A celebration of manuscripts in the Kerry Stokes Collection

Abstract

The Kerry Stokes Collection, developed over more than 30 years, reflects his diverse interests, intellectual curiosity and personal passions and has resulted in acquisitions which include maps, rare books, manuscripts, documents, photographs, paintings and historic relics. The Collection also focuses on Australian works of art from the colonial period to contemporary art, and includes works by international artists. A major collecting focus is the theme of exploration, including the discovery of Australia and in particular Western Australia. Photographs and manuscripts associated with the celebrated British expeditions to Antarctica are also collected. Described are the manuscripts acquired by the Collection, and how they are stored, accessed and made available to scholars and academics for research. Examples of individual manuscripts and major manuscript collections are noted.