George Essex Evans Correspondence

Letter to Browne from Allora. He discusses various local issues and also his disagreement with Butterfield regarding editing and publishing of his poems.  

Letter to Spencer, from Toowoomba, regarding the critique he wrote of George’s book, and thanks him for “a brilliant and sympathetic piece of writing.” 

Letter to Spencer, from Toowoomba, George is sending Spencer some London critiques of his book.  

Letter from Toowoomba, to Spencer, congratulating him “on the high honour paid you by Lord Roberts” and that it must “be a comforting thought for you that through such a campaign you have maintained the honour of Queensland and done your duty, so gallantly both to this State and the Empire...”

Letter to Mr Cowley, from Toowoomba, in which Evans congratulates Cowley on regaining his role as Speaker. 

Letter from Toowoomba, to Spencer, where he talks of his new work the ‘Secret Key’, a copy of which he has sent Spencer separately. 

Letter to Spencer, from ‘Glenbar’,Toowoomba, in which Evans sends Spencer a copy of his latest which was written for inclusion in the ‘Jubilee of Queensland’. 

8 hand-written numbered pages (numbered 1-10, pages 7-8 are missing) of poem entitled “The Black Knight”.  The poem was written for The 'Queenslander' Christmas supplement for December 1887 by G. Essex Evans ("Christophus").

Two typed pages of the poem entitled “The Crown of Empire” with hand written note by Evans stating: "The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, the Right Hon. Sir Edmund Barton, has taken with him to England a copy of these verses, printed in gold on white satin, for presentation to the King. 

One page hand-written poem with no title or date but first line “In the world sorrow, sin and strife.” This poem is referred to by Bill Johnston in his 2 volume work on Evans entitled “ George Essex Evans: Patriotic poet of Australia”, on page 438 of volume 2 (Complete collection of his poetry) as entitled “In the World”

Four page hand-written and annotated copy of the poem entitled “Queen of the North” with note in corner of first page ‘For Queenslander Aug ‘09’.  It is signed by George Essex Evans and dated 1st March 1909.

A hand written piece starting with “Aeneas John, Aeneas John, What do you think the these goings on?” and continuing “I have been asked to judge the twelve poems submitted in this competition, the great prize being, I understand, a beautiful baby named Aeneas John…” It is signed Geo. Essex Evans but has no date.

There is a pencilled in note that states that this piece must “refer to the infant son of Mr Aeneas John McDonnell of Toowoomba". [If this is so then the poem dates from 1904, when Aeneas John Lindsay McDonnell was born, according to the Monuments Men Foundation: https://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/the-heroes/the-monuments-men/mcdonnell-lt.-col.-a.-j.-l]

Hand-written ‘eulogy’ for the late Brunton Stephens entitled “A prose inbuilt” by Evans.

Hand written poem entitled “In Memorium Walter R Patten”, journalist obit. 9th March 1893, aged 29 years. 

A hand-written poem entitled ”Brunton Stephens” dated 30 June 1902 signed by Geo. Essex Evans.

Handwritten poem entitled “William Henry Groom (Vale)” signed George Essex Evans and dated 11 August 1901

Illustrated and handwritten poem written in an ‘olde English style’ and entitled “Ye Ballade of ye Specyal Picnic” signed with the date 21 February 1892.

This poem is referred to by Bill Johnston in his two volume work on Evans entitled “ George Essex Evans Patriotic poet of Australia”, on page 365 of volume 2 (Complete collection of his poetry) and described as a “manuscript hologram” poem.