Guide to the Papers of Alec Bolton

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MS 7426, MS Acc11.130

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
A. T. Bolton
Title
Papers of Alec Bolton
Date Range
1971-1997
Collection Number
MS 7426, MS Acc11.130
Extent
4.75 metres (13 boxes, 1 folio box, 2 map folios)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The papers relate to Alec Bolton's private press, the Brindabella Press, also known as Officina Brindabella.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn742340).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Alec Bolton, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

Four additions were received in September 1995, May 1997, February 1998 and April 1999. The addition of 25 February 1998 contains project files from the 1980's until 1996, and business files for the period 1981-97. A further addition of 20 April 1999 consists of financial records and two series of mailing lists.

Arrangement

Boxes 1-3, 5 and 2 folio items: These papers are arranged by the publication projects of the press which include the work of the following: James McAuley, Barbara Hanrahan, R. F Brissenden, Rosemary Dobson, Francis Webb, Douglas Stewart, Margaret Cohen, Christina Stead, Dorothy Auchterlonie (Green), David Campbell, Manning Clark, Harold Stewart, Philip Mead, J. R Rowland, A. D Hope, Philip Hodgins and Robin Wallace-Crabbe.

Box 4 consists of general correspondence (chronologically arranged) with distributors, printing suppliers, Australian authors and poets and other owners of private presses.

Finding Aid Source(s)

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 may be multiple Box 1s). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Biographical Note

Alec Bolton worked as an editor on the Australian Encyclopaedia during the 1950s. He also worked for Ure Smith and Angus and Robertson. For a period until 1971 he was Angus and Robertson's London editor. From 1971-1987 he was Director of Publications at the National Library and also ran his private press, the Brindabella Press, now Officina Brindabella. In the 1977-1978 Book Design Awards the Press was given the Award for the best designed book of fiction, poetry or belles letters for Time given: poems 1970-1976 by James McAuley. Bolton was married to the poet Rosemary Dobson. He died in 1996.

Item Descriptions

Class MS 7426. Original Consignment

Comprises papers relating to Bolton's private press, the Brindabella Press, also known as Officina Brindabella. The papers are arranged by the publication projects of the press which include the work of James McAuley, Barbara Hanrahan, R.F. Brissenden, Rosemary Dobson, Francis Webb, Douglas Stewart, Margaret Cohen, Christina Stead, Dorothy Auchterlonie (Green), David Campbell, Manning Clark, Harold Stewart, Philip Moad, J.R. Rowland, A.D. Hope and Robin Wallace-Crabbe. There is also general correspondence with distributors, printing suppliers, Australian authors and poets and other owners of private presses. Other papers include project files from the 1980s until 1996, business files for the period 1981-1997, financial records and two series of mailing lists. There is also a disclaimer and related papers regarding Lyn Hard's claim that Australia suite was the last publication of the Brindabella Press.

Contained in 13 boxes, 1 fol. box, 1 map folio.

Class [unnumbered]. Original Consignment

Series [unnumbered]. Poems
Time Given Poems 1970-76 by James McAuley (File 1) - Box 1
Some Poems of Shaw Neilson Selected and with wood engravings by Barbara Hanrahan (File 2-4) - Box 1
Elegies R. F Brissenden (See also Folio 2) (File 5-6) - Box 1
Three Poems on Water-Springs Rosemary Dobson (1973) (signed) (File 7) - Box 1
Knossos Rosemary Dobson (1971) (signed) (File 7) - Box 1
Five days old Francis Webb (File 8) - Box 1
Brindabella Douglas Stewart with drawing by M. Cohen (File 8) - Box 1
The Palace with Several Sides Christina Stead, 1986 (File 9) - Box 2
Something to Someone Dorothy Auchterlonie (Green), 1983 (File 10-11) - Box 2
Starting from Central Station A sequence of poems by David Campbell, 1973 (File 12) - Box 2
The Continuance of Poetry Twelve poems for David Campbell, Rosemary Dobson (1980) (proofs in folio run) (File 13-14) - Box 2
Times and Places J. R Rowland (1975) (proofs in folio run) (File 15) - Box 2
The Exiled Immortal Harold Stewart (1980) (proofs in folio run) (File 16-17) - Box 3
The Drifting Continent A. D Hope (1979) (proofs in folio run) (File 18-19) - Box 3
Greek Coins Rosemary Dobson, 1977 (File 20) - Box 3
David Campbell, 1915-1979: words spoken at his funeral by Manning Clark Manning Clark, 1979 (File 21) - Box 3
The Spring-Mire Philip Mead, 1982 (File 22-23) - Box 3
Brindabella Press: papers, including correspondence (early 1970s) (File 24-25) - Box 4
Brindabella Press: miscellaneous correspondence (late 1970s) (File 26-28) - Box 4
Brindabella Press: miscellaneous correspondence (early 1980s) (File 29-30) - Box 4

Class [unnumbered]. Consignment 12 September 1995

Series [unnumbered]. Proofs and Correspondence
The End of the Season proofs Philip Hodgins, 1993 (File 31) - Box 5
Philip Hodgins, correspondence 1990-94 (File 32) - Box 5
Iris in Her Garden proofs Barbara Hanrahan, 1991 (File 33) - Box 5
Iris in Her Garden proofs and galleys Barbara Hanrahan, 1991 (File 34) - Box 5
Barbara Hanrahan, correspondence and other papers relating to Twelve Linocuts and Iris in Her Garden, 1988-90 (File 35) - Box 5
Barbara Hanrahan, correspondence and other papers relating to Twelve Linocuts and Iris in Her Garden, 1990-94 (File 36) - Box 5

Class [unnumbered]. Consignment 26 May 1997

Series [unnumbered]. Photographs and Folios
Ten black and white photographs of the Brindabella Press, commissioned by the Manuscript Section as an example of a fine printing press (File 37) - Box 5
Proofs of: Times and Places; The Continuance of Poetry; The Exiled Immortal; The Spring-Mire; The Drifting Continent (File Folio 1) - FolioBox 1
Drawings by Robin Wallace-Crabbe for Elegies R.F. Brissenden, 1974 (File Folio 2) - Box TW Map Cabinet 40

Class [unnumbered]. Consignment 25 February 1998

Series [unnumbered]. Project Files
Correspondence for project proposal ‘Narcissus at Nowra’, 1980-87. Correspondents include Peter Porter, Arthur Boyd and A. D Hope (File 1) - Box 6
Correspondence for project proposal, ‘Heemskerck Shoals’, 1984-88. Correspondents include Geoffrey Farmer, Geoffrey Ingleton and R. D FitzGerald RESTRICTED (File 2) - Box 6
Correspondence with Barbara Hanrahan for various projects, 1984-91 (File 3) - Box 6
Correspondence with Jo Steele, mainly concerning sales of Barbara Hanrahan's portfolio (File 4) - Box 6
1987: Correspondence for Occasions of birds by Elizabeth Riddell (published May 1987), and with the illustrator Anne Wienholt, 1984-91 (File 5) - Box 6
1987: Correspondence for Rainforest by Judith Wright (published June 1987), and with the illustrator Rosalind Atkins, 1986-88 (File 6) - Box 6
1987: Correspondence for Smiling in English, smoking in French by Geoff Page (published December 1987), 1986-88. Includes proof copies (File 7) - Box 6
1988: Correspondence for Percival Serle, 1871 - 1951 by Geoffrey Serle (published 1988), 1986-93 (File 8) - Box 6
1988: Typescript of Percival Serle, 1871 - 1951, with A.T. Bolton's corrections (File 9) - Box 7
1988: Proof copies of Percival Serle, 1871 - 1951 (File 10-11) - Box 7
1989: Correspondence for The idyll wheel by Les Murray, 1986-87 (File 12) - Box 7
1989: Correspondence and proofs for The idyll wheel by Les Murray, 1988 (File 13) - Box 7
1989: Correspondence for The idyll wheel by Les Murray, 1989-94 (File 14) - Box 7
1990: Correspondence for Kenneth Slessor's Sea poems, 1989-92 (File 15) - Box 7
1990: Proof copies and notes for Kenneth Slessor's Sea poems (File 16) - Box 8
1990: Illustrations for Kenneth Slessor's Sea poems (File 17) - Box 8
1992: Correspondence and notes for Untold lives by Rosemary Dobson, including correspondence with the illustrator, Mike Hudson, 1991-92 (File 18) - Box 8
1992: Drafts and galley proofs for Untold lives by Rosemary Dobson (File 19) - Box 8
1993: Correspondence and proofs for The end of the season by Philip Hodgins, 1992-94 (File 20) - Box 8
1994: Correspondence for The sleepout by Les Murray, and with the illustrator Rosalind Atkins, 1993-94 (published as a Brindabella Broadside, April 1994). Includes material for The idyll wheel (File 21) - Box 8
1994: Correspondence for Granite country by John Rowland, 1993-94 (published November 1994) (File 22) - Box 8
1994: Manuscript of Granite country by John Rowland (File 23) - Box 8
1995: Correspondence for Wood engravings by Helen Ogilvie, 1992-93. Includes the transcript of an interview with Helen Ogilvie (File 24) - Box 9
1995: Correspondence for Wood engravings by Helen Ogilvie, 1992-95 (File 25) - Box 9
1995: Orders and personal correspondence for Wood engravings by Helen Ogilvie, 1992-95 (File 26) - Box 9
1995: orrespondence for The prisoners by Nan McDonald, 1995. Correspondents include Judith Wright (published October 1995) (File 27) - Box 9
1996: Correspondence for A torrent of words, Leon Gellert: a writer's life by Gavin Souter, 1994-96 (File 28) - Box 9
1996: Manuscript copy of A torrent of words, Leon Gellert: a writer's life (File 29) - Box 9
1996: Illustrations for A torrent of words, Leon Gellert: a writer's life (File 30) - Box 9
1996: Orders, including personal correspondence for A torrent of words, Leon Gellert: a writer's life (File 31) - Box 10
1996: Correspondence and notes for project proposal, ‘Australia suite’ by Lynn Hard, 1995-96 (not published) (See also Addition 16 July 1999) (File 32) - Box 10
1996: Correspondence for project proposal, ‘Four tales’ by David Malouf, 1986-96. Includes proof copies (not published) (File 33) - Box 10
1996: Correspondence for project proposal, ‘Terang revisited’ by Rosalind Atkins, 1992-96 (not published) (File 34) - Box 10
Series [unnumbered]. Business Files
Correspondence with authors, printers and friends, 1984-96. Authors include Robert Gray, Gwen Harwood, Barrie Reid and Richard Tipping (File 35) - Box 10
Correspondence with authors, printers and friends, 1985-96. Includes papers on the registration of the business name, Brindabella Press, in 1993 (File 36) - Box 10
Correspondence with printers, bookbinders and some general correspondence, 1983-96. Includes papers on the registration of the business name, Officina Brindabella, 1985 (File 37) - Box 10
Correspondence re printing, paper and related matters, 1989-96 (File 38) - Box 11
Correspondence re printing, paper and bookbinding for the press, 1993-96 (File 39) - Box 11
Correspondence with Gerald Fischer of Pump Press, 1981-94 (File 40) - Box 11
Correspondence with Bob Summers of Escutcheon Press, 1989-97 (File 41) - Box 11
Advertisements for Brindabella Letterpress Editions (File 42) - Box 11
Brochures for publications of Brindabella Press (Officina Brindabella) (File 43-44) - Box 11
Receipts and costings for Brindabella Press, 1985-96 (File 45) - Box 11

Class [unnumbered]. Consignment 20 April 1999

Series [unnumbered]. Mailing lists
Two series of card indexes, one in two card index boxes (A-L, M-Z) to 1992; the second covering the period c.1981-92 (File [unnumbered]) - Box 12-13
Series [unnumbered]. Financial records

These records contain 24 invoice books and 3 books of expenditure and receipts. The invoice books are arranged in three sequences. The first four books are arranged by date, from August 1984 to July 1987. From July 1987 the invoice books were classified alphabetically, A - N (excluding I). From April 1994 the books were classified according to a numerical system, 1401 - 1901. There is also one small book with ‘special’ sales.

In addition there are 3 books detailing expenditure and receipts for the Press, covering the years July 1984-88; July 1988-94 and July 1994-April 1997.

Class [unnumbered]. Consignment 16 July 1999

Series [unnumbered]. Papers Regarding Lynn Hard's Claim
Disclaimer and related papers regarding Lynn Hard's claim that Australia Suite was the last publication of the Brindabella Press (File 46) - Box 11

Class Acc11.130. Consignment Added 2011

Comprises 14 out-of-series prints of "The sleepout", a printmaking and letterpress collaboration between Les Murray, Rosalind Atkins and Bolton's Brindabella Press. Produced in two colours on Arches paper the series features a woodcut by Atkins with main body of text by Murray.

Contained in 1 map folio.


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