Peter Blazey papers, 1930s-1997, with papers of the Blazey family, 1930s-1992

MLMSS 9016/1-29
MLOH 717

fonds

1930s-1997

Textual Records, Nonmusical Sound Recordings

43630

4.13 metres of textual material (29 boxes)
18 sound cassettes

Peter Blazey (1939-1997), author, journalist and gay rights activist established a significant reputation as a chronicler of Australian mainstream politics and life on the fringe. He was born in Melbourne where his father, Alan, was the founder of the agricultural supply company Hortico. In the 1970s and 1980s he worked for The Nation Review, The National Times, The Bulletin and the ABC. Later he wrote for the gay and lesbian magazine Outrage. He served as press secretary to two Federal Minsters, Andrew Peacock and Dr Moss Cass and adviser to NSW Liberal leader, Rosemary Foot. As a gay activist he stood unsuccessfully as the Gay Solidarity Group candidate in the 1978 by-election for the NSW seat of Earlwood and he went on to champion alternative therapy for people suffering from aids. In 1986 he went to the United States where he wrote celebrity journalism out of Hollywood. His books include: Bolte: A Political Biography (1972); The Political Dice Men (1974); The Secret Life of Jeffrey Kennett Aged 45 1/4 (1993) Love Cries (1995) and Screw Loose: an uncalled-for memoir (1997).

References:
ML 97/499
Obituary in Sydney Morning Herald, 2/8/1997

LITERARY PAPERS
BOX 1: 'Screw Loose drafts'
'2nd draft and creative editing'.
'Publishers Note' - later version with corrections and legal advice re individuals in the manuscript.
Final chapters and pictures section.
Computer printout with further manuscript corrections, 4 Feb. 1997.
Copy of editorial report on manuscript by Carl Harrison-Ford, 5 April 1995.

BOX 2: 'Screw Loose (Schedule, Promotions, Oddments)'
Includes:
'Early Draft Lyn Tranter corrections' - letter from Nickki Christer with edited computer printout of the book, 1995-1996.
'Early Draft Sacha Soldatow's editing'.
'Correspondence, Promos, Reviews etc' - early drafts and correspondence with Lyn Tranter, Hilary McPhee, Nikki Christer and others, 1992-1997.
'Virginia Fraser editorial suggestions 95-96' - letters from Virginia Fraser, notes, newscuttings re Manning Clark's History of Australia: The Musical, 1960-1996.
'Research Oddments' - chapter drafts, notes and letters from Clive Blazey, Jonathan King and others, 198--1996..
'Good Weekend SMH promo etc' - articles by and about Blazey and related correspondence, 1994-1995.

BOX 3: 'Love Cries manuscripts (PB editor), Jeff Kennett Diary stuff (PB editor/author)'
'Love Cries' - correspondence, edited computer printout of the book and Blazey's copy of the book, reviews and some drafts, 1990-1996.
'Jeff Kennett Secret Diary' - correspondence, reviews and a copy of the book, 1992-1994.

BOX 4
'PB Articles 80's' - photocopies and newscuttings of Blazey's articles and reviews mainly for The Australian, The Bulletin and The National Times, with some literary drafts, 197- -1986.
'Yarranabbe Media, Kakadu, P. Blazey Producer' - records of Program Development, a division of Agnate Holdings Pty Ltd with related correspondence, film contracts, 1981-1987.

BOX 5
'Peacock Ministerial Speeches' - mainly copies of speeches by Minister for the Army, Andrew Peacock, 1968-1971.
'Bolte Last Interview, PB's articles on death' - papers re Blazey's biography of Sir Henry Bolte, 196--1996.
'Bolte Scrapbook' - newscuttings re Sir Henry Bolte, 1968-1969.

BOX 6X
Collection of newscuttings re Sir Henry Bolte, 1970s-1980s.
Scrapbook of Bla'Go Se', 1966, 1978-83.
Scrapbook mainly of Blazey's articles, personal mentions, newscuttings, photographs and letters received, 1977-1979.

BOX 7: 'Friends in Arts & Journalism'
'Olde New York1978-80'- mainly notes and drafts of story/articles re Blazey's stay in New York, 1978-1980.
'Chelsea Hotel' - research material re the Chelsea Hotel, New York, 1991-1994
'Portsea/Harold Holt chapter stuff' - photocopied newscuttings including Blazey's memoir published in Outrage, 1967-1968, 1999?
William Yang - printed material and photocopies, 198--1996.
'C. Pearl' - mainly photocopies of legal papers re estate of Cyril Pearl and related correspondence, 1974-1990.
'Keith Looby' - research material including draft of Blazey's article 'Keith Looby: The Backyard Looking Prophet', 1984-1995.
'Paul Taylor' - letters from Paul Taylor, copies of his journalism and Blazeys notes and drafts re Taylor, 1969-1992.
'Juan Davila', mainly articles re Davila, 1980s.
'P. Steedman Aide Memoire' - notes re Peter Steedman, 1980s.
'Goddard, Martyn' [Editor Outrage Magazine] - mainly re AZT in HIV therapy, 1993-199.
'Ade Rawlins' - manuscript notes, 1992-
'Bea Faust' - letters from Beatrice Faust and articles and essays by Faust, 1982-1996.

BOX 8: 'Pan Macmillan - commissions, Peter Blazey fiction & Early Gay Anthology - editing'
'Richard Neville' - includes typed transcript of Blazey's talk with Richard Neville and Julia Clarke re their book 'The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj', 1980-82, 1995, undated.
'Sam Aboud' - manuscript and shorthand notes, 1994
'Germaine Greer' - correspondence of Program Development with Greer and her literary agent re film based on her book 'Matriarchs', 1982.
'Judith Hall' - correspondence, 1964-69, 1995-96.
'Brenton Heath-Kerr'- Blazey's obituary of Heath-Kerr, performance artist and costume designer, 1994-1995.
'Chris Pearl' - correspondence with Pearl, letters from Cyril Pearl, and Blazey's draft excerpt from 'Screw Loose', 1975-1996.
'Book Commissions Pan Macmillan' - papers mainly re revised edition of Blazey's biography of Sir Henry Bolte; 'The Secret Diary of Jeffrey Kennett Aged 45 1/4'; correspondence with Australian Literary Management and Pan Macmillan, 1988-1995.
'Peter Blazey fiction (inc. poetry & plays)'- manuscripts mainly of short stories, and notes, 197-.
'Blazey Gay Reader - Top of the Bunch' - Blazey's requests for contributions to anthology of gay fiction in 1970s, 197-
'Blazey Gay Reader - Consider', literary submissions, 1977-1978

BOX 9
‘Oddments 80’s’ – including notes, interviews and literary drafts & photographs of Nymboida trip, 1970s-1980s.
‘PB Articles 1990s’- drafts and photocopies and newscutting s of articles, 1991-1994.
Photocopies of Blazey’s ‘Intelligencer’ column & articles for ‘The Bulletin’, and corrected typescript of article, ‘Hawke, the Greenies and the New Right’, 1985-1986.
‘Queer Lit’ – papers re 2nd Queer Lit Conference, Sydney, 26-27 August 1995.
‘Outing’ – papers re outing and Father James Murray’s article, 1995.
‘Aide Memoire 1960> Previous’- newscuttings, 1968-1969.
‘Aide Memoire 1990s’ – including articles, newscuttings, speech,interviews, 1990s.


AIDS AND GAY MATERIAL
BOX 10: 'Gay Arts, Hollywood'
'Gay Arts' - theatre programs, conference papers, book and art exhibition catalogues, 1992-1995
'Hollywood Homophobia' - American media coverage, 1992-1995.
'Hollywood Chapter'- research material re the Hollywood district of Whitley Heights, 1988.

BOX 11: 'AIDS alternative complement stuff'
'D. Cooper [Prof. David Cooper] Mainstream View', 1992-1995.
'Alternative View HIV/AIDS' - papers re alternative HIV health care including correspondence with John Lauritsen and medical researchers, 1995-1996.
'DNCB & Fred Shaw'- papers re anti-HIV/AIDS therapy, 1994-1996.
'AIDS & AZT vs HIV' - correspondence , medical literature and journal articles, 1993-1995.
'Recent HIV HEAL [Health Education AIDS Liaison] Dissent' - correspondence, medical literature and journal articles, 1995-1996..
'Natural Therapy PD [Peter de] Ruyter & Stuart B[ennett])', 1993-1996,

BOX 12: 'Gay 70's & Aide Memoirs'
'1978' - mainly re gay culture and Nimbin with notes and first press release for 1978 Mardi Gras, 1972-1978.
'Gay 78' - articles, newscuttings, 1978-1995.
'70's memorabilia, Telex & stuff' - mainly papers re Blazey's canditature for the Gay Liberation at the 1970 Earlwood by-election, 197--1994.
'70's - Aide M' - notebook, 197-
'70's Gay Lib stuff' - mainly printed material, 1967-1979.
'Richie Finger [alias Cindy Pastel drag queen], Mood Memoire for 80's' - mainly notes and transcripts of interviews with Finger, 1980-1981.

BOX 13
'Gay Media, 90's letters, Mentions etc, columns' - issues of gay newspaper 'Capital Q'; literary drafts and copies of letters to newspapers, 1995-1996.
'HIV/AIDS Info' - mainly printed material including issues of 'With Compliments: The Official Newsletter of the HIV Therapies Collective', 1994-96; and medical/AIDS literature, 1991-1996.


CORRESPONDENCE
Box 14 RESTRICTED
‘Correspondence 70s -’.
‘Correspondence 1980s’, being letters 1984-1990.

BOX 15 RESTRICTED
'Correspondence 1992-[1996]'.
'Last Months 96-97 correspondence’.


DIARIES & NOTEBOOKS
BOX 16
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks 1969-1976

BOX 17
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks, 1976

BOX 18
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks, 1970s-1977

BOX 19
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks, 1977-1980, 1990

BOX 20
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks , 1980-1982

BOX 21
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks , 1983-1987

BOX 22 RESTRICTED
Mainly diaries, appointment diaries, notebooks, 1988-1997


PERSONAL PAPERS
BOX 23
Blazey’s passports, 1967-1991
‘PB/School & Uni’ being miscellaneous papers including birth certificate, BA degree, academic record and notes re secondary school, 1939-.
‘Taylor Square (Private Clinic]/ Details/ Medical Details’ being papers mainly re medical and income tax matters, ca. 1991-1996.


BLAZEY FAMILY PAPERS
BOX 24
Miscellaneous papers of Lorna Blazey, including letters received, programs, newscuttings, and certificates, 1931-1970.
Lorna Blazey – address book and ‘History of Visual Arts’.
Diary of Lorna Bradford Smith (Blazey), 1936.
‘Maternal, Paternal’ – Blazey family letters, 1937-1970.
Letters of Alan Blazey in New Guinea to his family, 1944.
‘War Letters’ – letters from Alan Blazey to Lorna Blazey, 1944-1945.
‘Wartime Letters – letters from Alan Blazey, mainly in America, to Lorna Blazey, 1944-1945
‘Slouch Hat – ACB – War Letters’ – corrected carbon typescript of ‘Slouch Hat at Whitehall’, a collection of wartime letters from Alan Blazey to his wife, Lorna (with some original letters); a crayon sketch of an AIF officer by F. Edwards; and a letter from the Australian Army Soldier Career Management Agency, 31 August 1992 re Alan Blazey’s war service, 1940s, 1992, undated.
Papers re the war service of Alan Blazey, 1942-1950.

BOX 25
Papers of Alan and Lorna Blazey, being letters received from their sons, Antony and Clive, from Geelong Grammar School; with an studio photograph of one son as a baby, 1952-1957.
‘Lorna Blazey Short Stories’, being literary papers including course notes and bulletins from Mayne School of Authorship, 1945-1945.
‘Lorna’s Litteraire’, being short stories and radio plays by Lorna Blazey, 1945-1946.
‘Lorna’s First Draft’, 1945?
‘LJB Plays’, 1945-1946.
‘Brad – File’, being personal, financial and legal papers of Alan and Lorna Blazey re i.a. estate of Alan Clements Blazey, 1925-1991.
Clive Blazey’s papers re the Blazey genealogy, 1987.


‘HORTICO, ROSEMARY FOOT, WARREN ANDERSON’
BOX 26 RESTRICTED
Papers re Hortico Ltd and related letters from Virginia Fraser, 1980-1996.
‘R.I.F. Revisions Aug. 96’, being papers re Rosemary Foot for ‘Screw Losse’ chapter, 198—1996.
‘Rosemary Foot’, 1982-1993.
‘Anderson Hermitage’, including copies of Foot’s speech in the Legislative Assembly, 23 Feb. 1984, and statutory declaration by Peter Blazey, June 1984, 1984.
‘Warren Anderson’, 1983-1985.


‘BOOKS ANNOTATED BY BLAZEY AND/OR INSCRIBED BY AUTHORS’
BOX 27
Denis Altman, ‘Coming Out in the Seventies’ (1979) and ‘Homosexual’ (1971); Peter de Ruyter, ‘Living with HIV/AIDS’ (1996); Denis Gallagher, ‘Love and Death: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose’ (1987); Robin Gerster & Jan Bassett, ‘Seizures of Youth: The Sixties and Australia (1991); Jonathan King, ‘Waltzing Materialism’ (1978); Philip Knightley, ‘The First Casualty’ (1978); Jill Neville. ‘Swimming the Channel’ (1993); Barry Pearce, Jeffrey Smart, ‘Paintings and Studies 1988-1995’ (1995); Sasha Soldatow, ‘Mayakovsky in Bondi (1993) and ‘Private – Do Not Open’ (1987); Garry Wotherspoon, City of the Plain: History of a Gay Sub-Culture’ (1991)

BOX 28
Vincent Buckley, ‘Cutting Green Hay’ (1983); T.S. Eliot, ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ and ‘Four Quartets; John Lauritsen, ‘The Aids War’ (1993); Peter Blazey, ‘Bolte’ (1972); Barry Cohen, ‘Life with Gough (1996); Tim Herbert, ‘Angel Tails (1992); Palinurus, ‘The Unquiet Grave’ (1973).


COMPUTER DISKETTES
BOX 29 RESTRICTED
‘Screw Loose’ drafts , 1995-1997 (14 disks).
Diaries and Journalism, drafts, notes and correspondence re ‘The Secret Life of Jeffrey Kennett Aged 45 ¼’, 1993-1997 (10 disks).


SOUND RECORDINGS
MLOH 717 RESTRICTED
Audio cassettes (18), 1975-1995:
Interview with Adrian Rawlins, Apr. 1995
Interview with Edmund White, Feb. 1995
Interview with Chris Wallace-Crabbe, ca. 1995
Interview with Jan Sharp, 22 Oct. 1994 or 1995
Interview with Christopher Pearl? and Philip Noyce; Interview with Jan Sharp
Interview with Danny Aboud Aug. 1994 (2 tapes)
Interview with Michael Keating, 8 May 1994
Interview with Christopher Pearl, 30 Dec. 1993
Interview with Christopher Pearl, 10 Nov. 1993?; Radio National program, ‘In the Box Seat: Frederico Garcia Lorca; Interview with William Yang, ca. 1993
Interview with Stephen Dunne, ca. 1993
Interview with Liz Fell, ca. 1993
Interview with David Marr, July? 1991
Peter Blazey’s monologue, reporting from Los Angeles-Hollywood, May 1990
Interview with Vicki Viidikas, 22 July 1984 (2 tapes)
Gough Whitlam addressing the National Press Club, Canberra, Dec. 1975
Interview with Philip Knightly 12 April 1994

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 9016/Boxes 14, 15, 22, 26, 29 and MLOH 717 Restriction to be reviewed in 2020

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