Guide to the Illustrated manuscripts and diaries of Donald Friend
MS 5959
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Friend, Donald
- Title
- Illustrated manuscripts and diaries of Donald Friend
- Date Range
- 1930-1988
- Collection Number
- MS 5959
- Extent
- 4.66 metres (7 folders, 48 volumes, 6 oversize volumes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2912709).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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], Illustrated manuscripts and diaries of Donald Friend, National Library of Australia, MS 5959, [item number]'.
Related Materials
Other Friend diaries are located at the following institutions:
State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
Printed diary for 1929.
Title page printed: The Twelve Moneths/OR, A PLEASANT & PROFITABLE/Discourse of every Action, whether of Labour/or Recreation, proper to each particular/Moneth by Matthew Stevenson 1661/together with/A Diary for 1929/[insc:] D. Friend / [printed] THE CRESSET PRESS Ltd/11, FITZROY SQUARE/LONDON (Sydney, Cronulla, Glendon)
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
8 March 1968 - 27 October 1969
Title page insc: Diary/Tandjung Sari/Sanur/Bali/Indonesia/8th March 1968/27th October 1969/To the canvas of Bali/"I could not love thee, dears, so much,/Loved I not Henry Moore"
Notes on the diaries
Dates given in the first line of entries are dates of the first and last entry in each diary (where known). These do not always agree with the date given by DF on the title page. The principal place of writing is given separately, where not indicated in the title page inscription. Vagaries of spelling, punctuation and abbreviation are DF's.
DF is not known to have kept any diaries between 1932 and June 1942. Information on this period of his life derives from a number of sources, principally letters to his mother from England and Africa during 1936-1940 and his unpublished book on the Yoruba people, begun in Africa in 1938 or 1939.
Two consecutive volumes of "Desastres de la Guerra" are inscribed 'Vol V'. There are twenty-five extant volumes.
Item Descriptions
Series. Manuscripts
Handwritten manuscript entitled "Birds from the magic mountain", with original illustrations in ink, watercolour and crayon (Folio size) (Item 1)
It describes some of the factual and fictional birds of Indonesia. Published version is held at Nf+/A828.3/F911BI
Series. Diaries
All diaries are holograph in ink or ballpoint or both; illustrated; and with insertions including letters, photographs, press clippings and exhibition catalogues. Small portions of the wartime diaries are in lead pencil.
1930 Hard cover leather bound diary (Item 5)
Title page insc: A personal diary/of Donald L. Friend/1930 a.d./[mock crest]/[drawing of knight on horseback] (Sydney and Glendon)
1931 Hard cover leather bound printed diary (Item 6)
Title page insc: Forword/This is a setting down of my own/personal thoughts. Should any unwise/persons venture herein without my express/permission, the references to any/of them which may displease are just/rewards of inquisitiveness/Donald Leslie Friend. (Sydney and Glendon)
29 June - 7 August 1942 Spiral bound sketch book (Sydney and Hume Camp, Albury, NSW), no title page (Item 7)
18 August - 6 October 1942 Soft cover exercise book (Item 8)
Title page insc: Las desastres de la Guerra/Notes and Drawings/Hume Camp NSW/ August 18, 1942,/Donald Friend/NX96987/"A" Battery/1st Field Training Regt.
7 October - 10 November 1942 Soft cover exercise book (Item 9)
Title page insc: Volume II/Las Desastres de la Guerra/(Tome: "Coronemas Rosis antequam marcescant")/Gnr. Friend D.S.L. N.X. 96987/1st Field Training Regt./Hume/7th October 1942
11 November - 11 December 1942 Soft cover exercise book (Item 10)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol III "Los Caprichos Locos"/11th November 1942/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X. 96987/"A" troop/2nd Australian Artillery Training Regiment/Hume Camp, near Albury
12 December 1942 - 2 January 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 11)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol IV "Nec plus scarabiae in cervisiae,/Nec plus sedendum in seminis lignis duris"/(monkish doggerel)/12th December 1942/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X. 96987/"D" troop/"A" Battery/2nd Australian Artillery Training Regt./Hume Camp near Albury
4 January - 26 February 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 12)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/Vol V "Asi Sucedio"/4th Jan '43/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X. 96987/A Battery/D troop/2nd Aust. Arty Tng Regt./Hume
7 March - 23 April 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 13)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol V/"No hay due dar Voces"/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./NX96987/7th March, 1943/L.H.Q. School of Military Intelligence/ Junio Wing/"Seabrae"/Redcliff/near Brisbane/ Queensland
The whereabouts of "Desastres de la Guerra" Volume VI, 24 April - 17 May 1943, are unknown. The book was stolen, presumably by a senior officer at Greta Camp in 1943 and not recovered. Donald Friend comments on the theft at length in Vol. VII.
18 - 22 May 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 14)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/Donald Friend/15th May '43 Vol VII/"Anata rajaraja ada machammacham" (Greta camp, near Newcastle, NSW)
23 May - 12 July 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 15)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/Vol VIII/"Dionara jalan, Kawan?"/23rd May 1943/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./ C troop/B Battery/2nd Aust Arty Tng Regt./Greta
1 September - 4 October 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 16)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/Vol X Part One "Decline and Fall of a Guinea -pig"/1st September 1943/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X.96987 Malarial Experiment Group 2nd 1st Con Dep/"The more I muse there inne, the mistier it/seemeth/And the depper I devyne, the derker me it/thynketh"/should anything happen to me, this journal should/be sent to G. Russell Drysdale No.3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay, Sydney NSW (Atherton Tableland, Queensland)
5 - 30 October 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 17)
Cover insc: "Pas Devant les Enfants"
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/ Vol XI/Part II "Decline and Fall of a Guinea pig"/5th October 1943/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X. 96987/Ward 6/2nd A.G.H./Australia (Atherton Tableland, Queensland)
30 October - 21 November 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 18)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerre/Vol XII/(Part 3 "Decline and Fall of a Guinea Pig") Gnr Friend D.S.L./N.X. 96987/Ward 6 2nd 2nd A.G.H.
Euripides in Hyppolitus/30th October 1943/To Tass Drysdale/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney NSW (Atherton Tableland, Queensland)
22 November - 31 December 1943 Soft cover exercise book (Item 19)
Title page insc: Las Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XIII/"Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait beau voyage"/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./NX96987/22nd November/1943/To G. Russell Drysdale/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/ Sydney NSW (Atherton Tableland and Charters Towers, Queensland and Greta camp, NSW)
29 January - 19 February 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 20)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XV/"Plans A, B and C"/29th January 1944/N.X.96987/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./B. Coy/101 Aust Con Depot/Benleigh/Q'land/and D.P.2.tp/5th Bty/2nd Aust Arty Tng Regt/Greta/This book the property of G. Russell Drysdale/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney
19 May - ? 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 21)
Title page insc: Notes on the 4th Pongo wars. Commenced May 19th 1944, at Greta.
(Notes and dialogues for various dramas)
23 February - 16 March 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 22)
Title page insc: "Desastres de la Guerra"/Vol. XVI/Plans A, B and C (part II)/23rd February 1944/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./N.X.96987/D.P.2. Troop/5th Bty/Greta/This book the property of G. Russell Drysdale/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney
18 March - 6 April 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 23)
Title page insc: "Desastres de la Guerra"/Vol. XVII/Plans A, B and C (part III)/Prelude Circassienne/18th March 1944/ Gnr. Friend D.S.L./D.P.2.Tp/5th Bty/2nd Aust Arty Tng Regt Greta/This book is the property of G. Russell Drysdale/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney
7 April - 2 May 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 24)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/ Vol. XVIII/ Los cantos d'esclavos/7th April 1944/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./2 Aust Arty Tng Regt/Greta/This book is the property of G. Russell Drysdale/ 3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney
3 May - 1 June 1944 Soft cover exercies book (Item 25)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XIX/"Para eso habeis nacido?"/3rd May 1944/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./NX96987/This book is the property of G. Russel Drysdale esq./3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney(Greta, Sydney and Brisbane)
2 June - 14 July 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 26)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol.XX/ "Die Linien der Hand sind noch wie zin Bestand"/ Donald Friend Gunner/NX96987/2 Plattoon/ 31st
A.W.C./Chermside/Brisbane/Queensland/2nd June 1944
18 July - 15 October 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 27)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XXI/ "Do not speak of secret matters in a Field full of little Hills" (Ern Malley) Gunner Friend, DSL/ NX96987/31st A.W.C./Chermside, Brisbane, Queensland
14 October - 31 December 1944 Soft cover exercise book (Item 28)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XXII/ "Quindici uomini sul cassero dell' Uomo Morto,/Ho-ho-ho, e una bottiglia di Rhum!"/(from "L'isola del Tesora", by Roberto Luigi Stevenson) 17th October 1944/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./NX96987/21 Henry Street/Ascot/Brisbane
3 January - 15 April 1945 Soft cover exercise book (Item 29)
Title page insc: Not to be/seen by/ /Sr/K/ Metroland/"Desastres de la Guerra"/Vol. XXIII/ "Aunque en la maniera de mijar se/Conosce la gente decente"/2 January 1945/Gnr. Friend D.S.L./NX96987/ 21 Henry Street/Ascot/Brisbane (also Melbourne and Sydney)
26 April - 7 July 1945 Soft cover exercise book (Item 30)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XXIV/ "Piraguamonte, piragua,/Piragua jevizarizagua"/ (signifying nothing) Lope de Vega//26th April 1945/ Lieut. Donald Friend/NX96987/Military History Section/Victoria Barracks/L.H.Q. Melbourne/In the event of anything happening to me, I want this/manuscript sent to/G. Russell Drysdale/ 3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney/NSW
(Sydney, Lae, Morotai and Labuan)
8 July - 28 November 1945 Soft cover exercise book (Item 31)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XXV/ "Kalah menjadi abu, menang menjadi arang"/Malay proverb - "Defeat is reduction to ashes, victory is reduction to charcoal"/Lieut. D.S.L. Friend/NX96987/ 1st Fd Unit/ Military History Section/1st Aust. Corps/Labuan 9th July 1945/Balikpapan/Sydney 28th November 1945/In the event of anything happening to me, I want this manuscript sent to G. Russell Drysdale Esq./3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney
1 December 1945 - 20 November 1946 Hard cover bound notebook (Item 32)
Title page insc: Desastres de la Guerra/Vol. XXVI/ 1st December 1945/"Now, Sir Page, your vagaries are over/For too long you've been living in clover/Now your faults they've begun to discover/They are packing you off to the wars!"/(Figaro)/Lieut. D.S.L. Friend/NX96987/c/o G.R. Drysdale Esq/3 Bayview Hill Road/Rose Bay/Sydney(Sydney: Drysdales' and Merioola)
26 November 1945 - 8 March 1948 Hard cover bound notebook (Item 33)
Title page insc: Donald Friend/26th November 1946/ Scott Street Bungalow, Cairns/"A sentimental Journey"-/Cairns, Thursday Island/14th April-9th September '47 Merioola (Sydney)/10th September 1947 Hill End NSW/'If you don't like my philosophy/Said Scipio Africanus/You can lift my Roman Toga up/And kiss my Roman anus/William Blake
2 April 1948 - 17 March 1950 Hard cover bound notebook (Item 34)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Hill End/April 1948/[?] "Forsan et haec olim, preminisee juvabit"/to Italy/March 1950
29 March 1950 - 28 November 1952 Hard cover half leather bound notebook (Item 35)
Title page insc: [in another hand - Attilio Guarracino's?]: FAGIO: PONPINI.E.LO/PRENDO.IN [C]OLO/ AVANDI Giovanotti che o' [l]'ella[m]e[n]te crandi crosso e/LUNCO/questo e un/versso di Donaldo Frend/A/[in DF's hand]: diary/Donald Friend/29 March 1950/Comminciato a Pallanza/Dante disce/a posto di un burrone/"meglio un culo sano/di cento fesse rotte"/"Non [r]ida della mei beattae(?) a vventure/e non goda(?) delle mie disgrazie......"/29th March '50 - Italy -/10th May '50 - London -/25th September 50 Australia -/8th February '52 Italy - /6th August - 28th November England
29 November 1952 - 21 September 1954 Hard cover half leather bound notebook (Item 36)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/"All the river passes bye, except what you drink from it"/(Yoruba)/Commenced in England 29th November 1952/to Hill End, NSW, Australia, 8th October 1953/to North Queensland 12th June 1954/completed at Cairns 21st September 1954
22 September 1954 - 8 December 1956 Hard cover half leather bound notebook (Item 37)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Commenced at Cairns, N. Queensland September 1954/To Hill End 30 October '54/Completed 8 October 56 Hill End/"Once upon a time the wild animals, the big ones, used to roar/Today they are stuffed"/Gaugin
10 December 1956 - 7 January 1959 Hard cover half leather bound notebook (Item 38)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Commenced at Hill End 10th December 1956/"It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive"/Chinese proverb/(a saying I, personally, doubt D.F.)/Ceylon 1957, '58/Ended Ceylon January 7th 1959
8 January 1959 - ? January 1964 Hard cover half leather bound notebook (Item 39)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Commenced in Ceylon January 8th 1959/Ceylon 1960, 1961/Australia 1962/Paddington January 1964/"Be careful when dismounting a tiger"/(proverb)
11 February 1964 - 28 June 1966 Hard cover cloth bound notebook (Item 40)
Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Hampden St. Paddington Sydney February 1964/to June 28th 1966/"Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme/chose"
29 June 1966 - 1 January 1968 Hard cover cloth bound notebook (Item 41)
Title page insc: Donald Friend/Diary/June 29th 1966/ 1 Hampden Street Paddington/"Deo, fammiti vedere in ogni loco:/Se da mortal bellezza ander mi sento,/Apresso al tuo mi sara foco ispento/e io nel tuo saro, com'ero, in foco"/Michelangelo/29th December 66 Bali/1st January '68 Sydney
28 October 1969 - 2 October 1972 Hard cover cloth bound notebook (Item 42)
Title page insc: Diary/Batu Djimbar/Bali 28th October '69/Australia 18th February '70/Bali 18th March '70/France '72/Bali - 2nd October '72
18 October 1972 - 7 February 1975 Hard cover cloth bound Swains printed diary for 1973 (Item 43)
Cover with applied paper label insc: DIARY 1972-3/Australia/Bali/Ceylon; otherwise illegible Title page insc: Diary/Donald Friend/Sydney Australia/18th October 1972/Bali/13th January '73/ Ceylon/-Bali again 1975/7th February Australia 1975
13 February 1975 - 11 February 1978 Hard cover vinyl bound Collins printed diary for 1975 (no title page) (Item 44)
(Bali, Melbourne, Sydney)
14 February 1978 - 18 May 1982 Hard cover vinyl bound Collins printed diary for 1978 (Item 45)
Title page insc: Diary covering/14th February 1978/until/18th May 1982/Donald Friend
19 May 1982 - 1 February 1987; 4-28 April 1988 Hard cover full leather bound book (Item 46)
The cover stamped in gold: DONALD FRIEND
Title page insc: DIARY/DONALD FRIEND/For the Years 1982-198..., should/he, by God's Grace, or Tolerance, or even/Absent-Mindedness, be permitted to/continue in this Vale of Tears, recording/[ink and watercolour drawing of DF drawing a bird, watched by an aborigine]//rapid Thoughts, Vacuous Opinions,/Vain Desires & Vacant Doings/of an Existence so chock-full of/ Worthlessness it may serve as an/EXAMPLE/of what Simple Citizens should/avoid in their striving for Perfection/Eet cet Your Excellencies, & cet.
2 March - 3 December 1987 Hardcover leather bound book (Item 47)
The cover with applied paper label with an ink self portrait of DF Title page insc: DIARY/from March 1987 to 19/[still life, watercolour]/Does Age bring Wisdom?-it/certainly teaches one to value the trivia/which help the hours to pass/Donald Friend
19 December 1988 Hardcover cloth half bound book (Folio) (Item 48)
(No title page; contains: colour photographs of various works; part of a jungle adventure story in manuscript, written pre-September 1987; and DF's final diary entry)
"Desastres de la Guerra" Volume IX, 3 July - 31 August 1943, and "Desastres de la Guerra" Volume XIV, 1-28 January 1944; together with undated illustrated letter from Friend to Edgar Kaufmann (Item 52-53)
These two volumes and the associated letter were donated to the Library by David de Long, who acquired them from the estate of Edgar Kaufmann. Kaufmann originally purchased the diaries from Donald Friend.