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| Manuscript Name | Papers of Allan Eric Martin |
| Manuscript Number | MSS 198 |
| Last Updated | June 2022 |
| Extent | 2 boxes |
| Location | Special Collections, UNSW Canberra |
| Abstract | Papers relating to the life and work of poet Allan Eric Martin |
Collection Subject Type
Literary
Scope and Content
This collection relates to the Victorian-born poet Allan Eric Martin, including his association with fellow poets Geoff Goodfellow, Kevin Brophy, Alison Croggan, Rosemary Nissen and others. As well as original draft poetry by Martin and his literary colleagues, the archive contains a sustained sequence of correspondence maintained with poet Geoff Goodfellow, whilst Martin was incarcerated in Pentridge Prison in 1987-1988. Also included are biographical papers, a prose work by poet Kevin Brophy on Martin’s life, together with reports and other material relating to Martin’s parole application and the criminal justice system more generally.
Date Range of Content
1982-1992
Biographical Note
Allan Eric Martin was born in Shepparton, Victoria in 1955. After a difficult early life he completed his secondary education and began writing while serving a prison sentence in Pentridge Prison, Melbourne. His poetry has appeared in Overland and other literary journals, and a collection of his writing was published as Spitting Out Sixpenny: Poetry and Prose. Cheltenham, Victoria: Abalone Press, c1984. Martin’s development as a writer was encouraged by fellow Australian poets Geoff Goodfellow and Kevin Brophy with whom he maintained a close correspondence
References:
Author record, Allan Eric Martin, AustLit (www.austlit.edu.au), St Lucia: The University of Queensland, 2002- https://www-austlit-edu-au.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/austlit/page/A27403 retrieved 21 May 2020
Simon Sellars. The two of us: Kevin Brophy & Allan Martin, Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 August 2005, p. 20[S1]
A rough ride to Christmas at home, The Age, 24 December 2002 retrieved 21 May 2020 https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/a-rough-ride-to-christmas-at-home-20021224-gduz2w.html
Administrative Information
Access and Copying Conditions
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: Check with Curator
Preferred Citation
Papers of Allan Eric Martin, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 198, Box [Number], Folder [Number]
Provenance
The collection was acquired in two instalments
Additional Information
Related Material
Further correspondence relating to Martin is located in the Papers of Geoff Goodfellow at MSS 028/Box 3/Folder 23.
A poster publicising Martin’s ‘Wanted an Audience for Poetry, Reward the Freedom’ is contained in Papers of Jenny Boult at MSS 30/Folio 3.
A videorecording of the documentary film on Martin’s life – The Woodcutter’s Son by Michael Cummins (ACT: Ronin Films, 2002) – is housed in the State Library of New South Wales (VB12464) and in other Australian university collections
Subject Keywords
Subjects
Allan Eric Martin 1955- – Archives
Geoff Goodfellow 1949- – Correspondence
Kevin Brophy 1949- – Correspondence
Australian poetry – 20th century
Poetry in prisons
Personal Names
Allan Eric Martin 1955-
Geoff Goodfellow 1949-
Kevin Brophy 1949-
Alison Croggon 1962-
Occupations
Poets
Prisoners
Container List
Box 1
Folder 1
Letters from Geoff Goodfellow, 1987-1988
Folder 2
Letters from Geoff Goodfellow, 1987-1988
Folder 3
Submission: ‘Requesting a review and consideration for re-parole at earliest possible time (Allan Eric Martin), 16 December 1988’
Poetry: ‘Time After Time’, Goodfellow; ‘The Bluestone College’, Martin (one
page missing); ‘Unbelievable’, Goodfellow; ‘Lyn’, Eric Beach; ‘Endless Story’,
prose by Kevin Brophy on Martin’s life; ‘What the Old Man Said’, Martin,
several drafts; ‘Crossover of Dreams’, several drafts; miscellaneous poems by Martin
Folder 4
Correspondence with: Kevin Brophy (includes two poems); Michael Bourke; Lance Loughrey; Alan Young (criminologist); Rosemary and Bill Nissen; Geoff Goodfellow (extensive) - includes poetry, news items on Goodfellow, seminar papers, miscellanea on criminal justice system
Folders 5-7
Summary: Correspondence with Kevin Brophy, 1982-1992, accompanied by drafts of poetry, responses from Kevin Brophy, prison administration documents, parole reports, leaflets and brochures for readings and other documentation relevant to each letter as arranged by Martin
Folder 5
Letters to Kevin Brophy: May 1982-April 1983, May 1983-June 1984
Folder 6
Letters to Kevin Brophy: Sept 1985-April 1987, June 1987-March 1989
Folder 7
Letters to Kevin Brophy: April 1989-May 1990, June 1990-Feb 1992
Letters (7) from Kevin Brophy, 1985-1989
Box 2
Folder 8
Copies of letters to Geoff Goodfellow, 1985-1990
Folder 9
Letters from Geoff Goodfellow, 1990-1991, accompanied by copies of poems, newspaper reports and other miscellaneous papers of relevance as included by Goodfellow
Folder 10
Letters from Barrett Reid (2), editor Overland, 1991-1992; letters (2) from Mal Morgan; letter from John Irving, 1992; letters from Annie Goodfellow (3); letters from Alison Croggon (2),1989-1994
Letter to The Ombudsman by A.E. Martin, 14 October 1991 regarding illegality of strip searching to accompany signed petition (petition absent); letters (2) relating to the Speakers’ Club, 1991-1992
Folder 11
Literary drafts – Poetry:
Spitting out sixpence – manuscript, unedited
Lion taming for beginners - edited drafts of poetry for acrobatic performance
Letter to Jimmy in Hell - poem, 34 edited drafts, including final version, based on the life of James Loughlan who died in the Jika Jika fire*
How the times have changed - poem, 47 edited drafts incl final version
Literary drafts – Short stories:
The last swaggie, manuscript, unedited (1979)
The phenomenon Remy unearthed, manuscript, unedited
Folder 12
Literary drafts – Other writers:
Alison Croggon: 8 poems – Before the shadows – Eden – Emily Bronte – Camilla – The singer – Tiresias – The reason – Holiday poem
Alison Croggon: This is the stone - manuscript
Miscellaneous papers:
Unpublished review of Peter Rose (1993) The Catullan Rag, Picador by Alison Croggon, lightly edited
Folder 13
Biographical essay:
Manuscript, untitled biographical essay based on the poem ‘The bluestone college’, written while awaiting trial in Pentridge remand years during 1987
Personal documents – referee reports:
Typed, 1-page letter, signed ‘To whom it may concern’ ‘re Allan Eric Martin’, January 1985, from Rosemary Nissen
Typed, unsigned copy of 1-page letter ‘To the Parole Board’ ‘re: Allan Eric Martin’, 7 January 1985 from Kevin Brophy
Typed, signed copy of 4-page document, ‘Statement to M. Barnett, and B. Kiase re: Allan Eric Martin’, 17 June 1987 from Kevin Brophy; attached typed, 3-page ‘Additional details from: Kevin Brophy re: Allan Martin’ July 1987
Typed and signed, original 2-page reference from Michael Sharkey accompanied by handwritten letter to Martin, 12 February 1993
Typed, signed 1-page letter, ‘Re: Allan Eric Martin to Your Honour’ signed by Rosemary Nissen, 25 February 1993
Personal documents – Psychological report:
‘Psychological report on Allan Martin aged 32 years of H.M.P. Pentridge, 3 July 1987, referred by Melvyn Barnett, Barrister & Solicitor, for appropriate psychological appraisal’
Personal documents – Court transcripts:
Court transcript – Supreme Court of Victoria, Summary of Evidence in the matter of the Crimes Act 1958, the Criminal Appeal Rules 1965 and an Application for leave to appeal against Sentence by Alan Eric Martin. Undated, refers to incident on 11March 1977
Court transcript – County Court, Melbourne Tuesday, 29 September 1987, The Queen v Alan Eric Martin
Court transcript – 22 October 1987, second day of hearing, The Queen v Alan Eric Martin: Sentence
Court transcript – Supreme Court of Victoria, Summary of Proceedings in the matter of the Crimes Act 1958, the Criminal Appeal Rules 1965 and an Application for leave to appeal against Sentence by Alan Eric Martin. Undated but refers to Melbourne County Court, 29 September 1987 sitting