MS 4852
Guide to the Papers of Dame Enid Lyons
Summary
| Creator: |
Lyons, Enid Muriel, Dame, 1897-1981 |
| Title: |
Papers of Dame Enid Lyons |
| Date range: |
1931-1974 |
| Reference number: |
MS 4852 |
| Extent: |
3.2 m. (31 boxes) + 7 folio boxes |
Administrative Information
Access
Available for reference.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the Library by Dame Enid Lyons in
1974. Additions were received in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986 and
1989.
Scope and Content
The collection consists mainly of correspondence, but also includes
photographs, newspaper cuttings, speeches, and broadcasts, manuscripts of Dame
Enids books So we take comfort, The old haggis and
Among the carrion crows, invitations and programs. The
correspondence largely comprises condolence letters from individuals and
organisations following J.A. Lyons death in 1939. The remaining
letters are from politicians, Tasmanian friends, and numerous organisations -
mainly women's groups, religious organisations, and the Liberal Party.
This correspondence, and the speeches and broadcasts, cover such topics as
maternal and infant welfare, social services and abortion law reform.
Related Material
Papers of J.A. Lyons are held at MS 4851.
An oral history interview with Dame Enid Lyons is held by the Library
at Oral TRC 121/30.
A film Dame Enid Lyons is held in the film collection at
NA 1689.
Biographical Note
Enid Muriel Burnell was born on 9 July 1897 at Leesville, Tasmania and
educated at state schools and the Teachers Training College at Hobart. On
28 April 1915 she married Joseph A. Lyons (d. 1939), who was Prime Minister of
Australia between 1932 and 1939. The couple had 5 sons and 6
daughters. Enid Lyons accompanied her husband to Royal Jubilee
celebrations in England in 1935 and to the Coronation of King George VI in
1937. She was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British
Empire in 1937.
In 1943, Dame Enid became the first woman Member of the House of
Representatives, holding the seat of Darwin, Tasmania until 1951. In
1949-1951 she was Vice President of the Executive Council and in 1951-1952 a
member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
Dame Enid published several books including a book on J. A. Lyons
entitled So we take comfort (1965) and an autobiography Among the
carrion crows (1972).
She died in 1981 in Ulverstone, Tasmania.
Box List
17 The old
haggis broadcast scripts
18 So we
take comfort manuscript and typescript
19
Correspondence A - F
20
Correspondence G - O
21
Correspondence P - Various
22-25 Publications, 80th birthday
congratulations, invitations, reviews, correspondence and a typescript of
Among the carrion crows
26-27 Photographs
28 Letters from J.A.
Lyons to E.M. Lyons
29 Letters from J.A.
Lyons to E.M. Lyons, 1914-1915
30 Subject files,
publications and photocopies of diaries for 1935 and 1937
Folio Box
1 Cutting book,
1930-1950
2 Published book
of pictures selected from the public galleries of Great Britain and the
continent
3 Newspaper
cuttings
4
Photographs
5 Photographs
and scrapbook, 1944-1949
6 Scrapbook of
Australian press references to the death of J.A. Lyons
7 Press
cuttings
1983. Last updated September 2002.