Guide to the Papers of Roger McDonald
MS 5612
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- McDonald, Roger, 1941-
- Title
- Papers of Roger McDonald
- Date Range
- 1954 - 2009
- Collection Number
- MS 5612
- Extent
- 11.55 metres (1 poster tube + 1 medium phase box + 67 ms boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The papers in MS 5612 document Roger McDonald's activities as an editor, poet and novelist and his relations with publishers, film producers, the ABC and literary editors. The bulk of the collection comprises papers relating to most of McDonald's published works, dating from his first publication in 1968 up until 1994. Papers include research material, edited drafts, correspondence with editors and publishers and reviews he has written. They provide a good insight into the development of his published writings. During the course of his career, McDonald has corresponded with many other writers, including Murray Bail, Bruce Beaver, Bruce Dawe, Geoffrey Dutton, Gwen Harwood, Shirley Hazzard, David Malouf, Les Murray, Thomas Shapcott, R.A. Simpson and Judith Wright. Also included in the collection is research material for a number of McDonald's literary projects, business papers, papers relating to his work as literary editor for University of Queensland Press, photographs and newspaper clippings (67 boxes, 1 phase box, 1 fol. roll).
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-vn2623912).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Roger McDonald, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Provenance Note
The papers of Roger McDonald have been purchased by the Library in a number of instalments during the period October 1976 to May 1996. Further papers were added in 2011.
Finding Aid Source
Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.
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.
Biographical Note
Roger Hugh McDonald is an author, poet, screenplay writer, literary editor and literary reviewer. Born in Young, New South Wales on 23 June 1941, he married the poet Rhyll McMaster in 1967 and they have three children.
McDonald was educated at Temora and Bourke primary schools and The Scots College, Bellevue Hill, Sydney. He completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Diploma of Education at Sydney University in 1962. In 1970, McDonald completed a course in 'Indonesian Elementary Special' from the University of Queensland, Institute of Modern Languages.
After completing his degree, McDonald worked as a teacher with the New South Wales Education Department, before joining the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), where he trained as a producer and director of schools' radio and television. He went on to direct television, including studio, outside broadcast and film programmes with ABC Education in Hobart and Brisbane.
McDonald joined the University of Queensland Press in Brisbane in 1969 as poetry editor, a position he held until 1976. During his time there he was responsible for the Paperback Poets series. In 1977 he moved to Canberra in order take up writing full-time, but continued as part-time poetry editor until the early 1980s.
McDonald moved to a farm near Braidwood, NSW in 1981.
McDonald's first book, Citizens of mist - a collection of his poetry - was published in 1968. Since then, he has gone on to publish a number of works in a variety of genres including both fiction and non-fiction, poetry and short stories, as well as writing scripts for television mini-series and documentaries. Although the genres are varied, his works reflect his love of Australia, depicting as they do various aspects of Australian life, culture and history.
During the course of his career, McDonald has received a number of grants and fellowships from the Literature Board of the Australia Council. These have helped him to pursue his career as a full-time writer.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 5612. Original Consignments
Series 1. Correspondence, 1963-92
During the course of his career, McDonald has corresponded with many other writers. The correspondents in this series include Murray Bail, Bruce Beaver, Gary Catalano, Iain Crichton Smith, Bruce Dawe, Geoffrey Dutton, Jamie Grant, Gwen Harwood, Shirley Hazzard, David Malouf, Les Murray, Geoff Page, Peter Porter, Judith Rodriguez, Thomas Shapcott, R.A. Simpson, Ray Smith, Mark Strand, Andrew Taylor, Robin Thurston and Judith Wright. There are also a number of letters from McDonald's mother, the historian Lorna McDonald.
Also included is correspondence with Frank Thompson, manager and publisher of University of Queensland Press in 1958-83, who was an influential figure in McDonald's life.
Indexed personal and business correspondence, 1965-76 (File 1-4)
Correspondents include Murray Bail, Bruce Beaver, Bruce Dawe, Gwen Harwood, David Malouf, Les Murray, Geoff Page, Peter Porter, Thomas Shapcott, John Tranter, Robin Thurston and Judith Wright. (McDonald's index to this correspondence is found in File 1)
Correspondence, 1968-71 (File 5)
Correspondents include John Gleeson (ABC), Neil McPherson, Frank Thompson (UQP) and Michael Wilding (University of Sydney).
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1973-92 (File 8)
Correspondents include Geoffrey Dutton, Geoff Page, Judith Rodriguez and Thomas Shapcott.
Series 1. Business papers, 1964-92
This series comprises general business papers, mostly relating to McDonald's work as an author. They include correspondence with publishers and with the Literature Board of the Australia Council relating to applications for various grants and diaries and notes kept while on official overseas visits.
General correspondence, including with University of Queensland Press and the National Book Council, 1990-91 (File 4)
General correspondence, including with the Australia Council, Rosemary Creswell, Fremantle Arts Centre, Geelong College, Pan MacMillan Publishing, University of New South Wales and University of Queensland Press, 1975-92 (File 5)
Correspondence with William Collins (Fontana) regarding paperback editions of 1915: a novel and Melba, the novel, 1983-87 (File 9)
Correspondence with Faber and Faber regarding the UK publication of 1915: a novel and Slipstream, 1982-84 (File 10)
Correspondence, papers and diary relating to McDonald's 1982 visit to Canada as winner of the Australia/Canada award, 1981-85 (File 11-12)
Series 3. Editorial work and reader's reports, 1967-93
McDonald was poetry editor for University of Queensland Press from 1969 to 1976 while living in Brisbane, and part-time poetry editor from 1977 to the early 1980s while living in Canberra. The bulk of this series comprises editorial correspondence and reader's reports relating to McDonald's work for University of Queensland Press. There are also reader's reports written by McDonald after this time, for Allen and Unwin.
Reader's reports and correspondence with University of Queensland Press and ANU Press, 1977-84 (File 1)
Included are reports on books by Jessica Anderson, Julian Croft, T.M. Couper and Philip Martin.
Correspondence, 1969-78 (File 2)
Included is correspondence relating to the start of the University of Queensland Press paperback poets anthology series, part one of which was edited by McDonald. There is also correspondence with Tom Keneally, Richard Packer, Grace Perry and Richard Walsh.
Correspondence with prison poet Robin Thurston (Believed dangerous, University of Queensland Press, 1975), 1976 (File 3)
'Enid' was a prisons visitor who took up Thurston's case. Correspondence and editing material relating to John Manifold's poetry collection, 1976-77
Correspondence with Bruce Beaver regarding the editing of his book of prose As it was (University of Queensland Press, 1979), 1977-79 (File 4)
Papers, 1976-79, regarding the editing of a Peter Kocan manuscript which eventually became The Treatment (Angus and Robertson, 1980) and The cure (Angus and Robertson, 1983)
Correspondence with Tom Shapcott regarding the editing of his book Selected poems, 1956-88 (University of Queensland Press, 1989), 1977-85 (File 5-6)
Correspondence with Rodney Hall regarding editing of his book Black Bagatelles (University of Queensland Press, 1978), 1977-78 (File 7)
Correspondence regarding the editing of a collection of Michael Dransfield's work, 1977-78
Correspondence and notes relating to Geoffrey Lehmann's writing, 1977 (File 8)
Correspondence regarding a proposed book by Judith Rodriguez, 1977
Correspondence regarding editing of work by Robert Gray, 1977-78 (File 10)
Correspondence, 1977-78, with Kevin Gilbert regarding editing of his book People are legends: aboriginal poems (University of Queensland Press, 1978)
Correspondence and papers relating to Seven Russian poets (University of Queensland Press, 1979) edited by Rosemary Dobson and David Campbell, 1979 (File 11)
Reader's report on an unpublished book by Maurilia Meehan entitled 'Shincracker', 1987
Series 4. Citizens of mist, 1967
McDonald's first book of poetry, Citizens of mist, was published by University of Queensland Press, Brisbane in 1968. This series consists of drafts of poems for the book.
Series 5. 1915: a novel, 1975-88
McDonald's first book of prose, a semi-historical work entitled 1915: a novel, was published by University of Queensland Press, Brisbane in 1979. The book received much acclaim, winning the The Age Book of the Year Award and the South Australian Government Biennial Literature Prize. This series comprises manuscripts and typescripts, research notes, correspondence, publicity material and photographs relating to the book.
McDonald scripted a television mini-series based on the book for ABC-TV, which was released in 1982. Also included in this series is correspondence relating to the development of the series, contracts and a copy of the script.
Manuscripts and typescripts (File 1-27)
Included are bound notebooks, an early draft (100,000 words), 2nd draft (150,000 words), corrected typescript and 'final' typescript with revisions.
Correspondence relating to 1915: a novel, 1975-79 (File 38-39)
Included are research enquiries, correspondence with publishers, launch arrangements and letters of congratulation about the book.
Corrected manuscripts of two short stories which were later incorporated into the book: 'The scaffold', published in the National Times, and 'Pigs run', published in Makar: magazine of new writing, 1976 (File 40-42)
Also included is correspondence with the National Times
Letters of congratulation about the book, advertisements for the television series and photographs from the launch of the book in Canberra, 24 April 1979 (File 53)
Correspondence, mostly with University of Queensland Press, regarding royalty payments, reprints of the book and the paperback edition of the book, 1980-88 (File 61)
Papers relating to an earlier abortive attempt to make a television series of the book, 1980 (File 62-64)
They include correspondence with various film companies, research notes, typescripts and a copy of the series treatment by McDonald and Ian Hart.
Papers relating to the ABC-TV mini-series, 1980-88 (File 64-66)
They include a copy of the contract and correspondence with the ABC, the Australian Film Commission, University of Queensland Press and William Collins.
Miscellaneous correspondence. Correspondents include George Braziller (US publisher), Geoffrey Dutton and University of Queensland Press, 1978-83 (File 68)
Series 6. Slipstream, 1981-89
McDonald's novel about aviation, Slipstream, was published by University of Queensland Press, Brisbane in 1982. The papers in this series include notebooks, typescripts, correspondence, reviews and photographs relating to the novel.
6 volumes of notebooks (File 1-2)
Notebook A contains background notes; B-C the first draft; D-E a redraft; F completely redrafted version.
Correspondence, 1982-84 (File 14)
Correspondents include Elizabeth Riddell and University of New South Wales.
Editorial correspondence and contractual dealings with University of Queensland Press, 1981-86 (File 17-18)
Correspondence with Little, Brown and Company regarding the American edition of the novel, 1982-83 (File 19)
Series 7. Yacker 2: Australian writers talk about their work, 1986
An interview with McDonald was included in Candida Baker's book Yacker 2: Australian writers talk about their work, published by Pan MacMillan, Sydney in 1987. This series contains transcripts, with deletions and alterations, of McDonald's interview for the book.
Comprises 1 file.
Series 8. Mike Willesee's Australians, 1986-89
In 1986 McDonald was approached by Roadshow, Coote and Carroll to write one of the episodes for a thirteen-part drama anthology series for the Australian Bicentennial, called Michael Willesee's Australians. 'Simpson and his donkey' was McDonald's contribution to the series. McDonald went on to compile a book of the series entitled Michael Willesee's Australians, which was published by Bantam Books, Sydney in 1988. This series comprises research notes, typescripts of the screenplay and correspondence, mainly with Roadshow, Coote and Carroll regarding McDonald's involvement in the project.
Series 9. Melba, 1983-88
With Sue Masters, McDonald co-wrote the script for a 4-part television mini-series on the life of Nellie Melba entitled Melba. The series, which screened in 1988, was based on the book Melba: a biography, written by John Hetherington. It was directed by Rodney Fisher and produced by Errol Sullivan for CB Films. Following on from his research for the television mini-series, McDonald also wrote a book entitled Melba, the novel, which was published by William Collins, Sydney in 1988.
The papers in this series include research notes, drafts of the script and the book, newspaper clippings and correspondence with CB Films and publishers. Also included is correspondence with Pamela Vestey, Nellie Melba's granddaughter.
1 audio tape of Rodney Fisher's comments for part 4 of the mini-series. 1 copy of the book Melba, the novel (File 58)
Series 10. Rough wallaby, 1989-1992
McDonald's novel about horse racing, Rough wallaby, was published by Bantam Books, Sydney in 1989. In 1990 he wrote a screenplay adaptation of the novel for Southern Star Sullivan Films, but the film was never produced. This series consists of drafts of the novel, research papers and correspondence with publishers and with the Canadian author Jack Hodgins.
Series 11. Gone bush, 1988-90
McDonald edited a collection of stories by twelve Australian authors, who were asked to write on a part of Australia that held a special meaning for them. Entitled Gone bush: Australian writers take a walk, the book was published by Bantam Books, Sydney in 1990. Apart from McDonald, contributors to the book were Jack Davis, Geoffrey Dutton, Helen Garner, Elizabeth Jolley, Frank Moorhouse, Les Murray, Mudrooroo Narogin, Bruce Pascoe, Barney Roberts, Sue Woolfe and Judith Wright.
The papers in this series include correspondence with contributing authors, drafts of some contributions and reviews of the book.
Series 12. Shearers' motel, 1989-93
In 1989 McDonald worked as a shearers' cook for a team of New Zealand shearers, travelling through New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. In 1990, he undertook a six-week outback trip with Canadian author Jack Hodgins, during which he interviewed many of the people he had worked with the previous year. McDonald recounted his experiences as a shearers' cook in his book Shearers' motel, published by Pan Macmillan, Sydney in 1992. This book was awarded the CUB Banjo Award for non-fiction in 1993. McDonald also wrote the television adaptation of the book for ABC-TV, entitled Cross turning over, which was screened in 1996.
The papers in this series include research material, notebooks, transcripts of interviews, audio tapes of the book, reviews, photographs and correspondence, mainly with Hodgins.
Jack Hodgins published a non-fiction book based on his trip with McDonald. Entitled Over forty in Broken Hill, it was published by University of Queensland Press in 1992. Included in this series are reviews and a copy of the book.
Typescript with alterations made after editorial discussions with Jane Palfreyman (Pan MacMillan), 1992 (File 7)
Research material, comprising maps, newspaper articles and two notebooks of McDonald's 1990 trip with Jack Hodgins (File 12)
Photographs taken by McDonald while working as a shearers' cook (File 13-14)
Also included are publicity photographs of McDonald taken by Virginia Wallace-Crabbe.
Publicity material (File 15)
Included are a booklet of extracts from the book, a pre-publication copy of the book and a poster.
Typescript of an article McDonald wrote about New Zealand shearers for The Independent Monthly, November 1990 (File 16)
This article was used as the basis for 'A Kiwi shed', an ABC-TV documentary scripted by McDonald for the program A big country in 1991. Extracts from the article were also incorporated into the book.
Transcript of a 1990 interview McDonald recorded with Paul and Marlene Rowe (Davo and Barbara in the book), 1990 (File 17)
Transcript of a 1991 interview McDonald recorded with Susie McIlveen, elements of whose character are incorporated into the cook Hazel in the book (File 18)
Miscellaneous material (File 19)
Included are McDonald's Australian Workers' Union membership ticket, Pastoral Award pay rates, a notebook of recipes and menus and a notebook containing interviews, some of which were incorporated into the book.
Correspondence, 1990-93 (File 20)
Correspondents include Jack Hodgins, Robin Lucas, the National Book Council and Tim Winton.
Typescript of a chapter entitled 'Good Places', which was dropped from early drafts of the book (File 21)
Typescript of a talk given by McDonald at New Edition Bookshop in 1992 entitled 'The story of Rosie', 1992 (File 23)
A sequel to events in the book, it relates to the death of Erina Scia Scia, who was killed by her boyfriend in 1992. The character 'Rosie' in the book was based in Erina.
A copy of the speech by Eric Rolls at the launch of the book at the Brisbane Warana Writers' Festival., 1992 (File 24)
Reviews of the book
Series 13. Water man, 1989-93
A 1989 article in The New Yorker about water divining was the inspiration for McDonald's novel Water Man, which was published by Picador, Sydney in 1993.This series consists mainly of drafts of the novel.
Series 14. Australia's flying doctors: the Royal Flying Doctor service of Australia, 1993-94
In 1993 McDonald undertook several trips with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. These trips were the basis for his book Australia's flying doctors: the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, which was published by Pan Macmillan, Sydney in 1994. McDonald wrote the text, and the photographs were taken by Richard Woldendorp.
This small series consists of journals kept by McDonald of his trips, a journal article by McDonald about the Royal Flying Doctors and correspondence with the Royal Flying Doctor Service regarding a reader's complaint about the book.
Series 15. Men love sex, 1995
McDonald contributed a story entitled 'Surrender' for a collection of short stories entitled Men love sex, edited by Alan Close and published by Vintage, Sydney in 1995. This series consists of typescripts of McDonald's contribution to the collection (1 file).
Series 16. To the islands, 1990
In 1990 McDonald prepared a film treatment of Randolph Stow's 1958 book To the islands for Titus Films. This series comprises research notes, typescript of McDonald's film treatment and correspondence relating to the project.
Series 17. Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1967-73
In the 1960s McDonald joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), where he trained as a producer and director of schools' radio and television. He directed television, including studio, outside broadcast and film programs for ABC Education.
This series consists of drafts of scripts written by McDonald and correspondence relating to his work for the ABC.
Series 18. Drafts of McDonald's poetry, 1961-78
Poetry was the genre in which McDonald first established a reputation for himself, with his first two published books being collections of poetry. As well as this, he has had a number of his poems published in newspapers and journals and was poetry editor for University of Queensland Press for a number of years.
This series contains a large collection of drafts of poems by McDonald, mostly undated and many never published.
Series 19. Drafts of McDonald's unpublished books and short stories, 1982-94
This series consists of drafts of unpublished books and short stories by McDonald.
Series 20. Other writings by McDonald, 1962-94
As well as his published books, McDonald has had poetry, literary reviews and short stories published in a number of newspapers, journals and magazines. He has also written several screenplays and has appeared as a guest speaker at literary events.
This series comprises drafts of McDonald's writings and copies of newspapers, journals and magazines containing items written by him.
Drafts of reviews by McDonald and correspondence with literary editors of The Age, Allen & Unwin, Australian Book Review, Makar Press and The National Times, 1976-85 (File 2)
McDonald's proposal for the remake of the movie of Jon Cleary's book The Sundowners, prepared for CB Films, 1987 (File 3)
Series 21. Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings, 1963-1975
McDonald compiled a collection of newspaper and magazine items, mostly works of other poets, which are contained in this series.
Series 22. Personal papers, 1954-88
Personal papers and memorabilia accumulated by McDonald are contained in this series. They include McDonald's maternal family tree, school and university papers, travel diaries and newspaper clippings.
Series 23. Miscellaneous photographs, 1970s-1990
This series comprises mainly black and white publicity photographs of McDonald.
Series 24. Miscellaneous papers, 1956-93
A miscellaneous collection of papers accumulated by McDonald are contained in this series.
Papers from the 1973 Hari Sastra Literature Congress in Sabah, which McDonald attended as an official Australian representative, 1973 (File 1-2)
Miscellaneous papers (File 3)
Included are copies of various journals (1956-69), papers from a conference on Teaching of Australian Literature (1971) and entry forms for various literary competitions.