Architectural drawings by James Birrell from his time as a student at Melbourne University, as a fourth year student in 1950 and fifth year in 1951. Drawings from work with the Commonwealth Department of Works in Melbourne (1948-1951, and 1954), Canberra (1952-1953); and Darwin (1954-1955). Drawings of buildings designed by Birrell while employed as an Architect in charge of the drawing office at the Brisbane City Council (1955-1961). Drawings designed by Birrell while employed as the University Architect for the University of Queensland (1 July 1961 to approx. 30 March 1966). Drawings done for buildings which were private commissions (1948-1966). Drawings while practicing in his firm, James Birrell and Partners (1966-1970) as well as drawings for buildings that were not built.

From his book A life in Architecture : Beyond the ugliness, James Birrell notes on pages 71-72 "The University was vested as property of the State Government and came under the control of the Co-Ordinator General of Public Works. The university was thus a tenant of the Co-Ordinator General who had control over all work".

Bookplates collected and arranged by Patrick Corrigan.

Correspondence relating to various members of the Bell family.

13 items, including passport, certificates, notes and postcards.

Correspondence with Judith Wright. Each item is accompanied by a note from Shirley Walker with commentary.

Item 1: 27 Jul 73,1p, response to an interview request
Item 2: 21 Feb 74,1p, response to an interview request in Canberra
Item 3: Undated, 1p, confirmation of interview, handwritten
Item 4: 10 Jun 75,1p, thank you letter on receipt of birthday telegram
Item 5: 10 Aug 75, 2p, contains comments on a number of poems and on Jungian archetypes
Item 6: 26 Jun 76, 1p, thank you letter for birthday present
Item 7: 14 Aug 76, 2p, contains comments on Jack McKinney, individual poems and William Baylebridge
Item 8: 18 Sep 76, 1p, accompanying letter with proofs and copy of ‘Hevesi’
Item 9: 23 Sep 76, 1p, gives permission to use passages from letters in thesis
Item 10: 25 Sep 76, 1p, gives permission to be used as a referee
Item 11: 13 Jun 77, 1p, comments on Shirley Walker’s thesis, criticism of Fourth Quarter, and the New England Girl’s School juvenilia
Item 12: 20 Aug 77, 1p, comments on reviews of work and The Coral Battleground
Item 13: 5 Dec 77, 1p, comments on The Double Tree, reprinting of Birds and involvement in the uranium issue, handwritten card
Item 14: 12 May 78, 1p, congratulations on new job appointment, handwritten card
Item 15: 7 Mar 79, 1p, discussion of visit to ‘Edge’, Mongarlowe, NSW
Item 16: 25 Apr 79, 2p, confirmation of visit, comments on ASAL Conference 1979 and proposed biography by Val Vallis
Item 17: 9 Jun 79, 1p, thank you for birthday card and comments on involvement in Barrier Reef issue
Item 18: 11 Aug 79, 1p, comments on PhD being done by Indian scholar Ali Athar and additions to bibliography compiled by Shirley Walker
Item 19: Christmas 1979, 1p, refers to visits by Professor Bernard Hickey from the University of Venice to the sites of various Judith Wright poems, handwritten card
Item 20: 20 May 80, 2p, comments on The Poetry of Judith Wright and ‘At Cedar Creek’
Item 21: 30 Jun 80, 1p, comments on The Double Tree
Item 22: 22 Sep 80, 1p, authorising photocopying of unpublished material in the Meanjin collection in Baillieu Library
Item 23: 22 Sep 80, 2p, further suggestions for bibliography compiled by Shirley Walker, comments on four poems printed as broadsheets
Item 24: 20 Mar 82, 1p, comments on The Cry for the Dead
Item 25: 7 Nov 82, 1p, comments on the Games protests on the land rights issue
Item 26: 4 Nov 83,1p, discussion of We Call for a Treaty
Item 27: 13 Nov 83,1p
Item 28: 18 Nov 84,1p, thank you letter for birthday card
Item 29: 3 Jan 85, 1p, comments on article by Shirley Walker on The Cry for the Dead
Item 30: 4 Nov 85, 1p, thank you letter for invitation to speak at the ASAL Conference 1985, handwritten card
Item 31: 2 Mar 87,1p, thank you letter for invitation to ASAL Conference 1987
Item 32: 20 Apr 89,1p, question about a title included in a proposed bibliography by Gale Research Company
Item 33: 31 Mar 90,1p, comments on the establishment of CALLS (Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies) at UNE and on A Human Pattern
Item 34: 7 Apr 91, 1p, comment on book by Shirley Walker, Flame and Shadow, a further comment on ‘At Cedar Creek’ and thoughts on giving up writing poetry
Item 35: Mar-Jun 1990, 1p, comments on the controversy with University of Queensland Press regarding a new ‘Selected Poems’
Item 36: 30 Jun 90, 3p, corrections and additions for chronology for updated edition of Flame and Shadow
Item 37: 29 Jul 90, 1p, comments on Phantom Dwelling
Item 38: 30 Aug 90,1p, comments on new edition of Flame and Shadow
Item 39: 18 Sep 90, 1p, comments on a proposed anthology of translations into Chinese
Item 40: 14 Nov 90, 1p, thank you for sympathy card sent on brother, Peter’s, death
Item 41: 11 Nov 92,1p
Item 42: 1 May 94, 1p, discussion on visit to Braidwood
Item 43: Undated, 1p, handwritten card
Item 44: Undated, 1p, handwritten card

Administrative records relating to architectural design and consultancy jobs undertaken by Robin Gibson and Partners. Records include correspondence, design briefs, specifications, copies of contracts, costings, concept sketches, architectural drawings, reports, submissions and some photographs. Major projects documented in this series include the successive stages of the Queensland Cultural Centre, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at South Bank, restoration of and extensions to St Stephen's Cathedral, and the Australian Parliament House design competition. The series also contains files of newspaper and journal articles relating to Brisbane architecture and projects for which Robin Gibson and Partners was responsible.

Material consists mostly of correspondence from Father Hayes to his sister Mary (Mrs Ambrose Brown) and his niece Jean Brown. Other correspondence includes letters from Daniel Augustine O'Brien.

Documents relating to peace campaigning leading up to the founding of People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) in Brisbane, and administrative records of PND in Brisbane and nationally. Includes minutes, correspondence, newsletters and membership lists. The series documents the internal life of the organisation in Brisbane.

There is material associated with or acquired during the finalising of the estate of Gertrude Langer, which John Riedel assisted with. It includes a diary, correspondence relating to the Langer's, eulogies and notes about Gertrude Langer, a copy of her will, newspaper cuttings, and photographs.

Box 1
Item 1
1939 diary belonging to Gertrude Langer. Handwritten notes begin from July 21. July 27 is the day the Langer's arrived in Brisbane.

Folder 1
There are thirty six colour photographs which include photographs of: Gertrude Langer on holidays, the memorial seat and Rhyl Hinwood sculpture of Gertrude Langer (1986), Ute Heinen who wrote his thesis on Gertrude Langer; and photographs taken by John Riedel when he went to the Langer house after the death of Gertrude (1984). There are twenty black and white photographs of Karl and Gertrude Langer. Many of the photographs are undated. Some dates from 1935 to 1959.

Folders 2-3
Tributes etc from people and organisations, Langer Memorial Committee papers and correspondence, eulogies, newspaper cuttings, copy of will,

Folder 4
Notes made by John Riedel when he sorted through the Langer house at St.Lucia in 1984. 37 leaves. Includes 12 photographs.

Dates on some of the photographs are not given; sometimes a range of dates has been estimated. Caption title are mostly supplied by library staff; inscriptions on reverse may be by library staff or others.

This series includes:
AA/P1 – 8: University Site at George Street - Old Government House building, 1940s or early 1950s; 8 black and white photographs.
AA/P/9: Dry Dock, Brisbane River and Queensland University, Brisbane Queensland, undated; 1 Postcard. Inscription on reverse: Coloured Shell Series, Queensland Views
AA/P/10: Engineering Dept, 194?-195?; 1 black and white photograph. Inscription on reverse: Strength testing laboratory University of Queensland showing torsion machine in foreground and "million pound" Houndslow tester? On far right
AA/P/11: University of Queensland Engineering Building, 194?-195?; 1 black and white photograph. Inscription on reverse: Rear view of the University of Queensland Engineering Building George Street
AA/P/12: University of Queensland Engineering Building, 194?-195?; 1 black and white photograph. Inscription on reverse: Main Engineering laboratory showing gas engine in foreground
AA/P/13: Children outside University Building - possibly for Royal tour of Duke and Duchess of York, 1927?; 1 black and white photograph.