Guide to the Papers of Neil Manton, 1955-2007

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9811; MS Acc08.201

Creator:

Manton, Neil

Extent:

(11 ms boxes + 4 sound/av carriers + 2 digital carriers)

Language:

English and English

Preferred citation:

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

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part requires permission for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The original consignment, MS 9811, comprises correspondence, minutes of meetings, postcards, newspaper cuttings, cablegrams, invitations, magazine articles, books, slides and cassette tapes. There is also a collection of photographs with an annotated index. This material was assembled during the course of Manton's work as a consultant specialising in the arts and cultures of Singapore, Malaysia and Indochina. It relates to Cambodia's history and post Khmer Rouge cultural, social and political re-development with a particular focus on the processes of silk weaving. The collection also documents Manton's activities in encouraging Australian participation in the re-establishment of some of Cambodia's fine art processes.

The MS Acc08.201 consignment comprises research papers including correspondence, photographs, and draft chapters of Manton's publications, Cultural relations: the other side of the diplomatic coin: Australia's cultural engagement with Asia in the visual arts since 1948 (2003), and, Strange flowers on the diplomatic vine: U.S. detainees in Cambodia 1965-1970 (2007). Also includes correspondence with surviving United States detainees and copies of exchanges between Australian government and the United States and Cambodian governments. In addition, there are papers relating to various textile exhibitions.

Biographical Note:

Neil Manton worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for thirty years, serving on diplomatic postings, before returning to Canberra where he became Director (South East Asia and Pacific) of the Department's CulturalRelations Branch. Manton returned to Cambodia in 1991 in this role. The visit was to assess future assistance to the rebuilding of Khmer cultural institutions and practices. Retiring in 1993, he established a Canberra-based consultancy specialising in the arts and cultures of Singapore, Malaysia and Indochina, and has served on the National Advisory Committee for the Queensland Art Gallery's Triennial of Asia Pacific Art. He is the author of People, place, persona : glimpses of contemporary art from Malaysia since the 1960's (1997); Cultural relations : the other side of the diplomatic coin : Australia's cultural engagement with Asia in the visual arts since 1948 (2003), and St Michael and all Angels : the history of a village church (2000). Manton played a significant part in promoting Australian-Cambodian cultural relations after the Pol Pot era.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The first instalment was donated to the Library by Neil Manton in February 2001. Further papers were added in 2008.

Arrangement:

The papers have been largely maintained in the order in which they were received, with the collection of photographs and slides annotated by Manton.

Indexed terms

Names:

Manton, Neil

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn836568).

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 Neil Manton, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

Contact us