Guide to the Papers of Jack and Jean Horner, 1956-2003

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9503, MS Acc06.134

Creator:

Jack and Jean Horner

Extent:

9.95 metres and (61 boxes, 1 folio Box, 3 oversized boxes, 2 card drawers)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Jack and Jean Horner, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part requires permission for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The bulk of the collection comprises papers relating to both published and unpublished works by Jack Horner, most of which concern Aboriginal rights issues. They include correspondence, research material and edited drafts.

There are papers relating to the involvement of Horner and his wife with the Australian Council of Churches Commission on Aboriginal Development. They include agenda, minutes of meetings and related documentation.

A small amount of correspondence is included in the papers, most of which relates to research for and publication of works by Jack Horner. This correspondence can be found in the relevant series, together with other papers relating to the work. Correspondents include Faith Bandler, Rev. F.G. Engel, Bill Gammage, Lex Grey (University of Sydney) and Dame Edith Lyons.

Biographical Note:

Jack (John) Curwen Horner was born at Sandringham, Victoria on 15 May 1922. He was educated at Sydney High School for four years and then studied art at East Sydney Technical College (1940-42). In 1943, he was called up to serve in the Australian Army. After being discharged, he studied at East Sydney Technical College under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme.

In 1950, Jack and his wife Jean travelled to England where they found work designing and painting scenery for theatre productions. They returned to Australia in 1953 where Jack worked for the Law Book Company. During this time they became involved with the Workers' Educational Association and developed an awareness of discrimination against Aborigines, which has led to their involvement in campaigning for Aboriginal rights and taking an active role in organisations supporting this cause. As Secretary of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, Jack was responsible for campaigns to remove discriminating clauses relating to Aboriginal people from New South Wales laws and he was Secretary of the 'Vote Yes' Committee for the 1967 referendum to remove similar clauses from the Australian Constitution.

The Horners were Executive members of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). From 1969 to 1970 Jack was General-Secretary and from 1961 to 1971 Jean was the Treasurer. For a number of years, they were also members of the Australian Council of Churches Commission on Aboriginal Development. As members, they were involved in supporting issues brought to the Commission's attention by Aborigines and Islanders, mostly relating to land rights and decisions affecting their political and human rights. Jack is a member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra.

Jack Horner has published biographical and historical works, contributed chapters to books and written numerous journal articles, mostly concerning Aboriginal rights issues. His published works include A dictionary of Australian history (1970), co-authored with A.R. Barnes, Vote Ferguson for Aboriginal freedom (1974), 'The day of mourning' in Australians 1938, co-authored with M. Langton (1987) and A peace that is no peace (1988). He is currently working on a history of FCAATSI.

Collection Retrieval Advice:

Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there may be multiple Box 1s). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the Library by Jack and Jean Horner in April 2000.

Further papers were received in August 2001.

Indexed terms

Names:

Jack and Jean Horner

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1941650).

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 Jack and Jean Horner, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

Contact us