The Henry Lawson collection
The Library's Lawson Collection was formed by the Sydney book collector, Harry F. Chaplin over many years up to the early 1970s. The collection is held in our Rare Books and Special Collections and includes first editions of most of Henry Lawson's books, many of which are autographed presentation copies.
At the heart of our Lawson collection are the original Lawson manuscripts, letters and notes along with the recollections by friends and contemporaries such as Dame Mary Gilmore, Sir Lionel Lindsay, Norman Lindsay and Hugh McCrae.
- From Old North Sydney by Henry Lawson - Call number: Lawson 151
- From Callaghan's Hotel by Henry Lawson - Call number: Lawson 153
- From Letters from Henry Lawson to Fred Shenstone - Call numbers: Lawson 166
The Library holds many items relating to Henry Lawson, including:
- The reformation of Johnson: autograph manuscript (1923) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 228 or view a digitised copy.
- The Scots: a dirge (1909-1924) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 220 or view a digitised copy.
- Recollections of Henry Lawson written (1953-1962) by Zora Cross. Lawson 204 or view a digitised copy.
- Essays on Henry Lawson, Louisa Lawson and Rod Quinn (1880-1952) by E.J. Brady. Lawson 201 or view a digitised copy.
- An address on Henry Lawson (1907-1962) by Professor J. Le Gay Brereton. Lawson 190 or view a digitised copy.
- [Letters relating to Henry Lawson from Mary Gilmore] (1919-1961) by Mary Gilmore. Lawson 188 or view a digitised copy.
- Henry Lawson's household book: Leeton (1916). Lawson 187 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters from Henry Lawson to Arthur Blakeley (1921-1922) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 175 or view a digitised copy.
- A Lawson collection: items of Lawson interest (1893-1964) by various authors. Lawson 164 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters from Henry Lawson to George Robertson (1903-1954) by Henry Lawson and Mary Gilmore. Lawson 173 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters from Henry Lawson to C.J. Dennis (1911-1952) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 172 or view a digitised copy.
- Notes from Henry Lawson to Lala Fisher (1904-1955) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 171 or view a digitised copy.
- Notes from Henry Lawson to Lionel Lindsay (1909-1956) by Henry Lawson and Lionel Lindsay. Lawson 170 or view a digitised copy.
- Letter from Henry Lawson to Reverend John Walker from Darlinghurst Gaol (1908-1963) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 169 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters relating to Henry Lawson and Isabel Byers (1908 and 1958) by various authors. Lawson 168 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters from Henry Lawson to Fred Shenstone from Darlinghurst Gaol (1905) by Henry Lawson to Fred Shenstone. Lawson 167 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters from Henry Lawson to Fred Shenstone (1900-1927) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 166 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters relating to Henry Lawson and John Le Gay Brereton (1892-1949) by various authors. Lawson 165 or view a digitised copy.
- Letters relating to Henry Lawson's stay in England (1900-1969) by various authors. Lawson 161 or view a digitised copy.
- Henry Lawson I.O.U. (1914) by various authors. Lawson 159 or view a digitised copy.
- Dind's Hotel (1921) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 158 or view a digitised copy.
- Women's hearts and tongues - accompanied by notes and cuttings (1916-1919) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 156 or view a digitised copy.
- Italiano - accompanied by notes and cutting (1915) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 155 or view a digitised copy.
- The sea caves - accompanied by notes and cutting (1914) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 154 or view a digitised copy.
- Callaghan's Hotel - accompanied by notes and cutting (1914) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 153 or view a digitised copy.
- The men who sleep with danger - accompanied by notes and cutting (1912) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 152 or view a digitised copy.
- Old North Sydney - accompanied by notes and letter (1904?) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 151 or view a digitised copy.
- Donald Macdonell (1911) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 150 or view a digitised copy.
- The Old Bark School - accompanied by notes and newspaper cuttings (1895-1953) by Henry Lawson. Lawson 149 or view a digitised copy.
- The soldier (1916) by Louisa Lawson. Lawson 006 or view a digitised copy.
- Portrait of Henry Lawson
- From Letters from Henry Lawson to Fred Shenstone ... - Call number: Lawson 190
- From Letters relating to Henry Lawson and Isabel Byers - Call number: Lawson 168
- Photographs of Henry Lawson - Call number: Lawson 185
- From A Lawson collection: items of Lawson interest - Call number: Lawson 164
Access these items
Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) can be accessed by staff, students and academics (using existing University credentials), as well as the general public (by registering for a free RBSC community membership).
The items in this collection can be located in the Library catalogue. Make a request to view an item, under "more options" (at least 2 business days in advance). Then visit the Rare Books and Special Collections Reading Room during opening hours to view.
Items in this collection have also been digitised. View and download scans through the Digital Collections website: The Henry Lawson collection.
Teach with these items
The Library's extensive Rare Books and Special Collections are available to support research and education, through activities including:
- Academic-led classes
- Library-led classes / Object Based Learning (OBL)
- Using digitised content
Contact
Please email enquiries to cultural.collections@usyd.libanswers.com