Guide to the Papers of Jessie Street

Feminist correspondence, July 1927-April 1938 (File 1) - Box 10

Papers include: correspondence and forms relating to The Home Training Institute which was established by Street in 1924; correspondence with The Feminist Club, Sydney, of which Street was President, including a proposal to amalgamate with the Women's League of NSW, the NSW Women Voters' Association and the Women's Service Club to form the 'United Associations of Women'; and letters of invitation from a number of English organisations to meet with members during Street's visit in 1930. Correspondence with various organisations and government officials regarding issues such as contraception, requirement for a medical certificate before marriage, domicile for women in the case of divorce, and married women teachers...

Feminist correspondence, January 1940-December 1940 (File 2) - Box 10

Papers include: correspondence of the United Associations of Women of which Street was then President. Correspondence with various organsations and individuals about issues including the employment of women; the reason of insanity as a grounds for divorce; equal pay for women; and employment of women radio announcers by the ABC...

Feminist correspondence, March 1941-June 1946 (File 3) - Box 10

Papers include : correspondence of the United Associations of Women; correspondence and reports relating to the Child Care Conference, 1994; correspondence of the Council for Women in War Work. Correspondence with various organsations and individuals about issues including equal pay for women, the employment of women in industry, the eligibility of women for jury service, child care, sexually transmitted disease...

Feminist correspondence, August 1946-February 1950 (File 4) - Box 10

Papers include: correspondence and papers relating to the Status of Women Council (SWC) of which Street was Vice-Chairman, including minutes of the inaugural meeting of SWC in Tasmania held in Hobart in August 1947 and minutes of a meeting held in November 1947, a copy of the Constitution, a copy of proposed amendments to the International Bill of Human Rights submitted by Street on behalf of the SWC; and an invitation to Street to take part in a project to record 26 outstanding women of the world discussing the SWC; correspondence relating to activities of the United Associations of Women and those of the Australian Woman's Charter, of which Street was Chairman and a copy of a letter from Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, regarding the issue of equal pay for equal work. Correspondence with various organsations and individuals...

Feminist correspondence, April 1951-May 1968 (File 5) - Box 10

Papers include: correspondence relating to activities of the Australian Woman's Charter; correspondence with members of the World Woman's Party, Washington, USA; of which Street was Vice-Chairman representing Australia; and typescripts of several letters to editors, often in response to articles in their publication. Correspondence with various organsations and individuals about issues including children of women in prison, working mothers, prostitution and trafficking of women in Africa, equal pay...

Feminist broadcasts and conference speeches by Jessie Street (File 6) - Box 10

Papers include: typescripts of broadcasts and speeches by Street. Topics include 'Allowances for Wives' (1936), 'After the war then what about equality for women – is it back to the kitchen?' (1944), 'Population unlimited' (1944), 'International Women's Day' (1946), 'Australian Woman's Charter Conference', 'The Status of Women Commission', 'Equal pay for men and women' (1948), declining birthrate, and 'A new deal in Jugo-Slavia' (1949).

Equal pay and equal opportunity for women at work, 1929-49 (File 7) - Box 10

Papers include: a small number of typescripts by Street relating to 'The Trade Union Equal Pay Committee'. There is also a collection of pamphlets on various issues relating to women's rights from organisations that include The six point group, London, The Open Door International for the economic emancipation of the woman worker, London, United States Department of Labor; The British Federation of Business and Professional Women; and the Council of Action for Equal Pay, Sydney.

Equal pay and equal opportunity for women at work, 1950-60 (File 8) - Box 10

Papers include: typescripts of writings by Street entitled 'Married Women' and 'Housewives must act' together with a number of pamphlets on various issues relating to women's rights from organisations that include Trades and Labour Council of QLD; The Open Door International for the economic emancipation of the woman worker, London; National Union of Women Teachers, London; the Equal Pay Committee, Melbourne; and the International Labour Organisation, Geneva. There is also a booklet entitled 'Combined Equal Pay Committee of Western Australia' which was prepared for a deputation to the WA Premier (1960).

Equal pay and equal opportunity for women at work, undated (File 9) - Box 10

Papers comprise a series of typescripts of writings by Street on subjects relating to women's rights titles of which include 'The right of married women to economic independence', 'Woman as a homemaker', The remuneration of women', 'Equal pay and opportunity', 'The equal pay question', 'Equal pay for equal work', and 'A married woman's right to work'.

Women, the Workforce and World War II (File 10) - Box 11

Papers include typescripts of writings by Street entitled 'Women's work and 100% war report' and 'Woman's home front' and papers relating to a conference entitled 'How women may share in post-war policy-making' held at the White House, Washington, in 1944.

Legal, civil and political rights of women including women on juries on women and education (File 11) - Box 11

Papers include typescripts of writings by Street entitled 'New education for the new age', 'The universal declaration of human rights and how it applies in Australia', 'Women in politics', and 'The future of women in politics'. There are also pamphlets, the First Annual Report of the Democratic Women's Association (1938) and a United States Department of Labor publication 'The legal status of women in the United States of America', 1938.

Notes on women and juries (File 12) - Box 11

Typescript of a piece by Erna Keighley entitled 'Juries to-day', 1941.

Notes on Suffragette Movement including recordings of suffragettes made in London, 1960 (File 13) - Box 11

Papers comprise typescript of a piece by Street entitled 'Rose Scott centenary' and the transcript of interviews of early suffragettes recorded by Street in London in 1960. Interviewees were Lilian Lenton, Charlotte 'Charlie' Marsh, Eileen Casey and Mary Leigh. There is also an incomplete typescript of a piece by Monica Whately, L.C.C., entitle 'Dorothy Evans, the story of a militant'.

Notes on divorce and marriage reform (File 15) - Box 11

Papers include typescripts of pieces by Street entitled 'Economic status and security of married women', 'Would a greater degree of community living tend to destroy the family as a social unit', and 'Some scattered thoughts on marriage relationships'. There are also pamphlets and papers of the Married Women's Association', London on related topics.

Notes on child welfare (File 16) - Box 11

Papers include: typescript of piece by Street entitled 'Guardianship of infants' together with pamphlet issued by The Child Welfare Reform Association, [Sydney], entitled 'The case for the neglected child'; a booklet issued by the Six Point Group, London, entitled 'The unprotected child and the law' by Bernard Shaw; and the report of the Director-General of Public Health, NSW, for 1938.

Notes on women's domicile (File 17) - Box 11

Papers include: typescript of piece by Street entitled 'Domicile of married women', pamphlet issued by the Australian Federation of Women Voters entitled 'The nationality of married women' together with booklets on the same issue published in London. There is also a brief report from the Inter American Commission of Women entitled 'Inaugural session of Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality', 1931.

Notes on women in Britain, Japan, U.S.S.R, U.S.A and China (File 18) - Box 11

Papers include: typescripts of a writings by Street entitled 'Women in Japan', 'Women in the USSR', 'Work of women's organisations in capitalist democracies and socialist democracies' together with notes on the creation of the Inter-American Commission of Women in 1928.

Australian Women's Charter Conference, 1943-67 (File 19) - Box 11

Papers relating to the Australian Women's Charter of which Street was one time Chairman and later Patron. Includes a copy of the constitution of the Charter, programs and reports of several conferences, typescripts of papers given by Street and copies of Quarterly Reports of the Charter (1964-1967). There is also a report of the preliminary meeting of the Status of Women Council Federal Officers and the Australian Woman's Charter Committee Federal Officers, Melbourne, 1949.

Papers of the World Woman's Party for Equal Rights 1952-53 (File 20) - Box 11

Papers relating to the World Woman's Party, which was established in the USA by Alice Paul to promote issues of women's suffrage. They include minutes of meetings for the period 1952-1953 at which time Street was the Australian representative.

Notes on the Australian Status of Women Council (File 21) - Box 11

Papers comprise drafts and final text of the Constitution of the Council.

Notes on feminist conferences, 1916-56 (File 22(i)) - Box 12

Papers include: typescripts of talks given by Street at the Conference on the Teaching of Sex Hygiene (1916) and at the Women's International Democratic Federation Council Meeting, Berlin, 1951; a report by Street of the International Women's Conference, Paris, 1945; and a report of the inaugural meeting of the Status of Women Council (1947) together with minutes of two other meetings (1948 and 1949). There is also a group of papers relating to international conferences on women's rights including the All-India Women's Conference in Hyderabad, 1945, which Street attended; and printed material on the Session of the Council of the Women's International Democratic Federation, Moscow, 1949; the International Labour Conference, Geneva, 1951; the World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, 1953; the World Congress of Mothers, Lausanne, 1955; the first World Conference of Women Workers, Budapest, 1956; and a report of a Seminar on the Status of Women, London, 1956.

Notes on feminist conferences, 1916-56 (File 22(ii)) - Box 12

Papers include: typescript of speech by Street at the International Assembly of Women, Copenhagen, 1960; copy of an address by Sir Robert Webster entitled 'Management and the woman worker' presented at the National Conference on the Status of Women in Employment, Melbourne, 1966; agenda for Annual General Meeting and Constitution of the Suffragette Fellowship, London; and A record of the proceedings of the ninth conference of the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association.

Notes on the United Association of Women and invitation to the 1979 Golden Jubilee Dinner of the Association (File 23) - Box 12

A group of miscellaneous papers relating to the activities of the United Association of Women. Included is a draft document entitled 'Basis of amalgamation agreed upon by the Joint Committee for Unification…'; reports by members on UAW various initiatives; a group of pamphlets promoting women's issues; copies of early newsletters (1943 and 1949), and copies of the United Associations of Women News Sheet (1959 and 1968). There is also a copy of a personalised bookplate designed for Street...

Notes on the Home Training Institute. Feminist Publications, 1932-59 (File 30) - Box 13

Papers relating to the establishment and operation of the Home Training Institute which was established by Street in 1924 to offer training to girls in all aspects of home care and to issue them with certificates of efficiency one that training was completed. Included are typescripts by Street about aspects of the work of the Institute, objects and regulations of the Institute and proforma documents to be completed by clients.

Notes on Street's overseas visits, 1938-64 (File 15) - Box 14

Manuscript and typescript accounts of Street's extensive overseas travels including visits to Paris, China, Russia, Japan, Munich, Ghana, Bulgaria, Prague, Tashkent, Vienna, Dubrovnik, Canada, and Dublin. Included is the text of an interview with the victims of Hiroshima and Bikini (1945), an account of Stalin's death and funeral (1953) and the text of a broadcast made by Street on Japanese radio (1954). There is also a notebook containing diary entries of a trip to Czechoslovakia, Poland and Greece, which included a visit to Marshall Tito (1948).

Correspondence and papers concerning the United Nations, 1945-47 (File 1) - Box 17

Papers relate to the first UN Conference held in San Francisco in 1945 and to the work of the Status of Women Commission (SWC). Street was the Australian government appointed delegate at the first UN conference in San Francisco in 1945 and in 1946 was appointed by the UN as Vice-Chairman on the Status of Women Commission Under the Economic and Social Council of the UN. Papers include government correspondence relating to Street's appointment as a delegate and her travel arrangements to the first conference; correspondence with individuals and representatives of organisations working for women's rights showing support for the work being done to promote issues within the UN forum; progress reports by Street, and a copy of amendments proposed by the SWC to the International Bill of Human Rights...

Correspondence and papers concerning the United Nations, 1948-November, 1949 (File 2) - Box 17

Papers relate to Street's work for the Status of Women Commission (SWC). Included is correspondence, a draft agenda for the third session of the SWC, reports on resolutions of the SWC, and a proposal for the formation of a Division on the Status of Women. There are also papers relating to a questionnaire designed by Street with a view to preparing a booklet reporting on the position of women and discriminations and inequalities which effect them.

Correspondence concerning the United Nations, October, 1949-March, 1965 (File 3) - Box 17

Includes typescripts of a number of letters by Street relating to her work on the Status of Women Commission.

Papers concerning the United Nations Status of Women Commission, 1945-47 (File 4) - Box 17

Typescripts of broadcasts, interviews and reports by Street relating to her work for the UN. Includes a supplementary report on the first session of the Status of Women Commission.

Papers concerning the United Nations Status of Women Commission, 1948-49 (File 5) - Box 17

Typescripts of broadcasts and reports by Street relating to her work for the UN. Includes a draft Declaration of Human Rights (Jul 1948) and reports on events at the second session of the Status of Women Commission in (Jan 1948). There is also a booklet published by the UN entitled 'What the United Nations is doing for the status of women'.

Papers concerning the United Nations Status of Women Commission, 1951-59 (File 6) - Box 17

Includes papers and typescripts of pieces by Street relating to activities of the Status of Women Commission. Also included is the draft of a pamphlet entitled 'United Nations and the control of atomic energy…' compiled by Street with a foreword by physicist Eric Burhop, together with typescripts of writings by Street about the peace keeping role of the United Nations.

Papers concerning the United Nations Status of Women Commission, 1960-65 (File 7) - Box 17

Typescripts of reports and writings by Street about issues relating to the work of the United Nations including notes about the 19th General Assembly of the United Nations, 1964. There is also the typescript of an address by Street at the International Assembly of Women, Copenhagen, 1960; notes of a Board Meeting of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women together with a copy of the keynote address by J.F. Arnot, Canberra, 1964; and a copy of a published article by Street reporting on the Sixth World Conference Against A and H Bombs, Tokyo, 1960.

Jessie Street's British passport as well as pamphlets and photographs concerning the United Nations (File 1) - Box 30

Included is a copy of a pamphlet entitled Historic World Charter adopted by The United Nations at the San Francisco Security Conference, June 1945.

Photographs taken during Street's overseas visits, 1945 (File 3) - Box 30

Included is a letter dated 1930 from J.J.C. Bradfield enclosing images of the Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction.

Photographs taken during Street's overseas visits, 1952-65 (File 4) - Box 30

Personal photographs of Jessie Street and her family, 1915-43 (File 6) - Box 30

Personal photographs, 1930-59 (File 7) - Box 30

Photographs taken in the USSR, 1930-45 (File 8) - Box 30

Photographs of Jessie Street's relatives, 1915-62 (File 9) - Box 30

Photographs taken at Women's Conferences, functions and meetings, 1945 (File 10) - Box 30

Miscellaneous photographs, mostly annotated, added in May 2001 (File 11) - Box 30