This transcription of the original item was compiled and annotated by Richard Fotheringham. There is a note in the top right-hand corner 'In the posession [sic] of Hon. Joshua Thomas Bell circ. 1908-9'. Footnote on first page: 'Two manuscript notes in different hands are written in the right margin at this point ... indicates that this was compiled c. 1902 (Thomas died Jan 1904).' 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.

This is comprised primarily of photocopies. Field tape report sheets are headed 'Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. Collector Margaret Lawrie'.

F406a : Field tape report sheets, including Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Tape Archive accession sheets (typescript and handwritten) (56 leaves); 3 leaves handwritten index to tapes; 6 leaves typescript article on Torres Strait Islands by Margaret Lawrie, for the New Australian Encyclopaedia. F406b : Field tape report sheets (typescript and handwritten)(49 leaves).

This folder contains:
2 play scripts. -- 'Manhunt' (handwritten in a notebook, dated 1968) and 'The play that never was' (cover title), 'Patience required for the problemental pass' (title on contents page) (stapled typescript booklet);
1 script for a radio program titled 'An Aboriginal Legend' which was part of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (Queensland Branch) series 'Grade 3 Social Studies' aired on 6 Apr 1973;
1 script for a film broadcast of 'Stradbroke dreamtime' starring Kath Walker, produced by Val Hartigan - includes a shooting schedule, timings and footage estimates (13 leaves; handwritten annotations);
1 [radio] script titled 'Kath Walker : Story teller' (which includes the story 'Biami and Bunyip);

Bound typescript draft (70 leaves ; 30 cm) with annotations, layout notes and edits of 'Stories from Australia' (Stradbroke dreamtime), published in 1971 by Angus and Robertson in folder with title on cover: 'Kath Walker MS.' Included in folder are 25 line drawings by Dennis Schapel for the book.

The original folder had two titles 'Unpublished playscripts and stories'. Some scripts have multiple copies, some have drafts, and some have annotations. It contains the following scripts: 'Bora. Initiation' (3 drafts), 'Civilised savages: one act play', 'Old Mick' (3 drafts, one incomplete), 'Playabout corroboree', 'Tail of platypus' (3 drafts), 'Tea party. Review.' (2 drafts), and 'You can't trust no one no how'. The last item is a photocopied typescript (8 leaves) with 'Tape excerpt (verbatim)' written across the top of every page. The 'interviewee' is an Australian Aboriginal giving a commentary on the 'Police' ; 'What is an Aboriginal?'; and 'Discrimination'.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource mentions cultural ceremony and Bora initiation. It 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.

The original folder was titled 'Manuscripts submitted to A&R' and contains short stories and poems submitted to Angus and Robertson. Some have corrections and annotations. Indicated in square brackets after the tile are handwritten notes that appear on the first page. Some may also have corrections. This file contains:
‘Beginning of Life’ (published as ‘The Beginning of Life’) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Biami and Bunyip’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Burr+Nong (Bora Ring)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
Boonah (Bloodwood Gum)' [submitted to A&R.];
‘The Carpet Snake’ (published as Carpet Snake) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Curlew’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Dear Boys and Girls’ (letter) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘The Dugong Hunt’ (published as Dugong Coming!) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Dunwich Stradbroke Island Assimilation of Aborigines’ (2 drafts);
‘Edward Ruska’;
'The Exercise Book' [submitted to A&R.];
‘The Fisherman’ [? submitted to A&R.];
‘Going Crabbing’ [original had not submitted to A&R but the not has been crossed out. Accepted];
‘The Hunter’ (published as The Shark) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Interlude’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Joshua and Roo-Roo';
'Kill to eat' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Mai (Black Bean)';
‘Midden’ (published as ‘The Midden’) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Mirrabooka (Southern Cross)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Muma's Pet’ [submitted to A&R.];
‘Not Our Day’ [submitted to A&R.];
‘Pomera (Banksia)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Racism’ (3 copies);
‘School Days’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Stradbroke’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Talwalpin (Cotton Tree) and Kowinka (Red Mangrove)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Tia Gam (Lawyer Vine)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Tuggan-Tuggan (Silky Oak)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘We three’ (poem) [submitted to A&R.];
'Wher's Mother (published as Where's Mother) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Wonga and Nudu' [submitted to A&R. Accepted].

Writing paper note book containing handwritten short stories titled: 'Kooril', and 'Coopee (Possum)'.

Letters to Caroline Kelly from Margaret Mead.

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.

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 and reports relating to Caroline Kelly’s anthropological survey.
Paper by Caroline Kelly on "the impact of European culture upon the Aborigines of New South Wales", ca. 1937

List of full or partial names of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals mentioned in the file:
Herbert Davis
Campbell [full name not provided]

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.