The University of Queensland

Bookplate of
G.L. Garnsey

Bookplate of
Noela Slessor

Father Hayes' collection of literature is extensive, particularly in the area of Australian literature given his interest in Australiana as a whole.

The Hayes' collection includes the papers of Alfred George Stephens, literary critic and editor of The Bulletin from 1894 to 1906. This letter, addressed to Mr A H Davis, is one example of an item from the Stephens' papers. A H Davis is better known as the author 'Steele Rudd'.

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Stephens had some significant editorial input into the book ­ the original sketches published in the Bulletin concerned different characters and families, and it was Stephens' suggestion that they be redone as the experiences of the Rudd family.

As the fame of Hayes' collection spread, many authors sent him signed copies of their work. One example is We are Going by Kath Walker, later known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal, who in part said:

Walker sent the inscribed book to Hayes to mark his attendance at her address to the Toowoomba Creative Writers Group in March 1965. Another author who was friends with Father Hayes was Dame Mary Gilmore. Inscribed copies of all of her books are in the Hayes collection, as is a collection of her papers, including manuscript copies of poems.

Thanks to Father Hayes, the Fryer Library is fortunate to hold a unique copy of a book by poet Henry Kendall. In 1880, Kendall's third major volume Songs from the Mountains was published. It included a satirical poem on a politician of the day, Ninian Melville, who heard about it and threatened legal action unless the poem was withdrawn. The publishers ­ described by Kendall as 'chicken-hearted' ­ withdrew the volume from sale and substituted another poem. 12 or 15 copies of the original publication, with the poem intact, are known to exist.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, Father Hayes was kind enough to lend volumes from his extensive collection to students and staff at the University of Queensland. He was asked if he had one that included the suppressed poem, and replied that he did not, but would send a different copy down anyway. The copy turned out to be even rarer than one of those original 12 or 15. In it, where the original copy had the satirical poem, has been pasted a double-sided sheet of paper, with the suppressed poem in Kendall's own distinctive handwriting.

Religion and Spirituality