Guide to the Papers of Geoff Easdown
MS 10584
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: August 2021
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Easdown, Geoff
- Title
- Papers of Geoff Easdown
- Date Range
- 1942-2003
- Collection Number
- MS 10584
- Extent
- 0.45 metres (3 MS Boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Content Description
The collection comprises research materials relating to journalist and author Geoff Easdown and includes: audio cassettes and transcripts of interviews with Sir John Gorton; a manuscript of Dr. Phillip Opas' experiences in the RAAF in World War II and South Vietnam; a manuscript of an autobiography of Dr. Opas' years at the Bar and his experiences in commercial life; cases recounted including Opas' defence of Ronald Ryan and his actions behind the scenes in his attempts to save Ryan from the gallows; research materials for a feature film script on Edward 'Eddie' Leonski, an American soldier hanged in Melbourne for his involvement in the WW II "Brownout" murders including dispatches between General MacArthur and the Australian military, photographs and a full transcript of the US court martial held in Melbourne.
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-vn8597294).
Conditions Governing Use
Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8597294).
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Geoff Easdown, National Library of Australia, MS 10584, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Files 5, 11 and 14
Please note, Files 5 and 11 comprise photocopies of original court case documents held at the National Archives of Australia, that include prosecution evidentiary exhibits that are exempted from public access according to the National Archives Act 1983. As these prosecution evidentiary exhibits cannot be separated from the bound volumes, the entire volumes are restricted from access at the NLA. The remaining documents are available for access at the National Archives of Australia - See Series A472 W7493. File 14 comprises evidentiary exhibits only.
Item Descriptions
Class 1. Consignment received 2021, 1942-2003
The consignment comprises research materials relating to journalist and author Geoff Easdown and includes: audio cassettes and transcripts of interviews with Sir John Gorton; a manuscript of Dr. Phillip Opas' experiences in the RAAF in World War II and South Vietnam; a manuscript of an autobiography of Dr. Opas' years at the Bar and his experiences in commercial life; cases recounted including Opas' defence of Ronald Ryan and his actions behind the scenes in his attempts to save Ryan from the gallows; research materials for a feature film script on Edward 'Eddie' Leonski, an American soldier hanged in Melbourne for his involvement in the WW II "Brownout" murders including dispatches between General MacArthur and the Australian military, photographs and a full transcript of the US court martial held in Melbourne.
"Throw away my wig : a long journey with few sign posts", 1990 (File 1) - Box 1
A manuscript of an autobiography of Dr. Phillip Opas' years at the Bar and his experiences in commercial life that followed. Cases are recounted including his defence of Ronald Ryan. Includes loose handwritten and printed materials.
"Here's to the next man that dies", c.1995 (File 2) - Box 1
A manuscript of Dr. Phillip Opas' experiences in the RAAF, World War II and South Vietnam. Also includes a letter from Dr. Opas to Geoff Easdown; and annotated printed materials re Anzac campaign.
Phillip Opas, 1993-2003 (File 3) - Box 1
File contains a letter from Opas to Geoff; and loose annotated printed materials re Opas' book including "As You Were" and "History Made at Morotai".
John Gorton - interview, 1998-2001 (File 4) - Box 1
File includes 2 x micro cassette tapes containing recording of interview with Sir John Gorton by Geoff Easdown at Gordon's Sydney home in November 1998; and two copies of transcript of the recording; speech transcript by John Gorton at the Mystic Park Hall, 3 April 1946; and printed materials re Easdown's books.
Government and military documents, 1942 - Trial of Edward J. Leonski (U.S. Army), 1942 (File 5) - Box 2
Research materials for a feature film script on Edward 'Eddie' Leonski, an American soldier hanged in Melbourne for his involvement in the WW II "Brownout" murders including dispatches between General MacArthur and the Australian military, photographic illustrations showing prosecution's evidence, newspaper cuttings relating to the case, witness statements, among others.
Transcript of the military court martial of Edward J. Leonski (U.S. Army, 1942), 1942 (File 6) - Box 2
Tried at Melbourne, Australia. July 13th to 17th, 1942. Research materials for a feature film script on Edward 'Eddie' Leonski, an American soldier hanged in Melbourne for his involvement in the WW II "Brownout" murders
New Guinea Executions, c.1943-1961 (File 8) - Box 3
Includes 1 x copy of "Capitol [sic.] punishment chronology" showing lists of US soldiers executed for crimes committed in WWII (from Archives of US Office of Military Justice, Falls Church, Virginia, USA); and 3 x copies of death penalty review made by Board of Review, Army Service Forces, in the Branch Office of the Judge Advocate General, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; a copy of inwards teleprinter message from Secretary to Defence Secretariat, Brisbane.
Material and interview with Edward Leonski, 1984 (File 9) - Box 3
Annotation on file cover reads "defence counsel Ira Rothgerber, then a Lieutenant in the US Army in Australia. After the War he became an advisor to the US Supreme Court, a partner in a Denver (?) Colorado law firm and Professor of Law at the University of Colorado". Also includes 2 x black and white photographs and correspondence between Ira Rothgerber and Geoff Easdown
Records of Leonski murder case, 1942-1984 (File 10) - Box 3
Includes associated records of the murder case and a letter from Rev. Father George Hannah to Easdown. Hannah befriended Leonski and accompanied him to the gallows.
Photocopies of regulations, notes, documents, captions and correspondence concerning Leonski murder case, 1942 (File 12) - Box 3
Includes the National Security Relation which was finally passed 65 days after the execution (it gave the US Army the right to house its prisoners in Australia jails); the Macarthur headquarters note proving the January 1943, date on which the detention regulation became law; MacArthur advises Washington that Leonski is dead; among others.
Leonski photographs, 1942-1984 (File 13) - Box 3
Black and white photographs including portraits Edward Leonski, Ivy McLeod (victim), Pauline Thompson(victim), Gladys Hosking (victim), Hayford Enwall (prosecutor), Dr. Hugh McHugh (psychiatrist), Tom Mullery (Leonski's friend); unidentified detectives looking for clues at crime scenes; General Douglas MacArthur and John Curtin signing the visiting Forces Agreement in Parliament House; 1 x b/w photograph and 4 strips of 35 mm original black and white negatives showing Leonski's grave at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 2 x b/w photographs showing possibly Geoff Easdown and page 8 of "Truth" [newspaper] Saturday July 18,1942; 4 x 35mm colour slides featuring Edward Leonski's grave at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.