Paul Cropper papers related to Australian animal folklore, ca. 1970-ca. 2000

MLMSS 10018

fonds

ca. 1970-ca. 2000

9588739

1.6 metres of textual material (10 boxes)

Paul Cropper has researched animal folklore in Australia since 1975. He has co-authored two books on the subject, 'Out of the Shadows, Mystery Animals of Australia', 1994 and 'The Yowie: in search of Australia’s Bigfoot', 2006. Animal folklore relates to stories of mystery animals that may or may not exist, may or may not have been sighted. Such animals include bunyips, thylacines, big cats, and sea serpents. Paul Cropper’s papers are a product of a long standing research interest in these animals.
Reference: Library correspondence file

Paul Cropper accumulated the collection. Some papers were donated to him from other animal folklore researchers.

Paul Cropper papers, ca. 1970-ca. 2000, including correspondence, field and interview notes, eyewitness reports, newspaper cuttings and government files relating to animal folklore or 'mystery animals' in Australia.

BOX 1
Bunyips, post 1900:
Reports and lake and river monsters in Australia, after 1900.
Papua New Guinea Reports.
Thylacine - South Australia:
Mainland sighting from South Australia.
Miscellaneous references and notes regarding mystery animal reports:
Notes of primary sources, newspaper and journal citations.
Big Cat, Victoria, Gippsland Region (2):
Big cat reports from the Gippsland area of Victoria.
Big Cat, Victoria, Other Areas, Post 1990.
Victoria Conservation, Forest and Lands Department Files on Strange Animals (70-90s):
Memos and Internal files notes on mystery animal sightings from the Vic Department of Conservation, Forest and Lands. This file was supplied in the late 90s and covers reports to the Department between 69-early 90s.
Big Cat, Western Australia, Post 1990.

BOX 2
Australian Letters Pre 1980:
Letters to Paul Cropper about mystery animal sightings in Australia. 1970-1995.
Thylacine, Victoria, Fisheries and Wlldlife Files:
Memos and Internal files notes on mystery animal sightings from the Vic Department of Conservation, Forest and Lands. This file was supplied in the late 90s and covers reports to the Department between 69-early 90s.
Thylacine, NSW, Cuttings.
Thylacines, General, Post 1990:
Tasmanian thylacine reports.
Thylacine, Victoria, Gippsland Area.
Thylacine, Victoria, Other Areas.
Thylacine WA, Investigations:
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into thylacine sightings in WA, 70s-90s.
West Australia, Thylacine.
ABC (Australian Big Cats), Victoria, Central Region, 1991 to 2000 (2):
Big Cat reports from the central region of Victoria, centred on the Maryborough region.

BOX 3
Big Cat Sort
Australia wide big cat reports, not yet sorted.
Big Cat, NSW, Investigations (1)
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into Big Cat sightings across NSW NSW, 70s-90s.
Big Cats, NSW, Investigations (2)
Big Cat, Victoria, Deakin University Study:
Deakin University files supplied by Deakin University lecturer John Henry covering their investigations into puma sightings in the Grampians Mts of Victoria, late 1970s.
ABC, Victoria, Central.
Big Cat, Victoria, Fisheries and Wildlife Department
Memos and Internal files notes on big cat sightings from the Vic Department of Conservation, Forest and Lands. This file was supplied in the late 90s and covers reports to the Department between 69-early 90s.
Big Cat, Victoria, Mornington Peninsula.

BOX 4
General Correspondence
Letters to Paul Cropper about mystery animal sightings in Australia. 1970-1995.
Australian Letters, 1980-1990
Letters to Paul Cropper about mystery animal sightings in Australia. 1980-1990.
ABC (Australian Big Cats), Victoria, Central Region, 1991 to 2000 (3)
Big Cats, NSW, Southern Highland.
Big Cat, West Australia, APB (Agricultural Protection Board) Files:
Memos and Internal files notes on Big Cat reports across WA from the WA APB (Agricultural Protection Board). This file was supplied in the late 90s and covers reports to the Department between 1970 and the mid 90s.
Bunyip to Sort
Bunyips, Pre 1900,
Bunyip, National Library Collection.

BOX 5
Thylacine/Big Cat AFR Files:
Sighting reports supplied from the Victorian Australian Rare Fauna Research group. They collected sighting from the early 1980s.
Cougar/Puma Background Data
Data on pumas.
Big Cat, Victoria, Central Region, Jason Follet.
Big cat reports collected by Victorian researcher Jason Follet.
Qld, Gayndah Bear Reports:
Reports of bear-like animal from Gayndah Qld.
Letters Sent Out
Copies of Paul Cropper correspondence on mystery animals.
West Australia, Big Cat, Investigations
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into Big Cat sightings in WA, 70s-90s.
Big Cat, Sort
Sharon West:
Material supplied by Sharon West, a WA-based mystery animal researcher.
Animal Predation, Dog, Fox, Dingo etc.
Lithgow, NSW Panther Video May 2001.
Victoria Big Cat Video.
Big Cats, To Sort

BOX 6
Rare Fauna Research:
Sighting reports supplied from the Victorian Australian Rare Fauna Research group. They collected sighting from the early 1980s.
Sea Serpents, Pre 1970
Sea Serpents, Post 1970
Sea Serpents, Sort
Letters Malcolm Smith:
Letters from QLD mystery animal researcher Malcol Smith to Paul Cropper.
West Australia, Sharon West:
Material supplied by Sharon West, a WA-based mystery animal researcher.

BOX 7
Big Cats, Victoria, Grampians Range
NSW Big Cats
Big Cats, NSW, New England, Investigations
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into Big Cat sightings in the New England area of northern NSW, 70s-90s.
Big Cat, Victoria, Grampians, Investigations
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into Big Cat sightings in the Grampians Vic, 70s-90s.
Big Cat, South Australia
Victorian Big Cats, Other Areas
Correspondence, Australia
Australian letters to Paul Cropper

BOX 8
Big Cats, Victoria, Grampians Range, Rare Fauna Research Files
Sighting reports supplied from the Victorian Australian Rare Fauna Research group.
Big Cat, NSW, New England
Thylacine Sort (1)
Mix Tasmanian and Mainland reports.
Thylacine Investigations.
Notes made during Paul Cropper’s investigations into thylacine reports across Australia.
Thylacine, Victoria, Gippsland, Wonthaggi Region
Thylacine Sort (2)

BOX 9
Thylacine Sort (3)
ABC (Australian Big Cats) - Victoria Central
Miscellaneous Sort
Big Cat, Western Australia

BOX 10
Big Cats, NSW, Other Areas
ABC, Victoria, Central
ABC Victoria, Central Region, 1991 to 2000
General Mystery Animal Reports
WA, Sharon West, Mystery Animal Association:
Material supplied by Sharon West, a WA-based mystery animal researcher.
Big Cat, Victoria, Dandenong Ranges
Rare and Endangered Species Australia.
Bunyips, Aboriginal

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

The contents list is adapted from an inventory compiled by Paul Cropper.