Hal Porter papers, 1924-1975

MLMSS 794
SAFE/MLMSS 794 (Safe 3/83)

series

1924-1975

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Drawings

413126

Microfilm : Personal letters received, 1947-1964); CY 3541 (Letters received from Xavier Herbert: selected pages from MLMSS 794/51-54 & 61-62)

2 metres of textual material (64 vols, 2 boxes) - typescript, printed
Clippings
Drawings

Hal Porter was born in Melbourne. He grew up in Bairnsdale in Gippsland where his family moved when he was six. During his life he had numerous occupations including teacher, librarian, actor, cook and hospital orderly. He became a full time writer in 1961. He was both prolific and versatile, producing three novels, four plays, three collections of poetry, seven collections of short stories and an autobiography. He is probably best known for The Watcher on the Cast-iron Balcony, the first volume of his autobiography. He also wrote The Actors: an Image of Modern Japan, and a history of Bairnsdale. Porter won many literary awards and was made AM in 1982.

1. Literary manuscripts, 1924-1974
Includes manuscripts for Stars of Australian Stage and Screen (published 1965), The Actors (1968), The Right Thing (1971), and the three volumes of Hal Porter's autobiography: The Watcher on the Cast-iron Balcony (1963), The Paper Chase (1966) and The Extra (1975). Also included are manuscripts for plays, short stories and poetry, and notebooks, 1924-1963

2. Papers concerning publication and production, 1952-1974. Includes letters from publishers and a small number of letters by Hal Porter
(Selected letters have been removed from MLMSS 794/40-42 and 47 and transferred to SAFE/MLMSS 794)

3. Personal letters received, 1962-1973. Correspondents include Beatrice Davis, Rosemary Dobson, Thelma Forshaw, Barc Jamieson, Ian Mudie and Katharine Susannah Prichard
(Selected letters have been removed from MLMSS 794/51-64 and transferred to SAFE/MLMSS 794)

4. Miscellaneous material, 1926-1972. Includes two letters by Norman Lindsay and sketchbook containing sketches by Hal Porter

5. Newscuttings, 1945-1974. Includes writings by Hal Porter, reviews of Porter's work and newscuttings about Porter

Partly restricted: Applies to selected letters in MLMSS 794/40-42, 47, 51-64 which have been transferred to SAFE/MLMSS 794), Expiry Date: 2010-01-01

Click here to see extended guide to this collection in Guide to Australian Literary Manuscripts - onesearch.library.uwa.edu.au/view/delivery/61UWA_INST/12364186720002101