Guide to the Papers of Margaret Reynolds
MS 9579; MS Acc09.190
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Reynolds, Margaret
- Title
- Papers of Margaret Reynolds
- Date Range
- 1973-2005
- Collection Number
- MS 9579; MS Acc09.190
- Extent
- 17.75 metres (85 boxes + 12 cartons + 2 box files + 1 elephant folio + 5 sound/av carriers)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Content
MS 9579 comprises correspondence, newspaper cuttings, press releases, photocopies, ephemera and printed material. The principal subjects are indigenous and race relations issues, reproductive rights, women and the Order of Australia, immigration, uranium mining, defence, drug law reform, peace movement and the Gulf War. The correspondents include fellow ministers, various organisations (such as Amnesty International, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and Women's Electoral Lobby), Lowitja O'Donoghue, Father Frank Brennan, Noel Pearson, Pat Dodson and Kennedy Graham.
MS Acc09.190 comprises documents from Reynolds's period as Minister for the Status of Women; material relating to women's rights before, during, and after her period as Minister for the Status of Women; papers relating to the Indigenous land and other rights including work undertaken while Reynolds was Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland; research materials, photographs, lists of women, questionnaires and speeches relating to Reynolds's book 'Last Bastion: History of Labor Women' and a later, unfinished book 'First Speeches'; publications collected by Reynolds, principally concerning the rights and political participation of women in Australia and the Pacific, including a copy of Reynold's book 'Herstory: Australian Labor Women in Federal, State and Territory Parliaments 1925-1994' published by the Senate Printing Unit; and photographs.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn868730).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Margaret Reynolds, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Provenance
The original consignment was donated to the National Library by Margaret Reynolds under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme in 2000. Further papers were added by Margaret Reynolds in 2009.
Related Materials
Official papers of Margaret Reynolds kept during her time as a Minister in the Hawke Government are held at the National Archives of Australia (CP 362)
An oral history interview with Margaret Reynolds recorded in 1999 (TRC 3915)
Papers of Henry Reynolds are held at MS 9548
Collection Retrieval Advice
Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.
Biographical Note
Margaret Reynolds (née Carter) was born in Launceston on 19 July 1941. She was educated in Launceston before gaining a BA from the University of Queensland in Brisbane and a Diploma in Special Education from James Cook University in Townsville.
In 1963 she married Henry Reynolds, whose papers are also held at the National Library (MS 9548).
Between 1960 and 1982 Reynolds worked as a lecturer and teacher in Townsville. She was a Councillor for Townsville City from 1979 to 1983.
Reynolds's career in Federal politics began in 1983, when she was elected ALP Senator for Queensland. She was Minister for Local Government (1987-1990) and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Status of Women (1988-1990). She was also a member of a number of committees and organisations, including the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (Federal Government Representative 1992-1995), Advisory Commission on Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (1993-1999), Commonwealth Expert Group on Women and Development (1993-1999), Federal Government's Status of Women Policy Committee (chair 1995-1999), Commonwealth Human Rights International Advisory Commission (chair since 1998) and United Nations Association of Australia (president since 1999). She retired as a Senator in 1999.
Her published works include The last bastion: Labor women working towards equality in the parliaments of Australia (1995) and chapters in various publications.
In 1999 Reynolds accepted the position of Adjunct Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Queensland.
Who's who in Australia 2001, p. 1566
Item Descriptions
Class MS 9579. Consignment received 2000
This consignment includes correspondence, newspaper cuttings, press releases, photocopies, ephemera and printed material. The subjects include Indigenous and race relations issues (the largest series), reproductive rights, women and the Order of Australia, immigration, uranium mining, defence, drug law reform, peace movement and the Gulf War. The correspondents include fellow ministers, various organisations including Amnesty International, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Women's Electoral Lobby, and Lowitja O'Donoghue, Father Frank Brennan, Noel Pearson, Pat Dodson and Kennedy Graham.
This material is contained in 74 boxes (MS 9579, Boxes 1-74).
Series 1. General correspondence, 1990-1999
The series comprises correspondence that was filed in alphabetical order. The subject matters include indigenous health, anti-personnel landmines, abortion, women and the Order of Australia, environment, tobacco related diseases, domestic violence, youth homelessness, Parliament House (Canberra) Art Collection, Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Bill 1994, Foster's Brewing Group's activities in Cambodia, women's health, Global Climate Convention, 'Mother's Room' in Parliament House in Canberra, pensions for war widows, 'Save Nutcote', removal of Caroline Chisholm from the $5 note, Victims of Chernobyl National Relief Fund, G.S.T. and waterfront reform.
Some of the correspondents are Neal Blewett, Peter Baume, Sylvia Ditchburn, M.H. Keely, Stephen Martin, G.B. Matthews, Harry Evans, Kathy Sullivan, Abortion Rights Coalition (NSW), Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia Council for Overseas Aid, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Amnesty International, Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace, Evatt Foundation, Foster's Brewing Group, Family Planning Australia, Greenpeace, Joint House Department, Legacy Co-ordinating Council, May Gibbs Foundation, Reserve Bank of Australia, Qantas, Women's Electoral Lobby and Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia.
Series 2. 'Drop copies', 1989-1999
The series comprises copies of Reynolds' outgoing letters sent from her electoral office in Townsville, Queensland. The letters were written in her capacity as Minister for Local Government (1987-1990), Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women (1989-1990) and Senator for Queensland (1992-1999). The 1998 and 1999 files include hard copies of emails. The letters are filed in their original ring binders.
The subjects include elimination of racism within the Australian prison system, distribution of Financial Assistance Grants to local government, Tully Millstream Hydroelectric Project in Queensland, equal opportunity and employment status for Australian women, Cawarra Aboriginal Women's Refuge, environmental and social welfare programs, cost of child care, higher education, employment, availability of RU486 in Australia, Women's Abortion Action Campaign, early detection of breast cancer, Smoking and Tobacco Products Advertisements (Prohibition) Bill 1989, child care funding, Transport in Rural and Remote Australian Conference in Alice Springs (March 1991), 90 Anniversary of Australian Women's Suffrage (1992), Code of Race Ethics for Federal Parliamentarians, Parliamentarians for Global Action and an offer of appointment as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Government at University of Queensland in 1999.
Some of the recipients are Bob Brown, Margaret James, Women's Electoral Lobby (Cairns), various local councils, Australian Early Childhood Association, women athletes who won medals at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland (including Cathy Freeman, Jane Flemming, Kerry Saxby and Debbie Flintoff-King) and the United Nations Youth Association of Australia (Tasmania Division).
Series 3. Correspondence with Federal Ministers, 1991-1999
The series comprises correspondence with Federal Ministers. The letters were filed in alphabetical order in titled folders and this arrangement has been maintained by the Library.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (Robert Tickner, John Herron), 1994-1997 (File 1) - Box 5 (MS 9579)
[Communications,] Arts [and Tourism] (Michael Lee, Bob McMullan), 1994-1996 (File 3) - Box 5 (MS 9579)
Employment, Education and Training (Simon Crean, Amanda Vanstone, David Kemp), 1994-1999 (File 11) - Box 6 (MS 9579)
Environment, Sport and Territories (John Faulkner, Robert Hill), 1993-1994 (File 12) - Box 6 (MS 9579)
Family Services (Rosemary Crowley, Anne Warner, Jocelyn Newman), 1994-1998 (File 13) - Box 6 (MS 9579)
Housing and Regional Development (Brian Howe, Robert Hill, Ian Macdonald), 1994-1998 (File 16) - Box 7 (MS 9579)
Human Services and Health (Michael Wooldridge, Carmen Lawrence), 1994-1999 (File 17-19) - Box 7 (MS 9579)
Series 4. Representations to Federal Ministers, 1990-1999
The series comprises Reynolds correspondence with Federal Ministers on constituency matters.
Aged, Family and Health Services (Peter Staples), Arts (David Simmons, Bob McMullan) and Attorney General (Michael Duffy), 1990-1993 (File 3) - Box 10 (MS 9579)
Community Services and Health (Brian Howe), Defence (Robert Ray) and Defence Science and Personnel (Gordon Bilney), 1990-1992 (File 4) - Box 10 (MS 9579)
Development Co-operation and Pacific Island Affairs (Gordon Bilney), Employment, Education and Training (Simon Crean) and Environment (John Faulkner), 1990-1994 (File 5) - Box 10 (MS 9579)
Human Services and Health (Carmen Lawrence), Higher Education and Employment (Peter Baldwin), 1990-1994 (File 8) - Box 11 (MS 9579)
Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (Gerry Hand, Nick Bolkus, Philip Ruddock) and Industrial Relations (Peter Cook), 1990-1999 (File 9) - Box 11 (MS 9579)
Industry, Technology and Commerce (John Button) and Justice and Cosumer Affairs (Michael Tate), 1990-1992 (File 10) - Box 11 (MS 9579)
Transport (Bob Brown), Local Government (Wendy Fatin, David Simmons), Primary Industry (Simon Crean) and Resources (Alan Griffith), 1990-1993 (File 11) - Box 11 (MS 9579)
Series 5. Speeches, 1987-1999
Copies of Reynolds' speeches have been filed in chronological order in eight ring binders.
Series 6. Press releases, 1987-1990
Copies of Reynolds' press releases filed in four ring binders. They were written in her capacity as Minister for Local Government (1987-1990) and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women between (1989-1990).
Series 7. Reproductive rights, 1982-1999
As Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Status of Women (1988-1990), Reynolds took a strong interest in women's reproductive rights. The series comprises photocopies of articles, newsletters of the Women's Electoral Lobby (Australia), cuttings, roneoed end other printed material relating to abortion, the release of RU486 in Australia, the Reproductive Health Alliance, and material on the drug Viagra in Australia. There is also a file containing papers concerning a legal test case, mounted by three men (including a senior public servant, Dr Alex Proudfoot) in 1991, against the Federal Government's 'women only' health program.
Series 8. Women and the Order of Australia, 1988-1991
The series includes letters of thanks from recipients of the awards for Reynolds' letters of congratulation, research material, a copy of the booklet by Reynolds entitled Women and the Order of Australia, press releases, seminar papers (for example 'Recognition for women in Australia' given at a seminar in July 1991 conducted by the House of Representative Standing Committee on legal and constitutional affairs) and a copy of Reynolds' speech entitled 'Women in politics' given at Parliament in 1991.
The correspondents include Pat Wardle, June Mendoza, Margaret Throsby, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Dame Mary Durack, Wendy McCarthy, Yvonne Kenny, Ita Buttrose, Joan Carden, Dorothy Green, Elizabeth Jolley, Caroline Jones, Jean McCaughey, Lady Tait, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Dorothy Hyslop and Judy Cassab.
Series 9. Other women's issues, 1983-1999
The series includes cuttings, agenda papers, handouts, conference papers and some correspondence relating to the Fourth Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs in Cyprus in 1993, International Commonwealth Secretariat Expert Working Group on Women and Development, International Women's Day and Socialist International Women.
Series 10. Indigenous issues, 1989-1999
The bulk of the series comprises newspaper cuttings, but it also includes correspondence, press releases, flyers, handouts, notes, minutes of meetings, roneoed material, typescripts, reports and printed matters. The papers were kept in files and arranged in alphabetical order by Reynolds' personal assistant. The Library has maintained the file titles and the arrangements of papers within them.
The main correspondents are Gadjil Djerrkura, Lowitja O'Donoghue, Noel Pearson, Father Frank Brennan, John Herron, Robert Tickner, Patrick Dodson, Gerry Hand, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council, Brisbane Tribal Council, Townsville / Thuringowa Torres Strait Islander Action Group and various Aboriginal Land Councils.
Aboriginal deaths in custody, 1990s. For other papers see 'Deaths in custody' (Folders 29-31) (File 6) - Box 23 (MS 9579)
Frank Brennan, 1986-1997. The file contains papers (including addresses and conference papers) relating to Father Frank Brennan's work as a leading advocate for Aboriginal Rights and an advisor to the Australian Catholic Bishops (File 16-18) - Box 25 (MS 9579)
Cape York Land Council, 1992-1998. The file includes correspondence and cuttings and correspondence relating to the Wik summit on pastoral leases and native title and Aboriginal Land Issues Workshop. (File 21-22) - Box 25, 26 (MS 9579)
Caucus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee, 1992-1995 (File 22-24) - Box 26 (MS 9579)
Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), 1996-1999 (File 26-27) - Box 26 (MS 9579)
Day of National Recognition [to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum], 1997 (File 28) - Box 26 (MS 9579)
Divisionary Centre, 1995-1996. The Centre was to be used as an alcohol rehabilitation unit, women's shelter and childcare. (File 32) - Box 27 (MS 9579)
[Financial assistance to the] Doomadgee Aboriginal Community in Queensland, 1988-1993 (File 33) - Box 27 (MS 9579)
Hanrahan Park: general, 1994-1997. Papers (including cuttings, press releases and correspondence) relating to a plan to remove Aborigines who were camping in Hanrahan and other inner city parks in Townsville (File 42) - Box 29 (MS 9579)
Identifiable Commonwealth Expenditure on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, 1997-1998 (File 57) - Box 31 (MS 9579)
[United Nations] International Decade of World Indigenous People, 1994-1995 (File 61) - Box 31 (MS 9579)
Jumbun [Aboriginal community in Murray Upper, North Queensland], 1987-1989 (File 63) - Box 31 (MS 9579)
Kuranda settlements: Koah, Korowra, Mantanka and Moa Moa Mission, 1989-1997 (File 67) - Box 32 (MS 9579)
[National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Land acquisition fund, 1994-1996 (File 68-71) - Box 32, 33 (MS 9579)
Land rights, 1992-1996. Papers include research material, press releases and minutes of Caucus Aboriginal Affairs Committee meetings. (File 72-76) - Box 33 (MS 9579)
[Plan to develop zinc and lead mine at] Lawn Hill (Century Zinc Ltd.), 1994-1998. Papers include cuttings and a 1996 report by the North Queensland Conservation Council entitled 'Potential consequences of aquifer degradation at the proposed Century zinc and lead mine'. (File 77-79) - Box 33, 34 (MS 9579)
Lockhardt [River community]. The file includes papers relating to a case against David Howe, Director of Farndale Ltd, 1995-1997 (File 84) - Box 34 (MS 9579)
National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC), 1989-1999 (File 127) - Box 40 (MS 9579)
National Aboriginal Reconciliation: parliamentarians for reconciliation, 1995-1998 (File 136) - Box 41 (MS 9579)
National Aboriginal Reconciliation: papers concerning the Reconciliation Bill 1991, 1991-1996 (File 137-140) - Box 41, 42 (MS 9579)
Native title: briefing papers for the New Zealand Committee Exchange, 1995 (File 155) - Box 44 (MS 9579)
Native title: Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title: private briefing, 1994 (File 157) - Box 44 (MS 9579)
Native title: Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title: public hearings and inspections: Perth, Pilbara, Fitzroy and Kimberley, Aug. 1994 (File 158) - Box 44 (MS 9579)
Native title Tribunal: briefing papers for the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Native Title, 1994 (File 161-162) - Box 45 (MS 9579)
Native Title Amendment Bill / Wik ten point plan: international implications: comparison with other countries (eg. Canada), 1997-1998 (File 163) - Box 46 (MS 9579)
Native Title Amendment Bill / Wik ten point plan: newspaper cuttings, 1997-1998 (File 164) - Box 46 (MS 9579)
Queensland legislation (including papers on the Aboriginal Land Bill 1991), 1982-1994 (File 184) - Box 49 (MS 9579)
Stolen Generation / National Sorry Day: Stolen Children Trust Fund, 1997-1998 (File 208) - Box 54 (MS 9579)
Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association (TAIMA), 1992-1999 (File 218) - Box 55 (MS 9579)
Series 11. Immigration, 1992-1999
Reynolds supported families living in her electorate who are seeking permanent residency status for their aged relatives. The series comprises titled files of correspondence mostly with UK citizens, who were applying to join their children in Australia. There are also files on asylum seekers and visitor visa issues.
Series 12. Uranium mining, 1983-1999
The bulk of the series contains files relating to the Ben Lomond Project in Queensland. There are also papers relating to Pine Gap and the Vahalla Project in Queensland.
Other papers relating to uranium mining can also be found in Series 10/ Folder 64
Ben Lomond: correspondence with John Dawkins, Lionel Bowen and Bill Hayden, 1984-1984 (File 5) - Box 62 (MS 9579)
Photocopy of 'Ben Lomond Project: comments on environmental impact' by Townsville Regional Conservation Council, 1994 (File 6) - Box 62 (MS 9579)
Maralinga / Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons Press Conference, London, 1991. Reynolds attended the press conference, organised by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, to launch Radioactive heaven and earth. The files contain research material for the press conference. (File 12-15) - Box 63 (MS 9579)
Papers pertaining to a two-weeks peace camp at Pine Gap organised by Women for Survival, 1983 (File 16) - Box 63 (MS 9579)
Australian Labor Party's policy to ban uranium mining in Queensland (Vahalla Project), 1999 (File 17) - Box 63 (MS 9579)
Series 13. Defence, 1983-1997
The series includes cuttings, environmental reports and notes.
Series 14. Drug Law Reform, 1990-1997
The series includes cuttings, discussion papers and briefing notes.
Series 15. Other domestic issues, 1988-1999
The series includes discussion papers, correspondence (with Kennedy Graham, Pat Comben and Joy Goodsell), drafts and cuttings.
[Australian] Internship Program (established at the Australian National University in 1993) (File 2) - Box 66 (MS 9579)
Environment and Development Conference: an Asian/Pacific response to UNCED, Townsville, May 1993 (File 4) - Box 66 (MS 9579)
Papers concerning publication of The planetary interest, 1998. It was edited by Kennedy Graham and Reynolds contributed a chapter entitled 'Population planning' (File 5) - Box 66 (MS 9579)
Series 16. Parliamentarians for Global Action, 1990-1998
The Parliamentarians for Global Action was established in 1979 by parliamentarians from around the world. Their aim was to take a joint action to deal with global environmental problems which could not be solved by any one government or parliament. The series comprises press releases, cuttings, leaflets and correspondence with Kennedy Graham.
Papers of the Parliamentarians for Global Action meeting in Washington, 1991 (File 3) - Box 67 (MS 9579)
Parliamentarians for Global Action: 10th Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-aligned Countries, Jakarta, 1992 (File 4) - Box 68 (MS 9579)
Series 17. International conferences, 1993-1999
The series includes draft reports of conferences, correspondence and other papers concerning Reynolds' travel arrangements.
Commonwealth Secretariat Expert Working Group on Commonwealth Plan of Action, 1993-1994. This conference was a precursor to the 4th UN Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. (File 1) - Box 68 (MS 9579)
Series 18. Peace movement, 1985-1998
The series includes cuttings and correspondence with various peace organisations.
Series 19. The Gulf War, 1990-1992
Margaret Reynolds voted in Parliament against Australia's involvement in the Gulf War. The series comprises letters from members of the public and organisations supporting her stand, press releases, cuttings, leaflets and other printed matters. The correspondents include Sister Veronica Brady, Frank Donovan, Kevin Gilbert, Tom Helm, Gavin Kernot, Ann and Martin Prescott, Elizabeth Perkins, Lauris Elms, Green Peace Australia, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Australia Council for Overseas Aid, Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, Religious Society of Friends and Peace Research and Education Centre.
Series 20. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 1990-1997
Established in 1987, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is a non-governmental organisation that promotes the understanding and observance of human rights throughout the Commonwealth. The series includes correspondence, circulars and reports.
Series 21. Human Rights, 1991-1998
The series includes press releases and cuttings on human rights issues.
Series 22. Other international issues, 1991-1998
Australia's International Defence Equipment Exhibition, Canberra, 1991. The file contains flyers and cuttings about the exhibition and signatures of parliamentarians who opposed it (File 1) - Box 73 (MS 9579)
Papers concerning 50th anniversary of the United Nations 1995, 1994-1996 (File 3) - Box 73 (MS 9579)
Parliamentarians for Democracy in Indonesia, 1996-1998. File includes cuttings and correspondence with Action Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, Amnesty International, Christians in Solidarity with East Timor, S. Wiryono (Indonesian Ambassador to Australia), David Jackson and Kate Field of Alexander Downer's office. (File 4) - Box 74 (MS 9579)
Class MS Acc09.190. Consignment received 2009
This consignment includes documents from Reynolds's period as Minister for the Status of Women; material relating to women's rights before, during, and after her period as Minister for the Status of Women; papers relating to the Indigenous land and other rights including work undertaken while Reynolds was Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland; research materials, photographs, lists of women, questionnaires and speeches relating to Reynolds's book 'Last Bastion: History of Labor Women' and a later, unfinished book 'First Speeches'; publications collected by Reynolds, principally concerning the rights and political participation of women in Australia and the Pacific, including a copy of Reynold's book 'Herstory: Australian Labor Women in Federal, State and Territory Parliaments 1925-1994' published by the Senate Printing Unit; and photographs.
This material is contained in 26 boxes (MS Acc09.190, Boxes 1-18, 20-27; note that Box 19 no longer exists).
Series. Minister for the Status of Women, 1986-1990
This series documents Reynolds' tenure as Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women in the Hawke Government, from 1988-1990. Reynolds was simultaneously the Minister for Local Government, 1987-1990.
Files documenting Reynolds' work as Minister for the Status of Women (File) - Box 1-14, 18 (MS Acc09.190)
The majority of documents concern Reynolds work in her Ministerial capacity, especially the development of the Hawke Government's National Agenda for Women. Also present are documents on other issues of the day, including Aboriginal Land Tenure issues. Administrative records concerning staffing of Reynolds' office are also present. Most records are Commonwealth government records; a number of the documents are annotated in Reynolds' and others' hands. A smaller group of documents - mostly Commonwealth government records - dates from the tenure of Senator Susan Ryan, Reynolds' predecessor in the position (pile 5). The series also includes runs of newsletters from various women's groups, including Oswoman, Women's Consultative Council and WEL.
Envelopes containing documents relating to: National Status of Women Policy Committee, Attorney-General Envelope no. 9 (Sex Discrimination Bill); National Foundation for Women 1988-1989; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1987-1990; 6th National Labor Womens' Organisation Conference January 1991 (File) - Box 15 (MS Acc09.190)
Series. Status of women, 1973-2000
This series more generally documents Reynolds' activities in pursuing women's rights, before, during and after her tenure as Minister assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women. The series includes documents from the National Council of Women in Australia, and includes extensive documentation relating to Australian activities during International Women's Year in 1975. The series includes publications, conference programs and reports on women's issues. Also included are documents relating to Reynolds interest in the history of women in Australian parliaments and, more specifically, Labor women. Agendas and minutes from the Caucus Status of Women Committee, 1993-1995, are present. Some state based material on women in politics, covering Queensland and Tasmania, is also included. Some international material - including documentation about the status of women in other countries, including Pacific nations (especially Fiji) - and United Nations and similar reports, is included. The series includes reports and resolutions of the international Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. While most material relates to women, some documents on the rights of children are also present. Extensive documentation on women and abortion - especially in Queensland - is included. Also present are a number of documents critical of the Howard Government's record on women. Documentation relating to single and cross-party women's caucuses are present. Included is a binder of portfolio responses to Reynolds' request for information on activities relating to women, dated 1995, and a binder on the impact of the 1996 Coalition budget on women and their families, and a binder that combines press releases and similar on the impact of Coalition policies on women, and issues concerning increasing Labor women's representation in Parliament.
Envelopes containing documents relating to a number of Committees (e.g. National Status of Women Policy Committee, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, National Secretariat, Labor Women's Organisation), and reports on Domestic Violence are included, as is an envelope of advocacy letters for, and letters of congratulations to recipients of Australia Day Honours awards (File) - Box 17 (MS Acc09.190)
Series. Indigenous people in prison, 1990-1994
This small series comprises documentation relating to the experiences of Australian Indigenous people in relation to the legal system and prisons. Included are letters sent to Reynolds by Indigenous prisoners about racial conflict and riots at the Townsville Correctional Centre, 1991, and documentation of Reynolds' advocacy with authorities about individual prisoners.
Series. Indigenous rights, 1990s-c.2003
This series is a more general documentation of struggles for Indigenous land and other rights. It documents Reynolds' role as Australian Project Coordinator of a project which produced reports on Indigenous rights in many countries from the late 1990s into the early 2000s. This work was conducted during Reynolds' tenure as Adjuct Professor at the School of Politica; Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland, 1990-2006. A number of UN publications and records of International conferences on Indigenous rights are included. Agendas and minutes from the Caucus Aboriginal Affairs Committee 1986-1988 are included.
Series. Last Bastion: History of Labor Women, 1990-2000
Reynolds worked on her history of women, Last Bastion: History of Labor Women in the Australian Labor Party between 1990 and 1995. The genesis of this work was a series of newsletters Reynolds produced, entitled 'Some of them sheilas', around the Centenary of Labor celebrations. Reynolds' original focus was women the Queensland Trrades and Labor Council, and she hoped to produce a history of Queensland Labor Women. Reynolds gave a paper on the subject and was encouraged to enlarge her view to the national scene. The final book focused on women who were actually elected to Parliament. This series consists of research materials, copies of photographs (all documented with name, service details and - where relevant - acknowledgement of the source of the photograph), lists of women to be included, questionnaires, copies of speeches and other writings by Labor women, andocumentation of the information gathering process. Also included is a compilation of first speeches in Parliament by Australian women, compiled when Reynolds planned a book on 'First Speeches' (box 21). Work commenced on this project in 1996, immediately after the 1995 publication of Last Bastion. This project was not completed.
Series. Publications, 1986-1999
This small series consists of publications, grey and ephemeral literature collected by Reynolds, principally concerning the rights and political enfranchisment of women in Australian and Pacific countries. Included is a copy of Reynolds' Herstory: Australian Labor Women in Federal, State and Territory Parliaments 1925-1994, printed by the Senate Printing Unit.
Series. Audiovisual
Interview Margaret R national agenda for women, 1988 (Item NLA.MS-VID000868) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-012
1 item, BASF, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc.Children's parliament: running a classroom question time (Item NLA.MS-VID000869) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-012
1 item, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc.Refugee women 'the courage to move onward' (Item NLA.MS-VID000870) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-012
1 item, G tape, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc.Series. Photographs, 1939-1945
This small series includes laminated copies of photographs held by the State Library of Queensland and in private hands. Mainly comprising copies of photographs of north Queensland women working during WW2. Also an album featuring Reynolds at official and other functions relating to the Office for the Status of Women.