Guide to the Records of the Parliament House Embroidery Committee

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MS 8369

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Parliament House Embroidery Committee
Title
Records of the Parliament House Embroidery Committee
Date Range
1984-1988
Collection Number
MS 8369
Extent
3.15 metres (18 ms boxes + 1 medium folio box)
Physical Facet
Legacy extent derived from Hume 1 & 2 combined locations spreadsheet.
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises correspondence, financial records, minutes, diaries and notebooks, newspaper cuttings, mounting notes, fabric samples, printed materials, computer disks, photographs, slides and audio and video tapes.

The records relate to liaison between the Committee and the State guilds and guild supervisors; fundraising projects and grant applications; public relations; selection and execution of the winning design; conservation of the embroidery; the production of the publication The Parliament House embroidery: a work of many hands (1988) and relations between the Committee and other organisations and individuals including the architects of the new Parliament House, the Australian Bicentennial Authority, the Parliament House Construction Authority and the Patron, Lady Stephen.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2125536).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Parliament House Embroidery Committee, National Library of Australia, MS 8369, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The files from the Parliament House Embroidery Committee were donated to the National Library of Australia by the former Convenor of the Committee in June and December 1991.

Arrangement

This collection was sorted and listed by a student from the University of Canberra.

Separated Materials

The following audiovisual carriers have been transferred to the Oral History collection and catalogued individually: TRC 5157/1-31, (originally held in MS 8369, Series 17, Box/File 16); These are 31 audio cassettes (plus one extra that is a duplicate), which are now housed in Tape Store 1.

Administrative History

The Parliament House Embroidery Committee was established in 1984 to oversee the design and execution of the embroidery which hangs in the East Gallery of the Great Hall of Parliament House. A competition for the design of the embroidery was won by Kay Lawrence. The embroidery was created by Embroiderers' Guild members in each State.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. State Guilds - Box 1-3, Folio-Box unnumbered (MS 8369)

Although this was a national project, each State was responsible for embroidering a part of the tapestry, following Kay Lawrence's design.

This series includes correspondence between the committee and each State guild, as well as internal files within the guilds, such as a workshop roster, fabric samplers and members' lists and fees.

The series is split into three sub-series: A.C.T., N.S.W. and Other States.

See the folio run for a "Plaque from the South Australian Guild".

Series 2. Guild Supervisors - Box 4-6

Each of the State guilds has a supervisor who oversaw the guild's participation in the Parliament House Embroidery project.

Sub-series 1 includes correspondence between the committee members and the guild supervisors, as well as the supervisors' own files and notes.

The National Co-ordinator, Anne Richards, corresponded with the State supervisors and sub-series 2 contains her files and notebook.

Series 3. Minutes - Box 6

This series contains the minutes from the Parliament House Embroidery Committee (sub-series 1) and from the Archives Sub-committee (sub-series 2).

Both of these sets of minutes are arranged in chronological order.

Series 4. Diaries and Notebooks - Box 7

This series contains a number of working diaries and notebooks pertaining to the Parliament House Embroidery Committee as well as notebooks on the progress of the embroidery.

Series 5. Financial Records and Grant Applications - Box 7-8

The financial records, including cash receipt and docket books, cheque stubs, bank statements and paid accounts of the Parliament House Embroidery Committee, are in this series.

This series also contains files on fundraising projects and grant applications. This material is arranged in chronological order.

Series 6. Public relations - Box 8-9

This series includes master copies of pamphlets, finished pamphlets and background material as well as drafts of the public relations material.

This series also incorporates press cuttings from 1984-87, arranged in chronological order.

Series 7. Design - Box 9-10

The Parliament House Embroidery Committee set up a Design sub-committee to determine which design was to be embroidered and then hung in the New Parliament House. Once the designer was chosen, there were many notes made and correspondences about the design and the fabric and threads that were to be used to create the design. This series also contains some colour mixes as well as advice on which colours were to be used.

This series also contains correspondence, design notes and biographical details of Kay Lawrence, the designer.

Series 8. Conservation - Box 10

This series contains notes about the conservation of the embroidery, such as washing instructions. Samples were also sent to the Australian Archives for its advice, and the correspondence between the Australian Archives and the Parliament House Embroidery Committee are in this series, in chronological order.

Series 9. Mounting - Box 11

This series includes notes on the framing of the tapestry. There are also notes concerning the written plaques placed either side of the embroidery. The plaques explain what the embroidery is and who created it.

Series 10. Samplers - Folio-Box unnumbered (MS 8369)

This series contains thirteen fabric samples of parts of the embroidery, complete with notes on thread and colour selection and the styles of embroidery each of the individual sections are stitched in.

This series is contained within the Folio Run.

Series 11. The Parliament House embroidery: a work of many hands - Box 11-12

At the completion of this project the Parliament House Embroidery Committee published a history entitled The Parliament House Embroidery : a work of many hands (Canberra : AGPS Press, 1988).

This series contains manuscripts and computer disks of the work as well as correspondence about the contents of the publication.

Records of Parliament House Embroidery Committee (File)

5 item, 5.25 inch floppy disk - Xidex, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Embroiders Guild New Disc D1 10/02/1988, 10/02/1988 (Item NLA.MS-DM000099) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, XIDEX Double sided double density, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Yellow dot. Not Preserved. Carrier no 1 of 5

Embroiders Guild D2 (Item NLA.MS-DM008280) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, Unbranded, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Yellow dot. Not Preserved. Carrier no 2 of 5

Embroiders Guild D3 15/02/1988, 15/02/1988 (Item NLA.MS-DM008281) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, XIDEX Double sided double density, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Orange dot. Pres'n attempt failed. Carrier no 3 of 5

Unformatted EMB. Allegro Copy D1 29/04/1988, 29/04/1988 (Item NLA.MS-DM008282) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, Unbranded, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Yellow dot. Not Preserved. Carrier no 4 of 5

Unformatted EMB. Allegro Copy D2 29/04/1988, 29/04/1988 (Item NLA.MS-DM008283) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, Unbranded, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Series 12. Subject files - Box 12-13

This series contains correspondence between the Parliament House Embroidery Committee and other organisations and individuals, such as the architects of the New Parliament House, the Patron (Lady Stephen), the Australian Bicentennial Authority and the Parliament House Construction Authority.

The files have been arranged in alphabetical order by name.

Series 13. Photographs and slides - Box 13

This series contains photographs, slides and negatives from the South Australian and A.C.T. guilds, mainly about the work in progress.

Series 14. Index Cards to Collection - Box 14

The Parliament House Embroidery Committee created their own index cards to the collection. This series has been kept in original order.

Series 15. Miscellaneous - Box 15

This series contains letters to the Parliament House Embroidery Committee, a record of attendance and the names of all those who worked on the Embroidery as well as other miscellaneous information.

Series 16. Printed Material - Box 15

Printed material on the subject of tapestries and annual reports from the Parliament House Construction Authority.

Series 17. Audio cassettes - Box 16

This series includes interviews with Kay Lawrence and members of the Parliament House Embroidery Committee. There are also taped discussions on washing and dyeing the linen, the official opening and the 1985 Supervisors Conference. These carriers have been accessioned and assigned TRC numbers, and have individual records in the Digital Library (DLC).

Review of Stage 2 samples (Kay and Anne) S.A. Side A (Item 1)

Review of Stage 2 samples, Mar. 3, TAS (Item 2)

Review of Stage 2 samples, Mar. 4, ACT (Item 3)

Side A:Northern Territory + Conservation. 1 Josephine Carter; side B:Conservation Josephine Carter (Item 4)

Side A: Victoria and Western Australia; side B: Western Australia and NSW (Item 5)

Tape 2,Side 3: Queensland, Official Opening; side 4: Official Opening (continued) + SA, ACT + details of organisation (Item 6)

Side 5-6: Organisation - Guilds (Item 7)

Side 7:P.H.E. State Organisation; side 8: (Only small section) Conservation (Item 8)

Tape 1, side 1: A.C.T. H.P.E; tape 2,side 2: 1/2 ACT and 1/2 Tasmania H.P.E (Item 9)

9.8.86 A.C.T. Interviews (Item 10_11)

1. Lois Evans

2. Pam Berg Side A

3. Margaret Henty Side B

Lois Evans (A.C.T.) (Item 12)

Tapes 1-4, Supervisors Conference, Dec. 1985 (Item 13_16)

Tape No. 5. Side A: Supervisors Conference (Item 17)

1-151 Josephine Carter

151-290 Discussion on washing linen

290-512 Discussion on dyeing and seams

512-632 Frames etc.

Kay Lawrence interviews (Item 18_23)

Kay in the A.C.T, 21.4.86 (Item 24_25)

Side A: Betty Bourke/Anne Mussett interviewer Loma Rudduck; side B: Barbara Irvine "Lake Eyre" (Item 26)

P.H.E. landscape: Loma Rudduck interviewing June Weatherstone, Barbara Irvine and Marjorie Hadley, 22.3.87 (Item 27)

Elva Oakley "Petroglyph" (Item 28)

"Pot luck dinner", St. John's Church Hall, Reid, 30.7.86 (Item 29)

Sampler assessments (Item 30_32)

Series 18. Video cassettes - Box 17-18

These videos were compiled during the creation of the Parliament House Embroidery. There are a wide range of subjects on these videos.

6.2.86 Canberra Art Project - Loc. Princes Laundry (Item 1)

1 Canberra art project loc princes laundry, 6/02/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000905) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

16.4.86 (i) Fabric mounting - Anne Richards (Item 2)

Canberra proj Anne Richards, 16/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000917) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

16.4.86 (ii) Anne Richards (Item 3)

3 tape 2 Canberra proj, 16/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000909) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

16.4.86 -3.2.87 (Item 4)

4 Canberra proj 2c Anne Richards, 16/3/1986; 3/2/1987 (Item NLA.MS-VID000907) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

24.4.86 1/3A Anne Richards, Kay Lawrence (Item 5)

5 Anne Richards/ Kaye L, 24/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000906) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

24.4.86 2/3B Anne Richards (Item 6)

6 Kay Lawrence/ Anne Richards Canberra proj, 24/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000908) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

24.4.86 3/3C Anne Richards (Item 7)

Canberra project Anne Richards, 27/11/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000914) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

24.4.86 4/3D Anne Richards C/U samples, Close up samples (Item 8)

Anne Richards c/u samples, 24/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000913) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

27.11.86 1/4A Anne Richards The Embroiders Guild Victoria, close up of stitches, list of 20 items (see enclosed sheet) (Item 9)

Canberra proj Anne Richards + slides of finished article, 27/11/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000911) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

27.11.86 Victorian Guild 1-8 items listed (see enclosed sheet) (Item 10)

Anne Richards / kay the guild, 24/04/1986 (Item NLA.MS-VID000912) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

27.11.86 C Anne Richards - slides (Item 11)

Anne Richards slides (Item NLA.MS-VID000916) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

13.11.85, 1B 20.33 Tapestryin Canberra. 16mm shots Canberra Parliament House 9/88 (Item 12)

Tapestry in canberra, 13/11/1985 (Item NLA.MS-VID000915) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

Anne Richards and Kay Lawrence, Kay describing designs (Item 13)

Kay describing designs Anne Richards Kay L (Item NLA.MS-VID000910) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Consumer formats - Betamax

V/O (Item 14)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee, 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000488) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, Sony KCS-20BRS video cassette, Pro formats - U-matic

Stand up. Intro (Item 15)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee (Stand Up Intro), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000489) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, Sony KCS-10K, Pro formats - U-matic

Master. Music original. Richards (Item 16)

Musical Original Master Richards, 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000487) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, Sony KCA-30K video cassette, Pro formats - U-matic

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: Helen Hardie (Grammar School Videos - description of project and our piece/samples/Elleston House workroom etc., original video and copy (Item 17_18)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 2 filmed by Helen Hardie & Promotion Australia segment'), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000490) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, National Hi-Fi NV-E-120 SHF-A, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc
Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 2a Repeat of first part of No 2 (carrier 4)'), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000491) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, Akai VHS E-180, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: The First Stitch - Record of P.H.E insertion of the first stitch taken at E. Dusting's house, 33 Roebuck St., Red Hill at approximately 5 p.m. on 3.5.86 (Item 19)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 4: 1. The First Stitch; 2. WA Art Gallery ; 3. P H Harvey/ PH Story; 4. Interlude'), 1986? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000492) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, TDK Hi-Fi Super VHS E-180, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: Preview of Art Works. The 'Today' Show, Peter Harvey, August 1987 (Item 20)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 3: The Today Show - A Preview'), Aug-87 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000493) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, E-60, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: Presentation Parliament House - taken at Parliament House on 25.5.88. Master and a copy (Item 21_23)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee. Presentation by PHEC., 25/05/1988 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014437) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-035
1 item, JVC EC-30 SHG, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc
Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 5: Presentation in Great Hall Parliament House'), 25/05/1988 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000494) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, TDK HS E-120, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc
Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('Master copies of Presentation at Parliament House No 5 Video'), 25/05/1989 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000495) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, JVC VHS-C EC-30 SHG, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: Parliament House Embroidery - Wild Footage. An early visit from Kay Lawrence at Elleston House (Item 24)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('No 1 An Early Visit from Kay Lawrence. Capital 7 TV wild footage'), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000496) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, VHS E30, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: A Work of Many Hands - The Parliament House Embroidery, Victoria College Educational Services Directorate, by Anne Richards (Item 25_26)

Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('A Work of Many Hands - The Parliament House Embroidery' (professional video), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000497) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, TDK VHS E-HG E-120, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc
Parliament House Embroidery Committee ('A Work of Many Hands - The Parliament House Embroidery' (professional video) Master - duplicate of carrier 11), 1988? (Item NLA.MS-SAV000498) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-027
1 item, TDK VHS E-HG E-120, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc

Videos - A.C.T. Collection: Wall Hanging for New Parliament House. Section: 1 Embroidery, 2 Weaving (Beta Video) (not reviewed) (Item 27)

Wall hangings for new parl house section 1 embroidery 2 weaving, Apr-83 (Item NLA.MS-VID000918) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-014
1 item, Consumer formats - Betamax

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