This file has three typescript copies (two are carbon copies) of 'Recollections of Thomas Davis' collected by Steele Rudd, two of which have a note in the top right-hand corner 'In the posession [sic] of Hon. Joshua Thomas Bell circ. 1908-9'. One copy has handwritten emandations.

These recollections were shared with his son, Arthur Hoey Davis (1868-1935) (whose pen name was Steele Rudd) mostly likely in the early 1900's. Thomas Davis was a former convict. His memoir covers the period from 1849 to the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859. Davis initially worked with J. C. Burnett's Survey Party. He recounts stories of the places he visited and their history, various encounters with local indigenous groups and individuals, language and culture of the Aboriginal people of the area, kinship system in the Maronoa and Balonne region, and a list of more than 100 names and phrases in the dialect of the people of the Balonne, Dawson and Comet river. Joshua Peter Bell is mentioned several times in memoir. This and other recollections by Thomas Davis were collected by Joshua Thomas Bell in the first decade of the 20th century.

Articles authored by Caroline Kelly, AP Elkin, SF Nadel, AR Radcliffe Brown and others.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.

Correspondence. Includes an undated handwritten statement signed by Lenard Law, possibly writing as an amanuensis. The statement is written in the first-person and contains biographical details of an Aboriginal person confined against his/her wishes at the Cherbourg settlement.
Correspondents include Wilfred Wragge, Maidie Ross (Restricted), Arthur Cobba Simson, Doris Crawford, W. Porteus Semple (Superintendent Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement), Leslie Wilson (Governor of Queensland), and Tom Blackman.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.

Brochures, leaflets, petition forms, newsletters and a letter produced by Australians for Native Title & Reconciliation (ANTaR).

Anthropological field notes, reports, correspondence and draft papers relating to various aspects of Kelly’s field work in Queensland Aboriginal communities.

List of full or partial names of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals mentioned in the file.

? Brown [first name not provided]
Mr Perkins
Bob Eubbard / Bob Hubbard

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource contains mention of funeral rites and burial ceremonies. It also may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.