MS 8373
Papers of Geoffrey Rothwell (1930-1987)



Scope and Content

  • Papers
  • 1926-87
  • 6.16 metres (43 boxes) + 6 folios
  • Available for reference

Geoffrey Rothwell's papers were donated to the National Library in January 1988 after his death. The collection comprises personal and business correspondence, diaries, notebooks, writings, personal papers, ephemera, newsletters, financial papers, printed material, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, invitations, photographs and papers relating to his parents.

Provenance and Arrangement Note

This collection was acquired after the death of Geoffrey Rothwell in 1988.

The arrangement of the collection is one devised by the Library, although the subject headings within each series were devised by Rothwell. The files have been kept in tact, except for some programs which were transfered to the 'Prompt Collection'. The arrangement into series and the order of the files within the series were determined by the Library.

Some photographs are held in the Pictorial Section of the Library.

Biographical Note

1930       Born in Melbourne on 3 May, son of Leslie and Iris Rothwell
?1943-48   Attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School
1949       Clerk in Adelaide Steamship Company, Sydney
1950       Clerk in Australian National Airways
1951-53    Travelled overseas working in various clerical and labouring positions
1953-54    Clerk in British Overseas Airway Corporation
1954       Returned to Australia
1955       Clerk in Workers Compensation Commission in Perth
1955       Clerk in Australian National Airways, Cairns
1955-60    Clerk in A.C.F. & Shirleys (North Queensland) Limited
1957-61    President of Cairns Little Theatre Company
1961-63    Tour manager of Arts Council of Australia, Sydney
1964       Treasurer, Company Manager and Assistant to General Manager of Australian 
           Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1965-71    Secretary and Assistant to Theatre Manager of Old Tote Theatre Company
1968       Company Manager of first Old Tote Theatre tour of King Lear and Childermas
1969       Company Manager of Old Tote Theatre tour of Pygmalion and Merchant of Venice
1970       Secretary to Old Tote Theatre board and office management
1970       Company Manager of Old Tote Theatre tours of Major Barbara and Death of a Salesman
1971       Assistant to Bursar of National Institute of Dramatic Art
1972-79    Tour Manager of Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, Entrepreneurial Division
?1979-84   Mitchell Theatre Bookings, and Peter Williams Productions and Central Casting Agency
1984-87    Tour Manager of Australian Ballet
1987       Died in November 1987


Series List

  1. Correspondence, 1942-87
  2. Diaries and notebooks, 1944-70
  3. Writings, 1945-80
  4. Personal, 1943-87
  5. Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, 1926-60
  6. Cairns Little Theatre, 1957-75
  7. Arts Council of Australia, 1957-66
  8. Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, 1961-77
  9. Old Tote Theatre, 1968-73
  10. National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), 1971-78
  11. Onshow Productions, 1983
  12. Australian Ballet, 1983-87
  13. Receipts and Financial papers, 1949-72
  14. Invitations, 1943-87
  15. Printed Material, 1951-83
  16. Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings, 1945-87
  17. Photographs
  18. Miscellaneous, 1948-87
  19. Iris and Leslie Rothwell, 1943-71

Series Descriptions

Series 1: Correspondence, 1942-87

This series comprises personal and business correspondence, postcards and greetings cards. The correspondence has been arranged in chronological order.

Personal Correspondence: the major correspondents include Leslie and Iris Rothwell (parents), Henri Sabourin, Toon Vulste and W.F. Ellis
(Folders 1-47).

Business correspondence: the major correspondents include Kenn Brodziak (Aztec Services, Pty. Ltd.), Nancy Giles (Arts Council of Australia), J.T. Dunlop (Innisfail Repertory Group), Muriel Goodall (Mareeba Repertory Group), Gordon Horsewell (Arts Council of Australia and Old Tote Theatre), Hugh Hunt (Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust), Noel Pelly (Australian Ballet Foundation) and Rex Nettleford
(Folders 48-66).

Postcards and greetings cards
(Folders 67-72)

Series 2: Diaries and notebooks, 1944-70

The diaries and notebooks contain personal and business appointments, records of daily events, as well as names and addresses of friends and business associates and cover the period from 1944 to 1970.
(Folders 1-5)

Series 3: Writings, 1945-80

This series contains unpublished typescripts and photocopies of plays, essays and poems written by Rothwell. Rothwell's arrangement has been preserved. A few of the manuscripts are untitled.

Drafts of writings submitted to Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Women's Weekly, and Australian Broadcasting Commission are included. The titles include 'The truant isn't necessarily a delinquent' and 'Don't malign Hitch-Hikers'.
(Folder 2)

Copies of a play 'Mirror of Judgement' and correspondence. Correspondents include: Charles Howlett, V. Marriott, Maraget Dobson (Playwrights Advisory Board), Hugh Hunt (Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust), Peter Randall (The Melbourne Little Theatre), Lloyd O'Neil (Jacaranda Press), Greta Douglas and Florence Orford ('57 Club Theatre).
(Folders 3-6)

Drafts of miscellaneous writings, possibly written by Rothwell, include the following titles: 'A Royal Encounter on the Moors'; 'The Other Side'; 'Afterthought'; 'A Day in the Visit'; 'An Ode to a Longshoreman'; 'Rest in Peace'; 'Your Little Lad's Report' (1945); 'Goodbye, Goodbye' (1968); 'Some Thoughts on the Establishing of a Queensland Branch of the British Drama League'; 'Spare a Thought for the Amateur Theatre'; 'Rhyme about History'; 'Girl Guides'; 'Gags for Girl Guides' and 'Brethren in God'.
(Folders 1-13)

Series 4: Personal Documents, 1943-87

This small series contains papers relating to Rothwell's personal life. They include references, passports and Justice of the Peace certificate.
(Folder 1)

Series 5: Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, 1926-60

Rothwell attended the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School where he obtained his leaving certificate and matriculation.

This series contains athletic sports programs, newspaper clippings, Old Melburnian circulars, minutes of general meetings, handbooks, Bibles and prayer books, and school writings and exams papers. There was no discernible order so an artificial order has been devised.
(Folders 1-10)

Series 6: Cairns Little Theatre, 1955-75

Rothwell was the founder and president of the Cairns Little Theatre from 1957 until 1961.

This series contains newsletters, reports, annual general meeting agendas, minutes, correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, and financial papers. Rothwell's files have been retained in their original order. The correspondents include: George Holland, M. Eustance and L. Mabel.
(Folders 1-12)

Series 7: Arts Council of Australia, 1957-66

Rothwell joined the Arts Council of Australia as Tour Manager in 1961. He organised opera, ballet and drama tours in New South Wales and Queensland. He resigned in 1963.

Papers such as posters, circulars, news releases, tour agendas, programs and correspondence are included in this series. Correspondents include: Gordon Horswell, John Cooper, C. McKinnon and Paul Neville. Rothwell's original order has been preserved.
(Folders 1-3)

Series 8: Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, 1961-78

Rothwell joined the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1964, for a period of 11 months, as Manager for 'Henry V' for the Adelaide Festival and Sydney seasons. He rejoined the Trust in 1972, managing productions and companies such as 'And the Big Men Fly', Zorba Dance Company, Stratford National Theatre of Canada, Merce Cunningham and Dance Company, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica and Washu Martial Arts Delegation of China. He remained with the Trust until 1979.

This series contains press clippings, programs, photographs, production schedules, notes, brochures, memoranda, drawings, maps and newsletters. Rothwell's original order has been preserved. Correspondents include: A.G. Kingmiller, Louise van Eysser, John Sumner, John Bradman, Carol Long and J.A. Massie.
(Folders 1-35)

Series 9: Old Tote Theatre, 1964-73

Rothwell worked for the Old Tote Theatre from 1964 to 1971. During that time he was employed as Secretary, Assistant Manager, House Manager, Company Manager and Secretary to the Board.

This series contains form letters, programs, circulars, press clippings, notes, correspondence, plans and tour schedules. Rothwell's original order has been maintained. Correspondents include: John Morris, J.L. Coop, Betty B., R. Quentin, W.G. Blair, R.B. Duncan and Noni Farwell. Productions include 'Childermas', 'King Lear', 'Pygmalion', 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg', 'Merchant of Venice', 'Death of a Salesman' and 'Butley'.
(Folders 1-10)

Series 10: National Institute of Dramatic Art, 1971-78

Rothwell joined the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1971 and remained as Assistant to the Bursar until January 1972.

This small series contains notes, financial papers, newsletters, reports and brochures.
(Folders 1-2)

Series 11: Onshow Productions, 1983

Rothwell worked for Onshow Productions Pty. Ltd. in 1983 for the production of 'West Side Story'.

This series contains notes, theatre plans, correspondence, press clippings, financial papers and form letters. Correspondents include: Roger Myers, Malcolm Leech and Dennis Lineham.
(Folders 1-4)

Series 12: Australian Ballet, 1983-87

Rothwell was employed by the Australian Ballet from 1984 to 1987 as Tour Manager.

Papers such as schedules, memoranda, correspondence, financial papers and staff directory are to be found in this series. Some poetry is included, written by Rothwell for the Australian Ballet. Rothwell's original filing system has been maintained. Correspondents include: Ian McRae, D.L. McCann, M.J. Tippett and Noel Pelly.
(Folders 1-7)

Series 13: Receipts and Financial Papers, 1949-72

This series contains receipts for travel expenses, car repairs, Old Melburnians contributions, office expenses, income tax advice slips, banking advice slips, union fees book store receipts and medical expenses. Wages sheets of the Arts Council of Australia are also included.
(Folders 1-3)

Series 14: Invitations, 1943-87

This small series contains various social engagement invitations from theatre companies, as well as friends and relatives.
(Folder 1)

Series 15: Printed Material, 1951-83

The books in this series contain either inscriptions, personal messages or newspaper clippings. The subjects include Belle Poitrine, Moss Hart, Jamaica's National Dance Theatre, Sydney Opera House and Merce Cunningham.
(Items 1-12)

Series 16: Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings, 1945-87

The scrapbooks contain photographs, newspaper clippings, programs, theatre tickets and invitations. The newspaper clippings are on various subjects relating to music and performing arts and have been arranged chronologically. Scrapbooks on Young Elizabethan Players, La Traviata, 'Madam Butterfly', 'King Lear', 'Childremas', Australian Ballet are included.
(Folders 1-18)

Series 17: Photographs

Photographs, albums, negatives and slides of family, friends and theatre performances are included in this series.
(Folders 1-12)

Series 18: Miscellaneous, 1948-87

This series contains business cards, reminder notes, personal mementos, cards, airline tickets, press clippings, minutes, notes, and brochures that had been scattered through the collection.
(Folders 1-21)

Series 19: Iris and Leslie Rothwell, 1943-71

Leslie (born 1890)and Iris Rothwell were the parents of Geoffrey Rothwell. The papers in this series include correspondence of Iris and Leslie, discharge papers and personal effects of Leslie Rothwell, and records of his career with the Adelaide Steamship Company. The majority of the letters were written by Geoffrey while travelling around Australia or overseas.
(Folders 1-17)

Box List

Box     Series       Folders                                              
1       1            1-7                                                  
2       1            8-14                                                 
3       1            15-21                                                
4       1            22-28                                                
5       1            29-35                                                
6       1            36-42                                                
7       1            43-47                                                
8       1            48-54                                                
9       1            55-61                                                
10      1            62-66                                                
11      1            67-68                                                
12      1            69-72 (see also map cabinet 51)                      
13      2            1-4                                                  
14      2            5                                                    
15      3            1-8                                                  
16      3            9-14 (see also folio 1)                              
17      4            1                                                    
17      5            1-6                                                  
18      5            7-9                                                  
19      5            10                                                   
19      6            1-4                                                  
20      6            5-12                                                 
21      7            1-3 (see also map cabinet 51)                        
21      8            1-3                                                  
22      8            4-10                                                 
23      8            11-17                                                
24      8            18-24                                                
25      8            25-31                                                
26      8            32-35 (see also map cabinet 51)                      
26      9            1-3 (see also map cabinet 51)                        
27      9            4-10 (see also folio 5)                              
28      10           1-2                                                  
28      11           1-4                                                  
29      12           1-7                                                  
30      13           1-4                                                  
30      14           1                                                    
30      15           1                                                    
31      15           2-12                                                 
32      16           1-7                                                  
33      16           8-13                                                 
34      16           14-18 (see also folio 1)                             
35      17           1-6                                                  
36      17           7-12                                                 
37      17           13-15 (see also folios 2-5)                          
37      18           1-4                                                  
38      18           5-9                                                  
39      18           10-17                                                
40      18           18-21 (see also map cabinet 51)                      
40      19           1-4                                                  
41      19           5-10                                                 
42      19           11-17                                                
43      19           18-21 (see also folio 6)                             
Guide prepared October 1994. Last updated 21 August 1996