Guide to the Papers of Tom Cole

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MS 8721

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Tom Cole
Title
Papers of Tom Cole
Date Range
1923-1993
Collection Number
MS 8721
Extent
1.5 metres (11 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
NLA

Introduction

Scope and Content

These papers include correspondence, diaries, photographs, manuscripts, typescripts and cuttings. A donation of further material was received late in 1994. This addition (Folders 82-91) is described under Series 1, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

The correspondence comprises mostly of Cole's letters from Australia and New Guinea to his family in England.

The manuscripts and typescripts relate to Cole's published works Spears and smoke signals (1986), Hell west and crooked (1988), The last paradise (1990), Crocodiles and other characters (1992) and Riding the wildman plains (1992).

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2073448).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Cole, National Library of Australia, MS 8721, [series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

Purchased by the Library from Cole in 1994.

Biographical Note

Cole was born in England in 1906. He emigrated to Australia in 1923.

Cole worked in outback Queensland, the Northern Territory and New Guinea as stockman, drover, horse breaker and crocodile and buffalo hunter.

Cole based his book Spears and smoke signals (1986) on his experiences in New Guinea. His other published works includes two autobiographies Hell west and crooked (1988) and The last paradise (1990), a collection of reminiscences Crocodiles and other characters (1992), and a selection from his letters and diaries Riding the wildman plains (1992).

Reference: The Oxford companion to Australian literature, p.176

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Correspondence, 1923-93

Cole's letters written from Australia to his family in England, 1923-43 (File 1-4) - Box 1

Letters from New Guinea, 1951-59 (File 5) - Box 1

Miscellaneous letters, including fan letters and correspondence with the publishers, 1943-93 (File 6-7) - Box 1

Five undated letters from New Guinea (File 82) - Box 10

Series 2. Diaries

1931-56 (File 8-19) - Box 2

Series 3. Photographs (undated)

Photographs of Northern Territory (File 20-21) - Box 3

Photographs taken in Papua New Guinea (File 22) - Box 3

Miscellaneous photographs (File 23-25) - Box 3

Series 4. Spears and smoke signals (1986)

Manuscript and typescripts of Spears and smoke signals (File 26-27) - Box 4

Joliffe Aboriginal drawings used as illustrations in the book (File 29) - Box 4

Series 5. Hell west and crooked (1988)

Manuscripts, including early drafts (File 30-34) - Box 4

typescript of pp 400-463 (File 83) - Box 10

corrected proofs (File 84) - Box 10

Late draft annotated by Cole with is objections to editorial changes made by the publishers (Addition 29 May 1998) (File 92) - Box 10

Series 6. The Last Paradise (1990)

Manuscript sent to publisher (File 44-47) - Box 6

Drafts, possibly edited by Laurie Oakes (File 48) - Box 6

'The last frontier': first edited galley proofs (File 49) - Box 6

Typescripts (File 50-58) - Box 6-7

Computer printout of The Last Paradise (File 59) - Box 7

Typescript and page proofs (File 60-65) - Box 7

Typescripts (File 85-88) - Box 10

First edited galleys (File 89) - Box 10

Series 7. Crocodiles and other characters (1992)

Typescript of article 'Flying Fenton M.D.', edited by Laurie Oakes (File 66) - Box 8

Copies of letters and inquest report for death at Terrick Station in 1912 and research material for 'The man who loved birds' (File 67) - Box 8

Photographs used in the book (File 68) - Box 8

Photocopy of page proofs (File 69) - Box 8

Galley proofs (File 70) - Box 8

Miscellaneous typescripts (File 71) - Box 8

Series 8. Riding the Wildman Plains (1992)

Page proofs (File 72-73) - Box 9

Research material (File 74) - Box 9

Manuscripts (File 75-76) - Box 9

Photographs, some were reproduced in the book (File 77) - Box 9

Master set (File 90) - Box 9

Series 9. Miscellaneous

Legal documents, cuttings and miscellaneous drafts (File 78-81) - Box 9

Publisher's proofs of Cole's books, including Hell West and Crooked. Also includes drafts of a review of Bert Facey's A Fortunate Life, explaining while Cole wrote Hell West and Crooked (Folder 91). (File 82-92) - Box 10

Series 10. Books

Hell West and Crooked (1988) (Item) - Box 11

The Last Paradise (1990) (Item) - Box 11

Riding the Wildman Plains (1992) (Item) - Box 11


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