The collection contains correspondence, school and university records, photographs; papers, commissions and badges relating from military service in the First World War for Jack Fryer and his brothers who served in World War One. There are papers relating to the Fryer Family and the establishment of the Fryer Memorial Library of Australian Literature.

The series is comprised of letters from and to John (Jack) Fryer; and documents relating to him such as birth and death certificates, educational reports and results.

Letters from John D Fryer.
Folder 1a
Chronologically arranged notes taken from the collection of letters below
• John Fryer, St John’s College, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane to ‘Dear Lizzie’, 13 May 1915
• John Fryer, Enoggera, Brisbane to ‘Dear Lizzie’, 20 Jun 1915
• John Fryer, A69 Warilda, Sydney to his father, 8 Oct 1915
• ‘Souvenir of Perth, W.A.’, John Fryer to Mrs CG Fryer, 15 Oct 1915
• John Fryer, Zetoun Camp, Egypt, to his mother, [1915]
• John Fryer, No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, Egypt, to his mother, 14 Dec 1915
• John Fryer, No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, Egypt to Elizabeth [Liz] Fryer, 16 Dec 1915
• John Fryer, France to Walter Fryer, 22 Jul 1916
• Field Service Post Card, John Fryer to Mrs CG Fryer, 23 Jul 1916
• Field Service Post Card, John Fryer to Master W. P. Fryer, 25 Jul 1916
• Field Service Post Card, John Fryer to Mrs CG Fryer, 25 Aug 1916
• John Fryer, New College, Oxford to his mother, 17 Dec 1916
• John Fryer, postcard to Liz, [nd.]
• John Fryer, New College, Oxford, to Liz, 17 Jan 1917
• John Fryer, France, to his Mother, 17 Mar 1917
• John Fryer, [France?], to ‘all at home’, 26 Mar 1917

Folder 1b
• John Fryer, France, to his mother, 9 April, 1917
• John Fryer, Cranston’s Waverly Hotel, Southampton Row, London to Liz, 9 Jun 1917
John Fryer, France, to his mother, 11 Jun 1917
• John Fryer, France, to his Father, 6 Aug 1917
• John Fryer, St John’s College, Brisbane, to his mother, 1 Mar 1921
• John Fryer, St John’s College, Brisbane, to his mother, 2 Aug 1922
• John Fryer, “Ardoyne”, Corinda to his mother, 5 Oct 1922
• John Fryer to his Mother, “Ardoyne”, [Rest and Hosp?], 17 Oct 1922
• John Fryer to his Mother, “Ardoyne”, Corinda, 7 Nov 1922
• John Fryer to his Mother, “Ardoyne”, Corinda, 25 Nov 1922
• John Fryer, France?, to his Mother, n.d.
• John Fryer, Springsure, to his Mother, 2 Aug 1919
• John Fryer, Springsure, to his Mother, 5 Oct 1919

Letters to John Fryer
• Mrs E. M. Goodwill, Midland Junction Western Australia, to John Fryer, 3 Sep 1918
• Charles G Fryer, Springsure, 11 Nov 1918
• Department of Defence, Melbourne to Lieutenant JD Fryer, Springsure, Queensland
• Registrar, University of Queensland to JD Fryer, Rosemount Hospital, 22 Dec 1922
• Wheally[?], to JD Fryer, Balliol College, Oxford, England, 22 Sep 1912

Documents relevant to John D Fryer
• Birth Certificate for John Dennis Fryer, Springsure, 11 Sep 1895, registered 9 Nov 1895
• Death Certificate for John Denis Fryer, Springsure, 7 Feb 1923
• Memo to Master John Dennis Fryer from Department of Public Instruction re candidate for State Scholarship, 15 Dec 1908
• Memorandum from the Queensland Department of Public Instruction to John D Fryer re examination results, 29 Jan 1909
• Rockhampton Boys’ Grammar School reports for John D Fryer, Easter 1909 to Jun 1913
• The University of Queensland Junior Public Examination results, JD Fryer, Dec 1911
• The University of Queensland Senior Public Examination results for John D Fryer, Nov 1913
• Rockhampton Boys’ Grammar School, 2nd Report for Session 1914 on JD Fryer
• The University of Queensland Senior Public Examination results, JD Fryer, Nov 1914
• Letter from CR Paterson, JD Fryer and AN Park to HA Kellow, Headmaster, Rockhampton Grammar School re increasing senior prefects’ privileges, [1914?]
• Letter from the Department of Public Instruction, Brisbane to John D Fryer re granting of a scholarship to the University of Queensland, 8 Jan 1915
• AIR: The Tarpaulin Jacket, “A” Company, 4th Battalion, New College, Oxford, 19 Jan 1917
• AIR: “The Tarpaulin Jacket”, typed copy of original publication
• Menu: 52nd Battalion AIF Officers’ Mess, Christmas Dinner 1917. Signed by John D Fryer on the front and other diners on rear
• Dedication (to the victorious “eight”). An ode to the victorious University of Queensland crew of eight. Note records ‘JD Fryer’s property’.
• ‘O Frailty-----.’ Ode by ‘Chut’, [John D Fryer], Galmahra, Oct 1921

John D Fryer: Certificates and keepsakes
• Three certificates awarded to John D Fryer for academic achievement at the Rockhampton Boys’ Grammar School
• Poster: ‘Female Obelisk. A simple-ton of learning, so aged and wise, Finds fit representation in the obelisk guise’
• John D Fryer, Results of Examinations, Rockhampton Grammar School, 1911 to 1912
• Certificate of Commission as an Officer in the Defence Force of the Commonwealth, 1 Jul 1920
• Invitation to Mr J Fryer from ‘His Excellency the Governor at Home’ 28 Apr [1920?]
• Menu: ‘Dinner tendered to Brisbane University Football Team by the University Amateur League Football Club, Burlington Café, 12 Jun 1920’
• In memoriam card: John Denis Fryer (Lieut. A.I.F) Who Died 7th February, 1923 from the effects of gas received in France, aged 27 years
• Rockhampton Boys’ Grammar School bookplate devised in honour of John D Fryer and awarded for proficiency in French and English

Carmel McCarthy selected eighteen letters for transcribing from the collection. Seventeen of the letters were written from Clonburrin House near the village of Fenagh in Co Carlow by various members of the Fryer family.

Letters and Cards from William and John Fryer
• H.M.A.T. Warilda, Will and John Fryer to Liz, 7 Oct 1915
• Will and John Fryer, ‘Greetings From Egypt’, Christmas card to Liz, [December 1915]
• Will and John Fryer, ‘Greetings From Egypt’ Christmas card, to Mother, [December 1915]
• Will and Jack Fryer, ‘Greetings From Egypt’ Christmas card to Dick, [December 1915]
• Will and John Fryer, Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, to their mother, 15 Jan 1916
• Will and John Fryer, Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, to their mother, 18 Jan 1916
• Birthday card, ‘Love to Dick from Will and Jack’
• Christmas card, from ‘Will and Jack to Dad’
• Farewell card, ‘Farewell to My Dear Father’ from Will and Jack
• New Year card, ‘To My Dear Mother’, from Will and Jack