Collection of correspondence from friends and fellow writers, mostly poets, editors and critics, discussing poetry, literary journals in Australia, personal news. Also copies of poems enclosed with letters or included in them. The earliest letter is dated 31 Nov. 1933. The great bulk of letters was written in the 1960s and 1970s. In all there are over 900 letters and a large number of unsorted postcard communications. The collection also includes some of Gwen Harwood's outgoing correspondence, and mss of her poems, with some biographical material and photographs. Correspondents include: Bruce Beaver; Peter Bennie; John Beston; Kevin Bowden; Vincent Buckley; Nancy Cato; Alexander Craig; Margaret Diesendorf; R.D. Fitzgerald; Frank Green; Rodney Hall; Rex Hobcroft; A.D. Hope; Evan Jones; Frank Kellaway; James McAuley; Roger McDonald; James Penberthy; Craig Powell; Thomas Riddell; Keith Russell; Thomas Shapcott; Larry Sitsky; Vivian Smith; Norman Talbot. Includes folder of letters, with some poems, to Ann Jennings, 1959-1988. There are also some photographs and audio recordings.

Correspondence, newspaper cuttings, articles, cards, photographs, publications, typescripts, manuscripts, booklets, notebooks, diaries, theatre programmes, agendas, constitutions, minutes, reports, receipts, accounts, legislation, research material, notes, press statements, propaganda, submissions, tapes, posters, plans, family history, map, Aboriginal flag.
Bulk of papers from 1961 to 1982.

Large black diary with lock (broken and torn from front cover) and 'Private' embossed on the cover. Inside page has 'Autobiographical Diary of William Alexander Dorsey Bell born June 3, 1865, in Brisbane Australia'. Approximately 16 handwritten entries from 20 Jul 1892 to 27 Jun 1916. Most of the volume is blank.

Two scrapbooks with newspaper cuttings, correspondence, handwritten notes, and diary entries relating to Joshua Thomas Bell from 1903 to 1910. Inside cover of first book has 'Joshua Bell (1)' and the second 'Joshua Bell (2)'. Dairy entries indicate these scrapbooks belong to Catherine Bell.

Joshua Bell (1) scrapbook includes: diary entries about the Parliamentary Cup of 1904, a trip from Gladstone to Roma with many stops to rest their horses (including a story about the naming of Mt. Redshirt), a trip with 'Joey driving 4 strong horses in the dogcart', leaving on 6 Oct 1907, the trip on the Government steamer Lucinda in May 1908, a tour of the Burnett district in June 1906, ; newspaper cuttings about Joshua T. Bell, John Ferguson; flyers from Queensland Railways for the "Special train" for the Minister for Railways (J.T. Bell) in June 1907, April 1908, 4 Jun 1908; and one b&w photograph of the residents of Leichhardt in front of their Shire Hall.

Joshua Bell (2) scrapbook includes: diary entries for 1909-1910, two b&w photographs (one of the Leichhardt Tree and one of the welcome sign at Taroom?); invitation to the offical farewell dinner for Lord Chelmsford in May 1909 and seating plan ; seating plan with Lord Dudley at the center.

Scrapbook with ‘Margot Bell’ [Margot Margaret Maxwell Bell, 1908-1929] written inside, containing newspaper cuttings, handwritten notes, correspondence, and photographs, 1908 to 1984. Most likely begun by Catherine Bell and continued by another person in the Bell family. Photographs, 75 b&w, include: Catherine Bell, Joshua Thomas Bell, Joshua Peter Ferguson Bell, Margot Margaret Maxwell Bell, Peter and C.B.P.B. (Colin Basil Peter Bell), Jinny, 'Arrival at Quarantine camp Wallangarra 2 May 1919', Ella, Margo, Enid, Kit (Kitty), 'Hailstorm, Rakeevan', 'Vincent Fairfax & Margot', and Coochin.