Guide to the Papers of Len Dawson, 1929-1996

Summary

Collection number:

MS 8599

Creator:

Dawson, Len, 1929-

Extent:

0.84 metres and (6 boxes + 1 folio package)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Len Dawson, National Library of Australia, MS 8599, [series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

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

Background

Content Summary:

The papers mainly comprise drafts of Dawson's memoir Skydoctor which relates to some of his experiences as a flying doctor with the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service in 1954-1957. There are also trip records and diaries recording cases attended by Dawson, correspondence, memorabilia and printed material. The collection also includes certificates and documents relating to his education and family, his work as a psychiatrist and statements to the Chelmsford Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy. Correspondents include Allan Vickers, James Cameron, K.G. Knight, Russel Pardoe, John Pearn, Jim Murtha, Brian Warren, Brian Crane, Ivan Neale, Pamela Indyjk, Tom House, Pat Tully and Lloyd McKay.

Biographical Note:

Leonard William George Dawson was born on 24 December 1929 in Tamworth, NSW. He was educated at Armidale High School and Sydney Boys' High School before graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Sydney (1953). Dawson worked for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Charleville, Queensland, in 1954-1957. Later he worked in general medicine, intellectual impairment and psychiatry in a number of surgeries, hospitals and clinics in suburban Sydney. Dawson retired in 1980 and between 1982 and 1994 wrote his memoirs of his experiences as a flying doctor, published in 1995 as Skydoctor.

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the Library in three instalments in 1993 and 1995. The 1995 instalments were donated under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.

Arrangement:

The papers were arranged, labelled and described by Dawson before being donated to the Library. The arrangement of the files has been altered by Library staff slightly in order to separate material relating to Dawson's biography from that relating to his life and work. The contents of files have not been disturbed. Many files contain extensive lists of items and background information compiled by Dawson.

Container List:

Series	File/Item	Box
1	1-2	1
1	3	Folio
2	1-3	Closed box
2	4-6	1
2	7-8	2
3	1	2
4	1-4	2
4	5-11	3
4	12-18	4
4	19-25	5
4	26-29	6
5	1	6
6	1	6

Indexed terms

Names:

Dawson, Len, 1929-

Conditions Governing Access:

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2877361).

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 Len Dawson, National Library of Australia, MS 8599, [series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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