Consists of correspondence between Father Edward Leo Hayes, his sister Mary and his niece Jean as well as philatelic ephemera, unpublished poetry and artwork. The collection also contains academic robes worn by Father Hayes when he received an honorary Masters of Arts degree from the University of Queensland and a whiskey bottle from by General Douglas McArthur.

Collected correspondence and manuscript material on literary and historical matters, mostly in Queensland and New South Wales. Also personal papers of Father Hayes, relating to his activities as parish priest; bookplates, photographs, realia.

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.

Material from the Queensland Museum relating to Father Leo Hayes.
Includes:
Invitation to Rev. L. Hayes to the Catholic Ball at the Show Pavilion, Toowoomba on Tuesday 16th September 1930.

Invitation by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Queensland) to attend a talk on Tuesday 29 September 1942 in the the University Lecture Hall, George Street at 8pm by Rev. Father Leo Hayes speak on "Bits of Queensland ..."; on reverse is written "Mrs. E.M. Hayes and friends".

Print from the Telegraph Feature Service, Brisbane of a black and white photograph with inscription on back "To my dear mother from her loving son Leo"; handwritten notes on reverse: "Father Leo Hayes receiving the Dr. J.P. Thomson Gold Medal and the Diploma (Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society) from Sir James Blair, Chancellor of Brisbane University, 22 Apr 1942." and "The man sitting down is Mr R. G. Gillies (President of the Royal Geographical Society. Standing behind Mr Gillies is Mr [illegible] O'Brien (Secretary of the R.G.S.)".

Print, possible from a newspaper service (stamp on reverse is illegible) of a black and white photograph of Father Leo Hayes and a wedding couple.

Copy of St Monica's Parish, Oakey : Combined Funds Canvass, March, 1959

Two newspaper cuttings relating to Leo Hayes receiving an honorary degree of Master of Arts by the Deputy-Chancellor of the University of Queensland on 26 Apr 1967; cuttings undated.

Copy of Parish News with cover dedicated to Father Leo Hayes receiving an honorary degree of Masters of Arts, 24 Sep 1967.

Copy of Parish News dedicated to Father Leo Hayes after his death on 17 Nov 1967, dated 28 Jan 1968.

Programme for official dinner given at the Royal National Agricultural & Industrial Association of Queensland. D. A. O'Brien, Rev Father Leo Hayes, written in pen on menu. Includes invitation for D. O'Brien to dinner, and paper napkin embossed wtih M.T.Sullivan estate, with names H.L. Bailey, Chief Manager C'wealth Bank Brisbane, and D.A. O'Brien written in pen on the napkin.

Menu and toast list for dinner in honour of the Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur William Fadden G.C.M.G., M.P., F.I.C.A., F.C.A. at Finneys' Brisbane, Monday, 11th August, 1958 at 7 p.m. Toasts proposed by Harold Richter, F.G.R. Nickiln, James Donald, V.C. Gair, Leon Trout.
Arthur Fadden's political resume on cover.
Written in pen across the menu: Rev Father Leo Hayes Dana O'Brien 12.8.'58.

Manuscript book of seventeen illuminated and illustrated poems by Australian authors. Father Leo Hayes commissioned the book of his favourite Australian poems from artist Ella Lilian Pedersen. Hayes wanted it done in the manner of the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Each of the 17 poems chosen by Father Hayes has been written in calligraphy with accompanying illustrations depicting the location or subject of each poem. Pedersen crafted a tooled leather binding with ornamentation in pewter studded with semi-precious stones, including opals and agates, collected by Father Hayes when he was parish priest in Crows Nest. The original cover was damaged, and the central panel was replaced in the early 2000s by book restorer Anne Clonnan with one remaining gemstone.

Poems: The first comers there / Margaret Curran. -- Carnarvon deep gorges / Bertha Butler. -- Love in a cottage / Daniel Henry Deniehy. -- The frog pool / James Devaney. -- Toowoomba dark purple / George Essex Evans. -- Where the pelican builds / Mary Hannay Foott. -- The Waradgery tribe / Mary Gilmore. -- Taralga / Mary Gilmore. -- When winter comes to Queensland / Alice Gore-Jones. -- My country / Dorothea Mackellar. -- Colour / Dorothea Mackellar. -- The gentle water bird (for Mary Gilmore) / John Shaw Neilson. -- Old salt / Lydia M. D. O'Neil. -- The way of it / D. L. Waraker. -- In September Queensland Bush / D. L. Waraker. -- Rain magic / Frances Dunn. -- Waratah and wattle / Henry Lawson.

Program containing 'Hymns of intercession' with heading : ' Fourth Anniversary of the war, 2 hours of intercession, Tuesday, 6th August 1918, 12 to 2pm, His Majesty's Theatre. Chairman: Rev. H. Youngman, D.D. (President Day of Prayer Committee), address by His Grace Archibishop Donaldson. Among others taking part will be Revs. J.B. Galloway, W. Brown, J. Bongers.'

Two photographs (b. & w.); no captions. (1) Father Hayes [undated]; from Hayes copy of 'Lyrics and rhymes' by James Sadler. (2) Unknown church in process of being moved [probably 1960s].

Tourist photo folders and postcards: Bungonia Caves, N.S.W., Charleville, Cunnamula, Green Island, Green Mountains, Gunnedah, Hervey Bay, Kempsey, Mudgee, Pacific Highway, Perth, Port Arthur, Quilpie, Tasmania, Town of South Coast, plus one postcard of Redcar Pier, England [1906] and Washing Day- The Gumnut series - 4.

Includes brief note (photocopied) from the donor about the item's provenance.