Note on title page: 'A Commonwealth Literary Fund lecture at Queensland University, 19th June, 1962.'

6 letters to different recipients , comprising : 2 letters (10 Dec and 29 Dec 1959) to Professor Cawley declining invitation to lecture (1 typescript and 1 holograph) ; 2 letters (1 June, 3 Sept 1961) to Fryer Librarian re bibliography of his work, where he mentions thesis by Vivian Olsen of Hawaii (1 holograph, 1 typescript) ; 1 letter (31 Oct 1962) to Miss Sullivan thanking her for her bibliography of his work (1 half l. typescript, signed) ; 1 letter (28 Feb 1963) to Miss Butts thanking her for a copy of her thesis on his work, some mention of his current interests (1 leaf typescript, signed, photocopy)
Includes bookjacket for 'The ploughman and other poems' by Patrick White.

Birth and death certificates, notes, family tree, correspondence concerning Patrick White and the Withycombe and Lipscomb families.

Typescript of public lecture given at Townsville in 1963.

Lecture presented in the English Department, University of Queensland, 1978.

23 photographs of Artists for Labor function, mostly photographs of Patrick White at the microphone, but also Gough Whitlam.
Includes photographs of dancers and a view of the audience and interior of the hall.

4 letters (photocopies) dated 5 July 1972, 17 Sept 1972, 20 Nov 1972 and 20 May 1973. Accompanied by typescript pages (2 l.) entitled 'The family background and literary career of Patrick White'.

Correspondence to John Beston from many Australian authors relating to his research on Patrick White. Authors include Patrick White, Thea Astley, Gwen Harwood, Xavier Herbert, Thomas Keneally, David Malouf, David Williamson and Judith Wright.

This series includes: newspaper cuttings relating to Shirley Hazzard; manuscripts (handwritten and typescript) by John Beston, including the manuscript for 'Patrick White : The search for a life value'.

This series comprises seven publications by or relating to Patrick White that have been annotated by John Beston while undertaking his research. The publications are:
Marr, D. (1992). Patrick White : a life. Alfred A. Knopf.
Morley, P. A. (1972). The mystery of unity : theme and technique in the novels of Patrick White. University of Queensland Press.
White, P. (1967). Four plays. Sun Books.
White, P. (1961). Riders in the chariot. Eyre & Spottiswoode.
White, P. (1956). The tree of man. Eyre and Spottiswoode.
White, P. (1970). The vivisector. Viking Press. [Inserted: Typescript and handwritten page with title 'Keneally interview']
White. P. (1957). Voss. Viking Press. [Covers have come away]