Guide to the Papers of Tom Fitzgerald, 1956-1987

Summary

Collection number:

MS 7995

Creator:

Tom Fitzgerald

Extent:

2.1 metres and (11 ms boxes + 1 medium folio box)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Tom Fitzgerald, National Library of Australia, MS 7995, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The fortnightly magazine Nation was one of the few truly independent journals published post second world war. It commenced in September 1958 merging with another independent magazine in 1972 to become Nation Review. Nation was published during a significant period of Australia's post war history. Politically, the turmoils of the Australian Labor Party and Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war were topical issues.

The magazine was published by Tom Fitzgerald, the finance editor of the Sydney Morning Herald from 1958 to 1970 and then the editorial director of the Australian. The present archive has been fortunately preserved by Mr Fitzgerald. The archive is contained within eight archive boxes and a large folder. Six boxes with the correspondence, typed and manuscript records, and the other boxes and folder with original artwork and photographs used for the illustrations and cartoons in the publication. The papers are mostly correspondence with contributors. This correspondence complements the published articles by providing outlines to the backgrounds and follows up ideas not developed in print. Some letters brush on controversial topics and highlight the problems with publishing an outspoken magazine.

All aspects of political, economic and cultural life were printed with the majority the contributors being academics, serious journalists, economists and politicians. Education and the arts were always prominently featured.

Accompanying the editorial correspondence is a collection of papers relating to the business aspects of the publication. Accounts, advertising accounts, subscription accounts, production notebooks are all present. One file details a litigation brought against Nation for damages over a libellous article. The archive is completed with a good collection of over 40 original cartoons by some of the notable black and white artists of the 60s such as Hesling, Hughes and Benier. Original photographs also used for illustrating articles add interest to this part of the archive.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The papers were donated to the Library by Tom Fitzgerald in 1989.

Indexed terms

Names:

Tom Fitzgerald

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn42640) for the access conditions.

Conditions Governing Use:

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.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Tom Fitzgerald, National Library of Australia, MS 7995, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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