Guide to the Papers of Peter Porter, 1947-2010

Request this via the Catalogue

Filter Online content

Some materials from this collection are available online.

Show only online content

Online content

View online

Summary

Collection number:

MS 6640, MS Acc10.123, MS Acc13.092, MS Acc16.045

Creator:

Porter, Peter, OAM

Extent:

(111 large archives boxes + 3 archives boxes + 8 ms boxes + 1 large folio box + 1 packet + 32 sound/av carriers + 10 digital carriers)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

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

Note that the MS Acc13.092 class includes multiple numbering sequences, with the file/item numbering starting at '1' again with each new box; please cite the box number as well as the file/item number for any material from this class.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

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

Background

Content Summary:

MS 6640 comprises correspondence, notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, proofs and an interview transcript (5 boxes, 1 fol. item).

The Acc10.123 instalment comprises original documents, letters addressed to Peter Porter and a listing of items from his archive. The correspondence relates to the disposal of Porter's personal archive and to a conference, Manuscripts matter: collecting modern literary archives, which was held at the British Library in 2006 and at which Porter was a member of an Authors' Panel (1 packet).

The Acc13.092 instalment includes diaries, notebooks and other manuscripts, reviews by Porter and of his work, publications by others, photographs and royalty statements. Correspondence circa 1947-2010 comprises the largest portion of the papers (58 boxes). The numerous correspondents include Don Banks, Julian Barnes, Bruce Beaver, Bruce Bennett, Roger and Trish Covell, Peter Craven, Luke Davies, Morag Fraser, Dennis Haskell, Shirley Hazzard, Jack Hibberd, Liu Hongbin, Barry Humphries, Clive James, John Kinsella, David Malouf, Les Murray, Jill Neville, Ros Pesman, Barrett Reid, Peter Rose, Gig Ryan, Jacky Simms, Tom Shapcott, Anthony Thwaite, John Tranter, Chris Wallace-Crabbe and Elizabeth Webby (111 large archives boxes + 3 archives boxes + 3 boxes)

The Acc16.045 instalment includes correspondence, Porter's writing on music including many drafts, published music that Porter wrote poetry for; manuscript and published music scores, notes and notebooks containing manuscript poetry, and a small amount of recorded music. (5 ms boxes + 1 large folio box)

Biographical Note:

Peter Neville Frederick Porter was a Brisbane-born poet and writer. In 1951 he moved permanently to England where he worked as a bookseller, journalist, clerk, advertising copywriter and freelance writer reviewing for journals including the New statesman, London magazine, The observer, Times literary supplement, Encounter and the New review. Porter was the author of numerous volumes of poetry and three radio plays, broadcast by the BBC. He was writer-in-residence at Sydney University in 1975 and at New England University in 1977. Most of Porter's work was published in England. In 1990 Porter won the Australian Literary Society gold medal. In 2004 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to literature as a poet, reviewer, broadcaster and essayist. Porter died in London in April 2010.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn662478).
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.