United Nations, 1945-65

Component identifier:

Series 5

Content Summary:

The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 after World War II in order to prevent another such conflict. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states. Jessie Street was appointed by Prime Minister John Curtin as a member of the Australian Delegation to the first UN Conference held in San Francisco in 1945. The UN later established the Status of Women Commission in June 1946. Its role was to make recommendations and reports to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, on promoting women's rights and to develop proposals designed to give effect to the principle that men and women should have equal rights. Street was selected as the Australian delegate for the first three sessions from 1946 to 1948.

This is the largest series of the collection because Street retained UN Session papers from 1945 to 1966. Session papers of the General Assembly are located at (Folders 12-57). From 1950 Security Council papers are included in the General Assembly papers. The Status of Women Commission Session papers is located at (Folder 4-7) and papers including speeches, broadcasts and various U.N journals are held at (Folder 7-8). The papers include a few published items one being 'What the United Nations is doing for the Status of Women', published in 1948 by the UN.

Also included in this series is correspondence, ranging from 1945-65 (Folders 1-3), identification passes and travel receipts (Folder 8), delegate handbook and instructions belonging to Street (Folder 10) and speeches, broadcasts and press releases made by Dr Evatt, the Australian External Affairs Minister, who led the delegation (Folder 11). There is a speech by F.M. Forde, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (Folder 11).

Immediate source of acquisition:

Jessie Street's husband, Sir Kenneth Street, donated the papers to the National Library in 1970. Her son, Sir Laurence Street, made a substantial addition in 1972. Further small additions were made to the collection between 1973 and 2001.

Subjects:

Women's rights

Contents

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