Guide to the Papers of Michael Cannon, 1843-2003 (bulk 1950-1980)

 

Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 6205
Creator:
Cannon, Michael, 1929-
Extent:
4.4 metres and (28 boxes + 1 folio box and 3 elephant folio items)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Michael Cannon, National Library of Australia, MS 6205, [series/file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
The collection comprises subject files, correspondence, printed material and art works. The subject files, comprising research material, cuttings, photocopies and notes, were used by Cannon to write his books including Land boom and bust (1972); his trilogy Who's master? Who's man? (1971), Life in the country (c. 1973) and Life in the cities (c.1975); and The roaring days (1998).
Biographical Note:
Date Event
1929 Born 17 August in Brisbane. Son of Arthur C. Cannon and Dorothy Grover (daughter of Montague Grover)
1934-1945 Educated at Cobden State School, Camperdown High School and Geelong College
1946-1948 Worked in Melbourne for the <em>Argus</em> and <em>Herald</em> and as a freelance journalist in Sydney
1949-1950 Worked in London as correspondent for the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em>
1951-1952 Returned to Australia and worked as a senior reporter for <em>The Age</em>
1953-1954 Owned and operated a small printing firm in Melbourne
1955 Married Susan Neville Ussher (deceased) (one son)
1955-1956 Editor of <em>Family Circle</em>
1957 Began publication of the monthly <em>Australian Fashion News</em> (later owned by Murdoch group)
1959 Owned and published monthly journal <em>Newsday</em> which failed after eight issues
1960-1961 Associate editor of <em>Sunday Mirror</em> (Sydney)
1962-1963 Editor of <em>Australian Fashion News</em> (Melbourne)
1963 Married Kerry Ann Pearce (one daughter and two sons)
1965-1966 Wrote <em>The land boomers</em> (M.U.P.)
1966-1969 Assistant Director of Melbourne University Press
1969 Edited <em>The vagabond papers</em> (M.U.P.)
1969 Made Foundation Editor of the <em>Sunday Observer</em> in August
1970 Awarded Commonwealth Literary Fellowship in February
1971 Publication of <em>Who's master? Who's man?</em>
1972 Publication of <em>Land boom and bust</em>
1973 Publication of <em>Life in the country</em>
1975 Publication of <em>Life in the cities</em>
1981 Publication of <em>That damned democrat</em> (biography of John Norton)
1981-1991 Editor of <em>Historical records of Victoria</em> (1836-1839)
1991 Publication of <em>Old Melbourne Town</em>
1993 Publication of <em>Hold page one</em> (memoir of Montague Grover)
1996 Publication of <em>The human face of the Great Depression</em>
1998 Publication of <em>That disreputable firm...the inside story of Slater and Gordon</em>
Provenance:

The collection was acquired in three instalments. The first two groups of papers were donated to the Library by Michael Cannon under the Tax Incentives for the Arts Scheme (Cultural Gifts Program) in 1979 (Boxes 1-11) and 1980 (Boxes 12-24). The 2001 addition (Boxes 25-29, plus elephant folios) was purchased by the Library from Cannon, together with the papers of his grandfather, Montague Grover (MS 6238). More papers were donated by Cannon in May and November 2003 (Series 3 / Folders 15-16).

Arrangement:

The Library has arranged the collection into four series: subject files, correspondence, printed material and art works. Cannon has kept most of the papers in titled manila folders. The Library has preserved both Cannon's arrangement and the file titles.

Container List:
Series File Box
1 1-11 1
1 12-23 2
1 24-35 3
1 36-47 4
1 48-59 5
1 60-72 6
1 73-84 7
1 85-96 8
1 97-108 9
1 109-121 10
1 122-135 11
1 136-146 12
1 147-156 13
1 157-167 14
1 168-178 15
1 179-189 16
1 190-193 17
1 194-203 18
1 204-213 19
1 214-223 20
1 224-233 21
1 234-243 22
1 244-253 23
1 254-263 24
2 1-9 25
2 10-16 26
2 17-19 27
3 1-4 27
3 5-11 28
3 12-14 (map drawers)
3 15 28
4 1-6 29 (folio run)

Indexed terms

Names:
Cannon, Michael, 1929-

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is available for research.
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 Michael Cannon, National Library of Australia, MS 6205, [series/file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: