possibility of a Commonwealth Literary Fund grant for the second retreat; detailed lists of applicants for the two retreats; reports on both retreats; a detailed evaluation of the first retreat; and processed, typed and handwritten copies of poems by members of the retreats. Papers relating to Slessor's participation in the first Writers' Retreat include handwritten and typescript notes for discussion, a typescript of Slessor's assessment of the retreat, and a photograph of the members who attended.

Immediate source of acquisition:
The papers of the poet and journalist Kenneth Slessor were offered to the National Library by his brother Robin Slessor, executor of the will, after his death in 1971. The National Library purchased the papers in 1972. Eight additional consignments of papers received by the Library between 1979 and 2000 were variously purchased from Robin Slessor, Paul Slessor and Peter Elder.

Contents

Access and use

Parent Restrictions:
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2294073).
Parent Terms of Access:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: