Series 5: Papers including essays, research, lecture notes

MLMSS 11925/Boxes 21-39
DC 103

series

1963-2005

9675439

2.96 metres of textual material (18 boxes, 4 folders)

Box 21

Copies of artworks based on the life and legends of St Francis of Assisi by Arthur Boyd (1920-1999) The original works were produced to accompany a reprint of a 1936 biography of the saint by art historian Tom Boase in the 1960s’ Includes cover letter from Margaret Pont, 2001; Foreword to Cowan’s book on ‘Francis: a Saints Way’

“Borges file” includes letter to President of Australian Literature Society accepting Gold Medal, 1998; interesting articles including a translation of ‘In Pursuit of the Blue Tiger’ by Jorge Louis Borges
Applications for grants, proposals includes some prose and poetry, 1998-2004

“Bank and shares file” includes receipts, financial records

“Poems and articles file” story of ‘The Photographer’ based on a picture given to Cowan by a friend, Bill Viggiano; photograph of Cowan with his Mother; opening chapter of “Messenger of the God”, photocopy of first notes taken in 1967 on trip through Spain and Italy; letter from Dick Dickinson, note on scriptwriter, poetry; letters to Cowan’s Father, near the time of his death, 1967-2004

Two files on Balgo and Aboriginal Art Centres including photographs and ephemera.
Includes 1 x CD-ROM containing photographs of Indigenous art (DC 103)

Publishers’ correspondence, royalty statements, 1999-2004
Lecture notes, photographs, acknowledgements, 2000-2004
“Michigan expenses” includes receipts, ephemera, air tickets, 2002

Box 22

Temenos Academy material, 2004
Conference papers, University of Queensland, July 2002
Public Lending Rights information and correspondence, 2001-2005
United States Art Project, 2000
Typescript photocopy ‘Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia, and their Place in the plan of the Apocalypse’, W.M. Ramsay, 1904
Aboriginal Arts Centre report including flowcharts, draft project plan, correspondence, expense details, 2002
‘Exile in the Kingdom’ (original title ‘Out of Egypt’) research notes
Original text of ‘The Ice Palace’
Research notes and correspondence for the Ideal Man book, Luigi’s notes

Box 23

Correspondence with Dick Dickinson, interview, biography, copy of passport, a Zodiac reading by Jan Stryz, photograph proofs
Book Proposal concept, Nile River, 1991
Grant application for ‘Exile in the Kingdom’, 2001
‘Simon of Taibutheth’ facsimile: ‘A Map Makers Dream’
Reviews, mostly relating to ‘Journey to the Inner Mountain’, 1992-2003
Research papers on Eratosthenes, Posidonius and the Anti-Cythera mechanism (‘Spanner in the Works’); Andreas Michel’s abstract for ‘The subject of Exoticism: Victor Segalen’s Equipee’, and ‘A Night Filled With Feathers’
Photocopy of ‘Life of Venziano Gonzaga’ by Gian Francesco Marini, 1914 (Italian)
Photocopy of Abelard / Heloise letters; Monastic and Citeaux research material; Jorge Borges ‘In Pursuit of the Blue Tiger’; a list of quotations by philosophers including Cowan; Thoughts on Ficino
Material relating to the initial Admiralty Chart coverage of Australia J.J. Doyle, RAN
Maps material including printed copy of Fra Mauro’s Mappa Mundi
Publishers’ remittances 2003
‘Bridging the Gap’ draft chapter of ‘Elements of Aboriginal Tradition’
Draft essay ‘ Crossing the Thar’, 1989
Draft essay ‘Celestial City’, 1986
Draft essay 'The Spirit in Place: a Credo’, 1993
Book proposal ‘Journey of a Mystic: The Great Ode of Sharafuddin Ibn al-Farid’ I a new interpretation
Two copies of draft playscripts for the play ‘Eulo Queen’, 1990

Box 24

Contains 11 files, with material pertaining to various books written in the late 1990’s and early 2000s. Books such as ‘A Troubadour’s Testament’, ‘The Great Wing’, ‘Desert Father’ and ‘Exile in the Kingdom’. According to Cowan, the material relating to Greek computers such as epigrams, early calendars and shield devices may have also influenced ‘Spanner in the Works’. This book represents aspects of Cowan’s thinking during this period.

Each file contains more than one facsimile article and topics include Greek computers, Troubadour poetry, courtly love, the Heraclitus fragments and material relating to early Orphism and Kindred religious movements

Box 25

Contains 13 files, with material pertaining to various books written in the late 1990’s and early 2000s. Books such as ‘A Troubadour’s Testament’, ‘The Great Wing’, ‘Desert Father’ and ‘Exile in the Kingdom’. According to Cowan, the material relating to Greek computers such as epigrams, early calendars and shield devices may have also influenced ‘Spanner in the Works’. This book represents aspects of Cowan’s thinking during this period.

Each file contains more than one facsimile article and topics include Greek oracles, Greek religions, the Knights Templar, Wilfrid Blunt ‘The Desert Hawk’, Ucello, Desert pilgrimage and Henry “the navigator”

Box 26

“Ideal City file” notes including a hand-drawn map, 2002
Folder with portrait of Jean de la Valetta (Gate of Felicity)
Photocopy of ‘Rouleaux des morts’, 1866, the prototype for the mortuary roll in ‘A Troubadour’s Testament’
Reviews of early books, correspondence 1995-1996
Papers by Henri Corbin on “Fedele d’ Amore” Sufism (in French)
Essays and poems ‘On Savage Art’, ‘The Golden Tablets’, correspondence, condensed version of ‘A Mapmaker’s Dream short story, ‘Roc’s Egg’ (Temenos Journal) story; A lecture ‘On Entering a Virtual Monastery’ (Michigan State University) a tourism article on Mauritius, 1998-2000
“Surrealities” file with information, correspondence relating to proposed Festival of Montville, QLD Australia, 2001-2002
Foreign Publishers file with details of World-wide right sales etc, 1994-2001
Sabbioneta, Italy research material including a timeline history, Kurt Foster article, tourism ephemera, copy of town plan and antique print ‘Outer Cooling Room of the Bath, Near Pasmatia Kapousi, Constantinople, Turkey. Original steel engraving drawn by T. Allom, engraved by T. A. Prior. 1838, hand-coloured

Box 27

Sabbioneta further research material including articles, correspondence, 2002
Photocopy of ‘The Travels and Adventures of Sidi Ali Reis’ by A. Vambery
Photocopy of ‘The Tragedy of King Christophe’, a play by Aime Cesaire
Photocopy of ‘Surrealism and Film’, J.H. Matthews, 1970
Photocopy of ‘Jean (Hans) Arp, Collected French Writings’, 1974 (English translation)
Photocopy of ‘The Sa’Dan Toradja Chant for the Deceased’ Volume 49, by Harry van der Veen, 1966 (‘Messengers of the Gods’ research)
Photocopy of ‘Depuch Island’, Western Australian Museum Special Publication No. 2. 1964

Box 28

Photocopy of ‘Louis Bunuel: an Introduction’ by Ado Kyrou, 1963
Research material on the history of Iran
Research articles on Persia and the Holy Grail, The Avesta, phrases and customs
Photocopy of material relating to Plutarch, Moralia, Isis and Osiris; The Holy Family in Egypt
Publishing contracts, correspondence, 1990-2001
Photocopy of ‘Selected poems of Divani Shamsi Tabriz’, 1898 (‘Rumi’s Divan of Shems of Tabriz’ research)

Box 29

Photocopies of articles and chapters on the Zoroastrian Faith by A.V. William, S.A.Nigosian and J.P. de Menasce (A Mapmakers Dream research)
Photocopy of ‘Burning Water: Thought and Religion in Ancient Mexico’ by Laurette Sejourne, 1976
Photocopy of ‘A Tempest’, a play by Aime Cesaire based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Copies of plays by Aristophanes, Beckett, Picasso, copy of ‘Antinarcissus’ winter issue, 1969-70
Typescript essay ‘Dream Journey’ first draft (later “Mysteries of the Dreaming” chapter) translation into French and accompanying letter to Jean Peter, 1987
Typescript essay ‘Cosmic Horse: Equine Nature as a metaphysical Reality, 1986
Edited typescript essay ‘Dropping in on the Lightning Brothers: Rock Art Preservation in the Top End’, includes appendix in language by Josephine Flood and two photographs
Address book, 1966-1970s [fragile] includes photographs of Cowan as a schoolboy
Material relating to a collaboration with performance artist and printmaker Mike Parr including pictures and poems, 1997-1998
Research notes for ‘River People’ book (never published), 1967
‘Letters from a Wild State’ correspondence and original illustrations for the publication, 1990-1991 correspondents include Julia McCutchen, David Horton, Michael Murray, Bill Viggiano, Howard Sandum, Toinette Lippe, William Stanley Merwin
‘Elements of Aboriginal Tradition’, correspondence with publisher, Elements
Stroud Valley Chronicle (never written), research notes, 1981-1982

Box 30

Bali research for a book (never written), 1992
‘The Castle of the Winds’, research for a book (never written), 1986

‘The Zogo Lei of the Torres Strait: Men of Power among the Island’ research notes and correspondence for the book later named ‘Messengers of the Gods : tribal elders reveal the ancient wisdom of the earth’, 1991
Research notes for ‘Messenger of the Gods’ (‘The Omen Birds’ working title), first draft of chapter 1, which was cut (File part 1)
‘The Omen Birds’ (File part 2) including maps, letters, book proposal
Master typescript of ‘Port Louis’ essay, 1996; ‘The Rainbow Philosopher’ essay, 1996; letter from Blackwoods re early publishing acceptance, 1968
Correspondence with Shambhala, mostly between Cowan and Peter Turner about ‘A Mapmaker's Dream: The Meditations of Fra Mauro, Cartographer to the Court of Venice’, 1995-1997
Articles and notes on the writings of Ceylonese metaphysician and art historian Coomareswarmy

Box 31

Canto 13 from ‘Periploi’, Cowan’s long Poem
Edited typescript for front and back cover of ‘Two Men Dreaming: A Memoir, a Journey’ by James Cowan
Original edited typescripts of ‘Portrait of a Komodo Dragon’ and ‘Port Louis’
Balgo Hills research file
‘Messenger of the Gods’ Publicity file
‘Francis: A Saint’s Way’ promotional material, 2002
International publishers, correspondence, 2000
6 essays ‘L’apres midi d’une Faune’, ‘The Crossing’, ‘Descartes Equation’, ‘The Invisible Text’, ‘In Search of the Invisible Wind Rose’, ‘The Fishbowl Syndrome’, mostly unpublished; Poem ‘The return of Telemachus’
‘Interesting articles, and research material file’, 1993-2000
“Fundacion la Caixa” exhibition in Spain including draft speech transcript ‘One Mapmaker’s Dream’, 1996-1999
Keesing Studio, Paris, 1996 Arts Council of Australia correspondence
Sale of house in Italy, 1999
Photocopies of book covers, review, 2001
Working with Aboriginal people including Warlayirti artists; research material on Indigenous art and history; correspondence with Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Clyde Holding, 1983, 1993-1997
Magazines ‘Simply Living’ Vol. 2, No. 1, 1983, ‘POL Magazine’, December 1983, ‘Alive ‘n Kicking’, Autumn 1981 containing articles by James Cowan

Box 32

Philosophic essays draft typescripts: ‘Towards a New Philosophy for Action’, ‘A ‘Creole Lady’, ‘The Crossing’, and ‘The Rainbow Philosopher: an encounter with Heraclitus’
Book List and other items, 1996-1997
Mt Athos notes, including correspondence from Richard Dickinson, another visa for the mountain, 1973-1974
‘A Short Biography of Jean-Francois de Galaup de Laperouse, 1741-1788 Parts I and II
‘The Berber Chronicle’ - Chapter 12: The Ghat Chronicle, original manuscript and typescript chapter, 1982
’Overflow’ notes for a story based on Clancy of the Overflow
Photocopy of ‘The Troubadours’ 1912, by Rev. H.J. Chaytor
Desert Flight itineraries, Libya 1970-1973

Box 33
‘First (“Portuguese”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Second (“Feast of the Dead”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Third (“Great Snake”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Fourth (“Kung/Fairweather”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Fifth (“Yagan”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Sixth (“Seal Rocks”) Chronicle’ 1981
‘Seventh (“Wandjina”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Eighth (“Hare”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Ninth (“Darwin”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Tenth (“Rainmaker”) Chronicle’ 1982 including correspondence with publishers and Tom Keneally, 1983-1984
‘Eleventh (“Marrakech”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Twelfth (“Ghat”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Thirteenth (“Luxor”) Chronicle’ 1982
‘Fourteenth or Giza (”Royal Ship”) Chronicle’ 1983,
‘The Berber (“Cyrene”) Chronicle
Research and notes for future chronicles

Box 34

Research and notes on Pythagoras, 1982
Research and notes on Akhenaton, 1982
Research articles on traditional music
Research and notes on Coomaraswamy
Research and notes on Mount Athos, 1973
Research and notes on Myth and Symbolism
‘Maximus the Confessor’ draft playscript and research notes, 1978
‘Toby’s Angel’ Memorandum of Agreement with Wentworth Books, correspondence and promotional material including publicity portraits of James Cowan, 1975
‘The World Atlas of Divination’ correspondence , promotional material and drafts, 1991-1992
Prose Poems: Paroles original of ‘Petroglyphs’ 1994 ‘Walkabout’ draft, part of 3 stories ‘Waltzing Matilda’, 1970s

Box 35

Element Books publisher’s correspondence, 1996
Brandl & Schlesinger publisher’s correspondence relating to ‘Petroglyphs’ including mock up, 1996
Lecture notes and transcript ‘The Open-Air Cathedral: Landscape as Tradition and Metaphor’
Nomadic tribes essay research including articles and lecture transcripts, 1984, 1990
Ancient building, mysterious places articles, correspondence with DK direct, 1992
Sulawesi material, ‘Toraja project’ articles, correspondence, 1994
Children’s stories including correspondence, drafts of ‘The Fire-bird and the Crocodile’, ‘The Boy from Nowhere: an Aboriginal Children’s Story’, ‘The Slippery Boomerangs’, and ‘Olive Python’, 1993-1994
Basho Project material including Australia-Japan study opportunities, 1993
Photocopies, photograph and transcribed articles of Rene Guenon
Printed essay ‘On Caves and Gorges’, Temenos Magazine article
‘Power of Myth’ notes research for ‘Messengers of the Gods’
World trip 1991 including Howard Sandum letter on books and correspondence with Jill Kerr Conway, Bill Viggiano and publishers, 1990-1991
Curriculum Vitae aged 31 with several job applications, 1973
Short articles on Leptis Magna, the Early rock churches of the Goreme Valley and a critique of Cigarette advertising
Material relating to lectures including international programs, correspondence and lecture transcripts: ‘Totemic Identity’, ‘Visionary Geography: An Aboriginal Perspective of the Environment’, ‘What is Tradition’, and ‘Esoterism in Aboriginal Art’, 1992
Personal financial papers, 1990/1991

Box 36

‘Sacred Places in Australia’ two large folders of research articles, 1990-1992
‘Kun-Man-Gur The Rainbow Serpent’ drafts, correspondence and material relating to the publication by Barefoot Books, 1992-1993
‘The Art of Balgo Hills’ book proposal, 2002
Material relating to Cowan’s consultancy regarding Indigenous art centre management including correspondence with Minister Richard Alston, articles, discussion papers, ephemera, 2002
‘Report on Art Centre Management in the Top End, Centre and Kimberley Regions of Australia’, November 2002. Researched and written by James Cowan
‘Listening to the Land’ interview transcripts for James Cowan interview conducted by “Transforming Art”, 1992 and others
‘Vision of the Elders: Sharing the Spirit of the Land’ Coo-ee Gallery, 1994
Correspondence and statements relating to Craftsman House publication on the art and artists of the (Warmun) Turkey Creek region, Kununurra, 1994-1996
Research material for Two Men Dreaming: A Memoir, a Journey. 1994-1995

Box 37

‘New Gold Mountain’ novel research and correspondence regarding publishing and grants, 1985
Photocopies of printed versions ‘Where Two Oceans Meet’, 1991-1992
“Toledo Translators” material, including papers regarding a group of 12th Century Latin translators, Spanish and Arabic translators and translators of scientific knowledge, as research for ‘The Great Wing’, John of the Cross
Research notes for ‘The Great Wing’, John of the Cross including an essay by Ibn Tufayl and material relating to Theresa of Avila
Research material for ‘The Horse’ essay including a map of the country of the Arabian Horse, 1894; a photograph of a dust storm, possibly Narrandera, 1903 and a photograph of Frank McQuade in front of the One Tree Hotel, Hay ca 1930s
‘Death Chant’ and lecture notes
Miscellaneous papers including drafts for ‘The Infinite Library’, Wirrimah: New Art from the Balgo Hills’, research articles, lecture flyers and a Cowan review of ‘The Sacred in Life and Art’ by Philip Sherrard, 1993; ‘The Tree, The Serpent And The Titans: An Essay About the Feminine Universal Force and the Ancient Knowledge’, by Baron Julius Evola (1898-1974), Italian Philosopher

Box 38

2 Address books
International currency notes:
1 Dollar Hong Kong
1 Rupee Ceylon
1 Peseta Spain
2 Rupees India
1 Gulden Netherland
1 Cent Japan
10 Cents Japan
1 Gulden Dutch East Indies
½ Gulden Dutch East Indies
4 x 1000 Lire Italy
1 x 50 Lire Italy
1 x 5 Lire Italy

Magazines featuring articles by James Cowan: Parabola, Spring 1992; Hoofs and Horns, November 1985, The Australian Way, February 1988
Warner Books promotional material for ‘A Mapmaker’s Dream’, 1997
Commencement booklets (2), Grand Valley State University, 2002 (Conferring of Cowan’s Doctorate)
Tourist brochure
Photographs
Postcards received or annotated
Blank postcards, religious cards
Photocopy of Coptic book

Box 39

Research articles relating to Oxyrhynchus, Gospel of St Thomas, The Apocryphal New Testament, St Antony, 2001; The Early Life of the Virgin Mary, 2004; Ephraim of Syria’s ‘The Pearl, 2000
Fragment of a translation of ‘Oedipus in Colonus’ for presentation in the Montville open air theatre
Coies of the meditation ‘A night filled with feathers’
Research material for “Universe book”, never published, 2003
Book reviews, 2002-2003
Poems Henri Marchaux, ‘Exquisite Corpse’, 2002
Draft essays ‘City travels’
Booklet ‘A Gala Evening of Poetry’ Centenary of the birth of T.S. Eliot, 1988
Interview of James Cowan by Jim Arraj, transcript, 2003

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder