Contents includes:
596a: Letter from E.F. Bozman of J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd. to Val Vallis 1960 Jul 29 re possible titles for inclusion in J.M. Dent's series of Australian classics in Everyman's Library;
596b: Val Vallis's reply 1960 Nov 2;
596c: Memorandum of agreement 1948 Mar 12 between Val Vallis and Angus and Robertson Ltd. of Sydney;
596d: Poem 'December Sunday, Hyde Park, London' with explanatory note by author;
596e: Poems: 'The jerry-builder', 'Venture at Outer Rock', 'For this, the tide', 'To a poet, begetting', 'The mullet-smoker', 'High tide by night', 'Song for a moonlit night';
596f: Poem 'The mullet-smoker';
596g: Poem 'Tea at four', also entitled 'Old lady at 3:30' and '3:30';
596h: Poem 'Wave-break' with 5 work-sheets showing its development, prepared in response to a request from the Lockwood Memorial Library, University of Buffalo (poem subsequently published in The Bulletin 1952 Dec 31 and included in 'Australian poetry 1953');
596i: Radio script: 'A discussion of the main characteristics of Australian poetry', senior school broadcast script, 1965 Jun;
596j: Radio script: 'The Australian short story', secondary school broadcast script, 1953 Mar 30.
Titles: December Sunday, Hyde Park, London.-- The jerry-builder.-- Venture at Outer Rock.-- For this, the tide.-- To a poet, begetting.-- The mullet-smoker.-- High tide by night.-- Song for a moonlit night.-- Tea at four.-- Wave-break.
Correspondence with J.M. Dent and Sons re Everyman's Library of Australian classics, memorandum of agreement with Angus and Robertson in 1948, drafts of poems and radio scripts.

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, research material and correspondence. Tinder [novel], published by Scribner in 2002, had several working titles: 'The fire lovers', 'Fire in the hand', and 'Zippo : a cautionary tale'. Set in Katoomba and narrated by the central character, Graham, it follows his sexual awakening.

Drafts of various stages of the following works: Louisa, Quickening, A fine and private place, The temple down the road, Manning Clark : a biography, and Richie Benaud. Incoming and outgoing correspondence include letters relating to these publications and well as correspondence during his academic career. Versions of articles submitted to Australian Magazine columns as well as reviews, journalism articles and speeches.

This series contains drafts in various stages of the following works: Manning Clark: A biography, Richie Benaud, Louisa, Quickening, A fine and private place, and The temple down the road. There are drafts and final versions of articles submitted to the Australian Magazine for the Brian Matthew column. Includes draft typescript manuscripts of short stories, poems, reviews, speeches, and articles. Drafts are complete and incomplete; and published and unpublished. Most works are undated. Unless indicated otherwise, all works are typescript or printouts.

Boxes 1-3
31 folders with print outs of chapter drafts, most with comments included, some handwritten emendations. Most drafts have pagination. There is no order to the printouts. A few folders have information, correspondence, newspapers cuttings, articles and documents relating to Manning Clark's History of Australia - A Musical.

Box 4
Folder 1
Notes and drafts relating to John Barton Hack.
Folder 2
Notes relating to Richie Benaud, 2011.
Folders 3-7
Three drafts and two incomplete drafts relating to Louisa.
Item 1
Spiral bound notebook with notes towards a biography of Richie Benaud.

Box 5
Folders 1-2
Draft manuscript of A fine and private place (2000).
Folder 3
Draft manuscript of A hiding to nothing.
Folders 4-5
Drafts for Quickening and other stories (initially called 'An episode of bodies and other stories').
Folder 6
Drafts of poetry.
Folder 7
Writings. Written on outside of original folder (discarded) 'Books and writing pieces'.
Folder 8
Three short stories, unpublished.

Box 6
Folder 1
Draft of The temple down the road.
Folders 2-3
Two printouts of draft for the Benaud biography, dated 2016.
Folder 4
Typescript draft 'On a hiding to nothing : Larrikin essays on sport and low culture'.
Folder 5
Draft articles on Henry Lawson.
Folder 6
'Exeter, 1974' written on front of original folder (now discarded). Draft articles.

Box 7
Folders 1-2
Two folders of draft articles removed from one ring binder folder labelled 'The Australian Magazine. Brian Matthews Column 1998".
Folders 3-4
Articles for the Australian Magazine Brian Matthews Column 1998-1999 and undated.
Folder 5
Drafts of speeches, reviews, articles.

Box 8
Folders 1-7
Drafts of speeches, reviews, articles.
Folders 8-9
Writings by other authors.