Guide to the Papers of Robert Adamson
MS 5713, MS Acc05.096, MS Acc07.044
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Adamson, Robert, 1943
- Title
- Papers of Robert Adamson
- Date Range
- 1970-2007
- Collection Number
- MS 5713, MS Acc05.096, MS Acc07.044
- Extent
- 6.3 metres (30 boxes + 3 folio boxes + 4 folio items)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises correspondence (1971-98) between Adamson and other poets and literary figures, and several hundred drafts of poems and completed poems. There are newspaper cuttings of reviews both by Adamson and about his books of poetry, and individual poems that have been published in newspapers. The collection also includes drafts of articles and transcripts of interviews with Adamson. Some police records are present in the collection. There are a number of photographs, many of which were taken by Juno Gemes.
The Adamson Papers also include drafts of publications by other poets and writers, including Les Murray. There are several files of original material relating to the Australian poet Robert Harris. There are also some records from the Poetry Society of Australia relating to the sale of its publications, dating from the time when Adamson was President of the Society. The collection includes two double issues of New poetry.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1104519).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Robert Adamson, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The original consignment of papers was purchased by the National Library from Adamson in 1977. Subsequent purchases were made in 1979, 1984, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2005 and 2007 .
Related Materials
The National Library holds an interview with Adamson recorded by Hazel de Berg in 1975 at ORAL DeB 898-900. The Library also holds the papers of Adamson’s second wife, Cheryl Creatrix (MS 6422), and an interview with Creatrix recorded by Hazel de Berg in 1977 at ORAL DeB 1038-1039.
Arrangement
The papers received in the original and earlier consignments have been unified into a single sequence of correspondence, draft poems and scrapbooks. Additions received from 1984 onwards have been arranged separately in the order in which they were acquired by the Library.
Collection Retrieval Advice
Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.
Finding Aid Source(s)
Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.
Biographical Note
Robert Adamson was born in Sydney in 1943, and left Neutral Bay Primary School when he was ten. He spent many of the following years in boys’ homes and N.S.W. prisons. It was in Long Bay Jail that he became aware of the poetry of Bob Dylan which influenced him to develop an interest in poetry. While in prison Adamson received education and began writing his own poetry.
Adamson’s first published book of verse, Canticles on the skin (1970), was based on his prison experiences. Other publications that are autobiographically based are Where I come from (1979), The law at heart’s desire (1982), and Wards of the State (1992). His books of poetry include The rumour (1971), Swamp riddles (1974), Selected poems (1977), Cross the border (1977), The clean dark (1989), The brutality of fact (1993), Waving to Hart Crane (1994), The language of oysters (1997) with Juno Gemes, and Black water: approaching Zukofsky (1999). Adamson’s poems have been published in the United States, and translated into several languages.
By the early 1970s, Adamson had established himself as a part of the Sydney literary scene. He became President of the Poetry Society of Australia and co-editor of the journal New poetry. Adamson has won many literary awards, including the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry in 1979. In 1990, his collection, The clean dark, won the National Book Council Poetry Prize and the Premier’s Awards in Victoria and New South Wales. He has received assistance from Commonwealth Literary Fund Grants.
In 1984 Adamson established the publishing house Paper Bark Press, which he co-directs with his wife, Juno Gemes, and the writer Michael Wilding. He has worked as poetry consultant for the Angus & Robertson journal Republica, and as editor of the quarterly, Ulitarra. In 1999 he was invited to attend the Cambridge Conference of Contemporary Poetry as the Australian representative. Adamson has been an influential literary figure, and, through his roles as poet, publisher, teacher and editor, he has become a focus for many others interested in Australian poetry.
Adamson’s first wife was Debra Adamson, associate editor of New poetry. Adamson later married poet and publisher, Cheryl Creatrix. In 1989 he married the photographer and publisher, Juno Gemes.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 5713. Original Consignment
Draft and completed poems including those for Adamson's publication Cross the border (File 1-5) - Box 1
Robert Duncan: Typescript copy of ‘William Blake and Robert Duncan’ by Robert J. Bertholf (n.d.); and, Itinerary for Robert Duncan, Writer in Residence for the Poetry Society of Australia [1975] (File 7) - Box 2
Three scrapbooks of newspaper clippings of poems and book reviews by Adamson and other authors, (1970-78) (Item) - Box 2
One scrapbook of typescript poems written by Adamson for other people, including Dorothy Hewett (n.d.) (Item) - Box 2
Class MS 5713. Consignment added 1984
Arranged alphabetically. Includes Peter Anderson, Bill Beard, Bruce Beaver, Robert Bertholf, John Blay, Graeme Blundell, John Blight, Veronica Brady, David Brooks, Gary Catalano, Margaret Diesendorf, Larry Buttrose, Penny Chapman, Michael Driscoll, Robert Duncan, Geoffrey Dutton, Christopher Edwards, Barbara Giles, Michele Field, Rodney Hall, Robert Harris, J.S. Harry, Martin Harrison, Gwen Harwood, Dennis Haskell, Dorothy Hewett, A.D. Hope, John Jenkins, Sallen Ben Jones, Bill Jones, Nancy Keesing, Stephen Kelen, Jennifer Maiden, Clive Miller, John Millett, Frank Moorhouse, Barry O’Donohue, Geoff Page, Dorothy Porter, David Rankin, Barrett Reid, Judith Rodriguez, Gig Ryan, John A. Scott, Tom Shapcott, R.A. Simpson, Peter Skyznecki, Douglas Stewart, Tim Storrier, Lowell Tarling, Andrew Taylor, Tim Thorne, Dave Thwaites, Richard Tipping, John Tranter, Jim Tulip, Lyndon Walker, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, G.A. Wilkes, Edna Wilson, Judith Wright, Fay Zwicky.
Class MS 5713. Consignment added May 1988
Miscellaneous poems and letters. (File 48-50) - Box 7
Including poems for the book By no man’s code and the anthology Australian writing now. Correspondents include Bruce Beaver, Manfred Jurgensen, Paul Zimmer, Livio Dobrez, Christopher Edwards, Richard Walsh, Ron Simpson, M. Howard, P. Craven and John Broomhall
Poems and miscellaneous papers (File 51-53) - Box 7
These include drafts of reviews; personal references from John Tranter (‘He is one of Australia’s major poets’), Dorothy Hewett and Tom Shapcott (‘One of the outstanding figures in our contemporary cultural life’); an incomplete copy of Adamson’s successful application c.1984 to the Literature Board for a fellowship to write ‘my definitive Hawkesbury book’; a photocopy of Angus & Robertson’s 1986 contract for his Selected poems; a photocopy of the 1986 registration for his BMW sedan (plus a garage invoice for $960 for fitting it with a stainless steel exhaust); and a 1987 Social Security application form for continuation of unemployment benefit
Class MS 5713. Consignment added October 1988
Substantial File entitled ‘Draughts of new work’: Poems, prose-poems and fragments (File 55) - Box 8
They are mainly copies but there are a few typescript original drafts, with handwritten annotations, such as ‘The Anthology for Manfred. First draft 12.30 Wed. pm’, and ‘Camelot: for Robert Duncan’. There are many duplicates of poems such as ‘No river no death’ and ‘After what’s slaughtered is gone’
Substantial File entitled ‘Letters to Robert Adamson’ (File 56) - Box 8
These include seventeen snapshots, largely unidentified but mostly featuring Adamson. Correspondence (1972-88) and contributions, (some fragmented, many photocopies) addressed to Robert, and/or Juno Gemes. A number of letters to and from Manfred Jurgensen are quite long and interesting. Correspondents include Jurgensen, Michael Sharkey, Michael Blankes (?), Brett Whiteley, Judith Beveridge, Tom Shapcott, Christopher Edwards and David Brooks. ‘Contributions’ interpolated at random amongst the letters include a review by Viki Vidikas of Brett Whiteley and Michael Driscoll’s Native rose, and one original typescript poem by Geoffrey Dutton, as well as other photocopied poems and fragments
The stunned mullet and other poems - John Forbes’. A typescript with some illustrations (photocopy) (File 57) - Box 8
‘Tranter’. Fragments of typed, copied poems and prose by Julia Martin, Grant Caldwell and Susan Hampton (File 58) - Box 8
‘Correspondence to be answered’. Contains only three typed copies of poems by Geoffrey Dutton (File 59) - Box 8
Small file entitled ‘Hawkesbury book in progress’. Photocopied typescripts of prose-poems (File 60) - Box 8
Small file containing reviews of Manfred Jurgensen and Elizabeth Perkins (photocopies of printed articles) (File 61) - Box 8
Medium-sized file entitled ‘Documents’ (File 62) - Box 8
Containing an assortment of photocopied, typed poems, medical forms, notice about a drink-driving charge in 1985, cuttings, letters, business documents, Literature Board applications, and a list in Adamson’s handwriting of ‘What Robert spent his Social Security money on today’
‘Letters and notes by Robert Adamson’. (File 63) - Box 8
A medium-size file containing twelve photographs by Juno: portraits of Adamson, Bruce Beaver, Dorothy Hewett. Some handwritten and typed letters by Adamson. Report on grant for book of poetry on Brisbane Water, National park, some jottings, and a version of ‘What’s slaughtered is gone’, with annotations
Class MS 5713. Consignment added September 1995
Adamson was poetry editor of the literary magazine, Ulitarra. Included in this addition (Files 77-82) are typescripts of drafts and final versions for publication with poets’ names. Works are by published and previously unpublished poets. Also included is correspondence with the co-editor, Laura Danckwerts.
Files 70-76 contain letters from other poets and friends who received copies of Waving to Hart Crane in 1994, or enclosing copies of their works for publication by Adamson. Also included is some correspondence regarding his applications for fellowships with the Australia Council, requests to appear at literary functions and correspondence with publishers.
Also contained in this addition (Files 85-93) is material by award winning Australian poet Robert Harris (1951-1993). Harris worked as an editor for New poetry during the 1970s and in the 1980s worked with Barrett Reid on Overland. Robert Adamson was his friend and publisher.
Correspondents include Doug Barbour, John Bennett, Bob Carr, Laura Danckwerts, Michael Dargaville, Robert Dessaix, Rosemary Dobson, David Brooks, Anne Fairbairn, Robert Harris, Kevin Hart, Gwen Harwood, Robert Hughes, Caroline Jones, Manfred Jurgensen, John Kinsella, David Malouf, Hilary McPhee, Geoff Page, Barrett Reid, Andrew Reimer, Imre Salusinszky, Larry Schwartz, Michael Sharkey, Ron Simpson, Richard Tipping, Murray Waldren (The Australian), Chris Wallace Crabbe, Don Westlake, Judith Wright, Fay Zwicky.
Illustrated File titled ‘Creon’s dream January-August 1995’. Drafts of poems written for the 1995 Newcastle Poetry Prize (File 67) - Box 9
File titled ‘Waving to Hart Crane by Robert Adamson and photography by Juno Gemes. Counter compositions 1-5’. Typescript with 7 photographic prints by Juno Gemes which illustrate the book (File 68) - Box 10
File titled ‘Letters 1994-1995’. Note on cover written and signed by Adamson reads ‘These are all the letters from this period - good quality only’. (File 70-72) - Box 10
Illustrated File titled ‘Keating fellowship’. Correspondence and material regarding applications for Australia Council fellowships by Adamson, 1989-1995 (File 76) - Box 11
File titled ‘Ulitarra poems’. Inner sleeve titled ‘Poems for Ulitarra and letters from Laura Dankworth (sic)’ (c.1994) (File 78-81) - Box 11
Illustrated File titled ‘Poems for Republica’. Correspondence and typescripts of poetry for Republica magazine and Ulitarra. Poem handwritten on back cover of File with dedication ‘For Juno, 7 June 1994’. Also includes a sketch of the cover design for Waving to Hart Crane. (File 82) - Box 11
Draft of The family curfew, a novel by Geoffrey Proud.; Letters to Robert Adamson from Tom Thompson, of Collins Angus Robertson, in response to submission for publication (File 83) - Box 12
Draft of book of poems Eating the sun, by Lawrence Bourke; published in 1995 by Angus Robertson and submitted for publication by Paper Bark Press (Adamson’s publishing house) (File 84) - Box 12
Robert Harris papers: Handwritten and typescript drafts of ‘The A to Z of how to be a poet’ by Harris; handwritten note on cover reads ‘and Robert Harris’ last poems’ (File 85) - Box 12
Robert Harris papers: File titled ‘Draft projected, essays unfinished, book reviews, finished and unfinished’ (File 86) - Box 12
Robert Harris papers: Files containing drafts of articles and poems and a letter from Robert Harris to Gough Whitlam, whom Harris admired (File 87-88) - Box 12
Class MS 5713. Consignment added August 1999
Adamson was editor of New poetry, published by Prism Books, and co-directer of Paper Bark Press. The correspondence in this Addition pertains chiefly to Adamson’s literary and publishing activities. The correspondence also records the awards won by Adamson, proposed poetry anthologies, academic interest in modern Australian poetry, arrangements to attend writers’ events and festivals, and Adamson’s contributions to literary magazines. There are transcripts of two interviews with Adamson.
The Addition contains drafts for two anthologies by Adamson: Waving to Hart Crane (1994) and Black water: approaching Zukofsky (1999). There are numerous drafts of other poems by Adamson. The file headings assigned by Adamson to the drafts, some of which are illustrated in watercolour, have been retained by the Library.
Among the correspondents are the Australia Council, Sylvia Kantaris, Michael Sharkey, Rosemary Dobson, Barrett Reid, John Tranter, John Kinsella, Manfred Jurgensen, Adam Aitken, Peter Boyle, Kevin Hart, Ivor Indyk, Kris Hemensley, Peter Solness, Nicholas Jose, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Arthur Spyrou, Richard Tipping, Michael Wilding, Martin Harrison and Max Williams.
Class MS Acc05.096. Consignment added 2005
Includes manuscripts, correspondence, notes, scrapbooks, galleys, proof pages, photographs and newspaper clippings concerning Adamson's works, Meaning (1998), Inside out: an autobiography (2004), and The goldfinches of Baghdad published in 2006. The correspondence with writers and editors covers the years 1990-2005. There is a significant amount of correspondence with Juno Gemes. Also included are papers relating to Paper Bark Press, and a small collection of photographs by Juno Gemes and correspondence from Adamson to Gemes.
Comprises 7 boxes.
'E-mails from Poets' Correspondents include: Devin Johnstone; Luke Davies; Chris Edwards; Martin Harrison; Michael Brennan; Bronwyn Lee; Robert Creeley; Emily Booth; Robyn Ravlich; Peter Paley; Cameron Hindrum; Anthony Lawrence; John Tranter; Douglas Barbour; Angelo Loukakis; Neil Astley; June Gemes; Tom Raworth; Johanne Featherstone; Garry Shead; Chris Tuckfield; Tim Harnwell; Christine McGregor, 2003-2004 (File) - Box 1
'Letters from Poets' Correspondents include: David Smith; Seamus Heaney; Devin Johnstone; Nick Riener; David McCooey; Kevin hart; Kate Darras; Tom Bishop; Laurence Anderson; Peter Craven; Martin Harrison; Peter Minter; John Lucas; Ivor Indyk; Elon Dell; Ross Clark, 1990-2004 (File) - Box 1
'Letters from Poets and Editors' Correspondents include: Larry Swartz; Douglas Barbour; Seamus Heaney; Chris Edward; Geoff Page; Kevin Hart; Rodney Hall; John Tranter; Wayne Ashton; Franco Paisio, 1990-2004 (File) - Box 1
'Letters and E-mails from Anthony Lawrence 1998-1999'; 'Email 1997'; 'Messages from Robert Adamson to Juno Gemes', 1997-1999 (File) - Box 1
'From David Rankin in New York City'; 'E-mail from Peter Minter and Douglas Barbour'; 'Correspondence and Travel Arrangements for my reading Tour of U.K. With Dublin Lit Festival Reading' (File) - Box 1
Artwork details for 'Mulberry Leaves' and Kevin Hart's 'Heat'; Drafts and versions of poems for 'Black water, 1995-1999'; final page proofs of 'Black Water Approaching Zukovsky', 1995-1999 (File) - Box 2
Galley lino-type 'Bembo'; proofs for 'Meaning' published in Cambridge U.K.; early drafts and versions of poems for 'Goldfinches'; drafts of poems for 'Goldfinches'; 'Goldfinches', a book of poems by Robert Adamson with drawings and etchings by Garry Shead (File) - Box 2
'The Greenshank and other poems'; Drafts, versions, revisions and fair copies; new poems, 1999-2005 (File) - Box 2
'Defective Affinities' a reader's report'; 'Deed of option and the film rights for 'Inside Out'; 'Early Versions and drafts of 'Inside Out' (File) - Box 3
'Defective Affinities' (working title for 'Inside Out'; Early notes 'Inside Out' by Robert Adamson, 1998-2001 (File) - Box 3
'Defective Affinities'; four versions of 'Texas Queensland' with handwritten editorial notes (File) - Box 3
'Defective Affinities'; 'Inside Out', printouts of draft versions of two early chapters; correspondence and memorandum of agreement for 'Defective Affinities with Simon and Schuster (File) - Box 3
'My Obit for Robert Creely' - drafts; 'Song of the Pen' for The Australian Author; An Interview - Robert Adamson, Kevin Hart, Ivor Indyk, 2005 (File) - Box 6
Drafts for 3 book reviews by Robert Adamson 1997; 'Robert Harris' report for Lily Brett's manuscript for Paperbark Press'; 'Working manuscript for Smoke Proofs by James Taylor, 1997 (File) - Box 6
Class MS Acc07.044. Consignment added 2007
Chiefly contains drafts and correspondence relating to Adamson's autobiography Inside out. There is also other professional and personal correspondence, including between Adamson and Juno Gemes, and between Adamson and Gemes and a range of editors, agents, publishers, and event organisers.
Comprises 9 boxes.
Drafts for Inside out: An autobiography - Chapters 1-12 (File) - Box 1
Chapters are housed in labelled manila files
Drafts for Inside out: An autobiography - Chapters 13-20 (File) - Box 2
Chapters are housed in labelled manila files
Drafts for Inside out: An autobiography - Chapters 21-24 (File) - Box 3
Chapters are housed in labelled manila files
Manila file: Juno Gemes, 2003-2004 (File) - Box 4
Correspondence with Robert Adamson; Neil Astley - Bloodaxe Books; Gail Cork - Literature Fund; Pat Boran - Dublin Writers Festival; Michael Heywood. Emily Booth, Melanie Ostell - Text Publishing; Debbie Golvan - Golvan Management; Alan Jenkins - TSL
Manila file: Email correspondence, 2003-2004 (File) - Box 4
Juno Gemes - Neil Astley (Bloodaxe Books UK); Pat Boran - Director Dublin Writers Festival; Ruth Borthwick - Festival Hall; Gail Cork - OzCo; Ledbury Festival Director
Further drafts and correspondence relating to Inside out, c2003-2006 (File) - Box 5
Note at top: 'Some first drafts, but mainly progressive drafts marked up by Chris Edwards. These have been organised by chapter, but since the chapter breaks and titles changes as the book developed, some drafts contain material ultimately used in several chapters. Pencilled headings indicate the chapters in which material finally landed.'
Copy of Chicago Review Summer 2003, with an earlier version of chapter one of Inside out (File) - Box 6
Manila file: Correspondence Juno Gemes and Robert Adamson, 2002-2006 (File) - Box 7-8
Contractual negotiations - with agent Debbie Golvan and publishers S&S, Text; Inside out. Juno Gemes - Robert Adamson. Correspondence between RA & JG, Juno Gemes and Chris Edwards; Contractual Discussion between Bob Adamson, Juno Gemes, Debbie Golvan, Michael Heyward, Sophie Cunningham, Angelo Loukakis; Elrik Steinhoff, Chicago Review, Robert Creeley