Guide to the Papers of Tom Fitzgerald

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MS 7995

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Tom Fitzgerald
Title
Papers of Tom Fitzgerald
Date Range
1956-1987
Collection Number
MS 7995
Extent
2.1 metres (11 ms boxes + 1 medium folio box)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The fortnightly magazine Nation was one of the few truly independent journals published post second world war. It commenced in September 1958 merging with another independent magazine in 1972 to become Nation Review. Nation was published during a significant period of Australia's post war history. Politically, the turmoils of the Australian Labor Party and Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war were topical issues.

The magazine was published by Tom Fitzgerald, the finance editor of the Sydney Morning Herald from 1958 to 1970 and then the editorial director of the Australian. The present archive has been fortunately preserved by Mr Fitzgerald. The archive is contained within eight archive boxes and a large folder. Six boxes with the correspondence, typed and manuscript records, and the other boxes and folder with original artwork and photographs used for the illustrations and cartoons in the publication. The papers are mostly correspondence with contributors. This correspondence complements the published articles by providing outlines to the backgrounds and follows up ideas not developed in print. Some letters brush on controversial topics and highlight the problems with publishing an outspoken magazine.

All aspects of political, economic and cultural life were printed with the majority the contributors being academics, serious journalists, economists and politicians. Education and the arts were always prominently featured.

Accompanying the editorial correspondence is a collection of papers relating to the business aspects of the publication. Accounts, advertising accounts, subscription accounts, production notebooks are all present. One file details a litigation brought against Nation for damages over a libellous article. The archive is completed with a good collection of over 40 original cartoons by some of the notable black and white artists of the 60s such as Hesling, Hughes and Benier. Original photographs also used for illustrating articles add interest to this part of the archive.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn42640) for the access conditions.

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], Papers of Tom Fitzgerald, National Library of Australia, MS 7995, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were donated to the Library by Tom Fitzgerald in 1989.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Correspondence

The Nation papers are mostly correspondence with contributors. Volumes 1 to 6 were filed alphabetically within the time periods designated. In volume 6 the alphabetical order is imperfect. Volume 7, called general correspondence, is miscellaneous correspondence with businesses with which the company dealt, requests for back numbers or specific articles. With volumes 8 to 10 the arrangement altered to become roughly chronological. The order of the papers is much less coherent in the final years and volume 10 has no order and was correspondence loosely inserted into a folder. Volume 11 was again ordered alphabetically by contributor.

1958 - May 1959 (Item 1) - Box 1

June 1959 - February 1960 (Item 2) - Box 1

March - August 1960 (Item 3) - Box 2

September 1960 - August 1961 (Item 4) - Box 2

September 1961 - August 1962 (Item 5) - Box 3

August 1962 - 1963 (Item 6) - Box 3

1960 - 1964 general (Item 7) - Box 4

1964 - 1966 (Item 8) - Box 4

1967 - 1969 (Item 9) - Box 5

November 1968 - 1970 (Item 10) - Box 5

1970 - 1972 (Item 11) - Box 5

Series 2. Accounts, 1971 - 1972 - Box 5

Invoices from businesses TAA, Kwikasair, Australian Business Service, L Sparks, Wentworth Press, Alexander John Barry printers.

Series 3. Advertising Accounts Notebook, 1965 - 1972 - Box 5

Quarto notebook detailing the advertising in issues 181, October 1965 to 345, July 1972; it lists agent, advertiser, cost and size of advertisement placed.

Series 4. Advertising Accounts, 1972 - Box 6

Miscellaneous invoices from the cessation period

Series 5. Subscription Accounts, 1970, 1972 - Box 6

Series 6. Production Notebook, 1960 - 1961 - Box 6

Foolscap notebook detailing production checklist for the issues 37 (February 1960) to 64 (March 1961). It lists advertisements, issue contents, galleys, layout, proof checks etc.

Series 7. Wells Organisation File - Box 6

A folder of research notes and correspondence relating to the publication of an article on the Wells organisation and the legal suit that followed.

Series 8. Nation - Box 6

Various issues (loose).

Series 9. Artwork - Box 7-8

Photographs and artwork including dinkuses by Robert Hughes, F. Benier and Bernard Hesling (c.40 original line drawings) Altogether c.150 drawings/cartoons and 115 photographs with mockups, artproofs, etc.

Includes material in the folio run.

Series 10. Contributors' Books, 1958 - 1972 - Box 8

Three books recording payments to contributors.


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