Guide to the Papers of John Tranter
MS 5715
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- John Tranter
- Title
- Papers of John Tranter
- Date Range
- 1964-1993
- Collection Number
- MS 5715
- Extent
- 4.59 metres (24 ms boxes + 2 archive boxes + 1 large folio box + 1 folder + 4 sound/av carriers + 1 digital carrier)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection comprises drafts, correspondence, and publishing material (such as galley proofs, typescripts, and publicity material) relating to research for and publication of a number of Tranter's works.
There are also drafts of various poems (1983-1993), including 'Ariadne on Lesbos', 'The Subtitles', 'Condensed Soup - Four Diversions and a Prose Poem on the Road to a Poetics',and 'Yoo-Hoo Fugaces'; a script of his play The Man on the Landing (1968); articles, interviews, and reviews; copies of various magazines that he has edited, including Poetry Australia, Free Grass and Transit; and papers relating to his role as poetry editor of TheBulletin.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1102656).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 John Tranter, National Library of Australia, MS 5715, [series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
Papers of John Tranter were first purchased by the Library in August 1977. Further instalments were purchased in December 1988 and February 1989, and donated under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme in May 1993, May 1994, and April 1995.
Arrangement
Tranter kept his papers in good order, and this arrangement has been maintained by the Library. The following list of series and additions to the collection is based on lists received from Tranter.
Separated Materials
A cassette tape of Tranter reading poems from Selected Poems and Under Berlin has been transferred to the Oral History collection.
Bibliography
Tranter's books of poetry include: Parallax (1970) Red Movie and Other Poems (1972) The Blast Area (1974) The Alphabet Murders (1975) Crying in Early Infancy: 100 sonnets (1977) Dazed in the Ladies Lounge (1979) Selected Poems (1982) Gloria (1986) Under Berlin: new poems (1988) The Floor of Heaven (1992) Days in the Capital (1992) At the Florida (1993) Gasoline Kisses (1997) Late Night Radio (1998) Different Hands (1998) He has also edited: The New Australian Poetry (1979) Tin Wash Dish: poems from today's Australians (1989) The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry (1991, with Philip Mead) Martin Johnston - Selected Poems and Prose (1993)
Biographical Note
John Tranter was born in Cooma, New South Wales, in 1943. He is married to the literary agent Lyn Tranter, and has two children. Tranter took his Bachelor of Arts in 1970, majoring in psychology and literature. His career has spanned printing, publishing, teaching and radio production. Tranter published Transit magazine in 1968-1969, worked in Singapore as the Asian editor for Angus & Robertson in 1971-1973, produced ABC Radio's national arts program Helicon in 1987-1988, and was poetry editor for TheBulletin 1990-1993. He is the founding editor and publisher of Jacket, a quarterly Internet literary magazine.
Tranter has been awarded a number of fellowships from the Literature Board of the Australia Council, and has been a visiting scholar at various institutions, including the Faculty of Arts at the Australian National University, and Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He won the Grace Leven Poetry Prize for Under Berlin in 1988, and the Melbourne Age Poetry Book of the Year award for At the Florida in 1993. A selection of Tranter's poems appears in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry (1988).
Item Descriptions
Class 1. Original consignment received 15th August 1977
Series [unnumbered]. Correspondence from writers, 1965-1977
Correspondence from writers (File 1) - Box 1
Including Robert Adamson, Bruce Beaver, Robert Bertholf, Walter Billeter, Earle Birney, John Blay, Michael Dransfield, Margaret Dresendorf, Laurie Duggan, Martin Duwell, John Forbes, Rodney Hall, and Alison Hill, 1965-1976
Correspondence from writers (File 2) - Box 1
Including Kris Hemensley, Jurgis Janavicius, Alex Josey, Carmel Kelly, Robert Kenny, Rudi Krausmann, Patricia Laird, Roger McDonald, and Jennifer Maiden, 1969-1976.
Class 2. Consignment received 19th December 1988
Series [unnumbered]. The New Australian Poetry (1979)
Drafts of an Australia Council grant application by Martin Duwell, as well as the response, and a preliminary list of poets and poems in order, 1978 (File 1) - Box 3
Publishing material including papers relating to the launch, drafts and typescripts of poems included in the anthology, and correspondence between Clive Faust and Tranter, 1978-1979 (File 2) - Box 3
Correspondence, mainly between Tranter, Clive Faust, Martin Duwell and various poets included in the anthology, 1977-1984 (File 3) - Box 3
Class 3. Consignment received 17th February 1989
Class 4. Consignment received 10th May 1993
Series [unnumbered]. The Floor of Heaven (1992)
Photocopy of the story 'George' by Christina Stead, featured in the Paris Review, Winter-Spring 1967 (File 1) - Box 6
Typescript of the original five poems, including 'Jealousy' (File 3) - Box 6
Author's annotations in red ink. 110 pages. Marked as 'Finalised Jan 92'.
Editor's galleys in Goudy Old Style typeface (the typeface was changed to Bembo at Tranter's suggestion) (File 7) - Box 7
'Gloria' (File 12) - Box 7
First main draft of 4-5 June 1986, 10 pages plus cover sheet. Author's minor annotations in various inks.
Draft retyped 27 July 1986, 11 pages plus cover sheet. Author's minor annotations in blue biro and brown ink.
A copy of Gloria, as published by Nicholas Pounder (1986); includes a signed copy of the pamphlet, 11 pages; unused covers (in the published edition covers were coloured by John Tranter and his daughter Kirsten using oil crayons), 4 pages; and photocopies of publishing correspondence, 8 pages.
Draft, subsequent to and much longer than the version published by Nicholas Pounder. 20 pages.
'Stella' (then titled 'Betty') (File 14) - Box 8
Draft marked as 'Second draft typed up Monday 26 January, 1987'. Extensive interpolations and annotations on various pages. 49 pages.
Draft, undated. In four parts, extensive rewritings. 47 pages.
Draft, dated 9 April 1988. In four parts, with annotations. 50 pages.
'Stella' (File 15) - Box 8
Draft marked as 'Revised at 20 June 1988' (original title 'Betty' is crossed out, with 'At Florenzini's' written in). Arranged in one part only. Annotations in pencil and brown ink. 30 pages.
Draft, undated. Arranged in one part only. Annotations in black ink and brown ink. 31 pages.
Photocopy of a clean typed version, undated, no annotations. Filed away October 1991, 31 pages.
'Breathless' (then titled 'Sandra') (File 16) - Box 8
Draft dated 8 December 1986. Author's annotations in various inks. 7 pages.
Draft dated 15 December 1986. Author's annotations in various inks. 9 pages.
Draft retyped 8 June 1989. Author's annotations in various inks. 9 pages.
Draft dated 2 July 1989. Author's annotations in brown ink. 21 pages.
'Breathless' (then titled 'Sandra') (File 17) - Box 8
Draft 8, dated 4 July 1989. Author's annotations in ink. 20 pages.
Drafts 10 and 11, dated 7 July 1989. Shows change from 'Sandra' to 'Breathless' in page headings, with author's annotations in brown ink. 23 pages.
Draft fragments, undated. Author's annotations in brown ink. 13 pages.
Draft fragment, sequential up to page 12, undated. Author's annotations in black ink. 12 pages.
Draft, undated, typed copy. Filed away 23 October 1991, 12 pages.
'Rain' (File 18) - Box 8
Draft (then titled 'Smith') dated 28 February 1990, author's annotations in red ink. 19 pages.
Draft (then with various other titles – 'Kathy1', 'Smith1a', 'Smith2', 'Kathy2'), dated 28 February 1990, author's annotations in blue biro.45 pages.
Series [unnumbered]. The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry (1991)
Various correspondence, mainly between Tranter and Philip Mead, 165 pages, 1990 to 1992 (File 22) - Box 9
Various correspondence, mainly between Tranter and Philip Mead, 80 pages, 1990-1992 (File 23) - Box 9
Miscellaneous editorial files, mainly early editorial correspondence, 80 pages, 1986-1980 (File 24) - Box 9
Miscellaneous editorial files, mainly early editorial correspondence, 65 pages, 1988-1990 (File 25) - Box 9
Permission forms for use of work by poets, typed out for Penguin by Philip Mead and covering letter from Mead to Tranter, dated 5 March 1991, 50 pages (File 31) - Box 10
Material relating to the launch of the anthology at the Sydney Festival Writers Week, January 1992, including flyers and advertisements, 40 pages (File 32) - Box 10
Series [unnumbered]. Martin Johnston – Selected Poems and Prose (1993)
Typescript, with detailed notes on yellow post-it stickers from Nadia Wheatley, used for checking proofs from the publisher, 300 pages (File 44_47) - Box 13
Photocopy of article 'Games With Infinity: the fictions of Jorge Luis Borges' from Cunning Exiles - Studies of Modern Prose Writers, edited by Don Anderson and Stephen Knight, 1974, pp. 36-61 (File 48) - Box 13
Photocopies of ten index cards from the Sydney Morning Herald's files, listing some 97 articles written by Martin Johnston from 1968 to 1975 (File 49) - Box 13
A bibliography of Martin Johnston's work, compiled by John Tranter, listing some 186 items (File 50) - Box 13
Typed transcript of Late Night Live, ABC Radio National, 26 June 1990 (File 51) - Box 14
Discussion concerning the late Martin Johnston, with Roseanne Bonney, Nadia Wheatley, Tranter, and compere Virginia Bell
Correspondence between Roseanne Bonney (Johnston) and John and Lyn Tranter, from when Roseanne and Martin Johnston were living in Europe, c.1988, 20 pages (File 52) - Box 14
Photocopies of three print interviews with Martin Johnston, together with photocopies of reviews of several of his published books, 50 pages (File 54) - Box 14
Typescript notes for the poem 'To the Innate Island', reduced and photocopied, 20 pages (File 56) - Box 14
Copy of Martin Johnston's article 'The Arts', featured in This is Australia, edited by Rudolph Brash (1975). Martin's contribution appears only in the first edition; in later editions the arts are covered by Don Dunstan, 14 pages (File 58) - Box 15
Photocopy of typescript of an interview with Martin Johnston by Hazel de Berg for the National Library of Australia, 23 June 1980 (File 59) - Box 15
Typescripts of interviews with or concerning Martin Johnston, including: (File 60) - Box 15
Interview with Martin Johnston by Margaret Jones, 'A chance to write - in a room of his own', Sydney Morning Herald, 11 August 1973.
Interview by Tranter on 10 January 1989, and broadcast on Helicon, ABC Radio National, 11 August 1991.
Part of an interview by Erica Travers, 17 June 1989.
Interview by Tranter, Glebe, 23 March 1990.
Interview with George Johnston (Martin Johnston's father) by Hazel de Berg, 13 March 1964, National Library of Australia, tape No 52.
Interview with Charmian Clift (Martin Johnston's mother) by Hazel de Berg, 8 June 1965, National Library of Australia, tape No 105.
Excerpts from the ABC Radio National program Late Night Live, 26 June 1990, concerning the late Martin Johnston; Roseanne Bonney, Nadia Wheatley, Tranter, and compere Virginia Bell.
Notes by Roseanne Bonney (Johnston) concerning Martin Johnston. 10 pages, dated c.1992 (File 61) - Box 15
Martin Johnston's curriculum vitae, with relevant notes and clippings, prepared by Tranter. (File 62) - Box 15
Notes on the search for the correct spelling of 'BarcaLounger', a chair mentioned in Martin Johnston's account of his early novel Mr Mammoth, 12 pages (File 65) - Box 15
Photocopy of galley proofs for Martin Johnston - Selected Poems and Prose (to page 97), with one page of editor's notes (File 66) - Box 15
Photocopy of cover, preliminary pages, photograph layout pages, and photographs, 47 pages (File 70) - Box 16
Photocopy of Martin Johnston's short story 'Heady' featured in Prometheus (1970). 'Heady' was later expanded into the novel Cicada Gambit (File 71) - Box 16
Three metal Type IV cassette tapes, no noise reduction: (Item 1_3) - Box 16
Both Sides: Martin Johnston interviewed by Tranter, 23 March 1990.
Side A - poet Laurie Duggan remembers Martin Johnston. Side B - Late Night Live segment concerning Martin Johnston, ABC Radio National, 26 June 1990. Compere Virginia Bell with Roseanne Bonney, Nadia Wheatley, and Tranter.
Both sides: program devoted to Martin Johnston on Helicon, ABC Radio National, Sunday 11 August 1991, recorded off air, fair quality.
Interview with Martin Johnston, Glebe, 23/03/1990, 23/03/1990 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014364) - Cassette-Box 647
1 item, TDK MA 110 Metal position, Compact cassette tapePiece 1
Interview with Martin Johnston, Helicon, 11/08/1991, 11/08/1991 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014365) - Cassette-Box 647
1 item, TDK MA 110 Metal position, Compact cassette tapePiece 2
Side A: John Tranter interview with Laurie Duggan re Martin Johnston 25/09/1991. Side B: ABC Radio 'Late Night Live' Virginia Bell, Roseanne Bruney?, John Tranter, Nadia Wheatley? re the late Martin Johnston 26/06/1990, 1990 and 1991 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014366) - Cassette-Box 647
1 item, TDK MA 110 Metal position, Compact cassette tapePiece 3
Cassette tape recording of The Ern Malley Story, a radio documentary by poet/radio producer John Thompson (d.1968) concerning the hoax poet 'Ern Malley' (Item 4) - Box 16
Ern Malley was a persona and a body of work concocted in 1943 by the young poets James McAuley and Harold Stewart, and published in Angry Penguins in 1944. The documentary was first broadcast on ABC radio in 1959. Recording features Max Harris, Geoffrey Dutton, Barrett Reid, Harold Stewart, James McAuley and others, and includes the reading of a letter from 'Ethel Malley'. (The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry is the first anthology to feature the complete poetic works of Ern Malley).
Class 5. Consignment received 27th May 1994
Series [unnumbered]. The Bulletin, September 1990 - June 1993
General correspondence, mainly with poets regarding their submissions to The Bulletin (File 19_25) - Box 19, 20
Includes Judith Wright, A. D. Hope, John Blight, Robert Adamson, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Andrea Sherwood, Lee Cataldi, John Ashbury, Alison Clark, Dana Gioia, Rhyll McMaster, Jennifer Maiden, Bruce Dawe, Rosemary Dobson, Bruce Beaver, Tom Shapcott, Les Murray, and many more. 566 pages, 1990-1993.
Series [unnumbered]. Drafts of poems
Drafts of poems, being roughly half the poetry work done by Tranter between the publication of Under Berlin (1988) and the publication of At The Florida (1993) (File 30_36) - Box 21
Some holograph pages, but most are typed, with revisions in ink or pencil. In most cases poems have undergone five to ten draft stages, with ink corrections and reprinting of each page.Each sheet bears a designation on the verso identifying it as by the author and giving the approximate date, 500 pages.
Class 5. Consignment received 11th April 1995
Series [unnumbered]. Drafts of poems
Drafts of poems, being the second half of poetry work done between the publication of Under Berlin (1988) and the publication of At The Florida (1993) (File 5_9) - Box 22, 23
Some holograph pages, but most pages are typed or computer printout, with revisions by hand. Two and a half pages of holograph critical notes by Lyn Tranter. In most cases poems have undergone numerous draft stages, with ink corrections and reprinting of each stage. Each sheet bears a designation on the verso identifying it as by the author and giving the approximate date.
John Tranter / New Poems 1986. Draft collection of 55 poems, most of which ended up in the collection Under Berlin (File 16) - Box 24
Includes the narrative poem 'Gloria' and half a dozen uncollected poems.90 pages.
John Tranter / Ten Haquiri, consisting of ten poems later published in Under Berlin, and presented here as an entry to the 1990 Michel Wesley Wright Prize in Poetry, 13 pages (File 17) - Box 24
John Tranter / A Selection of Recent Poems. An early form of the manuscript that became At The Florida. 95 pages, dated October 1991 (File 18) - Box 24
At the Florida editorial copy (original title Déjà vu crossed out) (File 19) - Box 25
A photocopy of the prose poem 'At Naxos' is tipped in opposite the typed version of the poem. 95 pages.
At the Florida cover designer's copy (original title Déjà vu crossed out) (File 20) - Box 25
A photocopy of a fax from Tranter to Mark Tremlett at DNA Graphics is tipped in on the first page. 95 pages.
Laser printout of author's computer diskette of poems in At The Florida, supplied by the University of Queensland Press, 44 pages, dated approximately 1991 (File 23) - Box 25
Five sequential drafts of the four-page poem 'Ariadne on Lesbos'. Many and substantial holograph alterations, 19 pages, dated from December 1991 to 28 January 1992 (File 24) - Box 25
Five sequential drafts of poetics essay 'Condensed Soup - Four Diversions and a Prose Poem on the Road to a Poetics' (for Meanjin magazine) (File 25) - Box 25
Extensive holograph alterations throughout. 40 pages, dated from March to April 1988.
Photocopies of poem 'Lufthansa', and copies of the article announcing the poem's winning of The Australian's 20th birthday poetry prize, 3 pages, dated 1984 (File 26) - Box 25
Drafts of 'Yoo-Hoo Fugaces' (File 27) - Box 26
Some seventeen fugitive early poems and prose-poems, put together for John Kinsella's Salt magazine, on the understanding that the material would be used. The title is a joke at the expense of Horace's poem 'Alas! Fleeting…' (Eheufugaces). 102 pages, dated late 1991.