Literary manuscripts and correspondence with publishers

Component identifier:

Series 4

Content Summary:

Drafts and typescripts of most of Blake’s major works, together with radio scripts, are found in Boxes 37-51 of the collection. The material in this series covers early stories and poems, articles, speeches, book reviews and typescripts of several longer works. Included in Box 105 are the articles Blake wrote under the pseudonym of ‘Peter Tabard’ for the Melbourne Herald in 1965-66.

It should be noted that literary manuscripts which accompany research files or which deal with specific places, subjects or people are to be found in series 1, 2 or 3 rather than here.

At the end of the series are two Files of reviews of Blake’s books and his correspondence with publishers.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Les Blake donated his papers to the Library in 1984-86 under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme. Following his death, the remaining papers were purchased from his son, Micheal Blake, in 1988. In 1992 Michael Blake added some papers relating to the film director Raymond Longford. The first consignment (36 boxes) was received from Blake in April 1984. The second consignment (34 boxes) arrived in September the same year. A third consignment was received in 1986. This was found to contain mainly printed materials, which were accessioned into the general National Library collection, and the small manuscript component was integrated with the last major consignment of Blake’s papers, acquired from Blake’s son Michael in October 1988, a year after Blake’s death. This part of the collection fills 45 boxes.

Names:

L. J. Blake

Contents

Access and use