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Papers of Adrian Rawlins
MSS 252

Collection Title

Papers of Adrian Rawlins

Collection Identifier

MSS 252

Inclusive date(s)

1960 to 1994

Extent and Medium

16 boxes + 1 AV box + 3 photograph albums + 3 oversize folders

Category

Literature

Subject: Terms(s)

Subject: Person(s)

Collection Description

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, drafts, notes.

Administrative / Biographical history

Adrian Rawlins (1939- 2001) was born in Melbourne in 1939 and educated at Yarra Park State and Melbourne High Schools, and spent eighteen months at Koornong, a Utopian school in Warrandyte, Victoria.

Rawlins performed and read poems all over Australia. Rawlins was the presenter of Australia's only weekly poetry and jazz session on Australian radio in 1960-1961. He was closely associated with the famous Melbourne jazz venue 'Fat Black Pussycat', which was founded in 1963 by Ali Sugerman and functioned as a jazz club under Rawlins's ownership from 1965 until 1966, when it became a discothèque.

Rawlins met and became friends with Bob Dylan during his 1966 Australian tour, and he spoke at a Melbourne Dylan convention in 1994. His book, Dylan : Through the Looking Glass (1994), is a compilation of his thoughts and reminiscences about meeting Dylan.

During his time in Sydney in the late 60s, Rawlins became friends with Sydney poet, musician and mystic Neville Drury. In 1968-69 he was closely involved with expatriate New Zealand band The La De Das, and read excerpts of an Oscar Wilde story on their concept album, The Happy Prince (1968). He also wrote album liner notes for many artists.

Source: Austlit online: www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A210

Portrait at National Portrait Gallery: https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/adrian-rawlins-1939

Acquisition Details

The collection was acquired from Adrian Rawlins between 1991 and 1995.

Scope and Content

This collection relates to Adrian Rawlins and includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs.

Access Restrictions

Other

Access: Open Access

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy.

Copying: Copying of material authored by Adrian Rawlins for private study and research is approved.

Existence and Location of Orginals

Special Collections, UNSW Canberra

Disclaimer

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed above. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy.

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Items in Collection

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