Guide to the Papers of Claudia Contessini

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MS 10719

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: September 2023

Collection Summary

Title
Papers of Claudia Contessini
Date Range
1970 - 1974
Collection Number
MS 10719
Extent
0.48 metres (1 folder + 1 medium folio box)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Content Description

The collection comprises the only known copies of the first press release issued in Australia by an LGBTIQ+ organisation, the only copies of a considerable number of newsletters of the Daughters of Bilitis, as well as minutes from the Daughters of Bilitis meetings.

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10001562).

Conditions Governing Use

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10001562).

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Claudia Contessini, National Library of Australia, MS 10719, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

General

Please note: This finding aid contains descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.

Item Descriptions

Class 1. Papers of Claudia Contessini, 1970 - 1974

The collection comprises the only known copies of the first press release issued in Australia by an LGBTIQ+ organisation, the only copies of a considerable number of newsletters of the Daughters of Bilitis, as well as minutes from the Daughters of Bilitis meetings.

Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) Newsletters, 1970 - 1971 (File 1) - Box (Shared)

DOB Newsletters. Numbers 6 and 9 are missing.

DOB Newsletters 1, February 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 2, March 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 3, April 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 4, May 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 5, June 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 7, August 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 8, September 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 10, November 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 11, December 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 12, January - February 1970 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 13, March 1971 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 14, April 1971 (Item) - Box (Shared)
DOB Newsletters 15, May 1971 (Item) - Box (Shared)

Binder - Various material (File 2) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Includes correspondence, proofs, photographs, leaflets, meeting minutes, newspaper cuttings and flyers.

Cleo correspondence, 23 April 1974 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Typed letter/fax from Kristen Blanch at Cleo magazine to Claudia Contessini regarding a forthcoming article in Cleo. Hand dated and signed by Kristen and pink Cleo logo at top of the page. Article proofs provided along with letter.

Cleo proofs, 23 April 1974 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Cleo proofs from Cleo writer [Kristen Blanch] with markups in pen sent to Claudia by Cleo for review and approval.

Daughters of Bilitis letter to Farrago magazine, n.d. (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Typed letter to the editor of University of Melbourne Farrago Magazine by Claudia in her capacity as DOB secretary. Requesting help in publishing and signed in pen by Claudia with message: "Thank you. Yours sincerely, Sec DOB Melbourne Branch". Not dated but published in 10/07/1970 edition of Farrago Magazine.

Recruiting leaflet, 17 April 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Early recruiting/outreach letter.

Australian Lesbian Movement (ALM) information sheet, n.d. (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Typed information sheet outlining the history, aims, achievements, members etc of ALM.

Photo of Claudia Contessini, June 1971 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Photo of Claudia approximately 20 years of age wearing hat and jewellery in front of wrought iron fence and gate.

Photo of Claudia Contessini with Barbara, n.d. (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Claudia on left and Barbara on right on Melbourne street. Backs to camera and holding hands posing as a couple. Claudia and Barbara were not a couple. Still from television programme.

Correspondence from Commonwealth Government, 7 September 1973 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Correspondence to Claudia Pierce [Contessini] from Federal MP Jim Cairns, the Minister for Overseas Trade and Minister for Secondary Industry, in response to Claudia's letter on homosexual law reform.. Includes Commonwealth Government of Australia official letterhead.

DOB Minutes 1, 28 January 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

First minutes of the Melbourne Branch of DOB. This is the earliest record of the formation of a lesbian rights (or LGBT rights) political organisation in Australia.

DOB Minutes 2, 17 February 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)
DOB Minutes 3, 15 February 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)
DOB Minutes 4, 20 May 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)
DOB Minutes 5, 11 June 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)
DOB Minutes 6, 17 June 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)
DOB Report, 16 June 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Report on "excursion" to Humanist Society of Victoria's Lecture on "the homosexual and the law"

Women's Ball Poster, 1980 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Poster promoting "The Women's Ball" organised by the Lesbian Resource Directory. Held at Kensington Town Hall.

Handwritten letter to Mrs M. Priestley, 16 April 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Sending a copy of the ladder to Mrs Priestley, Student Counsellor at Melbourne University and inviting to upcoming meeting on 15 July. Letter also notes inviting Monash and Latrobe colleagues and mentions posters at Melbourne University.

Handwritten letter to Helen, 17 February 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Letter from Claudia in her capacity as DOB Secretary to Helen - who Rita LaPorte, President from US DOB, put in contact with Claudia after both women wrote to Rita.

Letter to the Australian, 1 July 1970 (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Typed letter by Claudia to the Editor of the Australian in response to their article on the US DOB "gay demonstration".

Brunch with the locals flyer, n.d. (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Rainbow flyer advertising Lesbian and Gay social group (relates to Item 15) meeting at the Port Douglas markets.

Lesbian issues on the agenda newspaper cutting, n.d. (Item) - Folio-Box (Shared)

Article in Port Douglas/Cairns newspaper with photo of Claudia promoting a Lesbian social group. From when Claudia was 56 years old.


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