Paul Brunton was Senior Curator, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales till November 2012. He has worked with the Mitchell Library’s Australiana collections since 1973 and was Curator of Manuscripts from 1986 to 2001. He has published on archives administration and on various aspects of the State Library’s collection. He was President of the Australian Society of Archivists, 1991-1993.
His annotated edition of Joseph Banks’ journal kept on the Endeavour, 1768-1771, was published in 1998 and in 2002 he had published an annotated edition of Flinders’ letters, Matthew Flinders: personal letters from an extraordinary life. He published an annotated edition of Franklin’s diaries in 2004. At present Paul is preparing an annotated edition of the original handwritten journal and logbook of William Bligh kept on HMS Bounty, 1787-1789, for publication by Allen & Unwin.
Paul has curated numerous exhibitions at the State Library including: Matthew Flinders: the Ultimate Voyage which opened in 2001 and travelled nationally, 2002-2003, the national travelling exhibition Miles Franklin: A Brilliant Career? 2004-2005, First Sight: the Dutch mapping of Australia, 1606-1697 March –June 2006, Bound for Glory: Exquisite Books of French Pacific Voyages in the State Library’s Picture Gallery from October 2006 – February 2007, A Grand Obsession: the DS Mitchell story in the State Library’s Picture Gallery from June until September 2007. He curated Politics and Power: Bligh’s Sydney Rebellion 1808, at the State Library from 21 January to 27 April 2008.
Paul curated an exhibition on Charles Darwin at the State Library in 2009. In 2003, he was awarded the Centenary of Federation medal for services to libraries. Paul has lectured to ADFAS societies regularly for many years.
