  We determine generators of the rational cohomology algebras of moduli spaces
of parabolic vector bundles on a curve, under some `primality' conditions on
the parabolic datum. These generators are canonical in a precise sense. Our
results are new even for usual vector bundles (i.e., vector bundles without
parabolic structure) whose rank is greater than 2 and is coprime to the degree;
in this case, they are generalizations of a theorem of Newstead on the moduli
of vector bundles of rank 2 and odd degree.
