Guide to the Papers of Veronica Flanigan
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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.
Related Materials
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, 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: miscellaneous, 1984-1986 (File 31) - Box 7
"The Watchman Report", 1985-1987
"Intrasyd", 1982-1986
"National Freedom Council", 1984-1989
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
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 tapeTown Hall Rally - Azaria (Item NLA.MS-SAV005134) - Cassette-Box 256
1 item, TDK D60, Compact cassette tapeAzaria Rally (Tape 1) (Item NLA.MS-SAV005135) - 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 tapeSide 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 tapeCould 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 tapeCould be a copy of Side 2 of NLA.MS-SAV005137.