Guide to the Records of the Australian Society of Authors

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MS 4572, Acc01.218, Acc16.112, MS Acc17.108

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Title: Records of the Australian Society of Authors
Date Range: 1963-c.1999
Collection Number: MS 4572, Acc01.218, Acc16.112, MS Acc17.108
Extent: 3.3 metres (16 ms boxes + 5 archives boxes + 94 sound/av carriers + 9 digital carriers)
Language of Materials: English
Repository: Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

MS 4572 includes correspondence, notes, articles and drafts of the journal The Australian author, reports, newsletters and minutes of meetings of the Australian Society of Authors, financial papers such as receipt books and accounts and copies of the journal, Broadside. They relate to the organisation of the Society in 1963, the publishing of The Australian author and the problems involved in writing and publishing. The records also include correspondence, notes and minutes of the Australian Writers' Guild, papers relating to an inquiry into conditions of writers made in 1969 and transcripts of ASA seminars held in 1968.The correspondents in MS 4572 include G.C. O'Donnel, Dal Stivens, Frank Watts, J. Hellyer, Geoffrey Dutton, K.S. Prichard, Xavier Herbert, Nettie Palmer, Dymphna Cusack, A.D. Hope, T. Inglis Moore, Kylie Tennant, Keith Ewers, C.B. Christesen, J.M. Douglas Pringle and Morris West.The Acc01/218 instalment includes translations drafted under the ASA Translation Grants Program, a project funded in 1999 by the Literature Fund of the Australia Council. Most of the translations are from English to foreign languages, with a few foreign titles which have been translated into English. Titles include, David Williamson's Travelling north (Vietnamese), Patrick White's The vivisector (Greek), Xavier Herbert's Capricornia (Chinese), Peter Carey's Illywacker (Russian) and Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay's New Guinea diary (Russian to English).

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-vn2076781).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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], Records of the Australian Society of Authors, National Library of Australia, MS 4572, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Historical Note

Item Descriptions

Class MS 4572. Original consignment received 1974 - Box 1-14 (MS 4572)

This consignment includes correspondence, notes, articles and drafts of the journal The Australian author, reports, newsletters and minutes of meetings of the Australian Society of Authors, financial papers such as receipt books and accounts and copies of the journal, Broadside. They relate to the organisation of the Society in 1963, the publishing of The Australian author and the problems involved in writing and publishing. The records also include correspondence, notes and minutes of the Australian Writers' Guild, papers relating to an inquiry into conditions of writers made in 1969 and transcripts of ASA seminars held in 1968.

Contained in 14 boxes (MS 4572, Boxes 1-14).

Series 1. General correspondence

The correspondence relates to the formation of the Australian Society of Authors (A.S.A.) in 1963 and it includes letters from various writers indicating their support for the organisation and discussing its aims. There is also correspondence from a large number of writers to J. Hellyer, the Secretary of the A.S.A. discussing the problems and asking advice in the publishing of their work. Also letters relating to an agreement between the A.S.A. and the A.B.C. 1968-1970.

The correspondents include G.C. O'Donnell, Chairman of the Management Committee of the A.S.A.; Dal Stivens, Frank Watts, J. Hellyer, Geoffrey Dutton, K.S. Prichard, Xavier Herbert, Nettie Palmer, Dymphna Cusack, A.D. Hope, T. Inglis Moore, Kylie Tennant, Keith Ewers, the Australian Book Publishers Association and the Australian Radio Television and Screen Writers Guild.

Comprises Folders 1-18.

Series 2. Papers relating to Australian Author

Correspondence, notes, articles and drafts of the A.S.A. journal Australian Author.

The correspondents include Nancy Keesing, the editor of the Australian Author; Dal Stivens, Nancy Robinson, Judith Wright, Keith Ewers, C.B. Christesen, Douglas Pringle and Morris West. It includes discussion of the articles published in the Australian Author.

Comprises Folders 19-38.

Series 3. Reports, newsletters and minutes of meetings

Comprises Folders 39-47.

Memos and newsletters to members of the A.S.A., 1963-1964, relating to the organisation of the A.S.A. Also contains a copy of an agreement between the A.B.C. and the A.S.A (File 39)

Memos and newsletters of the A.S.A., 1966-1967 (File 40)

Memos and newsletters of the A.S.A., 1968 (File 41)

Memos and newsletters of the A.S.A., 1969-1970 (File 42)

Minutes of meetings and annual and quarterly reports of the A.S.A., 1969-1970 (File 43_47)

Series 4. Financial papers

Include receipt books, balance sheets, accounts, petty cash books and cheque butts of the A.S.A.

Comprises Folders 48-65.

Series 5. Miscellaneous papers

Comprises Folders 66-72 and 2 boxes of printed material.

Correspondence, reports, minutes and notes of the Australian Writers Guild relating to its relations with the A.S.A. (File 66_67)

Includes annual reports, lists of addresses of members of the A.S.A. and papers relating to an inquiry conducted by the A.S.A. into conditions of writers in Australia in 1969 (File 68)

Annie Rixon Captain Thunderbolt; two copies of the book and notebooks, photographs and correspondence relating to the book (File 69)

Transcripts of tapes of Seminars of the A.S.A. held in 1968-1969 (File 70)

Roneoed notes including The writer and taxation and papers relating to the new Executive Secretary in 1970 (File 71)

Miscellaneous correspondence, notes and articles relating to the A.S.A (File 72)

Copies of the A.S.A. journal, Broadside (2 boxes) (File)

Class MS Acc01.218. Consignment received 2001 - Box 1-7 (MS Acc01.218)

This consignment includes translations drafted under the ASA Translation Grants Program, a project funded in 1999 by the Literature Fund of the Australia Council. Most of the translations are from English to foreign languages, with a few foreign titles which have been translated into English. Titles include, David Williamson's Travelling north (Vietnamese), Patrick White's The vivisector (Greek), Xavier Herbert's Capricornia (Chinese), Peter Carey's Illywacker (Russian) and Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay's New Guinea diary (Russian to English).

Contained in 7 boxes (MS Acc01.218 Boxes 1-7).

Class MS Acc16.112. Consignment added August 2016

Publisher's correspondence; 1 piece special format material, 1990-1992 (File) - Box 1 (MS Acc16.112)

1 x 5 1/4 3M floppy disc removed to Digital Carriers Box 18

[Untitled], 1991 (Item NLA.MS-DM000709) - Digital-Carriers-Box 18

1 item, Floppy disk, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Publisher's correspondence, 1990-1992 (File) - Box 2 (MS Acc16.112)

Correspondence; minutes; Contract Advisory Survey forms, 1990-2003 (File) - Box 3 (MS Acc16.112)

Email correspondence; notes; minutes; indigenous mentorship, 2001-2004 (File) - Box 4 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright council; drama; education; playwrights; film; DFAT, 1964 - 1979 (File) - Box 5 (MS Acc16.112)

Hanger collection; literary defence; national book council, 1964-1978 (File) - Box 6 (MS Acc16.112)

Libel; Australia Council for the Arts; budget estimates; fees, 1968-1978 (File) - Box 7 (MS Acc16.112)

Poetry; Public Lending Rights (PLR); UNESCO; publisher correspondence, 1965-1984 (File) - Box 8 (MS Acc16.112)

PLR UK and PLR NZ, 1968-1972 (File) - Box 9 (MS Acc16.112)

PLR, 1973-1977 (File) - Box 10 (MS Acc16.112)

Author's earnings; PLR, 1966-1985 (File) - Box 11 (MS Acc16.112)

PLR clippings; telegram sent 1971 to PM Gorton regarding PLR; Colin Simpson's draft statements, 1969-1974 (File) - Box 12 (MS Acc16.112)

evidence of water damage

Australia Council Literature Fund grant applications;, 1972-2003 (File) - Box 13 (MS Acc16.112)

evidence of water damage

Mentorship project; Australia Council grant acquittals, 1993-2001 (File) - Box 14 (MS Acc16.112)

Australian Society of Authors (ASA) elections; financial reports, 1990-1997 (File) - Box 15 (MS Acc16.112)

AGM reports and notes from 1990's and 2000's; Anne Deveson; 2007 plan and budget, 1993-2010 (File) - Box 16 (MS Acc16.112)

Tax submissions; literature board correspondence;, 1980's (File) - Box 17 (MS Acc16.112)

Issues, reports, submissions; tax; royalty audits, 1985-1989 (File) - Box 18 (MS Acc16.112)

Publications archive, 1996-2005 (File) - Box 19 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee reports and correspondence; papers regarding sundry organisations, 1980's-1990's (File) - Box 20 (MS Acc16.112)

Arts industry council; NSW writers centre; Arts net, 1990-1999 (File) - Box 21 (MS Acc16.112)

Campaigns; working parties; electronic writing, 1990's (File) - Box 22 (MS Acc16.112)

ASA constitution; correspondence with solicitor Mallesons Stephen Jacques, 1970-2001 (File) - Box 23 (MS Acc16.112)

Festivals; feminist book fair; masterclasses; correspondence, 1990's (File) - Box 24 (MS Acc16.112)

Council members; censorship; ASA history, 1970's (File) - Box 25 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee papers; clippings, 1963-1983 (File) - Box 26 (MS Acc16.112)

Telegram from Lionel Murphy re state of the arts in Australia 1971

National Book Council minutes, 1980's (File) - Box 27 (MS Acc16.112)

SOBI the style file; Australian author records; 2 x CD'R's, 1977-2001 (File) - Box 28 (MS Acc16.112)

2 x special format material removed and rehoused to Digital Carriers Box 18

SOBI (Item NLA.MS-DM000710) - Digital-Carriers-Box 18

1 item, Verbatim CD-R, Data CD (any content on recordable CD-R)

Sticky note on front "Malcolm Can we talk about this on Thurs? Jill"

SOBI website, 23/07/2002 (Item NLA.MS-DM000711) - Digital-Carriers-Box 18

1 item, Kodak Ultima 80 700MB, Data CD (any content on recordable CD-R)

Australian Author's costings; correspondence, 1970's-1980's (File) - Box 29 (MS Acc16.112)

Contracts; miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1968-1989 (File) - Box 30 (MS Acc16.112)

UNESCO seminar papers; tax guide, 1970's-1980's (File) - Box 31 (MS Acc16.112)

Letter from Bill Kidman re Stockman's Hall of Fame 1980

Deakin University; writer's handbook; copyright agency limited (CAL), 1967-1982 (File) - Box 32 (MS Acc16.112)

CAL minutes and meetings, 1980's (File) - Box 33 (MS Acc16.112)

CAL; assorted papers, minutes and meetings, 1980's (File) - Box 34 (MS Acc16.112)

Public Lending Right (PLR) Committee notes; children's writers correspondence, 1980-1990 (File) - Box 35 (MS Acc16.112)

Children's Book Writers' Group (CBWG) papers; mentorship programme, 1989-1993 (File) - Box 36 (MS Acc16.112)

Grant applications form WA and VIC; NT activities, 1990's (File) - Box 37 (MS Acc16.112)

Issues, reports, submissions, 1991-1997 (File) - Box 38 (MS Acc16.112)

Issues, reports, submissions; censorship; survey, 1990's (File) - Box 39 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright, 1970's-1980's (File) - Box 40 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright Council, 1980's (File) - Box 41 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright Tribunal; draft report on the publishing industry, 1979-1985 (File) - Box 42 (MS Acc16.112)

Industries Assistance Commission; Colin Simpson retirement dinner; National Book Council minutes, 1972-1980 (File) - Box 43 (MS Acc16.112)

Correspondence regarding PLR dinner, 1975 (File) - Box 44 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright, 1968 (File) - Box 45 (MS Acc16.112)

Co-operative society; copyright; publishing houses, 1974-1998 (File) - Box 46 (MS Acc16.112)

handwritten letter of AD Hope

Australian War Memorial; Australian author; different states and territories seminars/festivals; rates; 1 x CD-R, 1993-2001 (File) - Box 47 (MS Acc16.112)

CD-R removed and rehoused to Digital Carriers Box 18

Society of Book Illustrators (SOBI) Tye Weekend; ASA publications; arts law seminars; Colin Simpson Memorial lectures; ADB Racial vilification submission; society of authors London, 1986-2004 (File) - Box 48 (MS Acc16.112)

Documents relating to PLR; Society of authors and writers unions of Canada, Africa, Denmark, France, Ghana, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, NY, NZ, Norway, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Slovak, Russia and Thailand, 1969-1994 (File) - Box 49 (MS Acc16.112)

Letter from Sen Don Chipp 1985; telegram from Billy Snedden Leader of Opposition 1974; telegram from Bob Ellicott Minister for Home Affairs 1978; telegram from Doug Anthony 1975

PLR correspondence; National Book council; 1982 Prices Commission, 1971-1986 (File) - Box 50 (MS Acc16.112)

Letter from Treasurer John Howard 1980

MSS return from publishers (sale) Thea Astley, F Moorhouse; Mary Drake award; freelance rates committee and portfolio; Hear a Book; Radio for print handicapped; authors' income; royalty statements; writing general information; society of Australian writers, 1970's - 1980's (File) - Box 51 (MS Acc16.112)

evidence of water damage and subsequent rust stains to many files

Social Security Dept; Society of Editors; Society of Indexers; solicitors contracts; speakers; speaking in schools; state and territory meetings and grant applications, 1973-1999 (File) - Box 52 (MS Acc16.112)

Sydney ASA events; Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland applications and meetings; Balance Sheets, 1990-2005 (File) - Box 53 (MS Acc16.112)

AGM 1979-1984; Annual reports; tax questionnaire, 1979-1988 (File) - Box 54 (MS Acc16.112)

Copyright information centre; magazine contributors association; Spanish conference; photography; rates of payment; small magazines; freelance; science fiction; bicentennial grant letters; 25th birthday ASA; public domain royalty; chairman's file; establishment of national biographical foundation, 1981-1989 (File) - Box 55 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee meetings; executive meetings, 1979-2003 (File) - Box 56 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee meetings; executive meetings; ABC portfolio; CAL; copyright; isolated writers; PLR; rates; SOBI; writers' centres; indigenous; public affairs; state reps; ELR, 1981-2007 (File) - Box 57 (MS Acc16.112)

Balance sheets; premises- general; Bellevue; National Literary fund; National Arts Training Committee; Friends of Australian Literature; ELR Thanks letters; Australian Writers' Guild; other writers' guilds and societies Society of Women Writers, 1983-2009 (File) - Box 58 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management; budget subcommittee; executive committee; children's book writers, 1990-1996 (File) - Box 59 (MS Acc16.112)

CWG notes and minutes; SOBI newsletters; executive committee minutes; educational writers group; freelance rates; seminar programme; Australian Authors subcommittee; ABC of authorship; Australia Council; ATSIAB application, 1989-2010 (File) - Box 60 (MS Acc16.112)

Australia Council Literature Board; Australian Council Literature Fund - writers initiative, reports, applications, 2002-2006 (File) - Box 61 (MS Acc16.112)

Australia Council Literature fund applications, reports; Book Week; Public affairs; correspondence; conferences; seminars; digital arts content; picture book illustrators grants; audio cassettes minimum terms; CAL licensing; Copyright, 1994-2012 (File) - Box 62 (MS Acc16.112)

Multimedia forums; Electronics; digital developments; AGM 1985-2008, 1985-2008 (File) - Box 63 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee Meetings 1994 -2007; strategic retreat 2002, 1994-2007 (File) - Box 64 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee meetings 1994-2007; ghost writers; ISBN; libel and free speech, 1993-2007 (File) - Box 65 (MS Acc16.112)

Lit awards and competitions; Miles Franklin trustees; Moral rights; ASA seminars; National Tertiary Education union; Masterclass; Minimum Terms Agreement; National Book Council; Paper; Peer assessment; poetry competitions; Policy Statements; ABC agreement, 1973-1998 (File) - Box 66 (MS Acc16.112)

ABC agreement; Alliance; ABC agreements and negotiations; ABC rates for broadcast, 1978-1995 (File) - Box 67 (MS Acc16.112)

ABC copyright rate discussions and commissioned work rates; ABC Committee of Enquiry and general correspondence; ABC Religious broadcasting; Poetry anthology; arts Council; Arts Law Centre; Australia Council; Bicentennial authority; ABPA, 1967-1995 (File) - Box 68 (MS Acc16.112)

Bread and cheese club; Australia council funding and lobbying; Picture Book Illustrators grants; Committee of Management Meeting, 1965-2000 (File) - Box 69 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management meetings; Executive Committee meetings; The Author editions, 1988-1990 (File) - Box 70 (MS Acc16.112)

Newsletters from 1990; Victorian seminar; transition; seminars, 1967-1990 (File) - Box 71 (MS Acc16.112)

Seminars; Resale Price Maintenance; Government printing of textbooks; Revaluation; Victorian Committee;, 1964-1976 (File) - Box 72 (MS Acc16.112)

Canberra Writers Festival; funding applications; RCCO statistical returns; Copyright; Executive Meeting Minutes; ALCS, UKSG, IFRRO (File) - Box 73 (MS Acc16.112)

Acquisition of film rights/option agreements; Australian Publishers association; CAL; state and territory meetings 1986-1992, 1984-2004 (File) - Box 74 (MS Acc16.112)

Agents; Australian Book week; Australian Film Council; Australian National Television council; ABC negotiations, 1962-1976 (File) - Box 75 (MS Acc16.112)

ABC agreements and rate negotiations; Book reviews ABC; Guide to Book Contracts; Commonwealth Literary Fund; Anthology Policy; 1000 member dinner (File) - Box 76 (MS Acc16.112)

Commonwealth Literary fund; Australian Writers Guild; correspondence with Australian authors; RIGBY correspondence; copyright council, 1971-1979 (File) - Box 77 (MS Acc16.112)

Chairman's letter; report on pre-censorship Boies in Queensland; PLR campaign; Incorporation, 1976-1981 (File) - Box 78 (MS Acc16.112)

Anthology correspondence; Education Department; Adelaide Festival Writers week; Adjudicators Fees; Staff- General; Office Maintenance and rent; New Zealand; QLD, WA. VIC, SA; OUT web queries; website information, 1964-2001 (File) - Box 79 (MS Acc16.112)

Graphic novels/comics; cuttings; CAL mixed papers; copyright correspondence and cuttings; Jeremy media; organisational meeting; 40th birthday; CAL miscellaneous correspondence; CAS; Council of the ASA; domain name registration; National Book Council reports, 1962-2009 (File) - Box 80 (MS Acc16.112)

ASA minutes; AGM minutes; general meetings attendances; PLR meeting; executive committee; committee of management agenda, 1968-1997 (File) - Box 81 (MS Acc16.112)

Album of cuttings on PLR campaign; McNair authors and writers survey of earnings;, 1963-1976 (File) - Box 82 (MS Acc16.112)

UNESCO advisory committee; MP letters; Anthology Policy, 1963-1970 (File) - Box 83 (MS Acc16.112)

Many letters from politicians, including one from Arthur Calwell, Leader of the Opposition, 1966

Annual reports; Membership Drive; PLR report and article; Minimum approved book contract; film rights in book ASA Symposium; Australian American Association and Seminar, 1972-1979 (File) - Box 84 (MS Acc16.112)

Competitions; Law Reform Commission; Legal Deposits; Library Association of Australia; Literary agents correspondence; Defamation; Lloyd Davies article; Playwrights and rights; Education Department and educational writers; Ethnic writing; FAW correspondence; Film Rights Symposium, 1963-1995 (File) - Box 85 (MS Acc16.112)

Evidence of damp/rust stained papers in some files

Film and television school; artwork - acquisition of film rights in literary properties; letters 1982, 1974-1984 (File) - Box 86 (MS Acc16.112)

Letters 1983 Margot Hilton, 1983 (File) - Box 87 (MS Acc16.112)

Letters 1984 Margot Hilton; PLR payments to authors; ELR policies and procedures; PLR review, reports, bus trip to Canberra, campaign materials; PLR Carmen Lawrence; National Campaign for the Arts 1993- 1996; Australia Council Campaign, 1989-1997 (File) - Box 88 (MS Acc16.112)

Book prices - issues, reports, submissions; inquiry into book prices reports; prices surveillance authority; contract advisory service; signatures; ASA 40th anniversary; Between the lines - a legal guide for writers and illustrators; Publications WPL Questionnaires, 1977-2010 (File) - Box 89 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management Minutes; ASA AGM notes, 1972-2004 (File) - Box 90 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management Minutes from first meeting, 1987-1992 (File) - Box 91 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management Minutes, 1987-1992 (File) - Box 92 (MS Acc16.112)

Committee of Management Minutes Working Writers Exhibition (Turnbull Fox Phillips), 1979-1990 (File) - Box 93 (MS Acc16.112)

Reel to Reel tapes; 10 x 13 cm; 8 x 18cm, 1969-1974 (File)

13cm reel to reel - Mr Richard Walsh (2), Philip Adams (2), Vincent Buckley (2), Ian Turner (2),Discussion (2); 18 cm reel to reel - Crisis or Crest Joan Long and David Martin, Untitled, A Writer's Private World 1969 Victorian Seminar (2), Jim Hamilton, 1972 FAW-ASA Professional Writers Seminar, 1973 Professional Writers Seminar, Humour in Black and White. All these removed to oral history store