Guide to the Papers of Charles Perkins, 1956-1993

 

Filter Online content

Some materials from this collection are available online.
Show only online content

Online content

Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 8047
Creator:
Charles Perkins
Extent:
10.5 metres and (75 boxes + 1 large folio box + 2 sound/av carriers)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Charles Perkins, National Library of Australia, MS 8047, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Part available for research; part open with exception; part permission required for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers of Charles Perkins contain correspondence, cuttings, subject files, reports, meeting papers, cassette tapes, copies of official records, inquiry transcripts, speeches, photographs and printed matter documenting his life and career from his early sporting achievements in the 1950s until his consultancy work in the early 1990s.

The collection contains material relating to Perkins' involvement in a range of Aboriginal organisations including Student Action for Aborigines, the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI), Aboriginal Publications Foundation, National Aboriginal Sports Foundation, Aboriginal Hostels Limited and the John and Anna Memorial Trust Fund. There are also papers on his career in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Aboriginal Development Commission.

Also included in the collection are papers relating to Perkins' involvement in soccer, both as a player and administrator, and legal papers relating to defamation cases and the inquiries into the administration of Aboriginal affairs.

Biographical Note:

Charles Nelson Perkins was born on 16 June 1936 at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Aboriginal reserve, the son of Martin Connolly (of Kalkadoon descent) and Hetti Perkins (of Arrernte descent). He was educated at the reserve, at Le Fevre Boys' Technical School (Adelaide), the Metropolitan Business College, Sydney (1961) and the University of Sydney, where he graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts. He married Eileen Munchenberg on 23 September 1961 and had two daughters (Hetti and Rachel) and one son (Adam). Perkins was awarded Jaycees Young Man of the Year in 1966, Aborigine of the Year in 1993 and the Order of Australia in 1987. Perkins' autobiography, A bastard like me was published by Ure Smith in 1975. Charles Perkins: a biography by Dr Peter Read was published in 1990.

Perkins died in 2000.

Career
Date Event
1952-57 Apprentice Fitter and Turner, British Tube Mills (SA)
1963-65 President, Student Action for Aborigines
1965 Led 'freedom ride' through northern New South Wales rural towns publicising discrimination against Aboriginal people
1965-69 Manager, Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs
1965-78 Member, Federal Council for Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (renamed the National Aboriginal Islanders Liberation Movement in 1975)
1967 Vice-Chairman, National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NSW)
1968-70 Trustee, National Aboriginal Tribal Council
1969-71 Research Officer, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
1971-72 Senior Research Officer, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
1969-79 Secretary, National Aboriginal Sports Foundation
1970-79 Trustee, Aboriginal Children's Advancement Society (NSW)
1970-75 Secretary, Aboriginal Aged Persons Homes Trust
1973-82 Chairman, Aboriginal Hostels Ltd
1973-75 Assistant Secretary, Liaison and Consultation Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
1975-80 Secretary and Public Officer, Aboriginal Publications Foundation (Inc.)
1976 Assistant Secretary, Coordination and Strategy Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
1976-86 Chairman, National Aboriginal Sports Council
1977 Assistant Secretary, Research and Overview Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
1978 First Assistant Secretary, Policy Division, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
1979-81 Deputy Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
1980-84 Chairman, Aboriginal Development Commission (part time)
1982 Administrator, John and Anna Woods Trust Fund
1983 Member, Education Task Force (SA)
1984-88 Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Canberra
1984-88 President, Arrernte Council of Central Australia
1989-92 Board Member, SBS Television/Radio
1989-2000 Director, Charles Perkins and Associates, Consultants
1990-92 Member, Australia Council Aboriginal Arts Committee
1991-2000 Member, Olympic Bid Committee, Sydney 2000
1991-2000 Chairman, Arrernte Council of Central Australia
1994-95 Commissioner and Deputy Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commission
Who's who 1999Monash biographical dictionary of the 20th century, 1994

Read, Peter Charles Perkins: a biography (Ringwood, Vic.: Viking, 1990)

Charles Perkins Papers (MS 8047)

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the Library by Charles Perkins in five instalments between 1989 and 1995.

Arrangement:

When the papers were received by the Library, the majority of the contents were filed, but were not arranged in any particular order. Exceptions to this are the semi-official correspondence (series 2) and the chronological cuttings files (series 20, folders 46-51), which were arranged in chronological sequences. The bundles of cuttings listed by subject formed a discrete group, as did much of the material on inquiries into Aboriginal affairs and the consultancy papers. Other series were created by Library staff.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn532231).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Charles Perkins, National Library of Australia, MS 8047, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: