Manuscript Collections
Search over 13 kilometres of personal papers and organisational archives covering a diversity of
historical subjects.
Nationally significant collections include:
War, Military & Conflict History, including strategy and technology
Collections relevant to war, military and conflict histories range from the 15th century to the present
day, with an emphasis on Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Significant holdings include the ship photographic collection of Doug Robertson (70,000 images), the
nominal roll of the Australian Parachute Regiment, historic British naval journals, Australian Imperial
Force (AIF) diaries from the First World War, and holdings of rare military pamphlets.
Australian Literary, Theatre, Film & Television History since 1970
The literary, theatre, film and television collections include the papers of both major and minor figures of contemporary Australian writing, and records relating to Australian literary magazines, groups, and organisations.
The collection is particularly strong in the fields of late 20th century Australian poetry and drama, documenting the interconnections and networks of a literary generation.
Collections include draft manuscripts, correspondence, diaries, journals, audio recordings, film and video footage, posters, set and stage designs.
Significant holdings relate to writers and academics such as Alex Miller, Dorothy Porter, Nick Enright, Lily Brett, Frank Hardy, Max Gillies, Kate Llewellyn, Harry Heseltine, Dorothy Green, David Foster, Billy Jones, and many others.
Australian political history post 1990, with a focus on the Howard government years
The collections of the Howard Library comprise a rich resource of contemporary political records and
artefacts.
As well as John Howard’s official and personal collections, dating from his election to parliament in
1974, are included the archives of politicians and staffers associated with the Howard governments,
1996-2007.