Guide to the Papers of Mark O'Connor
MS 7744
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Title
- Papers of Mark O'Connor
- Date Range
- 1968-2002
- Collection Number
- MS 7744
- Extent
- 2.25 metres (16 ms boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection comprises papers associated with O'Connor's poetry. There are drafts, many substantially reworked, of a number of his published books of verse, together with reviews of his books, copies of poems published in journals and newspapers and a large group of drafts of poems. There are also transcriptions of tapes made by O'Connor when he was in the field, recording ideas for his writings. A series of correspondence relates mainly to O'Connor's activities as a writer including publication of his work and his participation in literary events. O'Connor's interest in environmental issues is also reflected in papers in the collection which he accumulated through his involvement with the group Writers/Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population.
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-vn1875799).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Mark O'Connor, National Library of Australia, MS 7744, [series and/or folder number]'.
Provenance
The papers were purchased from O'Connor in three instalments received in 1983, 1999 and 2002.
Related Materials
The Oral History Collection of the National Library holds tapes of two interviews with O'Connor, one in 1975 by Suzanne Lunney and one in 1989 by Diana Ritch (ORAL TRC 2461 and ORAL TRC 328). There are also tapes of a number of interviews with other people, recorded by O'Connor on behalf of the Library.
Arrangement
The papers have been arranged into series by the Library. Because they have been added to the collection in instalments, the order of papers within some series may not necessarily be chronological.
The following item has been transferred to the Oral History Section of the Library: CD recording (No. 9837), one of only four made by the ABC, of the program Encounter recorded on 24 July 1998 and broadcast later that year. Entitled 'A.D. Hope, poet of love and mortality', the script and narration were by O'Connor, with the voices of Anne Edgeworth, Michael Thwaites, Jenni Mitchell and Anne Fairbairn.
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1945 | Born in Melbourne |
| 1965 | Graduated English-Classics Hons 1 from Melbourne University. Taught English Literature at the University of Western Australia and at the Australian National University |
| 1972 | First poems published |
| 1973 | Won the Biennial Poetry Australia International Prize, and again in 1975 |
| 1977 | Awarded a Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship to spend two years living and writing in the Mediterranean region. Travelled extensively until late 1980, mainly in Greece and Italy, and attended the Poets Corner readings in Westminster Abbey in September 1980 |
| 1979 | Won the Shell-Artlook $1,250 poetry prize with The rainbow serpent and the British Commonwealth Short Story Prize with The black cabaret. In June 1980, won the London Time's Kenneth Allsop Memorial Award |
| 1983 | Won the Tom Collins Poetry Prize and the South Pacific ACLALS Short Story Prize. Edited the Australian section of London literary annual Aquarius, 1983 |
| 1983 | Writer-in-residence at James Cook University, Griffith and Darwin (twice), SACAE, Gippsland College, Charles Sturt and Monash Universities, and UNSW and Queensland State Library |
| 1984 | NSW National Parks Writing Fellowship (1984 and 1985) |
| 1985 | Series of six talks on ABC television program Science Show |
| 1985 | ABC TV documentary broadcast on A Big Country |
| 1986 | One-month poetry reading tour of Britain arranged by the British National Poetry Society |
| 1987 | Appointed the Thomas Ramsay Science and Humanities Scholar at the Museum of Victoria (one-year residency) to write a book of verse The ship trans-time, which was published in 1989 |
| 1987 | Edited and introduced Two centuries of Australian poetry published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne in 1988 (reprinted six times) |
| 1988 | Married Janet Eagleton and moved to Canberra |
| 1988 | Attended the Australian Literature Conference in Denmark |
| 1988 | Joined with Judith Wright, Dorothy Green and Anne Edgeworth to form the environmental writers group WESP |
| 1990 | Guest on SBS television program Face the press |
| 1990 | Sent to Russia (Vladivostok conference) by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| 1990 | Overseas writer-in-residence (Australia-China Bilateral Exchange) at East China University, Shanghai |
| 1990 | Received $3,000 grant from ACT to produce lyrics with musician Judith Clingan, recently completed as The Canberra song cycle |
| 1991 | Sent by the Australia Council to represent Australia at World Conference of Poets |
| 1991 | Received a $30,000 grant from the NSW National Parks Foundation to work on poems about the High Country |
| 1993 | Awarded ACT Literary Fellowship |
| 1994 | Appointed Humanities Research Fellow, University of Oregon, USA |
| 1995 | Poetry Editor for The Canberra Times |
| 1995 | Sent by the Australia-India Council on a one-man tour of universities in India |
| 1996 | Published Tilting at snowgums, and was the subject of two ABC documentaries, one in The words to say it series |
| 1996 | Poem 'A new ballad of the man from Snowy River' published in the Christmas edition of the Bulletin |
| 1996 | Revised expanded edition of Two centuries of Australian poetry published by Oxford University Press in 1996 |
| 1998 | Published This tired brown land |
| 1999 | Appointed H.C. Coombs Creative Arts Fellow at the Australian National University |
| 1999 | Appointed as Olympic Games Poet for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, with a two-year Literature Fund Fellowship from the Australia Council |
| 2000 | Published Forever lands: Australia's Northern Territory in words and images |
| 2000 | Published Olive tree: collected poems 1972-2000 |
O'Connor is a poet, with a particular interest in the natural environment. He has published a number of books of his verse, many of them based on regions of Australia. His poems have been included in poetry anthologies and published in numerous journals and newspapers. O'Connor has received a number of grants for specific writing projects both in Australia and overseas. In 1999 he was appointed HC Coombs Creative Arts Fellow at the Australian National University. Also in that year, O'Connor was appointed as Olympic Games Poet for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Biographical Reference(s)
Mark O'Connor's personal website (http://www.olympicpoet.com/mark.htm)
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence, 1976-2002
The bulk of this series comprises correspondence relating to O'Connor's activities as a writer. There is correspondence with publishers regarding publication of his books, with editors of journals and newspapers regarding publication of his poems and articles, from organisations regarding his participation in literary events, from schools and other venues with invitations to speak/read poetry, applications for literary grants and arrangement of travel. There is also correspondence with colleagues, family and friends. The correspondence dating from 2000 to 2002 comprises mostly emails, which O'Connor has printed out and kept. A number relate to the development of Readright, an electronic system patented by O'Connor, which provides an alternative way to perceive and learn the English language.
Correspondents include Gregg Borschmann, Michael Crane, John Clanchy, Alan Gould and Noel Macainsh. There is also brief correspondence with Les Murray, R.A. Simpson, Anna Rutherford, Rosemary Dobson, Harry Heseltine, Elaine O'Connor, Christine Toole, Geoffrey Dutton, Vivian Smith, Judith Wright, David Yencken, Peter Alexander, Geraldine Moore, Ellen Frenkel, Michael Worby, Keith Harrison and Johnathon Persse.
Series 2. Reef poems, c1976 and 1984
This series comprises the final draft, reviews and cuttings relating to Reef poems, which was published by University of Queensland Press, Brisbane in 1976.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 3. The eating tree: poems, c1980
The original draft and cuttings relating to The eating tree: poems are contained in this series. The book was published by Angus & Robertson, Sydney in 1980.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 4. Australian styles: three lectures on verse and drama, c1982
This series comprises reviews of Modern Australian styles: three lectures on verse and drama, which was published by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (Monograph No. 8), Townsville in 1982.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 5. The fiesta of men, 1980-1984
Contained in this series are edited drafts and proofs, editorial notes and cuttings relating to The fiesta of men, published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, c1983
Comprises 8 files.
Series 6. Poetry in pictures: the Great Barrier Reef, c1985
The poetry of O'Connor and the photography of Neville Coleman are combined in Poetry in pictures: the Great Barrier Reef, which was published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney c1985. This series contains reviews of the book.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 7. Selected poems, c1986-1988
Selected poems, O'Connor's first book of collected verse, was published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney and the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, Townsville, c1986. Contained in this series are reviews (c1986) and a program and reviews of a 1988 DanceNorth production inspired by poems from the book.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 8. Poetry of the mountains, 1988-1989
Poetry of the mountains combines the poetry of O'Connor with the photography of Ian Brown. It was published by Second Back Row Press, Leura in 1988. Contained in this series are reviews of the book.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 9. Two centuries of Australian poetry, 1988-1999
O'Connor edited and wrote the introduction for Two centuries of Australian poetry, published in 1988 by Oxford University Press, Melbourne. This series comprises reviews (1989) and drafts of preface notes and a list of poems for the 2nd edition of the book, which was also published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne in 1996.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 10. Great forest, 1989
Contained in this series is a mockup with sketches and reviews of Great Forest, which combines the poetry of O'Connor with the photography of Cliff and Dawn Frith. It was published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney in1989.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 11. Ship trans-time: words for a museum, 1987-1989
O'Connor was appointed as the Museum of Victoria's Thomas Ramsay Science and Humanities Scholar in 1987, with a brief to write a book of poetry. He spent a year in the Museum, having full access to all its collections as well as to the information from its expeditions and fieldwork. His book of poetry, Ship trans-time: words for a museum, was the end result and was published by the Museum of Victoria, Melbourne in 1989. Contained in this series are newspaper cuttings relating to O'Connor's time in the Museum and a copy of the publication.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 12. Fire-stick farming: selected poems 1972-1990, 1989-1990
Fire-stick farming: selected poems 1972-1990 is O'Connor's second book of collected verse and was published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney in 1990. It was launched by Manning Clark in Canberra in September 1990. This series comprises successive drafts, some heavily edited, page proofs, a copy of Manning Clark's launch speech and reviews of the book.
Comprises 5 files.
Series 13. Tilting at snowgums: Australia's high country in poetry and photos, 1995-1996
This series contains papers relating to Tilting at snowgums: Australia's high country in poetry and photos. Comprising poetry by O'Connor and photographs by Klaus Hueneke, the book was published by Tabletop Press, Canberra in 1996. There is correspondence with Hueneke, a number of edited drafts and proof pages.
Comprises 10 files.
Series 14. Forever lands: Australia's Northern Territory in words and images, 1992-1997
Forever lands: Australia's Northern Territory in words and images, containing poems by O'Connor and images by John Kirk was published by Beyond Images, Melbourne in 2000. In this series are papers relating to the early selection of poems, together with edited drafts.
Comprises 3 files.
Series 15. The olive tree: collected poems 1972-2000, 2000
O'Connor's third book of selected verse, The olive tree: collected poems 1972-2000, was edited by John Leonard and published by Hale & Iremonger, Sydney in 2000. Contained in this series are a number of edited drafts.
Comprises 6 files.
Series 16. Poetry, 1981-2002
This series comprises a large number of drafts of O'Connor's poems, cuttings relating to his poetry and copies of his poems published in journals and newspapers. There are Russian translations of O'Connor's poems, drafts of groups of poems entitled 'Other Northern Territory poems' and 'Pilbara poems' and numerous drafts of a poem inspired by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 in the USA. There is also a small group of drafts of poems written by O'Connor in his capacity as Olympic Games Poet for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Series 17. Other writings by O'Connor, 1980-2002
The papers in this series comprise drafts and copies of other writings by O'Connor. Included are short stories, reviews, journal articles, lecture notes, seminar papers and addresses he has given. There are also papers relating to O'Connor's involvement in the rewriting of the book Protected area management: principles and practice, which was published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne in 2001.
Series 18. Miscellaneous notes
This series comprises notebooks and pages of miscellaneous notes relating to O'Connor's writing in general.
Comprises 2 files.
Series 19. Tape transcriptions, 1992-2002
It is O'Connor's practice to record thoughts and ideas for his writing onto tape, particularly when he is outdoors. Contained in this series are transcriptions of some of these tapes.
Series 20. Study guides
This series contains a small group of educational study guides relating to O'Connor's poetry.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 21. Writers/Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population, 1988-1993
In 1988 O'Connor joined with Judith Wright, Dorothy Green and Anne Edgeworth to form the environmental group Writers/Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population (WESP/AESP). O'Connor was the first Vice-President and co-ordinator. In 2000 the group was renamed Sustainable Population Australia (SPA). Since its formation, the movement has grown to encompass members and branches throughout Australia. Contained in this series are papers accumulated by O'Connor which relate to the movement and his involvement. O'Connor filed the papers alphabetically in a concertina file, and this arrangement has been retained.
Series 22. Photographs
This series contains portrait photographs of O'Connor, a photograph of a portrait of O'Connor painted by Jenni Mitchell and a photograph of O'Connor and Les Murray (1995).
Comprises 1 file.
Series 23. Biographical papers, 1968-1999
Contained in this series are papers of a biographical nature relating to O'Connor. They include cuttings of articles about him (1976-1989), several versions of his Curriculum Vitae, programs for events in which he has participated, typescripts of interviews with him, a copy of the transcript for his BA from the University of Melbourne (1968), a list of his literary activities and publications (1992) and a copy of a newsletter from his website (1999).
Comprises 5 files.
Series 24. Miscellaneous papers
A small group of miscellaneous papers is contained in this series. Included are cuttings, conference papers and a partial diary by O'Connor of an ANU Centre for Archaeological Research Expedition (CAR) to Mutawintji National Park in 2002 (written for a reunion).
Comprises 3 files.
Container List
| Series | File | Box |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-7 | 1 |
| 1 | 8-14 | 2 |
| 1 | 15-19 | 3 |
| 2 | 1-2 | 3 |
| 3 | 1-2 | 4 |
| 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | 1-4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5-8 | 5 |
| 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | 5 |
| 8 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | 1-2 | 6 |
| 10 | 1-2 | 6 |
| 11 | 1-2 | 6 |
| 12 | 1-2 | 6 |
| 12 | 3-5 | 7 |
| 13 | 1-6 | 7 |
| 13 | 7-10 | 8 |
| 14 | 1-3 | 8 |
| 15 | 1-6 | 9 |
| 16 | 1-8 | 10 |
| 17 | 1-7 | 11 |
| 17 | 8-9 | 12 |
| 18 | 1-2 | 12 |
| 19 | 1-3 | 12 |
| 20 | 1 | 13 |
| 21 | 1-7 | 13 |
| 21 | 8-15 | 14 |
| 21 | 16-18 | 15 |
| 22 | 1 | 15 |
| 23 | 1-3 | 15 |
| 23 | 4-5 | 16 |
| 24 | 1-3 | 16 |