Guide to the Records of Poetry Australia [MSS 015]

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Manuscript Name Records of Poetry Australia
Manuscript Number MSS 015
Last Updated September 2021
Extent 5.25 m (42 boxes)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract The collection comprises records of Poetry Australia collected by John Millett

Collection Subject Type

Literary

Scope and Content

The collection comprises poetry submissions, correspondence, galley proofs and published copies of Poetry Australia; self published and small press poetry sent to Millett on reciprocal basis or because of his editorship of Poetry Australia, together with some correspondence to Grace Perry and South Head Press. The Academy Library has arranged the collection in chronological order from 1963-2000 (no attempt has been made at further sorting of the correspondence). The bulk of the collection spans 1987-1994.

Date Range of Content

1960-2000

Biographical Note

Following a dispute with the Poetry Society of Australia in 1964, for which she had been editor of Poetry magazine since 1961, Grace Perry founded Poetry Australia and the publishing house South Head Press.

Committed to producing a fine poetry magazine devoid of factions, Perry published a diverse range of styles and subjects in Poetry Australia. The magazine also fostered emerging Australian poets, sponsoring many workshops, literary seminars and visits from overseas writers. Commemorative issues were devoted to Francis Webb and David Campbell and special regional issues devoted to Australian states and territories were also produced. In addition, the work of individual poets such as John Tranter, Jennifer Maiden, John Millett, Heather Cam, Peter Goldsworthy and Meredith Wattison was featured in special issues. In 1985 a selection of poems mostly by well-established poets appeared in Poetry Australia : twenty one years, celebrating twenty-one years of publication.

Perry aimed to produce a magazine of international significance while maintaining a strong Australian presence. To this end, the work of many international writers, including translations, appeared in Poetry Australia, but most issues did not identify the contributors' nationality. International contributors included Ezra Pound, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Richard Murphy and Margaret Atwood. Translations included early Russian poets by Rosemary Dobson and David Campbell, Laurence Springarn's translations from Portuguese and Mark Scrivener's translations of German classics. Poetry Australia also published special issues of New Zealand, Canadian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch and Flemish, American, Gaelic, French, Austrian, Swedish and Papua New Guinean poetry.

In 1985 the magazine won the NSW Premier's Special Literary Award. Grace Perry died in 1987. John Millett continued as editor until 1992 when Poetry Australia ceased production. Millett subsequently helped to establish the Poetry Australia Fund and this fund was instrumental in the establishment in 2002 of the magazine Blue Dog : Australian Poetry, which editor Ron Pretty declares is in 'direct line of succession from Poetry Australia'.

Editor: Perry, Grace - Date: 1964-1973
Editors: Perry, Grace and Murray, Les (a.k.a. Murray, Leslie Allan; Murray, L.; Murray, Les A.) - Date: 1973-1979
Editor: Perry, Grace - Date: 1980-1987
Editor: Millett, John - Date: 1988-1992

References:
AustLit : the resource for Australian literature, April 2006.

 

Administrative Information

 

Access and Copying Conditions

Access: Check with Curator

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy

Copying: Check with Curator

Preferred Citation

Records of Poetry Australia, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 015, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired from John Millett in several consignments from 1986 to 2000, and in two consignments from Herbert Jaffa in 1994.

 

Additional Information

Related Material

Further manuscript material relating to Poetry Australia may be found in the Academy Library, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy in the papers of:
John Millett at MS 14
Jeff Guess at MS 86
Craig Powell at MS 152
Margaret Diesendorf at MS 228

Separated Material

Further papers of Poetry Australia are held by the State Library of New South Wales at Personal papers of John Millett, together with records of Poetry Australia at MLMSS (number not listed as of 10 June 2008).
Further papers of John Millett are held by the State Library of New South Wales at John Millett ML3161.
Further papers of Grace Perry are held by the State Library of New South Wales at MLMSS 1433.

This collection originally included a number of publications, listed below. These works have been catalogued separately and added to the Library's main collection.

Bien, Jeff. Prosody at the Café du Coin. Kingston, Ont.: Quarry Press, 1996.

Bowden-Kelly, Murray. Variety : the spice of life including supplement. Merredin, (W.A.): M. Bowden-Kelly, 1977.

Cooperman, Robert. Trial of Mary McCormick. Niagara Falls, New York: Slipstream, 1990.

Faust, Clive. Leavetakings. Kyoto, Japan: Origin Press, 1986.

Gradussov, Alex. Bleak prospects for the muscle heart : poems. Darwin: Washing Machine, 1992.

Jones, Billy. The blue chair. Melbourne: Fling Poetry, 1987.

Laird, John, selector. The Australian experience of war : illustrated stories & verse. Darlinghurst, N.S.W.: Mead & Beckett, 1988.

Millett, John. Voyeur from Australia. Brigham, Quebec: Samisdat, 1988.

Moore, Donald. Phaal. [Newcastle, N.S.W.: Nimrod Publications], 1988.

Perry, Grace. I am the songs you sing and other poems. Sydney: Consolidated Press, 1944.

Perry, Grace. Staring at the stars, and other poems. [Waverley, N.S.W: R.R. Perry, 1942].

Peters, Robert. Breughel's pig. Berkeley, Calif.: Illuminati, 1989.

Peters, Robert. The gift to be simple : a garland for Ann Lee. New York: Liveright, [1975].

Peters, Robert. Hawker. Greensboro: Unicorn Press, 1984.

Peters, Robert. Hunting the snark : a compendium of new poetic terminology. New York: Paragon House, 1989.

Peters, Robert. Poems : selected and new, 1967-1991. Santa Maria, CA: Asylum Arts, 1992.

Peters, Robert. Snapshots for a serial killer : a fiction and a play. San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 1992.

Peters, Robert. Zapped : two novellas. San Francisco: GLB Publishers, 1993.

Pretty, Ron. Bald Hill with gliders : poems. Wollongong, N.S.W.: Five Islands Press, 1991.

Pretty, Ron. The habit of balance. Wollongong, N.S.W.: Five Islands Press, 1988.

Trachtenberg, Paul. Ben's exit. Cherry Valley, NY: Cherry Valley Editions, 1994.

Trachtenberg, Paul. Making waves. Huntington Beach, CA: Cherry Valley Editions, 1986.

Trachtenberg, Paul. Mercury tea. Mansfield, Tex.: Latitudes Press, 1988.

Trachtenberg, Paul. Short changes for Loretta. Wheaton, MD: Cherry Valley Editions, 1982.

Watson, Maurice T. Time. Concord, CA: Small Poetry Press, 1999.

Paterson literary review, 2001.

Scarp, 1996-2001.

Zeitschrift fur Kulturaustausch, 1992.

 

Subject Keywords

 

Subjects

Australian poetry, periodicals, poetry

Personal Names

John Millett 1921-

Grace Perry 1927-1987

Corporate Names

Poetry Australia, Blue Dog: Australian poetry

Occupations

Editors

 

Container List

 

Box 1

Folder 1 
Poetry Australia correspondence with Grace Perry, and a copy of North side arts festival, 1963-1980

Folder 2 
Miscellaneous personal correspondence to Grace Perry, 1985-1987

Folder 3 
Miscellaneous poetry drafts and a photocopy of 'Return journey' by Grace Perry, [1960-1987]

Folder 4 
Poetry Australia correspondence and notes, 1970-1979

Folder 5-6 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1980

 

Box 2

Folder 7 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1981-1984

Folder 8 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1985

Folder 9 
Proofs for Poetry Australia no. 103 entitled These walls, this floor, edited by Philip Behham, 1985

Folder 10 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1986

Folder 11 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1987

 

Box 3

Folder 12 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1987

Folder 13-14 
Proofs for Poetry Australia no. 110 entitled North and South : new poetry from New Zealand, edited by Rob Jackaman, 1987

Folder 15 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1988

 

Box 4

Folder 16-18 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1988

 

Box 5

Folder 19 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1988

Folder 20 
Correspondence, notes and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 111/112, edited by Millett, 1988

Folder 21 
Correspondence and typescript photocopy for Poetry Australia no. 114 entitled Down the lake with half a chook, by Philip Hodgins, published by ABC Enterprises, Crows Nest, NSW, 1988

Folder 22 
Correspondence, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 115 entitled Replacing fuses in the house of cards, by Jeff Guess, published by South Head Press, Berrima, NSW, 1988

Folder 23 
Correspondence and poetry drafts for Poetry Australia no. 116 collected and translated by Christine Michel and Ross Manser, 1988

 

Box 6

Folder 24-25 
Poetry drafts, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 116 collected and translated by Christine Michel and Ross Manser, 1988

Folder 26 
Correspondence, printed copy of 'The poet's theme', by Louis Simpson, poetry drafts and paste-up copy for Poetry Australiano. 117, edited by Millett, 1988

Folder 27-28 
Proofs for Poetry Australia no. 118, edited by Millett, 1988

Folder 29-31 
Paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 119 entitled The body the altar, special edition of poems by Grace Perry selected and translated into German by Margaret Diesendorf, 1988

 

Box 7

Folder 32 
Correspondence between Christine Michel, John Millet, and contributor biographies for Sud : revue litteraire, 1986-1989

Folder 33-37 
Poetry Australia correspondence with the Australian Bicentennial Authority, 1980-1989

 

Box 8

Folder 38-43 
Correspondence and contributors entries A-E for the UTA French Airlines and Rothmans Foundation competitions, 1987-1989

 

Box 9

Folder 44-50 
Correspondence and contributors entries F-M for the UTA French Airlines and Rothmans Foundation competitions, 1987-1988

 

Box 10

Folder 51-57 
Correspondence and contributors entries N-W for the UTA French Airlines and Rothmans Foundation competitions, 1987-1988

 

Box 11

Folder 58-65 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1989

 

Box 12

Folder 66-73 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1989

 

Box 13

Folder 74-78 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1989

Folder 79 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to Australia Council and NSW government grants, 1986-1989

Folder 80 
Proofs for Poetry Australia no. 120, edited by Millett, 1989

 

Box 14

Folder 81-82 
Paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 120, edited by Millett, 1989

Folder 83-85 
Correspondence, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 121 entitled Psyche's circus, by Meredith Wattison, 1989

Folder 86-88 
Correspondence and contributors drafts for Poetry Australia no. 122 entitled On struggle street : an anthology of new poets, guest editor Dorothy Porter, 1989

 

Box 15

Folder 89-90 
Paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 122 entitled On struggle street : an anthology of new poets, guest editor Dorothy Porter, 1989

Folder 91 
Poetry Australia Trade Mark Application correspondence, 1987-1989

Folder 92-93 
Correspondence and poetry for Maryland poetry review, guest editor: John Millett, Vol 4, no. 1, Fall/Winter, 1989

Folder 94-95 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1990

 

Box 16

Folder 96-103 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1990

 

Box 17

Folder 104-111 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1990

 

Box 18

Folder 112-115 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1990

Folder 116-118 
Paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 123-124 entitled The narrative challenge, edited by Millett, 1990

 

Box 19

Folder 119-122 
Correspondence, drafts, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 125 entitled The moon's hook, by Heather Cam, 1990

Folder 123-125 
Correspondence, drafts, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 126, edited by John Millett, Winter 1990

Folder 126 
Correspondence and drafts for Poetry Australia no. 128, edited by John Millett, Summer 1990

 

Box 20

Folder 127-128 
Paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 128, edited by John Millett, Summer 1990

Folder 129 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to Australia Council and NSW government grants, 1990

Folder 130-134 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1991

 

Box 21

Folder 135-142 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1991

 

Box 22

Folder 143-150 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1991

 

Box 23

Folder 151-153 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1991

Folder 154-156 
Drafts, paste-up and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 129, edited by Millett, Autumn 1991

Folder 157-158 
Drafts, paste-up and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 130, edited by Millett, Winter 1991

 

Box 24

Folder 159-161 
Correspondence, drafts, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia (N.S.W. issue) no. 131, edited by Millett, Spring 1991

Folder 162-164 
Correspondence, drafts, paste-up copy and proofs for Poetry Australia no. 132, edited by Millett, Summer 1991

Folder 165 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to Australia Council and NSW government grants, 1991

Folder 166 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1992

 

Box 25

Folder 167-174 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1992

 

Box 26

Folder 175-178 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1992

Folder 179 
Correspondence and published copy of from Down under (poetry of Australia and new Zealand), published in Visions International, no. 40, 1992

Folder 180 
Correspondence relating to Paterson literary review, 1992

 

Box 27

Folder 181 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to refunds and claims, 1991-1992

Folder 182-187 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1993

 

Box 28

Folder 188-195 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1993

 

Box 29

Folder 196 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to the People's poetry festival, 1993

Folder 197 
Poetry Australia correspondence relating to complaints, 1988-1993

Folder 198-201 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1994

 

Box 30

Folder 202-207 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1994

Folder 208-209 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1995

 

Box 31

Folder 210-212 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1995

Folder 213 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1998

Folder 214 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 1999

Folder 215 
Poetry Australia correspondence, business material and contributors drafts, 2000

Folder 216 
Poetry Australia correspondence with Herbert Jaffa, 1985-1995

 

Box 32

Folder 217-222 
Poetry Australia poetry drafts and correspondence with Robert Peters and Paul Trachtenberg, 1983-1995

Folder 223-224 
Poetry Australia poetry drafts and correspondence with Rob Jackaman, 1985-1995

 

Box 33

Folder 225 
Poetry Australia poetry drafts and correspondence with P.J. Etienne, 1985-1995

Folder 226 
Poetry Australia poetry drafts and correspondence with David Price-Gresty, 1988-1989

Folder 227 
Poetry Australia poetry drafts from Paul Francis Primrose

Folder 228 
Poetry Australia poetry booklets from Janice L. Downes (6)

Folder 229 
Poetry Australia poetry draft from Barry Klemm

Folder 230 
Poetry Australia poetry draft from Bev Manners, 1991

Folder 231 
Poetry Australia poetry draft from Con Smeulders, 1991

Folder 232 
Poetry Australia poetry draft from Bruce Beaver entitled Letters to live poets, [1969]

Folder 233 
Poetry Australia correspondence and poetry drafts from Erik La Prade, 1988-1991

 

Box 34

Folder 234 
Poetry Australia correspondence and proofs (2) of The collected poems of Timothy Edward McGrath M.S.C., edited by Ruth O'Hea, 1988

Folder 235 
Incomplete set of Poetry Australia indexes, 1964-1988

Folder 236 
Poetry Australia notebook containing poetry submissions, 29/10/1970-[1987]

Folder 237 
Poetry Australia correspondence and coloured art roughs for covers from Thora Ungar

Folder 238 
Poetry Australia newspaper clippings

Folder 239 
Poetry Australia receipt book, 1978-1979 and 1988, and time record diary for 1985

 

Box 35

Folder 240 
Poetry Australia printers blocks for numbers 1-17

 

Box 36 Folios

Folio 241 
Galleys, page proofs and related correspondence for Poetry Australia issues no. 110, 111/112, 115, 116, 1987-1988

 

Box 37 Folios

Folio 242 
Galleys, page proofs and related correspondence for Poetry Australia issues no. 117, 118, 1988

 

Box 38 Folios

Folio 243 
Galleys, page proofs and related correspondence for Poetry Australia issues no. 119, 120, 121, 122, 1988-1989

 

Box 39 Folios

Folio 244 
Galleys, page proofs and related correspondence for Poetry Australia issues no. 123-124, 128, 131, 1990-1991; article on Grace Perry, 1977; copy of Howl, vol 2, no. 1, May 1991 and copy of Editions, September 1990

 

Box 40 Folios

Folio 245 
Poetry Australia scrapbooks (2) containing correspondence, drafts of articles and reviews

 

Box 41 Folios

Folio 246 
Poetry Australia Subscribers lists

 

Box 42

Folder 247 
Photographs:
The Poetry magazine third birthday party, Wednesday, 1st July 1964 x 2
South Head Press, 1986
Grace Perry's house, Berrima, 1986

Folder 248-249 
Audio cassettes:
Grace Perry readings x 2

 

Othertype Map Cabinet 2, Drawer 6

Oversize 1 
Poetry Australia number 122 paste-up, 1989

Oversize 2 
Poetry Australia number 123/124 paste-up, 1990

Oversize 3 
Poetry Australia number 126 paste-up, Winter 1990

Oversize 4 
Poetry Australia number 127 paste-up, 1989

Oversize 5 
Poetry Australia number 128 paste-up, Summer 1990

Oversize 6 
Poetry Australia number 130 paste-up, Winter 1991

Oversize 7 
Poetry Australia number 131 paste-up, Spring 1991

Oversize 8 
Poetry Australia number 132 paste-up, Summer 1991