Guide to the Papers of Veronica Flanigan

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MS 9648

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Veronica Flanigan
Title
Papers of Veronica Flanigan
Date Range
1982-1992
Collection Number
MS 9648
Extent
1.35 metres (9 ms boxes + 9 sound/av carriers)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The papers in this collection relate to Flanigan's involvement in the campaign to have the murder conviction of Lindy Chamberlain overturned. Included is correspondence relating to appeals by Flanigan to Members of Parliament and members of the judiciary and with others supporting the campaign, drafts and final copies of a pamphlet and booklet she wrote about the case, copies of court transcripts of the trial and subsequent appeal, newsletters of numerous support groups, press cuttings and ephemera. Much of the collection comprises photocopies of material which was distributed widely amongst supporters. There is also a large quantity of papers created by Robert (Birdie) Swift, another supporter of the Chamberlain's case.

The collection provides an insight into the passionate support that the Chamberlain case engendered.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn168164).

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Veronica Flanigan, National Library of Australia, MS 9648, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The collection was acquired by the Library in 1997 from Veronica Flanigan's family, following her death.

The following collections in the Manuscript Collection relate to Lindy Chamberlain:

MS 7400 Papers of Chamberlain support groups

MS 7551 Papers of Guy and Phyllis Boyd

MS 7845 Records of the National Freedom Council

MS 8292 Papers of Norman Young

MS 8424 Papers of Zillah Williams

MS 9180 Papers of Lindy Chamberlain

MS 9315 Papers of Michael Ward

MS 9514 Papers of Margaret Neale

MS 9573 Papers of Tony Paynter

MS 9649 Papers of Liz Noonan

MSD 100 Belinda Wilson, MA thesis entitled 'The making of a modern myth: the Chamberlain case and the Australian media'

Arrangement

The papers were in disarray when received by the Library. Similar papers have been grouped together by the Library and have been listed by box and folder/packet number.

Biographical Note

Veronica Flanigan was one of many Australians who devoted considerable time and effort in supporting attempts to have the murder conviction of Lindy Chamberlain overturned.

Flanigan, who was retired and living in Yerrimbool, New South Wales, corresponded with other supporters, petitioned Members of Parliament, studied transcripts of the trial and undertook research to refute evidence presented at the initial trial. She produced a pamphlet entitled Guilty until proved innocent and a booklet entitled The Azaria evidence: fact or fiction?, proceeds of the sale of which were donated to the Chamberlain Appeal Fund.

Item Descriptions

Correspondence, 1982-1991. Included are letters sent to Flanigan by other supporters and drafts of many of her letters (File 1_5) - Box 1

Acknowledgements by Members of Parliament of Flanigan's letters of appeal, 1983-1984 (File 6_7) - Box 1

Acknowledgements by Members of Parliament of Flanigan's letters of appeal, 1985-1986 (File 8_9) - Box 2

Notes for and copies of Flanigan's pamphlet Guilty until proved innocent (File 10) - Box 2

Notes, drafts and final copies of Flanigan's booklet The Azaria evidence: fact or fiction?, c1984 (File 11_14) - Box 2

Four cutting books and a folder of loose cuttings of articles relating to the Chamberlain case (File 15_16) - Box 3

Notebooks and loose pages of notes relating to the Chamberlain case, which were compiled by Flanigan. Some appear to relate to her booklet The Azaria evidence: fact or fiction? (File 17_20) - Box 4

Notebooks and loose pages of notes relating to the Chamberlain case, which were compiled by Flanigan. Some appear to relate to her booklet The Azaria evidence: fact or fiction? (File 21_23) - Box 5

Copies of government papers relating to the case. Included are press releases, parliamentary papers, affidavits and submissions (File 24_25) - Box 5

Transcripts of High Court proceedings in the Chamberlain's Application for Special Leave to Appeal, 28 November - 2 December 1983 (File 26_27) - Box 6

Transcript of the High Court decision on the Chamberlain's Application for Special Leave to Appeal, 22 February 1984 (File 28) - Box 6

Transcript of the Reasons for Judgment, Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal, Darwin delivered 15 September 1988

Photocopy of handwritten notes of proceedings, compiled during the Morling Inquiry, 6 March - 19 March 1987 (File 29) - Box 7

Newsletters written by Michael and Lindy Chamberlain, 1983-1986 (File 30) - Box 7

Newsletters: miscellaneous, 1984-1986 (File 31) - Box 7

"The Watchman Report", 1985-1987

"Intrasyd", 1982-1986

"National Freedom Council", 1984-1989

Newsletters: "Advertising news", 1984-1985 (File 32) - Box 7

"Azaria Newsletter", 1984-1987 (File 33) - Box 7

A large quantity of newsletters produced by Robert (Birdie) Swift, 1986-1990. Mr Swift, who had a BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence from New College, Oxford, was in his 80s when he commenced his campaign of support. He died in 1995 (File 34_39) - Box 8

A large quantity of newsletters produced by Robert (Birdie) Swift, 1991-1992. (continued from Box 8) (File 40_41) - Box 9

Ephemera relating to the campaign, comprising flyers, pamphlets and membership forms for various support groups (File 42) - Box 9

Copies of papers written by George W. Rollo about the Chamberlain case (File 43) - Box 9

Copies of miscellaneous papers written about the Chamberlain case (File 44_45) - Box 9

Eight audio cassettes, one video cassette. Titles include 'Trial witnesses speak out', 'Town Hall Rally', 'Azaria' and 'Chamberlain meeting, Wahroonga Church, 15 December 1984' (File 46)

Chamberlain meeting - Wahroonga Church, 15/12/1984 (Item NLA.MS-SAV005133) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Maxell UL60, Compact cassette tape

Town Hall Rally - Azaria (Item NLA.MS-SAV005134) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, TDK D60, Compact cassette tape

Azaria Rally (Tape 1) (Item NLA.MS-SAV005135) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Silver Sound C90, Compact cassette tape

Azaria Rally (Tape 2) (Item NLA.MS-SAV005136) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Silver Sound C90, Compact cassette tape

'Trial Witnesses Speak Out (Chamberlain Case)', 1984 (Item NLA.MS-SAV005137) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Commercially produced cassette, Compact cassette tape

Side 1: 'A Dingo's Got My Baby'. Side 2: 'Malice in Blunderland'

Azaria 'Trial Witnesses Speak Out' - 'A Dingo Got my Baby' (Item NLA.MS-SAV005138) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Audiosonic C60, Compact cassette tape

Could be a copy of Side 1 of NLA.MS-SAV005137.

Azaria 'Trial Witnesses Speak Out' - 'Malice in Blunderland' (Item NLA.MS-SAV005139) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Audiosonic C61, Compact cassette tape

Could be a copy of Side 2 of NLA.MS-SAV005137.

Azaria - Witnesses (Item NLA.MS-SAV005140) - Cassette-Box 256

1 item, Audiosonic C62, Compact cassette tape

Lindy Chamberlain (Item NLA.MS-VID001024) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-016

1 item, Sony, Consumer formats - Betamax

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