Guide to the Papers of Keith Shadwick
MS 10105
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: ©2009.
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Shadwick, Keith, 1951-2008
- Title
- Papers of Keith Shadwick
- Date Range
- 1966-2008 (bulk 1970s)
- Collection Number
- MS 10105
- Extent
- 3.85 metres (7 boxes + 1 folio box + 7 security binders + 2 elephant folios)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
- Sponsor
- This finding aid is published with the assistance of the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust.
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers relate to the life and career of musician, poet, writer and broadcaster Keith Shadwick. The collection primarily dates from the 1970s when Shadwick was active in Australian literary and musical circles. Includes correspondence; drafts of poetry; papers relating to the Poet's Union; literary and music journals including many small press poetry magazines, some containing poetry or articles by Shadwick; monographs including by Shadwick or with annotations to him; a small number of organisational files for music events; and posters advertising performances of jazz and rock bands at Sydney and Melbourne venues in the 1970s.
Access
The collection is part available for research (Series 2-9); part requires permission for research (series 1). Not for loan. Correspondence (Series 1) is restricted for 20 years until 2028.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Keith Shadwick, National Library of Australia, MS 10105, [series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was transferred by Keith Shadwick from his London home in one instalment in July 2008 (received August 2008) and purchased from his family in January 2009.
Related Material
The National Library of Australia's Manuscript collection includes papers by and relating to Shadwick's friends and contemporaries in the 1970s, particularly poets. These include Philip Roberts, John Jenkins, Tom Thompson, Vicki Viidikas, Larry Buttrose, Chris Mansell and Robert Adamson. Details and further collections may be identified by searching the Library's catalogue.
The Library's general collections include Shadwick's books, which can be identified by searching the catalogue.
Arrangement
The collection has largely been maintained in its order as transferred by Keith Shadwick. The arrangement at the time of transfer appears to reflect his original order in creating and housing the papers. Shadwick's original groupings of material, such as bundles of correspondence or poetry have been retained, as have original titles of files where they exist.
Some material has been brought together in a series, such as the poetry journals which were originally dispersed across several boxes, and monographs and journals have been separated, while there was originally some overlap. The series arrangement applied to the collection has made a distinction between poetry and music-related papers, as was present in the original arrangement. The poetry series have been placed early in the arrangement as they contain more original material.
Separated Material
The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) holds Keith Shadwick's solo album Free Time, a radio program possibly presented by him, and various collection items relating to his bands, Uncle Bob's Band and The Bleeding Hearts. Details may be found by searching the NFSA online catalogue.
Biographical Note
A musician, poet, writer and broadcaster, Keith Shadwick was born in London in 1951. His family moved to Wollongong, New South Wales in 1961. Shadwick completed his school education there, before studying English literature at the University of Sydney. He was active in Australian literary and musical circles through the 1970s, publishing poetry in various magazines, including Dodo, which he co-edited.
Shadwick was also a saxophonist and played in a variety of bands including Sun, The Bleeding Hearts, Uncle Bob's Band, and the High Rise Bombers.
He moved to London in 1978, where he continued to work in the music industy, including as editor of Music Trades International magazine; classical music buyer for WH Smith; head of marketing for RCA Classics; general manager for Koch International; editor, writer and reviewer for jazz magazines and books; radio presenter for Classic FM; biographer of Bill Evans (2002), Jimi Hendrix (2003) and Led Zeppelin (2005); and as a musician, with his solo album 'Free Time' released in 2008. He also continued to write and publish poetry.
Shadwick died from mesothelioma in July 2008, survived by his wife Alison and their two sons.
Biographical Reference(s)
Armiger, Martin, with Jon Newey. 'Poet and writer revealed music's hidden delights', The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 October 2008, p 14.
Newey, John. 'Keith Shadwick: Critic, broadcaster and musician', The Independent, 9 August 2008.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence (bulk 1970s), 1966-2008
This series comprises incoming letters written to Shadwick, with no drafts or copies of outgoing letters. The letters are housed in seven security binders. A list of correspondents is available upon request. This series requires permission for research until 2028. (7 files)
Series 2. Poems, 1969-c.2008 (bulk 1970s)
This series mostly comprises annotated typescript drafts of Shadwick's poems, late 1960s-1980s. It also includes photocopies made c.2008 of handwritten draft poems by Shadwick 1967-1978, and a list of draft poems also made c.2008. Files have been arranged chronologically. Original file titles have been retained.
File 8 comprises annotated typescript drafts of poems attributed to Eddie (Eduarde) Batarde, a collaborative writing name for Shadwick with Tom Thompson. (15 files + 2 oversized files)
Series 4. Dodo magazine, 1975-1977
Keith Shadwick co-founded and co-edited (with Tom Thompson, Elizabeth Butel and Michael Witts) the Sydney-based Dodo poetry magazine. This series comprises multiple copies of eight editions of the magazine: No. 1, October 1975; No. 2, 1976; Vol 1, No. 3, 1976 (Anzac Dodo); Vol 1, No. 4; Vol 2, No. 1; Vol 2, Nos. 2-3, 1977; Vol 2, No. 4, October 1977 (South Coast Dodo); Vol 3, No. 1, December 1977. Each edition is housed in a separate bag. (8 bags)
Series 5. Poetry and literary journals, 1963-c.1978
Issues of mostly Australian small press poetry, literary and university magazines, some with contributions by Shadwick. Some are annotated. Titles include Another one for Mary, Aspect, Australasian small press review, The Australian author, Australian literary studies, Cheeries & Quartermasters, Dharma, Compass, Contempa, Etymspheres, Foundation and Reality, Image, Honi soit, Image, Inprint, Italian quarterly, Khasmik, Landfall, Leatherjacket, Makar, Meanjin, Meuse, New poetry, Overland, Passing show, Poetry, Poetry Australia, Predator of the marvelous, Quadrant, Real poetry, Riverrun, Scopp, Rigmarole, Togatus, The Unshaven and Your friendly fascist. The magazines are loose within three boxes, arranged alphabetically, with the exception of Togatus, which is oversized and housed in a separate file 1. (1 oversized file + 3 boxes)
Series 6. Poetry and literature monographs, c.1968-c.1982
Series of monographs, mostly small press paperbacks by Australian poets. Authors include Eric Beach, Alban Berg, Larry Buttrose, Michael Dransfield, Isabelle Eberhardt, Helen Garner, Robert Harris, John Jenkins, Nigel Roberts, Philip Roberts, Tom Thompson, John Tranter and Vicki Viidikas. Many contain inscriptions to Shadwick by the author. The publications are loose within two boxes, arranged alphabetically by author or title. (2 boxes)
Series 7. Music and popular culture publications, 1972-c.2000
Contains a variety of music and popular culture magazines and tabloids, mostly 1970s and with contributions by Shadwick. Includes Bottom line, Planet weekly music paper, Roadrunner, Sultry city and Street fever. Also includes Tower jazz guide, written by Shadwick c.2000, and annotated copy of the Gramophone jazz good CD guide, edited by Shadwick 1995. (1 file + 1 oversized file)
Series 8. Papers relating to music events and promotion, 1967-c.1979
(2 files)
Series 9. Posters, 1970s
Approximately 35 posters, most 60 x 40 centimetres, others smaller, all originally rolled, with some duplicates. Most advertise band performances, many for Uncle Bob's Band, at universities, suburban hotels in Sydney and Melbourne, and the Yellow House in Macleay Street, Sydney. Some posters are Tin Sheds-style screenprints. Also includes newspaper poster reporting Richard Nixon's resignation. The posters are housed in two elephant folio packets.
Container List
| Series | File/Item | Box |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Security binders 1-7 | |
| 2 | 1-15 | 1 |
| 2 | 16-17 | 2 (folio box) |
| 3 | 1-2 | 3 |
| 4 | 1-7 | 3 |
| 4 | 8 | 4 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 (folio box) |
| 5 | loose | 4-6 |
| 6 | loose | 7-8 |
| 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | 2 | 2 (folio box) |
| 8 | 1-2 | 8 |
| 9 | elephant folios 1-2 | PW map drawer 61 |