Guide to the Papers of Len Dawson

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MS 8599

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Dawson, Len, 1929-
Title
Papers of Len Dawson
Date Range
1929-1996
Collection Number
MS 8599
Extent
0.84 metres (6 boxes + 1 folio package)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The papers mainly comprise drafts of Dawson's memoir Skydoctor which relates to some of his experiences as a flying doctor with the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service in 1954-1957. There are also trip records and diaries recording cases attended by Dawson, correspondence, memorabilia and printed material. The collection also includes certificates and documents relating to his education and family, his work as a psychiatrist and statements to the Chelmsford Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy. Correspondents include Allan Vickers, James Cameron, K.G. Knight, Russel Pardoe, John Pearn, Jim Murtha, Brian Warren, Brian Crane, Ivan Neale, Pamela Indyjk, Tom House, Pat Tully and Lloyd McKay.

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2877361).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Len Dawson, National Library of Australia, MS 8599, [series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The papers were donated to the Library in three instalments in 1993 and 1995. The 1995 instalments were donated under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.

Several collections of slides donated by Len Dawson are held in the Pictures Collection.

Arrangement

The papers were arranged, labelled and described by Dawson before being donated to the Library. The arrangement of the files has been altered by Library staff slightly in order to separate material relating to Dawson's biography from that relating to his life and work. The contents of files have not been disturbed. Many files contain extensive lists of items and background information compiled by Dawson.

Biographical Note

Leonard William George Dawson was born on 24 December 1929 in Tamworth, NSW. He was educated at Armidale High School and Sydney Boys' High School before graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Sydney (1953). Dawson worked for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Charleville, Queensland, in 1954-1957. Later he worked in general medicine, intellectual impairment and psychiatry in a number of surgeries, hospitals and clinics in suburban Sydney. Dawson retired in 1980 and between 1982 and 1994 wrote his memoirs of his experiences as a flying doctor, published in 1995 as Skydoctor.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Personal documents, 1929-1994

The series comprises Dawson's birth certificate, school certificates and magazines, sports certificates and team photographs, University of Sydney medical school attendance book, a newspaper cutting of medicine results, Bachelor of Medicine degree, graduation ceremony program, family tree, curriculum vitae, notes on his family and medical history, letters of appreciation and references.

Two files + one folio package.

Series 2. Royal Flying Doctor Service, 1949-1991

Papers relating to Dawson's employment as a medical officer with the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Charleville during 1954-1957. Of particular interest are carbon copies of trip records for cases attended by Dawson from July 1955 to August 1956 and an appointment diary for 1956. These records include patient names and diagnoses and are held under closed access for 75 years from their date of creation. Related to the diary are notes written in around 1957 recounting incidents and impressions which were later to form the basis of his memoir Skydoctor.

The series also includes memorabilia such as tickets to balls, invitations, and printed material including a booklet describing the contents of the 1956 RFDS medical chest, Charleville Hospital Board annual report (1954-1955), RFDS (Queensland Section) annual reports (1952-1956) and newspaper articles containing pictures of and references to Dawson and others involved in the RFDS. There are also some more personal papers dating from this time including letters home to his parents, a letter relating to his separation from his wife and Australian Inland Mission and RFDS Christmas cards. Correspondents include Allan Vickers and James Cameron.

Trip records, 1955-1956 (File 1-2)

Diary, 1956 (File 3)

Notes/memoirs, ca. 1957 (File 4)

Letters, 1954-1991 (File 5)

Memorabilia, 1954-1959 (File 6)

Newspaper cuttings, 1954-1991 (File 7)

Printed material, 1949-1985 (File 8)

Series 3. Psychiatry, 1969-1993

In the 1970s, Dawson became interested in psychiatry with his appointment as medical officer with the Parramatta Psychiatric Centre (1970-1971). In 1972 he became a member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists following two years study at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. In 1972-1978 he worked as a Psychiatrist and Senior Psychiatrist at the Parramatta Psychiatric Centre, as Honorary Psychiatrist at a number of Sydney hospitals and in private practice.

The series contains one folder of papers containing correspondence relating to his success in the ANZCP exams, his undergraduate medicine results, and papers relating to the Chelmsford Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy, including correspondence and a statement made to the Police in 1988. Dawson treated two Chelmsford patients in the early 1970s, one of whom later died in Chelmsford. The surviving patient instituted legal proceedings against the Chelmsford Private Hospital and letters between Dawson and the patient's solicitors are also included.

One file.

Series 4. Skydoctor: based on the adventures and experiences of a flying doctor in the 1950s, 1956-1996

Len Dawson wrote his memoirs of his working life as a flying doctor in the Royal Flying Doctor Service after his retirement in 1980. The first draft was written by Dawson in 1982. Dawson engaged a ghostwriter, Pamela Odyjk, to redraft the work in 1991. This draft was extensively edited by Jan Elith in 1993-1994 to create the final version that was published by Dawson in 1995.

The papers document the progress of Skydoctor from the first handwritten draft to the published version. There is also correspondence relating to researching, obtaining permissions and attempting to find a publisher for the book. Correspondents include K.G. Knight (Secretary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service), Russel Pardoe, John Pearn, Jim Murtha (relating to the De Havilland Drover), Brian Warren (letter concerning pilot Trevor Corbett restricted), Brian Crane, Ivan Neale, Pamela Indyjk, Tom House, Pat Tully and Lloyd McKay.

Correspondence and research materials, 1956-1995 (File 1-3)

Manuscript drafts, 1982 (File 4-7)

First typescript draft, 1986 (File 8-10)

Draft (Pam Odyjk), mid 1991 (File 11-14)

Draft (Pam Odjyk), Nov. 1991 (File 15-18)

Draft by Pam Odyjk edited by Jan Elith, Aug. 1993 (File 19-20)

Draft edited by Jan Elith and Len Dawson, July 1994 (File 21-23)

Draft, Dec. 1994 (File 24-26)

Draft (double sided), Dec. 1994 (File 27)

Annotated proofs, 1995 (File 28)

Skydoctor (published version) and article on the book from the Australasian Post, 27 Jan. 1996, 1995-1996 (File 29)

Series 5. 'The poetic memoirs of Len Dawson', 1995

Poems dated 1981-1994 and compiled into a booklet by Dawson in 1995. Also includes one poem by his wife Crisanta (Resing) Dawson. Includes poems relating to country life, his heart attack, and his experiences in the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

One file.

Series 6. Other papers, 1940s-1956

Includes a plan for a proposed flying doctor clinic at Eromanga (Qld) and a plan for the Dawes Point Park region of Sydney drawn by Dawson's father, Bill Dawson while a survey draughtsman with the Sydney Water Board. There is also a 1936 plane ticket of a joy ride taken with pilot Reg Swain near Taree and three race programs dating from ca. 1954-1957 for Windorah Amateur Race Club and Betoota Race Club.

One file.

Container List

Series File/Item Box
1 1-2 1
1 3 Folio
2 1-3 Closed box
2 4-6 1
2 7-8 2
3 1 2
4 1-4 2
4 5-11 3
4 12-18 4
4 19-25 5
4 26-29 6
5 1 6
6 1 6

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