Manion Steele Archive

Material from Sr Margaret Manion IBVM, AO, Loreto Sister, Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne, which includes correspondence, collaboration, notes, etc., with Fr Peter Steele SJ, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Melbourne, Jesuit priest and poet.

Scope of the collection

The Archive includes 15 boxes of materials including correspondence between Fr peter Steele SJ and various poets such as Seamus Heaney, Chris Wallace Crabbe, Peter Porter, and between Fr Peter Steele SJ and Sr Margaret Manion IBVM. Also included in the archive are photos, chapters and corrections of books authored by Peter, lectures, poems, and homilies by Peter.

How to access the Collection

Access to the collection is strictly by appointment only and under the discretion of the Newman College Rector.

Please contact the Academic Centre Director (director@snac.unimelb.edu.au) for further information.

Manion Steele Archival Files located in Tutorial Room 1, Level 4, St Marys Newman Academic Centre.

Box 1

  1. AC067826 – MS STE.CORRESPONDENCE 2010-2013,2022
    Assorted correspondence, both Peter Steele and Margaret Manion, 2010-2013, 2022.
  2. AC067873 – MS STE.CORRESPONDENCE 2009
    Assorted correspondence, both Peter Steele and Margaret Manion, 2009.
  3. AC067867 – MS STE.CORRESPONDENCE 2003-2008
    Assorted correspondence, both Peter Steele and Margaret Manion, 2003-2008.
  4. AC067836 – MS.STE.CORRESPONDENCE 1970-2001
    Assorted correspondence, both Peter Steele and Margaret Manion, 1970-2000. 
  5. AC068642 – MS STE.PETER PORTER CORRESPONDENCE
    Letters from Peter Porter to Peter Steele. Letters dating from 1993-2001.
  6. AC068648 – MS STE.SEAMUS HEANEY CORRESPONDENCE
    Letters from Seamus Heaney to Peter Steele and one from Peter to Seamus. Also letters to and from Margaret Manion and Seamus and Marie Heaney. Letters dating from 1985-2013. 
  7. AC067904 – MS STE.GEESE
    Printouts of original emails sent from Peter Steele to Margaret Manion 02/08/2005 with a birthday poem for Margaret entitled Geese. Includes a revision on 02/09/2005.
  8. AC067842 – MS STE.POEMS FOR PETER
    Poems written for Peter Steele. Refreshed by Nature’s Holy Charms (for Peter Steele, at seventy). Chris Wallace Crabbe, August 2009. Going with the Flow, after Henry Holiday’s painting, ‘Dante and Beatrice’, 1883 (for Peter Steele). Neil Courtney, 2007. Wherever you turn, a metaphor is born (for Peter on his birthday). August 2001. Unclear is written for Peter Steele or by Peter Steele for someone else.
  9. AC067885 – MS STE.1789 MENU
    Menu for 1789 restaurant. Special dinner in honour of Peter Steele, S.J. Tuesday 18 November, 2008. Georgetown, Washington DC, USA
  10. AC067903 – MS STE.LOCAL HABITATION LAUNCH
    Launch of A Local Habitation: Poems and Homilies / Peter Steele. Notes. Morag Fraser. Newman College, Sunday 16 May 21010.
  11. AC067879 – MS STE.GEORGETOWN
    Letters and Documents (2005-2009) relating to Peter Steele’s appointment at Georgetown University as Distinguished Scholar in Residence.
  12. AC067821 – MS STE.ARTICLES AFTER DEATH
    Includes columns/blogs, etc., after the death of Fr Peter Steele SJ.
  13. AC067857 – MS PHOTOS.1
    13 photos and 1 card found together in one envelope in Margaret Manion’s papers.
    One photo identified by Fr Bill Uren SJ as Joanne Lee Dow, Chris Wilcock, Josh Pols, Margaret Manion and Peter Steele in the Newman College Dining room. One photo identified again by Bill as Peter Steele with his brother Paul Steele. One card identified by Bill as from Fr Sacha Bermudez Goldman SJ on his ordination 30/06/2007. Peter Steele’s 50 year celebration as a Jesuit 02/02/2007. 
  14. AC067915 – MS STE.FUNERAL MASS
    The Funeral Mass booklet for Father Peter Daniel Steele SJ AM. The Memorial Mass booklet for Peter Daniel Steele SJ AM, Commencement Second Semester 2012. Readings and Notes for a service. Obituaries from The Age.
  15. AC067891 – MS STE.JUBILEE
    Golden Jubilee as a member of the Society of Jesus, 1957-2007, Peter Daniel Steele booklet (3x).
  16. AC067830 – MS HEANEY.70
    Newspaper articles on Seamus Heaney turning 70.
  17. AC068685 – MS STE.LIVING
    Living (poem), 17/04/1983. Three-page handwritten poem for Peter and Pauline Steele found inside of book, Word From Lilliput: Poems (MS 821.3 STE) in Margaret Manion’s collection. Unclear if ever published, but handwriting identified as Peter Steele’s by Fr Bill Uren SJ.
  18. AC067824 MS MAN.THESES
    Copies of theses title pages, inscriptions, and acknowledgements in Margaret Manion’s collection. Most theses (Masters and PhD) were presented by students that she had supervised. The physical copy of the thesis was shredded.

Box 2

Chapters and corrections of Braiding the Voices, Essays in Poetry / Peter Steele. 2012

  1. AC067837 – MS STE.BRAIDING INTRO
  2. AC067843 – MS STE.BRAIDING STEALING….
  3. AC067902 – MS STE.BRAIDING DANTE….
  4. AC067896 – MS STE.BRAIDING SOLITUDES…
  5. AC067890 – MS STE.BRAIDING STILL…
  6. AC067855 – MS STE.BRAIDING BLESSING…
  7. AC067849 – MS STE.BRAIDING PAST…
  8. AC067817 – MS STE.BRAIDING MUSE…
  9. AC067823 – MS STE.BRAIDING VINCENT…
  10. AC067829 – MS STE.BRAIDING MASTER…
  11. AC067848 – MS STE.BRAIDING LES…
  12. AC067835 – MS STE.BRAIDING SEAMUS…
  13. AC067841 – MS STE.BRAIDING SHOWING…
  14. AC067847 – MS STE.BRAIDING POETS…
  15. AC067853 – MS STE.BRAIDING ROCKS…
  16. AC067854 – MS STE.BRAIDING ELEMENTAL…
  17. AC067860 – MS STE.BRAIDING PETER…
  18. AC067897 – MS STE.BRAIDING LAUNCH
    Photos from the launch of the book. Notes from the speeches made at the launch. 
  19. AC068691 – MS STE.BRAIDING REVIEWS

Box 3

  1. AC068692 – MS STE.HOMILIES 1972-2000
  2. AC067822 – MS STE.HOMILIES 2001-2008
  3. AC068636 – MS STE.HOMILIES 2009-2012; NO YEAR  
  4. AC067871 – MS STE.POEMS UNPUBLISHED
    Poems written by Peter Steele. Unclear if they have published anywhere? All material from Professor Margaret Manion’s residence unless in blue text. Blue text represents material from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.
  5. AC068723 – MS STE.POTOMAC SHEAF
    Unpublished collection of poems written by Peter Steele at Georgetown University, US, in 1994.

Box 4

  1. AC06861 – MS STE.LECTURES, ETC. 1971-1999
    Listings of Peter Steele lectures, presentations, etc. Venue and dates are included for many. All material from Professor Margaret Manion’s residence unless in blue text. Blue text represents material from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College. 
  2. AC068667 – MS STE.LECTURES, ETC. 2000-2011
    Listings of Peter Steele lectures, presentations, etc. Venue and dates are included for many. All material from Professor Margaret Manion’s residence unless in blue text. Blue text represents material from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.
  3. AC068655 – MS STE.CHAPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
    Eight booklets from various services at the Chapel from 2012-210. Some include poetry by Fr Peter Steele SJ. 
  4. AC068637 – MS STE.MISC POEMS, ASSORTED AUTHORS
    Poems and stories by assorted authors. Some poems have notes. Unclear if notes made by Margaret Manion or Peter Steele. 
  5. AC067819 – MS STE.STEELE UNIDENTIFIED
    Articles and reviews written by Peter Steele without dates/titles/publishing details. 

Box 5

  1. AC067883 – MS STE.ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
    Articles and reviews by Peter Steele. Listing in the folder. 
  2. AC068673 – MS STE.ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
    Articles and reviews by Peter Steele. Listing in the folder. 
  3. AC068679 – MS STE.ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
    Articles and reviews by Peter Steele. Listing in the folder. 
  4. AC067914 – MS STE.PERMISSIONS
    Notes and permissions for Peter Steele publications. 
  5. AC068717 – MS STE.STEELE ASSORTED POEMS
    Assorted poems by Peter Steele. Uncollected works published and unpublished poems. List of poems in front of folder. 

Box 6

  1. AC068672 – MS STE.PLENTY: ART INTO POETRY REVISION
    Includes a copy of ERA Research Statement for Peter Steele, Plenty: Art into Poetry; revisions for the chapter Plenty. 
  2. AC06866 – MS STE.DREAMING A BEAR IN THE SOUTH
    Notes for, and copy of, Dreaming a Bear in the South (for Rai Gaita). 
  3. ACO68678 – MS STE.MISC
    Includes ordination cards from 12 December 1970 for Peter Steele; photos of Peter Steele at various ages; possible invitees to Anniversary Mass for Peter Steele SJ, 27 June 2013; musical score by Peter Steele and Christopher Wilcock, Star in Darkness, Fire at Noon; one of Peter Steele’s last lists; The Australian Province of the Society of Jesus Jubilee Medal certificate for Fr. Peter Steele SJ; article on Australian Catholic University’s Doctor of the University Awards, 2011.
  4. AC067877 – MS STE.USB PHOTOS
    Photos printed from USB in folder. 7 Peter Steele photos and 5 Seamus Heaney photos. List of contents of USB included in the folder and these have been transferred to AC share drive under Manion Steele Collections. USB includes recordings of Peter Steele readings. 
  5. AC067872 – MS STE. REVIEWS MISC…
    Reviews by various authors of Peter Steele poetry, books, etc.
  6. AC067865 – MS STE.REVIEWS INVISBILE RIDERS
    Reviews by various authors of Invisible Riders / Peter Steele. 
  7. AC067908 – MS STE.REVIEWS WHISPERING GALLERY
    Reviews by various authors of The Whispering Gallery / Peter Steele. 
  8. AC067866 – MS STE.REVIEWS ART INTO POETRY
    Reviews by various authors of Art into Poetry / Peter Steele. 
  9. AC067859 – MS STE.REVIEWS WHITE KNIGHT WITH BEEBOX
    Reviews by various authors of White Knight with Beebox / Peter Steele. 
  10. AC067884 – MS STE.GOSSIP AND THE WINE
    Guest list for the launch of The Gossip and the Wine, 30/11/2010, The Oratory, Newman College. Rounding the Year list of poems and printouts for first section of The Gossip and the Wine / Peter Steele, 2010.

Box 7

AC068660 – MS STE.MISC WORKS SENT TO PETER STEELE FOR CONSIDERATION 1
Miscellaneous works sent to Peter Steele for consideration, some with correspondence.  Copies of articles, poems, and chapters of books. Assorted journals. All from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.

Box 8

AC068701 – MS STE.MISC WORKS SENT TO PETER STEELE FOR CONSIDERATION 2
Miscellaneous works sent to Peter Steele for consideration, some with correspondence.  Copies of articles, poems and chapters of books. Assorted journals. All from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.

Box 9

AC068641 – MS STE.MISC WORKS SENT TO PETER STEELE FOR CONSIDERATION 3
Miscellaneous works sent to Peter Steele for consideration, some with correspondence.  Copies of articles, poems and chapters of books. Assorted journals. All from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.

Box 10

AC068695 – MS STE.MISC WORKS SENT TO PETER STEELE FOR CONSIDERATION 4
Miscellaneous works sent to Peter Steele for consideration, some with correspondence.  Copies of articles, poems and chapters of books. Assorted journals. All from Peter Steele’s private residence at Newman College.

Box 11

AC0686543 – MS STE.POEMS AND ARTICLES BY MISC AUTHORS 1
Articles and poems by miscellaneous authors in Peter Steele's personal residence at Newman College.

Box 12

AC068707 – MS STE.POEMS AND ARTICLES BY MISC AUTHORS 2
Articles and poems by miscellaneous authors in Peter Steele's personal residence at Newman College.

Box 13

AC068705 – MS STE.POEMS AND ARTICLES BY MISC AUTHORS 3
Articles and poems by miscellaneous authors in Peter Steele's personal residence at Newman College.

Box 14

AC068700 – MS STE.PHOTO ALBUMS, BIBLES, NOTEBOOK
Three photo albums from the home of Margaret Manion. Both albums with photos of Peter Steele in the US and England. Four small bibles from the home of Margaret Manion. A 2012 Religious Diary from Peter Steele’s apartment at Newman College. A personal notebook from Peter Steele’s apartment at Newman College. 

Box 15

AC068687 – MS STE.CHRIS WALLACE CRABBE
Correspondence from Chris Wallace-Crabbe to Peter Steele including letters, memos, poems, copies of articles, etc.