Spanning over 50 years, this extensive collection documents fully Sculthorpe's career as Australia's most distinguished composer. Commencing with early newspaper cuttings and other items about himself, Sculthorpe has amassed a large archive of papers relating to all aspects of his career. They comprise correspondence, musical scores, subject files, writings by and about Sculthorpe, programs, reviews, financial records, general administrative papers and photographs. The correspondence and musical scores are particular strengths of this collection. Apart from general correspondence, there is correspondence with family, including early letters written by Sculthorpe to his mother, with other composers, writers and artists and with Faber Music. As well as reflecting the mutual encouragement and discussion that takes place between Sculthorpe and other artists, the correspondence provides an insight into the role of music publishing in the composition process. Correspondents include Don Banks, Barbara Blackman, Ann Boyd, Benjamin Britten, Frank Callaway, Stuart Challender, Manning Clark, Roger Covell, Russell Drysdale, Ross Edwards, Robert Helpmann, Bernard Heinze, Wilfrid Mellers, Randolph Stow, Margaret Sutherland, Peggy van Praagh, Patrick White, Michael Wilding, John Williams and Roger Woodward.
