Correspondence
- Component identifier:
- Series
- Content Summary:
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Comprising Correspondence sent and received 1980-1990.
I have been a dedicated letter writer for most of my life. I have kept copies (carbon copies or computer print-out duplicates) of virtually all the letters I have sent, and have kept virtually all the originals of those received, since 1982. There is incomplete correspondence for 1980 and 1981.
I tend to think of my letter writing as a substitute for maintaining a personal diary. Thus, the correspondence from 1980-1990 may be regarded as a type of diary covering eleven years of my life.
There are more than 2,500 letters in the collection. (Please note that correspondence between my wife and myself, and a small amount of other correspondence of a specially sentimental nature, will be retained by me).
The correspondence is organised according to the date either on which I received the letter or the date on which I replied.
Among the correspondence is a small amount of ephemeral material, such as brochures, How-to-Vote cards, invitations to book launches, post-cards and envelopes.
Of special interest is correspondence with former student activists of the 1960s and 1970s discussing political issues and ideas in the 1980s.
There is also correspondence relating to my writings (books and articles) and responses to different parts of Australia in which I have lived since leaving Melbourne for Sydney in 1982.
Also, there is correspondence with family and friends around Australia, in England, Malta and Canada. (Attached is a separate summary of contents of my correspondence).
The correspondence is in excellent condition and is organised chronologically.
Contents
Access and use
- Parent Restrictions:
- Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1970607) for the access conditions.
- 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- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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:
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Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: