MS 9274
Papers of Diana Giese



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers of Diana Giese
  • 1920-1997 (bulk 1992-97)
  • 1.3m (9 boxes) + 1 folio
  • Available for research. Not for loan.

The papers of Diana Giese were purchased in October 1997.

The collection relates mainly to the research for and publication of her book Astronauts, lost souls and dragons. Papers relating to her earlier book Beyond Chinatown, and four certificates issued by the Chinese Nationalist Party (the Kuomintang) are also included.


Biographical Note

Diana Giese has worked in publishing in London and Sydney for various companies, including Macmillan, HarperCollins, Oxford University Press, Pandanus Books and Brandl & Schlesinger.  She has written six books, including Astronauts, Lost Souls and Dragons (University of Queensland Press, 1997), Beyond Chinatown (National Library of Australia, 1995) and A better place to live (Freshwater Bay Press, 2009).  Diana runs her own publishing consultancy, offering project management, editing, oral history, writing and publishing expertise.  She has worked with many writers to help them develop their work, as a literary journalist for major newspapers and ABC Radio, and has also served on several writers’ festivals and prize committees.

In her community history work, Diana has collaborated with libraries, museums and archives all over Australia.  She organises public programs with diverse ethnic communities: Reclaiming the Past (1996-2001 at the Museum of Sydney), Living Library (2002-2004, Fairfield Libraries) and Travel at Home cultural tours (2004-present, Mosman Community College).  Her oral and community history work for the National Library includes the country-wide overview, Post-War Chinese Australians and the Khmer Community in Australia interviews.

Source:  Diana Giese, 2010


Series List

1.

Astronauts, lost souls and dragons, 1992-97

2.

Beyond Chinatown, 1994-95

3.

Certificates awarded to Liu Lung, 1920-35, 1979

4.

Other papers, 1941-1946


Series Description

Series 1 Astronauts, lost souls and dragons 1992-97

This series comprises material relating to the book Astronauts, lost souls and dragons, published by University of Queensland Press, 1997 (328p). Much of the book was based on oral history interviews with a number of Chinese Australians, with the focus on the recent past, largely since World War II. Through these interviews, Giese explored the history of the Chinese in Australia, and sought to identify what it meant to be Chinese Australian in the 1990s.

Folders

1

Early correspondence and supporting material, 1992-94, including correspondence with Curtis Brown and University of Queensland Press

2

Early structural notes

3

Correspondence with University of Queensland Press, 1994-96, including correspondence with Laurie Muller, Judy McDonald, Felicity Shea (editor)

4

Notes, copies of artwork, and letters from University of Queensland Press relating to cover and design ideas

5-15

Miscellaneous papers relating to contact with and comments from informants and readers, 1994-96. Includes correspondence, notes of phone conversations, biographical notes, copies of articles, transcripts of interviews, photographs, genealogical notes, drafts of chapters and other papers. Correspondents include Billy Lee Long (Cairns), Judith Leong (Townsville), Bishop George Yep (Townsville), Russell Jack (Bendigo), King Fong (Sydney) and Mabel Lee. Drafts include corrections and suggestions by Yasmine Gooneratne, Warren Lee Long, William Fong, Judith Leong and Jim Bardon

16

Correspondence, reviews, newsletter articles, photocopies from Chinese newspapers and flyers relating to publicity, (1996-97). Correspondents include Bill O’Chee, Judith Leong and University of Queensland Press

17

Correspondence with University of Queensland Press and others concerning media related issues, 1996-97

18

Correspondence, notes and speeches relating to launch at Darwin, 1996

19

Correspondence, speeches and flyer relating to launch at Sydney, 1997

20

Correspondence, list of invitees, and photographs relating to launch at Cairns, 1997

21-23

Miscellaneous papers relating to the Kwong Sue Duk video. Includes

film documentary project brief, biographical notes, list of photographs, transcripts of interviews, draft scripts, list of images and final

script, 1995-96

24-28

Photographs

29-51

Manuscripts, including first draft (Sept. 1995), first paste-up (typescript, manuscript and photocopies), typescript read by Barbara Brookes (March 1996), drafts of each chapter with amendments, proofs with small editorial amendments, final clean proofs

52

Photographs and the notebook of Billy Lee Long (1 packet; added 11 June 1999)


Series 2 Beyond Chinatown 1994-95

This series comprises material relating to the book Beyond Chinatown, published by the National Library of Australia, 1995 (58p). The book was based on oral history interviews, together with European documents, official reports, newspaper articles, Administrator’s letters and contemporary theses, and explored the evolution of Darwin’s Chinatown area.

Folder

1

Miscellaneous papers including correspondence with the National Library of Australia, informants and a few readers (1994-95), notes, possible questions, summaries of interviews, artwork, launch speech, press releases, flyer, reviews, photographs


Series 3 Certificates awarded to Liu Lung, 1920-35, 1979

Liu Lung first visited Australia from China in 1902. He settled there in 1912.

In China in 1905, all previous revolutionary groups were merged into the revolutionary party called Tung Meng Hui, or Society of Common Cause. Lui Lung joined this party in his native village of Chungshan, Kwangtung. In 1919, Tung Meng Hui was renamed Kuomintang. In 1920, Lui Lung was appointed Secretary of the Sydney branch of the Kuomintang. He went on to be elected a member of the 8th and 9th Executive Committees of the Australian General Branch (1931, 1932), and elected to the 11th Supervisory Committee of the Kuomintang (1935).

Lui Lung died in Australia in 1978.

Folio

1

Four certificates, with translations, recording Liu Lung’s appointments to positions within the Kuomintang, and a copy of Lui Lung’s obituary,

1920-35, 1979


Series 4 Other papers, 1941-46

Folder

1 Photocopies of photographs, Tang Wei Family and Yu Family, 1941-46


Box List

Box

Series

Folders

1

1

1-8

2

1

9-15

3

1

16-23

4

1

24-29

5

1

30-34

6

1

35-39

7

1

40-43

8

1

44-48

9

1

49-51

9

2

1

9 1 52a-52b
  4 1
 

3

1 Folio

Guide prepared November 1998, amended April 2002, last updated July 2010