Guide to the Papers of Peter Singer
MS 9870
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Peter Singer
- Title
- Papers of Peter Singer
- Date Range
- 1965-1999
- Collection Number
- MS 9870
- Extent
- 8.4 metres (60 boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The papers constitute a record of Singer's academic career and public life as philosopher, ethicist, activist and author from his undergraduate years at the University of Melbourne up to his departure from Australia in 1999 on his appointment to Princeton University. They include early student notes and essays, teaching notes and course materials from his Monash University years, records of the activities of the Centre for Human Bioethics, and extensive papers relating to Singer's research and publishing, including drafts and/or copies of many of his books and articles.
There is voluminous correspondence with colleagues, institutions, co-authors, publishers, organisations and individuals relating to his work and activities, and responding to his ideas and campaigns, particularly in relation to animal rights, the ethics of IVF, abortion and euthanasia. There are also papers that document the establishment and activities of Animal Liberation (Victoria), the Australia and New Zealand Federation of Animal Societies, the Great Ape Project, and animal rights activism more generally. Singer's association with the Australian Greens and his political candidature is only minimally documented.
Papers relating to the journal Bioethics, donated to the Library separately through Dr Helga Kuhse, have been separately accessioned.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn770330).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Peter Singer, National Library of Australia, MS 9870, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated by Professor Singer in 1999 under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme [Cultural Gifts Program]
Arrangement
Most of the papers were received as files or bundles with a descriptive title. Such file arrangements have largely been retained, with additional explanatory notes as required. The extensive correspondence was sorted into alphabetical sequence within the various (often overlapping) chronological sequences, and other papers have also been grouped into series to assist access and research.
Biographical Note
Peter Singer was born in Melbourne on 6 July 1946, the son of Cora (née Oppenheim) and Ernst Singer. He undertook his undergraduate and initial postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, obtaining his B.A. (Hons) in 1967 and M.A. in 1969, and further postgraduate study at Oxford University, being awarded his B. Phil in 1971.
Singer was Radcliffe Lecturer at University College, Oxford from 1971 to 1973, then Visiting Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at New York University from 1973 to1974. He returned to Australia to take up a senior lectureship in the Philosophy Department at La Trobe University in 1974 and in 1977 was appointed Professor of Philosophy at Monash University. He held this position until 1999, when he was appointed Professor of Bioethics, University Centre for Human Values, Princeton University.
In 1983 Singer was appointed Director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, which he had been instrumental in establishing. He held this position part-time jointly with his professorial appointment from 1983 to 1987 and on full-time secondment to the Centre for the period 1987-1997 (as Deputy Director 1992-1997, when he was also Co-Director of the Institute for Ethics and Public Policy). In 2005 Singer renewed his association with Melbourne on appointment as (part-time) Laureate Professor, Centre of Applied Philosophy and Public Values, at the University of Melbourne, a position held concurrently with his Princeton appointment.
Singer was widely recognised for his contribution to ethics in Australia, being elected Fellow of the Academy of the Humanities (1982) and of the Academy of the Social Sciences (1989) and Australian Humanist of the Year in 2004. He was similarly recognised internationally through numerous lectureships, including at Yale, Stanford, Princeton and Oxford, and by his election as Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism in 2004. He has published extensively for over 30 years, many of his books being widely translated.
Singer's interest in animal rights developed during his years at Oxford. He prepared the manuscript for his influential book Animal Liberation while in the United States in 1973-1974 and after his return to Australia he was influential within the organisation Animal Liberation (Victoria), a body established in 1980 devoted to abolishing 'speciesist' attitudes and practices towards animals. He subsequently founded, with Paola Cavalieri, the Great Ape project, which sought to have all the great apes included in the 'community of equals' and accorded the rights of the human species.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. University of Melbourne, 1965-1967
Singer undertook his undergraduate and initial postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, obtaining his B.A. (Hons) in 1967 and M.A. in 1969. This series comprises his student notes and essays in History, Philosophy, Ethics and Logic, early papers (typescript and ms), preliminary notes for his thesis, and some related correspondence.
Series 2. Oxford University, 1969-1973
Between 1969 and 1971 Singer undertook further postgraduate study at Oxford University, being awarded his B. Phil in 1971. This series comprises his B. Phil essays and exam papers, lectures [apparently] given as Radcliffe Lecturer at University College, Oxford between 1971 and 1973, and some related correspondence.
B. Phil. (Philosophy) and Hons Philosophy essays, exam papers, lectures/articles and related correspondence, 1969-1973 (File 1) - Box 1
Includes letters from Derek Parfit, R.M. Hare, and John Mackie, 1973, relating respectively to Singer's seminar paper on R.M. Hare's Freedom and reason, responding to Singer's thesis, and commenting on Singer's paper 'Sidgwick and reflective equilibrium'.
Series 3. Monash University, 1975-1999
In 1977 Singer was appointed Professor of Philosophy at Monash University. He held this position until 1999: from 1983 to 1987 jointly with that of part-time Director of the Centre for Human Bioethics and on full-time secondment to the Centre for the period 1987-1997.
This series comprises mainly papers relating to Singer's appointments, awards, teaching and study leave, his references for colleagues and students, and his appointment diaries, recordings of lectures and talks, and papers relating to a documentary [not completed] by Gregory Miller, The philosopher, the pig and other people: a film about Peter Singer.
There are also papers relating to the Oscar Mendelsohn Lecture, established through a donation by Mendelsohn in 1970 to support in perpetuity a free public lecture or series of lectures 'to promote the study of humanism, materialism, positivism, and other effects of the application of the scientific attitude to human affairs and thought'. Singer was Chairman of the Lectures Committee from 1986 to 1993.
Curriculum vitae, list of publications, published profiles, c1975-1997 (File 1) - Box 2
See also File 9
Marx and Hegel/Marxist Ethics notes [for Philosophy II/III and seminar on historical materialism October 1978]; Marx and Mill teaching notes, essay topics, assessment and examination papers c1980-1986; Practical ethics and Ethics project notes [on disc] (File 4-5) - Box 2
Study leave, appointments, awards, courses, etc., 1977-1997 (File 7) - Box 2
Includes proposal for course on medical ethics 1977; appointment as consultant to the Law Reform Commission in relation to Human Tissue Transplants, 1977; study plan and report under the Fulbright exchange program 1979; program of Premier's Literary Awards 1995; and letter of the University Solicitor regarding Singer's proposed political candidature 1995
Oscar Mendelsohn Lecture Committee, 1986-1993 (File 9) - Box 3
Includes copies of some of the lectures
International Association of Bioethics: constitution, minutes, 1992 (File 10) - Box 3
File also includes 1993 and 1994 congress programs and Autumn 1997 newsletter
The philosopher, the pig and other people: a film about Peter Singer, [documentary], 1995-1997 (File 11) - Box 3
Script, correspondence with the producer, Gregory Miller, and Letter of Agreement with Film Australia
Series 4. References, c1977-97
Copies of references given by Singer on behalf of colleagues and (former) students making application for positions, grants, scholarships, etc. CLOSED until 2020.
Series 5. Correspondence, 1975-1999
This series comprises Singer's extensive correspondence in relation to his official positions and responsibilities as Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University and to his broader professional interests and activities. There is correspondence with colleagues, institutions, co-authors, publishers, media and individuals and organisations responding to his campaigns and publications and articles, relating to grant applications, awards and appointments, and invitations to conferences, requests to speak, contribute articles and give interviews. Some have copies of articles, newsletter or organisation proceedings attached.
The last file, entitled 'Home files 1996-1999', comprises further letters and circulars received privately, relating to memberships and subscriptions, invitations to conferences, seminars and lectures, requests to write articles and reviews, to comment on or discuss matters relating to ethics and animal rights issues, to support related campaigns and subscribe to various publications. It includes copies of correspondence with Simon Wiesenthal, October-November 1997, relating to Wiesenthal's alleged urging of the withdrawal of Singer's invitation to the Gothenburg Book Fair.
The correspondence appears to have been culled regularly of non-current material, and then kept as 'old files', so that there are a number of overlapping chronological sequences. In some instances, correspondence with an individual has been grouped, and such a group placed in a particular chronological section may in fact contain letters from earlier years. There are also inconsistencies in the filing arrangements, with letters filed sometimes under the name of an individual and at other times under the name of his or her institution or organisation. Where noted, this has been indicated in the list of principal correspondents, but these cross-references should not be taken as exhaustive.
Correspondence and other administrative papers relating to the Centre for Human Bioethics and its journal Bioethics are largely contained in the papers received separately from Singer's co-Director (and subsequent Director) of the Centre, Helga Kuhse. There is also correspondence with individuals, institutions, publishers, translators and others within the files relating to specific publications, projects and writings in Series 6, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Principal correspondents include: George Annas; Thomas Attig; The Animals Voice; Academy of the Social Sciences; Academy of the Humanities; Margaret Adams; Australian Institute of Health; Animal Aid; Animal Welfare Institute; Animal Rights Network (see Jim Mason); Keith Adams; William Aitken; Kevin Akers; Avon Books; Norman Autton; Animal Protection Institute of America; Brenda Almond; Robin Attfield; Christoph Anstötz; Karin Anstötz; Thomas Anderberg; American Journal of Ethics and Medicine; The Behavioural and Brain Sciences; Don Barnes; Basil Blackwell; Hasna Begum; BBC (Bryan Magee and others); Mark Buttelwerth; Robert H. Blank; Chris Borthwick; Neil Buchanan; Lionel Bowen ; Christian Byk; Jes Bjarup; Ronald Bayer; BMJ; Bettina Blanck (see Ethik und Sozialwissenschaften); Maxine Cornish; Donald H Clark; Tom Carson; Greg Cronin; Tim(othy) J. Cooney; Bruce G. Cumming; Alto Charo (see also OTA); Brenda Cohen; Miriam Claire; Daniel Callahan (see also Hastings Centre); Norman R. Cohen; Jonathan Cape (publisher); Cambridge University Press (see also Jeremy Mynott); David Cantor (see also PETA); Raymond Corbey; Paolo Cavalieri; John Cattanach; Birgitta Carlsson; Kenneth Cuniff; Carlsen Verlag; Critical Review (see Friedman); Alison Davis; Gavan Daws; David M. Danks ; Alan Duhs; Ken Dyer; Max Deutsher; Denis Daly (Sect., CACEAR); Andrew Donald; Karen Dawson; Michael Duffy; G. S. Downie; Gerald Dworkin; Leanna Darvall; Edgar Dahl; R. S. Downie; Demos; De Geus (see Eric Visser); Paul Edwards; Environmental Ethics; Encyclopaedia Britannica; English Agency ; Encylopaedia of Bioethics; Ethics; Film to Liberate Laboratory Animals, (see Marie Carosello); Michael W. Fox; Enza Ferreri; Fred. M. Frohock; R. G. Frey; R. G. Freeman; Joseph Fletcher; Christophe Fehige (see also Georg Meggle); K. W. Fulford; Derek Freeman; John Fisher; John Funder; Joseph Fletcher; Fischer Verlag (see Claudia Schorcht); Noriyuki Fujii; Jeffrey Friedman; Michael Firestone; Sir Sydney Frost (see Inquiry into Whales and Whaling); Clifford Gobstein; Raanan Gillon; T. Graf-Baumann; Herman Gieselbusch (see also Rowohlt); Janet Goodall; Mark P. Gibney; E. Guisan; Goldman Verlag; John Harris; Helen Holmes; Adam Hodgkin (see OUP); Anna Howe; R. M. Hare; Hastings Centre; Christina Hoff; Clive Hollands; Kaizumasa Hoshino; F. Hirthammer Verlag; Hetta (and Matti) Hayry; Kai Hoshimo; Judith Hampson; Ted Honderich; F. R. Hrubi; Matts Hellstrom; Knud Haakonssen; Brent Howard; Michael Heyward (see also Text Publishing); Inquiry into Whales and Whaling; Nobuyuki Iida; Journal of Medicine and Philosophy; Ian Johnston; Dale Jamieson; Lena Jonsson; Project Jonah; M. D. Kirby (see also Law Reform Commission); John Kleinig; Hartmut Kliemt; Rachel Klayman; Tim Kuchel; Kusum; Helmut Kaplan; H. Kannegiessen; Law, Medicine and Health Care; Law Reform Commission of Western Australia; Anton Leist; Eugenio Lecaldano; Michal Lockwood; Georg Meggle; C. R. Magel; M. Miles; Iain Moir; Bryan Magee (see also Gregg Revivals); Nelly Moia; David Mowbray; Walter Miale; Darryl Macer; Mary Midgley; David Muschamp; Giacomo Maramoao; Sebastiano Maffetone; Eric Mathews; James B. Mason; Maurizio Mori; Gonzala Munévar; Henry Mayer; Dietmar Mieth; Millbank Memorial Fund Quarterly; McGill Centre for Medicine (see also Somerville); New York Review of Books; New Scientist; National Society for Medical Research; Marian Neef; Tom Nagel; Marcia Neave; Joseph Nye; J. B. Neilands; NHMRC Medical Ethics Research Committee; Office of Technology Assessment; Maura O'Brien; Oxford University Press (see also Nicola Brion); David Olivier; Philospher's Annual (see also Patrick Grim); Louis Pascal; PETA (see also Stallwood); D. G. Porter; Derek Parfit; Greg Pence; Jennifer Radden; Jim (James) Rachels; Michael Ruse; David M. Rosenthal; Elixabeth Rapoport; Sergio Ramos; Joseph Raz; Steve Rosen; Tom Regan; Richard Ryder; RSPCA; Alois Rust; Raritan; Margaret Somerville; William A. Silverman; Kim Stallwood (see also PETA); Select Select Committeeon Animal Welfare; Douglas Seanor; Richard Sikora; Udo Schüklenk; J. J. C. (Jack) Smart; Claudia Schorcht; Robert Silvers (see also New York Review of Books); St Martin's Press (see also Joan Higgins and Robert Weil); D. E. Tribe; Nick Tonti-Filippini; Thorsons (publisher); Text Publishing; P. Viinikainen-Rosquist; Robert M. Veatch; Eric Visser; Leroy Walters; Mary Warnock; Ulta Wessels; Wan Jun-ren; J. Wynne-Tyson (see also Centaur Press); Wilson Quarterly (see also Robert Harris; Tomosaburo Yamauchi.
Series 6. Publications, 1975-1999
This series comprises drafts of a number of Singer's books, some with the original book proposal or outline, reviews and correspondence with publishers and other contributors. There are also files of responses to the first edition of Animal Liberation, to the 1993 book How are we to live? and to Singer's 1994 article 'Is there a God?'.
Responses to Animal Liberation and other writings by Singer on animal rights, 1975-1982 (File 2-4) - Box 25
Animal Liberation critique by Sharon Russell and Charles Nicoll, 1994-1995 (File 7) - Box 26
Their critique of the chapter 'Tools for research', published in PSEBM 1994, with Singer's response and related correspondence with the journal editor, Gregory Siskind
Hegel (1982): typescript drafts, proofs, correspondence with publisher Oxford University Press, readers' reports and comments by Bob Solomon, 1982 (File 8) - Box 26
'Sanctity of life or quality of life' ('Pediatrics letters'), 1983 (File 9) - Box 26
Copy of Singer's paper 'Sanctity of life or quality of life', published in the journal Pediatrics July 1983, with responses to the article and Singer's reply.
The reproduction revolution: new ways of making babies (1984) by Singer and Deane Wells: typescript draft, 1983 (File 10-11) - Box 27
[also published as Making babies : the new science and ethics of conception in 1985]
Embryo experimentation : ethical, legal and social issues (1990): outline and correspondence with contributors and publisher Cambridge University Press, 1989-1990 (File 12) - Box 27
See also files on IVF in Series 16
Studies in Bioethics series ('Studies in ethics correspondence'): book proposals, readers reports and correspondence with potential authors and publisher Oxford University Press, 1985-1991, 1993 (File 13) - Box 27
African Apes project correspondence ('Chimp answers'), 1990-1991 (File 14) - Box 27
Responses (mostly refusals) of those invited to contribute to a book on African apes
How are we to live?: ethics in an age of self-interest (1993): drafts and related correspondence, 1992-1993 (File 18) - Box 28
How are we to live?: ethics in an age of self-interest (1993): letters, newspaper cuttings and some articles sent by correspondents, 1993-1994 (File 19) - Box 28
Ethics (1994) ('Oxford reader: Ethics'): ARC grant application, book outline, draft of introductory sections, correspondence with contributors and Oxford University Press, 1992-1993 (File 20) - Box 29
Rethinking life and death (1994): outline, contract and correspondence with publisher, 1993-1994 (File 21) - Box 29
Includes copy of January 1994 UNESCO workshop paper 'Life and death decisions'
A companion to bioethics (1998): proposal, correspondence with publishers, 1993-1994 (File 23) - Box 29
Pushing time away (2003): drafts of Singer's book on his grandfather (under early title Dadi), 1998-1999 (File 25-26) - Box 29
Louis Pascal and 'Rage, rage', c1981-1985 (File 27-28) - Box 30
Correspondence relating to proposed publication of Pascal's 'Rage, rage', with copy of the typescript, two letters between Pascal and John Maynard Smith (1981) and Nick Eberstadt (1985) and two further papers by Pascal, 'Darwin and Malthus' and 'Consciousness and material reality'.
Series 7. Ethics into action: Henry Spira and the animal rights movement, c1974-1998
Extensive source materials relating to Singer's biography of American animal rights activist Henry Spira, published in 1998, and the video/documentary 'Henry - One man's way'.
They include documents relating to Spira's activities (which appear to be copies of Spira's own alphabetical subject files on various campaigns and issues, including American Museum of Natural History, Cosmetics testing, McDonalds, Revlon, etc) and Writings 1975-1996; book outline and partial revisions of text of Ethics into action, with responses, reviews, and letters relating to the published book; and an
There are also papers for the 1996 video documentary, 'Henry - One man's way', including the film proposal, Singer interview transcript 1992 and log of tapes 1996, correspondence with directors, transcript of Animal Rights Coalition meeting 1 June 1991, Spira's campaign publicity, copy of his Strategies for activists: from the campaign files of Henry Spira 1996, and other publications and background papers.
See also file 'Animal experimentation, US/International' (Series 13/13) which includes an exchange of letters between Spira and Singer 1980-81 regarding Spira's campaign against animal testing.
Series 8. Typescripts of published and unpublished papers, c1973-1999
Series 9. Articles and reviews by and about Singer and his writings, 1973-1998
Reviews by Singer of writings and comments by others on ethics, bioethics and animal rights issues; articles about Singer and his publications and public statements.
Series 10. Reprints, offprints and published books, 1975-1998
Reprints and offprints of articles, submission on National Service Amendment Bill 1983, copy of the 1975 paperback edition of Animal liberation marked up for revision for the second edition; and translations (including Italian, German, French, Spanish, Finnish and Japanese) of Animal Liberation, Practical ethics, A companion to ethics, Marx, Hegel and other works.
Series 11. Conferences and seminars, 1986-1998
Printed proceedings, circulated papers, notes and some correspondence relating to conferences attended by Singer. Includes speeches from Centre for Human Bioethics 1982 seminar attended by the Dalai Lama; invitation and report on 1987 Centre for Human Bioethics conference 'IVF: the current debate'; papers from 1988 International Balzan Foundation Round Table with additional paper 'A theological glance at human procreation' by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger; program and papers for Centre for Human Bioethics 1989 Intensive Bioethics Course; program and some papers from the 1991 Consensus Development Conference 'Anencephalics, infants and brain death treatment options and the issue of organ donation'
Series 12. Animal Liberation (Victoria), 1975-1996
Singer was active in promoting animal rights on his return to Australia from the United States, drafting a Policy on Animal Rights in March 1974 and agitating on a variety of fronts, including submissions to parliamentary committees and enquiries and direct representation to political parties and individual politicians. The first Australian Animal Liberation organisation was formed in Sydney in 1977 and the Melbourne body was founded by Patty Mark the following year, with the aims of abolishing 'speciesist' attitudes and practices towards animals, promoting a non-exploitative conservation policy and carrying out these objectives 'in the general spirit of the philosophy expressed or implied in Peter Singer's book Animal Liberation.' Singer was Patron of the Society from its foundation and assumed the Chair in 1980, and over the following years took an active role in its policy formulation and activities, including direct protest action and political advocacy.
This series comprises correspondence, minutes, policy statements, press releases, newspaper articles, submissions and representations, campaign material and other papers created and received by Singer as Patron, Chairman/President and member of the organisation.
Animal Liberation (Vic) News/Newsletters (File 5) - Box 42
Issues vol.1 no.1 (April 1980) – Winter 1985 File also includes no.1-no.2 of Animal Rights newsletter , September-December 1974, an issue of the Sydney Animal Liberation newsletter 1977 and no. 2 and 3 of (Sydney) Animal Liberation, April and June 1978
Correspondence, press releases, newspaper cuttings, draft papers and talks by Singer, newsletters of related bodies, submissions, 1974-1983 (File 8) - Box 43
File includes March 1974 Animal Rights Policy draft by Singer
Correspondence, press releases, newspaper cuttings, draft papers and talks by Singer, newsletters of related bodies, submissions, 1984-1989 (File 9) - Box 43
Animal Liberation (Victoria) versus Anton and Anna Gasser (trading as Silver's Circus): documents, 1989 (File 11) - Box 44
Series 13. Animal rights subject files, 1973-1999
'Early materials on Animal Liberation': articles, newspaper cuttings, flyers, c1973-1982 (File 1) - Box 45
Includes Singer's article 'Animal Liberation: a personal view' in Between the species (1979?)
Animal experimentation: correspondence, articles, newsletters and press releases of animal rights organisations, 1974, 1983-1992 (File 2) - Box 45
Includes correspondence 1983-1984 with Warwick Anderson and others relating to proposed formal dialogue between animal groups and experimenters
Horse racing and jumping fatalities: correspondence, newspaper cuttings, statistics, 1982-1990 (File 3) - Box 45
'Somerset case documents', 1989-1990 (File 5) - Box 45
Court case documents and other papers relating to legal action taken as a result of a visit by Singer and others to Somerset Poultry Farm in 1989 to protest battery caging of hens
Battery hens: correspondence, submissions, newspaper cuttings, memoranda relating to Australian campaign, and background papers from similar action in New Zealand and Germany, 1983-1999 (File 6) - Box 46
'Ruesch libel action', 1990-1997 (File 7) - Box 46
In 1990 Singer took legal action against anti-vivisection campaigner Hans Ruesch for his allegation that Singer 'works hand in glove with Dr Judith Hampson and the entire UK vivisection establishment'. Ruesch lost the case but appealed and continued to attack Singer in his magazine Civis. The papers include copies of Ruesch's articles, legal representations and Singer's correspondence with his lawyer Ranieri Broggo and others, responses (many hostile) to the dispute, press releases, published articles and issues of Civis.
Letters received by Singer (some with replies) on animal rights issues, 1980-1986 and (a few), 1990-1996 (File 10) - Box 46
ALP Animals policy, 1979-1984 (File 11) - Box 46
Includes ALP (Victoria) draft policy revision, statements by candidates, correspondence with Ministers, statements in Parliament
Animal experimentation, US/International, 1979-1981 (File 13) - Box 46
Correspondence and publications relating to American and other opposition to testing on animals, especially Draize rabbit blinding tests; includes exchange of letters between Singer and Henry Spira regarding Spira's campaign against animal testing in the United States. (see also Series 7)
Series 14. Australian and New Zealand Federation of Animal Societies, 1980-1997
The Australian and New Zealand Federation of Animal Societies was established in 1980 with the principal aim and objective of promoting the cause of animal rights and welfare throughout Australia and New Zealand. Singer was appointed its first Chairman and served subsequently (as President and Vice-President) for many years.
This series includes copies of the Federation's constitution, policy statements, correspondence, minutes, reports, memoranda, draft codes, press releases and newspaper cuttings.
Series 15. Great Ape Project, 1989-1998
The Great Ape Project was founded by Singer with the aim of having all the great apes included in the 'community of equals' and accorded the rights of the human species - specifically the right to life, prohibition of torture (including laboratory experimentation) and the protection of individual liberties - and of gaining acceptance at United Nations level of a declaration of these rights. The project was launched in June 1993 with the publication of the book The Great Ape Project edited by Singer and Paola Cavalieri, a series of essays by 34 contributors who supported the initiative and contributed their royalties to the wider aims of the Project. The book included the text of the Declaration.
See also papers relating to the publication Animal Liberation and other writings in Series 6, and African apes project correspondence in Series 15.
Correspondence with Paola Cavalieri 1989-90, book contributions and early draft of the Declaration, 1989-92 and correspondence with publishers, 1992 (File 1) - Box 49
Correspondence with Cavalieri 1993-95 relating to reviews, translations and revisions of The Great Ape Project, and documenting their split over the mechanism of structuring the Project and further pursuing its aims (File 2) - Box 49
Final drafts, publishing agreement and some correspondence with contributors, 1991 (File 3) - Box 49
4th Estate [publisher]: correspondence re publicity, financial matters and sale of U.S. rights to St Martin's Press, 1993-1995 (File 4) - Box 49
'GAP correspondence': correspondence with individuals, groups and organisations regarding the Project, the book and the Declaration, with some published material, 1993-1997 (File 5-7) - Box 50
'Correspondence with other groups', 1993-1995 (File 8) - Box 50
Mainly articles, reports, discussion papers; some correspondence with Estaban Rivas and others; and copies of first GAP newsletter March 1995
Series 16. Research projects, 1982-1997
This series comprises files on projects conducted by Singer and various co-workers under Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) research grants awarded between 1982 and 1992. Most files contain the original application, some with assessors' reports; many also include progress and/or final summary reports and correspondence and papers/articles relevant to or arising from the research.
Most of the research undertaken related to ethical issues involved in IVF, decisions on quality of life, abortion and health services resource allocation generally.
Titles given in brackets are those assigned by Singer to the relevant files.
Attitudes to the killing of marine mammals, 1981-1983 ('Japanese whales and dolphins') (File 1) - Box 52
Notification of Australia-Japan research grant for the project, final report, and related correspondence, submissions, newspaper cuttings and articles, including 'On the ethics of whaling' by Yoshihiro Hayashi.
Ethical and legal problems of IVF, 1983-1984 (File 2) - Box 52
Grant application by Singer, Helga Kuhse and A. Rassaby [replaced by Deane Wells] and related articles and correspondence (including responses to the subsequent book The reproduction revolution); submission by Singer to the Waller Committee 'Report on the disposition of embryos produced by IVF' and related correspondence 1983-1984; paper by Singer 'Commercialization of IVF process' and responses.
See also Series 11, 1987 conference on 'IVF: the current debate'
Life or death choices for defective newborns ('Defective babies'): grant application, bibliography, final report, with some related correspondence and articles, 1981-1988 (File 3) - Box 52
Further papers relating to the project ('Prem infants'): articles, correspondence and application of Jim Mackenzie as research assistant. (File 4) - Box 52
Bioethical issues in the use of human foetal tissue embryos and gametes, ('Embryo Experimentation etc'): grant application, draft and summary reports, with some related articles and earlier correspondence, 1983-1990 (File 5) - Box 52
Further files relating to the Bioethical issues… project ('Fetal tissue') (File 6-7) - Box 53
: correspondence, minutes of the project group and papers by individual members (Gail Morgan, John Burgess, Karen Dawson, Pascal Kasimba, Stephen Buckle and Beth Gaze)
Deciding about abortion and the pre-natal human being ('Abortion and MDEL applications'): grant applications, 1992, 1995 (File 8) - Box 53
'Surrogacy': letter to Singer from Karen Dawson and John Leeton seeking his views on a particular case of IVF surrogacy, 1993 and miscellaneous articles and other papers re surrogacy, 1982-1989 (File 9) - Box 53
Includes a copy of the 1988 Queensland Surrogate Parenthood Bill
Ethical issues in resource allocation on the basis of quality of life ('Resource Allocation'): grant applications, reports, investigation questionnaires and resulting papers, 1992-1995 (File 10-11) - Box 54
see also Series 6 Files 10-12 for papers relating to publications The reproduction revolution and Embryo experimentation
Ethical approaches to uncertainty about pain: grant application and assessors' reports, 1987 [the application was unsuccessful] (File 12) - Box 54
Allocating health care resources: grant application and assessors' reports, 1990 [the application was unsuccessful] (File 13) - Box 54
Ethical, legal and social aspects of mapping the human genetic constitution ('Genetics'): grant application, (undated) paper by Karen Dawson and Singer, and draft 'Notes for Thalassemia paper', 1990 (File 14) - Box 54
Partiality and impartiality in medical and nursing ethics ('Partiality'): grant application, memoranda, subsequent papers (with Maurice Rickard) and related correspondence, and final report, 1992-1997 (File 15) - Box 54
Ethics: its origins, development, variations and possibilities ('Ethics project'): grant application, assessors' reports, draft papers, application of Margaret Parnaby as research assistant, and progress report, 1991-1992 (File 16) - Box 54
Series 17. Responses to Singer, his writings and campaigns, c1973-1998
The extensive papers in this series relate to hostile responses by groups and individuals in Germany and (to a much more limited degree) Sweden to Singer's writings on euthanasia and quality of life issues. Their protests caused the cancellation or disruption of meetings, including the International Symposium in Marburg and at Dortmund, at which Singer was scheduled to speak in 1989 and 1991.
The papers comprise copies of articles in newspapers and journals, with some related correspondence and covering notes, contemporary and subsequent publications, including Peter Singer in Dortmund by Christoph Anstötz (1992) and Peter Singer in Deutschland edited by Christoph Anstötz, Rainer Hegelsmann and Hartmut Kliemt (1995) [items 35-36]; and an interview of Singer by Hartmut Kuhlmann published in Universitas July 1998 [item 57].
See also copies of general articles about Singer, reviews of his books and responses to specific publications in Series 6, and responses to particular animal rights issues in Series 9 and 13.
'The Singer Affaire': correspondence, copies of articles, 1989-1992 (File 1-2) - Box 55
Includes copies of papers and correspondence conducted by Christopher Anstötz
Wittgenstein symposium: papers re cancellation of the 1991 symposium (File 3) - Box 55
Includes letter by R.M. Hare to the Times, resolutions of various societies deploring the cancellation, and other correspondence and articles.