Guide to manuscripts on Women in Politics and History
This guide lists Fryer Library manuscript collections which document or interpret the experiences, ideas and activities of women in Queensland history. Literary collections have generally been omitted, but otherwise the list aims to be inclusive. Women in the political arena are a particular focus, however the collections also document women’s experiences in the professions, in waged employment and in private life. From the diaries of individuals to the records of prominent organisations, from the moral reformers and temperance advocates to the more radical expressions of first and second wave feminism, the list reflects the diversity of Fryer’s manuscript sources in the broad field of women’s studies.
The entries range in size from single folders (designated by an ’F’ call number) to multi-box collections (with ’UQFL’ call numbers), and all are generally available for consultation in Fryer Library’s reading room. This wealth of source material is complemented by the library’s substantial holdings of books, journals and newspapers and its vast political ephemera collection, encompassing the innumerable campaigns and issues that have affected and mobilised women in Queensland, especially since the 1960s.
| Author/Title | Date | Call No | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashworth, Elizabeth | 1959 | F817 | Lecture on the Queensland Women’s Electoral League, delivered to a group of political science students at the University of Queensland. |
| Australian Federation of University Women | 1920-1985 | UQFL176 | Papers mainly related to the 15th I.F.U.W. Conference in Brisbane in 1965. |
| Bacon, Eva: Papers of Eva and Ted Bacon | 195?-1992 | UQFL241 | Correspondence, minutes, typescript articles, reports, circular letters, photographs. |
| Baines, Sarah Jane | 1907-1909 | F773 | Correspondence from Emily and Christabel Pankhurst, E. Pethick Lawrence and Dora Marsden. Includes news releases and folded newspaper cuttings from "The Suffragette" June 13, 1913. |
| Beilby, Raymond | 1873-1968 | F232 | Biographical material collected by Raymond Beilby in the course of his research on Tasma. |
| Calvert, Jane | 1978?-1984 | UQFL306 | Papers relating to the Working Women’s Charter Campaign 1979, and the Fourth Women and Labour Conference, Brisbane, 1984. |
| Children by Choice Association | 1967-1999 | UQFL488 | Submissions, correspondence, leaflets, media releases, minutes, papers, and funding related activities. |
| Children by Choice Association | 1982 (?) | F3112 | Contains the history, signed Beryl Holmes 1982, article entitled Doctors in the struggle, signed Janet Irwin 1980 ; and chronology entitled Activity leading up to Pregnancy Termination Control Bill 1980. |
| Children by Choice Association | 1982 | F2155 | The Official history, includes submissions, bills, acts, constitution, correspondence, surveys, reports, leaflets and educational course material by and about Children by Choice. |
| Clark, Frances | 1868-1970 | UQFL444 | Papers, correspondence, photographs, newspaper cuttings and ephemera relating to Frederick Thomas and Elizabeth Brentnall and their family, in particular their daughter Flora Harris and grand-daughter Noela Denmead. Photographs and papers relating to Daphne Mayo and her work on the Queensland Women’s War Memorial in Brisbane, Australia, in the early 1930s. |
| Combined Women’s Refuge Group (Qld) | 1978-1993 | UQFL463 | Minutes, correspondence, typescripts, newspaper clippings, reports, publications and posters, assembled by CWRG Secretary, Claris Burrows. |
| Council of Action for Equal Pay (NSW) | 1938 | F1945 | Includes Council of Action for Equal Pay report to first Interstate Conference on Equal Pay, Feb 1938, presidential address by Muriel Heagney and George Weir and copy of circular letter and petitition. |
| De Vries, Susanna | 2000-2007 | UQFL421 | Drafts and research material for the publications ’Great Pioneer Women of the Outback’ (2005), ’Blue Ribbons, Bitter Bread: the Life of Joice NanKivell Loch’ (2000), and ’To Hell and Back : the Banned Account of Gallipoli’ (2007). |
| Feminist Club of NSW | 1935 | F2057 | Programme of the Feminist Club of N.S.W. 21st birthday party, 77 King St., Sydney [on] 20th June 1935. Includes list of Feminist Club achievements and office bearers. |
| Ferrier, Carole, 1946- | 1935 | UQFL474 | Pamphlets, bulletins, newsletters, political ephemera and newspaper cuttings relating to protest politics and culture in Brisbane during the 1970s and 80s. Includes some records of Socialist Action and the Queensland Coalition for Democratic Rights |
| Glassey, Thomas | 1912 | F973 | Typescript speech on women suffrage in the Locke Memorial Hall, Bedlington, Northumberland, England at a mixed farewell banquet tendered to him by his numerous friends on Saturday evening, 1st June, 1912, prior to his departure for his adopted country - Queensland. |
| Gorring, Pam | 1960? -1989? | UQFL296 | Papers concerning Women’s Electoral Lobby (Brisbane); Women’s Electoral Lobby Brisbane Child Care Committee; Radio Station 4BW; Queensland Association for Mental Health. |
| Griffiths, Jennie Scott | 194? | F1720 | Autobiography of Jennie Scott Griffiths. |
| Heagney, Muriel A | 1960 | F1946 | Letter to Mr J. Keeffe, Secretary, Queensland Branch of the A.L.P. re activities of Labor Women’s organizations and with Labor’s platform and policies. |
| Hecate | 1973- | UQFL235 | Hecate is an international feminist journal founded and edited by Professor Carole Ferrier. Collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, press releases and newspaper cuttings, financial records, subscription files, some miscellaneous files, photographs, articles submitted for publication, paste ups, proofs, advertising. |
| Holmes, Beryl | 1982 | F3113 | History of Children by Choice, papers relating to the Working Women’s Charter Campaign 1979, and the Fourth Women and Labour Conference, Brisbane, 1984. |
| Huybers, Edith | 1875-1876 | F371 | Diary written by Tasma’s younger sister, Edith Huybers. |
| Irvine, Florence | 1983-1990 | F3169 | Songs and music composed by Flo Irvine. ’ Union of Australian Women 40th Anniversary’ written for the UAW’s Fortieth Anniversary Dinner. |
| Irwin, Janet | 1999 | F3152 | Letters of appreciation to Senator Margaret Reynolds by her colleagues, on the occasion of her retirement. |
| Kelly, Sarah | 1959 | F2275 | Summary of the Labor women of Australia. |
| Kelly, Caroline | 1909-1987 | UQFL489 | Contains professional and personal papers of Australian theatre identity and social anthropologist, Caroline Kelly. Includes notes and reports on Kelly’s fieldwork at Aboriginal communities in Queensland and New South Wales in the 1930s. |
| Low, Carol | 1974-1984 | UQFL276 | Records of Women’s Community Aid Association, newsclippings, leaflets, typescripts, newsletters, reports, letters, pamphlets and photographs, showing history of Women’s House, Brisbane. |
| Lucas, Llywelyn | 19?? | F1288 | Letter (postscript only) to E.M. England discussing poetry of Myra Morris, difficulties of women combining authorship and marriage. |
| Macauley, F.E.M. | 1909 | F3363 | The Women’s Marseillaise, printed song sheet giving lyrics of a protest song used by The National Women’s Social & Political Union (Great Britain). |
| Marchisotti, Daisy | 1905-1985 | UQFL156 | Correspondence, newspaper cuttings, articles, cards, photographs, publications, typescripts, manuscripts, booklets, notebooks, diaries, theatre programmes, agendas, constitutions, minutes, reports, receipts, accounts, legislation, research material, notes, press statements, propaganda, submissions, tapes, posters, plans, family history, map, Aboriginal flag. |
| McCaig, Wendy | 197? | F3362 | Thesis manuscript on the Female Confectioners’ Union of Australia (Victorian Branch) During the Depression |
| McCulloch, John | 1994-1995, 2004 | UQFL449 | Oral history interviews conducted with Queensland state and federal women parliamentarians in 1994/1995 and 2004. These interviews were used in the publication ’From Suffragists to Legislators’. |
| McFarlane, Marie | 1949-1995 | UQFL281 | Reports, pamphlets, brochures, conference material, meeting minutes, correspondence, journals and posters relating to left-wing politics in Brisbane with an emphasis on women’s movement activities and trade union activity within Telecom Australia.. |
| Munn, Catherine Mackenzie | 1919 | F2157 | Speech on women’s suffrage, Aberdeen, Scotland. |
| National Council of Women of Queensland | 1906-2004 | UQFL402 | Microfilm and DVD copies of minutes books. |
| National Women’s Media Centre Queensland Branch | 1985-1999 | UQFL353 | Correspondence, administrative records, financial records, minutes, reports, discussion and conference papers, newspaper cuttings, newsletters, periodicals and research materials related to MediaSwitch, a national body founded in 1988 to monitor the portrayal of women in the media, which merged with the National Women’s Media Centre in 1999. |
| New Housewives’ Association | 1948-1950 | F1100 | Leaflets and publications of the NHA, a predecessor of the Union of Australian Women. |
| Noonuccal, Oodgeroo | 1981 | F3294 | From a previously unpublished interview conducted in May 1981 by Bruce Dickson on the eve of the first public exhibition of Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s art at the Brisbane Community Arts Centre (now Metro Arts Centre), staged as part of NAIDOC Week. |
| Noonuccal, Oodgeroo | 1978 | F1698 | Letter 1978 Feb 1 to John Beston re: personal plans for lecture tour in U.S. and visit to Russia. |
| Noonuccal, Oodgeroo: Papers | 194*-1985 | UQFL84 | Correspondence, literary manuscripts, photographs, newspaper cuttings, speeches, reports, press releases, notes, invitations, programmes, plans. |
| Noonuccal, Oodgeroo | nd | F3135 | Poems, includes draft essay on the influence of women thoughout history, and newspaper cutting from The Queenslander 1938 June 8 on ’Sales and the women’. |
| O’Connor, Jean | 1957-2003 | UQFL467 | Minutes, correspondence, photographs and other records of the Seamen’s Union Women’s Committee (Brisbane). |
| Palfreyman, Marjorie | 1938-1959 | F2349 | Marjorie Palfreyman was social editor of Steering Wheel. Contains draft essay on the influence of women thoughout history, newspaper clipping from The Queenslander 1938 June 8 on 'Sales and the women', invitation to Mrs. Palfreyman to attend the Queensland Centenary Celebrations 1959, card with rough notes. |
| Peck, Sally | 1906-2004 | F2048 | Transcript of interview with Sally Peck by Helen Grant-Taylor. Peck speaks of her family background; the Depression; school and childhood memories in Southport; employment experiences; death of parents in 1938 and effect on family; sex, abortion in 1930s; family home and living conditions; family life; unemployment camp at Southport; health care; religion; migrants and Aborigines she knew; Australian society; entertainment and recreation; royalty; memories of the 1930s. |
| Queensland Supreme Court | 1926 | F2369 | Certificate of admission of Katharine Elizabeth McGregor to the bar of the Supreme Court of Queensland, the first woman to be admitted. |
| Reynolds, Margaret | 1890-1999 | UQFL295 | Includes: Queensland Labor Womens’s History Collection 1890-1900, Queensland Women’s Service Collection, Federal Council for Reconciliation - first and second agenda papers 1991-1996, selected issue files (environment and social policy development) 1893-1999, Margaret Reynolds speech files and press release 1983-1999, correspondence with Queensland ministers. |
| Romaniuk, Kon | 1994 | F3126 | Pioneer Woman of Dentistry: Myra Rendle Mackenzie |
| Scribblers’ Literary Society | 1923-2004 | UQFL417 | Rules and history of the organization, syllabuses, membership lists, and papers read at meetings. |
| Society of Women Writers (Australia) Queensland Branch | 1982 | F2299 | Short stories and poems by members of the Society with comments by other members. |
| St Henry, Marjorie Ann | 1949-1983 | UQFL246 | Records of South Coast Women’s Organisation, includes annual reports, constitution, minute book, circulars, press cuttings books. |
| Stead, Christina | 1975 | F3341 | Letter to Patrick White about Elizabeth Hardwick and her book, ’Seduction and Betrayal’. |
| Synge, Lesley | 1976-1987 | UQFL470 | Lesley Synge was a participant in the 1970s and 1980s women’s movement in Brisbane and the concurrent campaigns against the Queensland government’s curtailment of civil liberties. She is a writer and teacher. |
| Thomas, Kath | 1954-1981 | UQFL175 | Includes Labour history material, historical leaflets, various minutes of the trades and Labour Council (Qld) Equal Pay Committee and A.C.T.U., news clippings, research notes and submissions, correspondence and research notes of the A.M.I.E.U. and the U.A.W. |
| Thomas, Kath: Reminiscences | 192?-197? | F2479 | Subjects include childhood at Wynnum and Lindum, participation in Communist Party activities in the 1940s, and Val Fraser (colleague in the Communist Party). |
| Trades and Labor Council of Queensland Women’s Equal Opportunity Committee | 1991 | UQFL300 | From Lunchroom to Boardroom Oral History Project. Recordings of interviews with Joyce Murphy, Ivy Willey, Jenny Prohaska, Alice Hughes, Ivy Neilsen, Jean Bowden, Marie Crisp, Constance Healy, Jean O’Connor, Ida Welsh, Vi Cox, Susie Dickson, Frances Bishop, Julba Julba Woman Dance troupe, Loma Thompson, Pat Bowe, Bessie Lymburner, Elena Timms. |
| Truscott, Meta | 1934-2006 | UQFL385 | Diaries and scrapbooks, with pasted-in newspaper clippings and other ephemera. Meta Truscott is a resident of Ashgrove in Brisbane, and has written extensively about the history of the area. |
| Union of Australian Women | 1968 | F1963 | Correspondence about seniority and equal pay for women employed by the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland State Public Service. |
| Union of Australian Women | 1950-1954 | F1110 | Ephemera includes leaflets, circulars and other publications of the UAQ Victorian Section. |
| Union of Australian Women | 1969 | F2333 | 1969 Queensland Conference Records, includes invitation; agenda; draft resolutions; state report precis; amendments to state rules; state rules 1968; ’The UAW and its work’. |
| Union of Australian Women | 1930s-1998 | UQFL193 | Documents, leaflets, newspaper clippings and correspondence on various topics, banners, badges, posters, periodicals, photo album, constitution and programmes, rules, minutes, agendas, cashbooks, reports of local branches and Queensland Branch of Union of Australian Women, newsletters. |
| Williams, Heather | 1975-1976 | F3197 | Records of Women’s Electoral Lobby, Brisbane, including proposals, policies, reports, correspondence. |
| Women at Work | 1944? | F2334 | Summary of ’Women at Work’, a Current Affairs Bulletin issued by Army Education. Includes letter from Officer-in-Charge of Public Relations, Ministry of Post-War Reconstruction, 1944 June 20, Canberra (1 leaf), and part of Bulletin issued by Ministry (p.2-3). |
| Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Queensland | 1886-2001 | UQFL438 | WCTU minutes, correspondence, membership rolls, reports, leaflets and other ephemeral publications. |
| Women’s Community Aid Association | 1969-1995 | UQFL457 | Records of the Women’s Community Aid Association and Brisbane Women’s House, and publications and ephemera relating to the women’s movement and other political causes in Queensland in the 1970s and 80s |
| Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Queensland Branch) | 1960- | UQFL251 | Correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, newspaper cuttings, press releases, financial records, publications, articles, notes, ephemera. |
| Women’s Social and Political Union | 1910 | F2043 | Flyer promoting a meeting for a "women’s demonstration [to be] be held in the Royal Albert Hall, on Thursday, November 10, 1910, at 8 pm." |
| Women’s Bookshop (Highgate Hill, Brisbane) | 1984-1998 | UQFL367 | Includes financial records, promotional material, correspondence, publisher’s catalogues, flyers, photographs, posters and ephemera. |
| Wright, Hannah | 1886 | F799 | Diary of a voyage to Australia aboard the SS Duke of Westminster, London to Brisbane, 1886. |
