MS 7755
National Library of Australia
View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
-
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Australian Section
- Title
-
Records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Australian Section
- Date Range
-
1943-1998
- Collection Number
-
MS 7755
- Extent
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1.5 metres (10 boxes)
- Language of Materials
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English
- Repository
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National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The papers comprise correspondence, circular letters, International Executive minutes and reports, Australian Section minutes and reports, various submissions and annual reports, copies of constitutions of the International and Australian Sections, press releases and printed material. There is material relating to the history and aims of WILPF and files documenting correspindence between international sections and with head office in Geneva. Some of the correspondents are Margaret Holmes, Gertrude Baer, Anna Vroland, Bronwen Meredith and Sir Garfield Barwick.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1607690).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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], Records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Australian Section, National Library of Australia, MS 7755, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Library by the League in three instalments in July 1989 (Files 1-59), August 1989 (File 60) and March 1996 (Files 61-80).
Arrangement
The papers have been retained in roughly the order in which they were received.
Administrative History
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is the oldest women's peace organisation in the world. It was founded in April 1915, in the Hague, the Netherlands, by some 1300 women from Europe and North America, who came together in a Congress of Women to protest against the First World War.
WILPF is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with National Sections in 37 countries, covering all continents. Its International Secretariat is based in Geneva.
Its aims and principles are: to bring together women of different political beliefs and philosophies who are united in their determination to study, make known and help abolish the causes and the legitimisation of war; to work toward world peace; total and universal disarmament; the abolition of violence and coercion in the settlement of conflict and its replacement in every case by negotiation and conciliation; to support the civil society to democratise the United Nations system; to support the continuous development and implementation of international and humanitarian law; to promote political and social equality and economic equity; to contribute towards co-operation among all people; to enhance environmentally sustainable development.
WILPF holds a triennial Congress for members and in interim years an International Executive Committee meeting is convened. These events are hosted by a different national section each year. General policy and programs are established by International Triennial Congresses to which national Sections send delegates, and which any member may attend. The congress elects the International President and officers who, together with one representative from each national Section, form the Executive Committee. A permanent Secretary-General works from the International Office.
In Australia, there are branch offices in all states except the Northern Territory. The Australian Section was started in Victoria in 1920.
Item Descriptions
Financial correspondence between International Headquarters and Australian Section, 1967-68 (File 1) - Box 1
International Executive Minutes and Reports, 1962-1971 (File 2-5) - Box 1
International Headquarters letters, 1970-1974; 1983-1984 (File 2-5) - Box 1
Circular letters fro International Chairman Else Zeuthen, 1960-1965 (File 7-8) - Box 1
Circular letters fro International Chairman Dorothy Hutchinson, 1965-68 (File 9) - Box 2
Circular letters fro International Chairman Elise Boulding, 1968-70 (File 10) - Box 2
Circular letters fro International Chairman Ellen Holmgaard, 1971 (File 11) - Box 2
Stockholm Congress – Report and Papers, 1959 (File 12) - Box 2
The Hague Congress – Report and Papers, 1965 (File 13) - Box 2
Nyborg Congress – Report and Papers, 1968 (File 14) - Box 2
New Delhi Congress–Report and Papers, 1970-71 (File 15) - Box 2
Tokyo Congress – International Press Institute, Assembly Canberra, March. 1978 (File 16) - Box 2
Personal correspondence Gertrude Baer with Margaret Holmes, 1963-1973 (File 17) - Box 3
Gertrude Baer reports, 1960-1973 (File 18-19) - Box 3
Peace Research, 1974 (File 20) - Box 3
Peace Education including approach to UNESCO, 1967 (File 21) - Box 3
International Woman's Year, 1975 (File 22) - Box 3
Law of the Sea Conference, 1974 (File 23) - Box 3
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, 1970 (File 24) - Box 3
People Republic of China, 1973 (File 25) - Box 4
Reports to International Executive, 1978-79 (File 26) - Box 4
Proposal for International Energy Agency, 1979 (File 26) - Box 4
Paper on Nuclear Power, 1978 (File 26) - Box 4, Box 4
WA Fund-raising idea, 1978 (File 26) - Box 4
Correspondence with other sections: New Zealand, 1964, 1972 (File 27) - Box 4
Correspondence with other sections: Mauritius, 1975-84 (File 27) - Box 4
Correspondence with other sections: United States, 1961-75 (File 28) - Box 4
Correspondence with other sections: Israel, 1965, 1969 (File 29) - Box 4
Correspondence with other sections: Japan, 1962, 1967 (File 29) - Box 4
Correspondence – Non Governmental Organisations, 1963, 1973 (File 30) - Box 4
Correspondence with International WILPF, 1961-65 (File 31_32) - Box 4
United Nation matters, 1962-1972, 1977 (File 33) - Box 5
Correspondence with Anna Vroland, 1962-1975 (File 34) - Box 5
Federal Executive Minutes (incomplete), 1962-65 (File 35) - Box 5
Correspondence – Federal Section and Branches, 1962-1966 (File 36) - Box 5
Non Proliferation Treaty, 1969 (File 37) - Box 5
Napalm and Chemical Weapons, 1970-1975 (File 38) - Box 5
Resolutions on Vietnam, 1966, 1968 (File 39) - Box 5
Statement to MP's after “Communist Front” accusation, 1966 (File 39) - Box 5
Submission on Arms control and Disarmament, 1984 (File 40) - Box 5
Correspondence – Sir Garfield Barwick, 1962 (File 40) - Box 5
Submission – Foreign Affairs, 1973 (File 41) - Box 6
Submission – Omega Base, 1973 (File 41) - Box 6
Section meetings (correspondence, minutes, reports), 1972-84 (File 42_48) - Box 6
Minutes of National Conference – Adelaide, 12-15 September, 1968 (File 49) - Box 7
Section Secretary's report, 1969 (File 49) - Box 7
Minute of Section meeting, Melbourne, 6-7 February 1971 (File 49) - Box 7
Financial Statement (File 49) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Melbourne, 27-28 January 1973 (File 49) - Box 7
Consultative Member's report Financial Statement (File 49) - Box 7
Annual Report for year ending, 31 December 1973 (File 49) - Box 7
Financial Report (File 49) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Melbourne, 26-27 January 1974 (File 49) - Box 7
Annual Report Branch reports, WA, VIC (File 49) - Box 7
War-in-Space report (File 49) - Box 7
Resolutions for WILPF (File 49) - Box 7
International Congress, Tokyo, August 1977 (File 49) - Box 7
Annual Report (File 49) - Box 7
Reports for NSW / VIC / TAS branches, 1975 (File 49) - Box 7
WILPF / UNAA liaison report (File 49) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Sydney, 24-26 April 1976 (File 49) - Box 7
Reports from NSW / QLD / TAS / SA branches President ‘s Report (File 49) - Box 7
Branch reports, WA / QLD / SA/ TAS50 (File 49) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Melbourne, 23-24 April 1977 (File 50) - Box 7
Branch reports TAS / VIC / NSW / SA (File 50) - Box 7
Vietnamese Orphan's Fund (File 50) - Box 7
War-in-Space report (File 50) - Box 7
Amnesty International report (File 50) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Adelaide, 18-19 March 1978 (File 50) - Box 7
Branch reports NSW / QLD / WA / SA / VIC (File 50) - Box 7
Annual Section Report (File 50) - Box 7
Answers to International Questionnaire (File 50) - Box 7
UNAA liaison report (File 50) - Box 7
Annual Section Report, 1979 (File 51) - Box 7
Financial report (File 51) - Box 7
Branch reports, NSW / Vic / SA (File 51) - Box 7
“Peace and Freedom” report (File 51) - Box 7
Contribution to discussion on Human Rights (File 51) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, Hobart, 25-27 April 1980 (File 51) - Box 7
Annual Report (File 51) - Box 7
President's address (File 51) - Box 7
Report of Workshop on Education for Freedom and Peace (File 51) - Box 7
Aboriginal liaison report (File 51) - Box 7
52 Annual Report, 1981 (File 51) - Box 7
Financial Report – Travel Fund – Guide Lines (File 51) - Box 7
Branch reports, NSW / VIC / WA / TAS (File 51) - Box 7
“Peace and Freedom” report (File 51) - Box 7
Minutes of Section Meeting, WILPF (ACT) report Canberra, 22-29 March, 1982 (File 51) - Box 7
Annual Section Report, 1983 (File 51) - Box 7
Financial Statement (File 51) - Box 7
Queensland branch report (File 51) - Box 7
Section Meeting, Canberra, 10-14 March 1984 (File 53) - Box 7
Annual Report (File 53) - Box 7
Inga Thorsson itinerary (File 53) - Box 7
Programme and Action paper (File 53) - Box 7
Aboriginal Liaison report (File 53) - Box 7
UNESCO liaison report (File 53) - Box 7
Australian Pacific Women's Peace Conference, 1985 (File 53) - Box 7
Section Meeting, Melbourne, 30 May – 1 June 1986 (File 53) - Box 7
Treasurer's report (File 53) - Box 7
Policy and action statement (File 53) - Box 7
Branch reports, NSW / SA (File 53) - Box 7
Aboriginal liaison report (File 53) - Box 7
Section Meeting, Canberra, 30 April – 1 May 1988 (File 53) - Box 7
Report of Meeting (File 53) - Box 7
History: “Early Days”, compiled by C. M. R. Crosland – booklet, 1943 (File 54) - Box 7
50 Anniversary leaflet, 1965 (File 54) - Box 7
“60 and Not Out” – brief background, 1978 (File 54) - Box 7
History and notes prepared by Margaret Holmes in preparation for the Section Profile prepared for the 1980 International WILPF Congress, 1979 (File 54) - Box 7
Section Profile – prepared for 21st International Congress, 1980 (File 54) - Box 7
Definition of WILPF, its aims and organisation, 1983 (File 54) - Box 7
Brief histories of four branches – Tasmania (1978), West Australia (1980), Queensland (1981), South Australia, (1988) (File 54) - Box 7
Constitution: Australian Section Constitution, as adopted in 1956, 1962, 1968, 1978 and 1980 (File 55) - Box 7
International Constitution as adopted in 1934, 1955, 1983, 1987 (File 55) - Box 7
Submissions: Environment and the seabed – Submission to the Government, 1972 (File 56) - Box 7
Australian Government Administration – Submission to Royal Commission, 1975 (File 56) - Box 7
Environmental aspects of proposal by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission and Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd to develop jointly uranium deposits in the Northern Territory - Submission to Public Enquiry, 1975 (File 56) - Box 7
Implications for Foreign Affairs and Defence of the New International Economic Order – Submission to Senate Standing Committee, 1975 (File 56) - Box 7
International Year of the Child – Education of Aboriginal Children in Australia – Submission to the Prime Minister, 1979 (File 56) - Box 7
Independent Foreign Policy – Submission to Minister for Foreign Affair, 1980 (File 56) - Box 7
Halting Nuclear Power Systems in Outer Space – Submission to International WILPF to take up this matter, 1980 (File 56) - Box 7
Foreign Aid, Vietnam and Kampuchea, East Timor and West Irian – Submission to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1983 (File 56) - Box 7
East Timor – Submission to Senate Standing Committee, 1982 (File 56) - Box 7
Correspondence, newsletter, press statements and other papers (added 31 Aug. 1989), 1961-63 (File 60) - Box 8
Australian Section Executive minute book, 1989-1991 (File 61) - Box 8
Australian Section Executive minutes, 1992-1994 (File 62) - Box 8
Australian Section Executive minutes and monthly packages, no. 1-10, 1989-1990 (File 63) - Box 8
Australian Section Executive minutes and monthly packages, no. 11-20, 1990-1991 (File 64) - Box 9
Australian Section Executive minutes and monthly packages, no. 21-30, 1991-1992 (File 65) - Box 9
Australian Section Executive minutes and monthly packages, no. 31-40, 1992-1993 (File 66) - Box 9
Australian Section Executive minutes and monthly packages, no. 41-50, 1993-1994 (File 67) - Box 9
Arms trade, 1989-1994 (File 68) - Box 9
Australian Section Biennial, 1991-1994 (File 69) - Box 9
Beijing Conference, 1994 (File 70) - Box 9
Belau (Palau), 1990-1994 (File 70) - Box 9
Burma, 1992-1993 (File 70) - Box 9
Bosnia and former Yugoslavia, 1992-1994 (File 70) - Box 9
Bougainville, 1990-1993 (File 70) - Box 9
Budget (military expenditure), 1992 (File 71) - Box 9
Cambodia, 1989-1993 (File 71) - Box 9
Chemical weapons convention, 1991 (File 71) - Box 9
“Comfort women”, 1994 (File 71) - Box 9
Conscription- manifesto against, Feb. 1994 (File 72) - Box 10
Conservation of the environment, 1989-1990 (File 72) - Box 10
Correspondence from WILPF (Australia) and WILPF headquarters, Geneva, 1990-1992 (File 72) - Box 10
Costa Rica- imprisonment of Livia Cordero Gene, 1990-1991 (File 72) - Box 10
Cuba, 1993 (File 72) - Box 10
East Timor and West Papua, 1990-1993 (File 73) - Box 10
Elections- questions to candidates, 1990-1993 (File 74) - Box 10
Fragmentation grenades and landmines, 1993-1994 (File 74) - Box 10
Gulf War, 1990-1993 (File 74) - Box 10
Hiroshima Day, 1993 (File 75) - Box 10
Human Rights Conference, Vienna, 1993 (File 75) - Box 10
Human rights- submissions, 1993 (File 75) - Box 10
Indonesia- human rights, military training, 1992-1993 (File 75) - Box 10
International Congresses- Australian reports, 1990-1994 (File 75) - Box 10
Iraq- sanctions, post-Gulf War, 1991 (File 75) - Box 10
Israel, letters to and from re exclusion of 400 Palestinians, 1993 (File 76) - Box 10
Israel- letter to WILPF member Maya Zahavit, 1993 (File 76) - Box 10
Johnston Atoll- disposal of chemical weapons, 1990 (File 76) - Box 10
Men in membership, 1993-1994 (File 76) - Box 10
Miscellaneous- to and from Geneva headquarters, 1991-1993 (File 76) - Box 10
Murray, Kaye- production cassette tape “Peace and freedom”, 1992 (File 77) - Box 10
National Consultative Committee on Peace and Disarmament- WILPF membership, 1990-1993 (File 77) - Box 10
Non-lethal weapons, 1993 (File 77) - Box 10
Nuclear testing, 1990-1993 (File 77) - Box 10
Nuclear testing- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 1992 (File 78) - Box 10
Nuclear testing- comprehensive test ban treaty and verification, 1990-1994 (File 78) - Box 10
Nuclear testing- Hiroshima Day, 1993 (File 78) - Box 10
Peace Intern at Geneva (Duika Watson), 1990 (File 78) - Box 10
Peru- death penalty, 1992 (File 78) - Box 10
Philippines- USA bases, human rights, 1989 (File 79) - Box 10
Racism, 1992 (File 79) - Box 10
Ready reserve scheme (Australia), military training, 1991 (File 79) - Box 10
Somalia, 1992 (File 79) - Box 10
South African elections- monitoring by WILPF volunteers, 1994 (File 79) - Box 10
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (File 80) - Box 10
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), 1990-1993 (File 80) - Box 10
United Nations- reform of, 1991-1995 (File 80) - Box 10
USA- involvement in affairs of other countries, 1992 (File 80) - Box 10
Women- attitudes/violence to, 1992 (File 80) - Box 10
Women- demeaning images in media, 1992 (File 80) - Box 10