Aboriginal Rights and Race Relations, 1947-68

Component identifier:

Series 10

Content Summary:

Jessie Street first became involved in the Aboriginal Rights Movement during the 1950s, through the British Anti-Slavery Society, when visiting England. After returning to Australia in 1956, she commenced work on the question of Aboriginal Rights. She was involved in formation of the Aboriginal Rights Organisation, which led to the successful Referendum held in 1967.

The series is extensive and includes information on the political, economic, legal and social status of the Natives of New Guinea, the Indians of Canada and America and the Negroids of South Africa and Africa (Folder 18).

The correspondence extends from 1953 to 1967 (Folders 1-9) and includes letters between Civil Rights Official, Dr Brian Fitzpatrick and the Western Australian campaigner Don Macleod, describing the strike of Aboriginal workers in the Port Hedland district, in 1946.

Papers published by Street are a Report on Aborigines in Australia, May 1957 and Report of visit to Pindar Camps (Folder 16). These reports were based on observations made on her extensive travels to Aboriginal settlements in Australia. Other accounts of her travels are: 'Report of visit to West Australia in connection with Aborigines'; 'Suggestions for Northern Territory' (between Camooweal and Darwin); comments on the 'Report from the Select Committee of Voting Rights of Aborigines'; and 'The question of discriminations against Aborigines and the United Nations.'

Draft petitions calling for an Aboriginal Rights Referendum are also held.

Amongst the large volume of printed and published material are papers of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement and affiliated organisations in Australia and the Australian-New Zealand Civil Liberties Society. Affiliated organisations in Australia include the Aboriginal-Australia Fellowship (Sydney); Union of Australian Women (Sydney); Aboriginal Rights Council (Moonee Ponds, Vic); Aborigines' Advancement League (Melbourne, Vic); Methodist Overseas Mission Committee (Melbourne, Vic) Women's Christian Temperance Union (Melbourne). Other affiliated organisations were the Aborigines Advancement League (A.A); Original Australian Progress Association (Palmyra, W.A); Narrogin and District Native Council (Narrogin, W.A); Narrogin Native Welfare Council (Narrogin, W.A.) and U.A.W. Victorian Section (Melbourne Vic). (Folders, 10-17) There are reports, addresses, speeches, broadcasts and meetings and range from Folder 17 to Folder 24. Newspaper clippings are found in Folder 25.

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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