Guide to the Papers of Wilfred Burchett, 1953-1988

Summary

Collection number:

MS Acc10.031, MS Acc14.136

Creator:

Burchett, Wilfred

Extent:

(55 ms boxes + 1 folder)

Language:

English and English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Wilfred Burchett, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS Acc10.031 comprises papers documenting Wilfred Burchett's professional life as a journalist and non-fiction writer, including his legal battles to be re-issued with a passport after his British one was cancelled and during his Australian defamation case, as well as aspects of his personal life. The collection comprises correspondence, notes, draft articles and book manuscripts, press cuttings, research material, film and television proposals and scripts, financial papers, publications and photographs. The correspondence includes copies of Burchett's own letters; many of those addressed to his wife and family describe his activities in the field.

MS Acc14.136 comprises Wilfred Burchett's Laissez-passer Tenant-Lieu de Passeport - Republique Democratique du Vietnam. This travel document enabled Wilfrid Burchett to travel after his Australian passport went missing in 1955, after which the Australian government refused to issue another until Whitlam came to power in 1972. He used the 'laissez-passez' for travel until he was issued with a Cuban passport. It contains the evidence of Burchett's wide-ranging travels for his work and his ambiguous nationality status. It is filled with visas and passport stamps from locations that few Australian had travelled during the period.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Mass media

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4925503).

Conditions Governing Use:

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4925503).

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Wilfred Burchett, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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