Correspondence from Peter Porter - 24 letters
Comprises:
[File 1]: 1974 - 1999

Johnno is Malouf’s most outwardly autobiographical novel and has been much praised as a realistic presentation of wartime Brisbane. It traces the childhood and early adult life of the narrator, and his relationship with the school rebel Johnno until Johnno’s untimely death. It was first published in 1975. This series includes two typescripts (both carbon copies) of the original manuscript version of Johnno. The earlier copy has extensive handwritten reworking by Malouf and uses the name “Johnny” throughout. In the later copy is again reworked and the author has manually changed “Johnny” to “Johnno.” There are significant textural alterations, cuts and additions, between these two drafts. Earlier drafts of the manuscript are held in the National Library of Australia collection and the top copy is held in the Fryer Library University of Queensland Press Archive. These typescripts provide a valuable link between the two. Published in 1975 by University of Queensland Press.

Correspondence from Elizabeth Riddell, Mrs Elizabeth Greatorex – 41 letters
Comprises:
[File 1]: 1974 to 1998

An Imaginary Life is a novel dealing with the last years of the Roman poet Ovid in exile and his strange relationship with a wolf-child. It was first published in 1978. Originally the title was 'Letters from Pontus'. Includes letters from George Braziller Inc., New York relating to the publication of this novel, typescript drafts of the novel, editorial markup by literary argent Curtis Brown of the final draft, and changes for final draft.

Typescript drafts with handwritten note across top of first page: 'Typescript of opera libretto suggeted by supposed episode in the 'Life of Mary Gilmour' c. 1792 - for composer Diane (Dinty) Blom', 7 leaves.

Comprises two drafts of Invocation to Earth by Diana Blom. Libretto by David Malouf.

10,000 Miles Away (1969-70) was commissioned in 1969 for performance in 1970 for Cook Bicentenary Year by Adult Education Department, Sydney University. Performed around New South Wales with 3 actors and directed by Rex Cramphorne. This subseries has 2 different versions that have been extensively edited with cut and paste inserts (stuck with sticky tape which have fallen apart).
There are two photocopies of each version which are to be used as access copies

Ten typescript book reviews of non-fiction books, 3-4 pages each, for the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s (ABC’s) Books for comment programme, second half of 1969. Includes: two drafts with emendations; and eight final scripts with an ABC ‘With compliments’ slip attached.
Typescript titled 'The Poetry of John Bligh' on foolscap paper headed Australian Broadcasting Commission, no date. 14 pages.

This series is comprised of draft typescripts and related documents for eight Opera Libretti by David Malouf (both published and unpublished): Voss : Opera in Two Acts After the Novel by Patrick White, Invocation to Earth, Remembering Babylon, 'The Aspern Papers', 'You can't think of everything', 'A Winter's Tale', The Fox and the Magpie. In addition there are two versions of 10,000 Miles Away, written by Malouf for theatre.

Correspondence from Judith Rodriguez – 130 letters (1964; 1974 – 2016):
[File 1]: 1964; 1974 to 1978; incl. 10 Oct 1977, enclosing 24 ex libris printed by her for Malouf (21 letters)
[File 2]: 1980 to 1987 (46 letters)
[File 3]: 1988 to 2016 (63 letters)