MS 8340
Papers of Gus O'Donnell



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1937-89
  • 5.32m (38 Boxes)
  • Available for reference

The O'Donnell Papers were donated to the Library by Mrs Deidre O'Donnell under the Tax Incentives for the Arts Scheme in 1991.

Two folders of correspondence (Series 2) were donated outright in 2002 by O'Donnell's sister, Wendy Hucker.

The collection includes correspondence, photographs, drafts, typescripts, notes, reports, minutes, cuttings and printed material.

Biographical Note Gus O'Donnell was a Patrol Officer (1937-42), an Officer with ANGAU (1942-45) and Assistant District Officer (1947-52) in New Guinea. He returned to Sydney in 1952.

O'Donnell was an active member of the Australian Labor Party. He contested two East Sydney pre-selection ballots, but was not successful. He was President of the Woollahra branch of the Australian Labor Party and a member of the New Guinea Committee and Sub-Committee of the New South Wales Branch.

O'Donnell was Chairman of the Australian Society of Authors (1966-85) and the Australian Copyright Council (1968-85). He was the author of a number of publications, including a novel about New Guinea entitled Time expired. He owned a small publishing company, Leksand Press, in the 1970's and he was also involved in other business ventures.

Series List

  1. Family correspondence, 1937-49
  2. General correspondence, 1936-80
  3. Business and financial papers, 1952-63
  4. Published writing: Time expired, 1951-87
  5. Unpublished writings: 'Essay on government'. 1957-74
  6. Unpublished writings: 'The sorcerer', 1972-74
  7. Unpublished miscellaneous writings
  8. New Guinea: Patrol Officer, 1937-42
  9. Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU), 1942-89
  10. Australian School of Pacific Administration, 1945-47
  11. New Guinea: Assistant District Officer, 1947-52
  12. New Guinea material, 1943-66
  13. Australian Labor Party, 1953-87
  14. Summer School of the Australian Institute of Political Science, 1958
  15. New Guinea photographs,
  16. Australian Copyright Council, 1975-87
  17. Australian Society of Authors, 1979-84
  18. Leksand Press, 1967-97
  19. Court case
  20. Miscellaneous, 1914-75

Series Description

Series 1 Family correspondence, 1937-49

This series contains correspondence between O'Donnell, his first wife Leonie and his mother. O'Donnell's letters were written while he was in New Guinea as a Patrol Officer (1937-42) and later as an Assistant District Officer (1947-52).

Folders                                                                           
1-9            Letters to Leonie, 1941-44                                         
10-18          Letters to Leonie, 1944-45                                         
19-20          Letters to Leonie, 1945 and n.d.                                   
21-23          Letters from Leonie, 1941-46                                       
24-25          Letters to mother, 1937                                            
26-29          Family letters, 1937-49                                            

Series 2 General correspondence, 1936-80

This series contains miscellaneous correspondence. Other correspondence relating to specific subjects or activities can be found under the relevant series.

Folders                                                                           
1              Correspondence with Arthur Calwell and Gough Whitlam,              
               1960-66                                                            
2-3            Correspondence with Rex Collin, Ian Wills, and                     
               David Stephen, 1968-72,                                            
4              Letters and poems from Vinod Seth, 1976-77                         
5-6            Miscellaneous correspondence, 1936-66                              
7-11           Letters to the editor and newspaper clippings, 1954-89,            
12             Correspondence re Time expired and radio promotion, 1967           
13             Correspondence re CLF Fellowship and applications, 1966-69         
14             Correspondence concerning publications of maps in                  
               Surprise Atlas, 1979-80                                            
15-20          Miscellaneous correspondence, including various job                
               applications, 1947-80 
21-22										Letters relating to Papual New Guinea and to O'Donnell's book Time Expired                                             

Series 3 Business and financial papers, 1952-63

This series contains papers relating to O'Donnell's business ventures as well as miscellaneous financial papers.

Folders                                                                           
1              Patent and advertising of "Silver Wool" 1952                       
2              Mining - Application for weekend-lease, 1957                       
3              Accounts from Australian Gas Light Company, 1963                   
                                                                                  

Series 4 Published writings: Time expired, 1951-67

Folders                                                                           
1-29           Correspondence, notes, drafts and typescripts, 1951                
30             Time expired 1 volume  published 1967                              
31             Time expired entry for the Herald Literary Compettion, 1956        

Series 5 Unpublished Writings: Essay on Government, 1957-74

Folders                                                                           
1-9            Correspondence notes and various drafts, 1957-74                   

Series 6 Unpublished Writings: 'The sorcerer', 1972-74

Folders                                                                           
1-9            Correspondence, drafts, and typescripts, 1972-74                   

Series 7 Unpublished miscellaneous writings,

Folders                                                                           
1              'ANGAU and after', typescript n.d.                                 
2-3            'The chronicle of an amateur soldier': draft and typescripts       
4              'Incident in Madang'                                               
5              'Johnny had a dream'                                               
6              'Lament for Yaluana'                                               
7-9            'The quiet revolution'                                             
10             'The sinner'                                                       
11             'The sinner in the square'                                         
12             'Sydney 1952'                                                      
13-16          'Tales of New Guinea'                                              
17             'The whistle'                                                      
18             'A garden named peace'                                             
19-20          'Connon the King: a play: Typescript and research material, 1987   
21-22          'The Prime Minister went for lunch': a play, 1987                  
23-27          Miscellaneous writings n.d.                                        

Series 8 New Guinea: Patrol Officer, 1937-42

O'Donnell was a Patrol Officer in the Territory of New Guinea (Madang) during this period. This series includes correspondence, a diary and copies of his lecture notes.

Folders                                                                           
1              Correspondence, 1940-41                                            
2-4            Lectures                                                           
5              Roneoed material                                                   
6              Diary, 1941                                                        

Series 9 Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU), 1942-45

O'Donnell was working for ANGAU for three years, and maintained a continuing interest in the organisation.

Folders                                                                           
1              Typescript: recollection of the war, 1956                          
2              Report on the activities of ANGAU, 1942-45                         
3              Correspondence and diary, Jan- March 1944-45                       
4-8            Survey of Native Labour 1944-45                                    
9              Public Service of the Provisional Administration of Papua          
               New Guinea, 946-47                                                 
10             7 Notebooks, 1943-44                                               
11             Second Waigami Seminar, 1968                                       
12             Correspondence with W.R. Lancaster of Australian War               
               Memorial, 1973                                                     
13             Correspondence, notes, circulars also Council meetings on          
               New Guinea Affairs, 1964-89                                        

Series 10 Australian School of Pacific Administration, 1945-47

O'Donnell was appointed a lecturer at the Australian School of Pacific Administration in Sydney on his return to Australia after the War.

Folders                                                                           
1-9            Lecture notes and some correspondence, 1946-47                     

Series 11 New Guinea: Assistant District Officer, 1947-52

O'Donnell returned to New Guinea in 1947 to take up his appointment as the Assistant District Officer in Port Moresby..

Folders                                                                           
1              Correspondence mostly about seniority list and position, 1947      
2              Copies of O'Donnell's letters and letters received.                
               Correspondent include A.A. Roberts, 1948.                          
3-5            Special reports to District Officer, 1948-50                       
6              Kokopo, New Britain,1950,. File relating to O'Donnell's request    
               for disciplinary action against Sub-Inspector William Albert Dix.  
7              O'Donnells paper to defend two labourers (Darus and Semi)          
               who worked for Mr B.B. Perriman of Malapan.                        
8              Miscellaneous notes and reports, 1947-48                           
9              Resignation from the Public Service of the Territory of Papua      
               New Guinea,1952                                                    

Series 12 New Guinea material, 1943-66

This series contains general papers relating to New Guinea, which remained one of O'Donnell's life-long interests.

Folders                                                                           
1              Ted Fulton's report of the Gurnera area, 1943                      
2              Notes on native employment, 1952                                   
3              Tax revolt - articles and newspaper cuttings, 1959-62              
4              Notes for an address to the New Guinea Society of                  
               Canberra, 1959                                                     
5              "Constitutional change in Papua and New Guinea" by                 
               J. Lynch, 1960                                                     
6              Correspondence,  notes and newspaper cuttings concerning           
               ritual killing near Madang, 1961                                   
7              Correspondence and papers of the International Commission of       
               Jurists Conference, 1965                                           
8              Correspondence and article on World Bank Report, 1965              
9              Background paper for Papua New Guinea Education                    
               Seminar, 1966                                                      
10             Miscellaneous correspondence  and newspaper clipping, 1935-58      

Series13 Australian Labor Party, 1953-87

O'Donnell was a member of the A.L.P. He was a member of the New Guinea Committee and Sub-Committee. He contested two East Sydney pre-selection ballots in the 1960's, but he was unsuccesful. On behalf of the A.L.P. he conducted various courses, wrote reports and gave public lectures on New Guinea. This series contains papers pertaining to these activities.

Folders                                                                           
1-2            New Guinea Sub-Committee: correspondence, 1953-54                  
3              New Guinea Sub-Committee: interim Report, 1954                     
4              New Guinea Sub-Committee: minutes, 1954                            
5              New Guinea Sub Committee: annual conference, 1954                  
6              New Guinea Committee: minutes, 1955                                
7              New Guinea minutes and reports, 1959-60                            
8              New Guinea Committee, 1959                                         
9              New Guinea Committee reports, 1960                                 
10             New Guinea Committee meetings, 1960                                
11-13          General correspondence, 1961-62                                    
14-15          Australian Labor Praty Conference, 1960-61                         
16             General minutes and reports, 1959-60                               
17             Australian Labor Party  New Guinea Hansard speeches                
18             Bligh State election, 1962                                         
19             East Sydney-Wentworth, 1962                                        
20-21          East Sydney, pre-selection 1963-65                                 
23-24          Federal election, 1961, 1966, 1987                                 
25             Waverly by-election, 1953                                          
26-27          Waverly Branch correspondence and leaflets, 1963                   
28             Woollahra Branch correspondence, 1963                              
29             Australian Labor Party campain against privatisation, 1987         
30             Broadsheets                                                        
31             Centennial Park, 1963-64                                           
32             Industrial relations in Papua New Guinea, 1963                     
33             New Guinea 1961                                                    
34             New Guinea loyalty oath, 1968                                      
35             Rabaul riot, 1961                                                  
36             Vietnam, 1966                                                      
37             Trade Unions in Papua New Guinea, 1964                             
38             West New Guinea, 1961-62                                           
39             New Guinea cuttings, 1961                                          
40             Miscellaneous pamphlets and reports, 1954-59                       

Series 14 Australian Institute of Political Science, 1958.

O'Donnell was invited to speak on 'Australia in New Guinea' at the 24th Summer School of the Australian Institute of Political Science in Canberra in 1958.

Folders

1-2 24th Summer school, 1958

3 Copy of: Statistical summary, ten years comparison

Department of Territories Canberra, 1967

Series 15 New Guinea Photographs

Folders                                                                           
1-2            Snapshots of Papua Guinea natives and landscapes                   
3              Photographs, largely from Dr H.I. Hogbin                           

Series 16 Australian Copyright Council, 1975-87

O'Donnell was involved in the formation of the Australian Copyright Council in 1968. He was the first elected Chairman and held the position until he retired in 1985.

Folders                                                                           
1-2            Correspondence and notes, 1975-77                                  
3              Protection of Aboriginal folklores, 1976-78                        
4-5            Copyright Agency Ltd.: correspondence and notes, 1981-82           
6              General correspondence, 1982-83                                    
7              List of authors, 1981                                              
8-10           Correspondence concerning O'Donnell's resignation, 1982-84         
11             Circulars and newsletters, 1981-87                                 

Series 17 Australian Society of Authors, 1979-83

O'Donnell was the chairman of the Australian Society of Authors.

Folders                                                                           
1-4            Correspondence, 1979-83                                            
5              Memorandum and notes                                               
6-7            Minutes of meetings, 1983-84                                       
8-9            Committee meetings, 1983-84                                        

Series 18 Leksand Press, 1967-87

The Leksand Press was O'Donnell's small publishing business which operated in the early 1970's.

Folder                                                                            
1              Correspondence mostly re Time expired, 1967-72                     
2              Correspondence re 'The best of Handy Andy', 1968-69                
3              'The soccer book' manuscript and some correspondence, 1968-71      
4              Correspondence with B.K. Sudham, 1970-76,                          
5              Correspondence with Esselte Stadium, 1984                          
6-9            Correspondence, manuscript and printed material of Prajub          
               Thirabutana, 1970-87                                               
10-11          'Coral fish': manuscript, notebook and printed material            
12             'Little things': manuscript by P.Thirabutana                       
13-14          Miscellaneous manuscripts, proofs and some correspondence,         
               1974                                                               
15             Accounts and receipts, 1973-77                                     

Series 19 Court Case - Election boundaries

Folders                                                                           
1-4            This series includes notes, cuttings and correspondence dating     
               from 1965-73 concerning O'Donnell's strong interest in the         
               Australian Constitution and in particular the subject of           
               parliamentary representation. His concern with electoral           
               boundaries and gerrymandering led him to take legal action         
               against the Commonwealth Electoral Officer in 1968                 

Series 20 Miscellaneous, 1914-75

3 Notebooks of R.A.B. Vance -and one leather bag with maps of France and Belgium, 1915-17 (maps in folio run).

Printed material and newspapers, 1970-75

Box List

Series         Box           Folders                    
1              1             1-9                        
1              2             10-18                      
1              3             19-25                      
1              4             26-29                      
2              4             1-4                        
2              5             5-12                       
2              6             13-20 
2														37												21-22                     
3              7             1-3                        
4              7             1-6                        
4              8             7-8                        
4              9             9-11                       
4              10            12-14                      
4              11            15-21                      
4              12            22-24                      
4              13            25-27                      
4              14            28-31                      
5              15            1-7                        
6              16            1-7                        
6              17            8-9                        
7              17            1-6                        
7              18            7-14                       
7              19            15-21                      
7              20            22-28                      
8              21            1-6                        
9              21            1-2                        
9              22            3-10                       
9              23            11-13                      
10             23            1-6                        
10             24            7-9                        
11             24            1-5                        
11             25            6-9                        
12             25            1-5                        
12             26            6-13                       
13             27            1-10                       
13             28            11-19                      
13             29            20-28                      
13             30            29-36                      

Box List

Series         Box           Folders                                 
                                                                     
13             31            37-40                                   
14             31            1-3                                     
15             32            1-3                                     
16             33            5-11                                    
17             34            1-9                                     
18             35            1-9                                     
18             36            10-14                                   
19             37            1-4                                     
20             37            1-3                                     
20             38            printed materal and 1 folio item