Guide to the Papers of Guy and Phyllis Boyd

Series 1. Personal correspondence, 1918-2001

Correspondence with family and friends is contained in this series, with a large part comprising letters from the children of Guy and Phyllis Boyd, especially during the period 1976 to 1981 when Guy and Phyllis lived in North America. There are also numerous letters from Guy Boyd to his family during times when he was on extended trips overseas. There are letters from members of Guy Boyd's family, including his parents, his uncle Martin, his aunt Helen á Beckett Read, his brothers David and Arthur (referred to as 'Chooky boy' in his mother's letters) and his sisters Lucy (nicknamed 'Gibbie') and Mary. Letters from his nieces and nephews appear in later years. The letters of Doris Boyd include letters from the artist Jessie Traill (1962).

Correspondents from Phyllis Boyd's family include her aunts Agnes (nicknamed 'Lit' shortened from 'Littly') and her twin sister Leila (nicknamed 'Big' shortened from 'Biggy') McNamara, and her sister Dr Mary Hoyle.

There are letters from numerous friends of Guy and Phyllis in this series, many of them made while they lived in North America.

Series 2. General correspondence and papers, 1959-2001

This series comprises correspondence and papers relating to Guy Boyd's work as an artist and to the many organisations and causes with which Phyllis Boyd was associated, as well as causes common to both of them such as the Brighton Foreshore Protection Committee and the Port Phillip Protection Society.

Phyllis was Guy Boyd's business partner and managed the administrative affairs associated with his art work. She maintained all the books and corresponded with art galleries relating to the exhibition and sale of Guy's sculptures. Correspondents from art galleries include Philip Bacon, Ron and Betty Beaver, Kim Bonython, Eva Breuer, Andrew Ivanyi, Gisella Scheinberg, Max Stern and Ann von Bertouch. (For a list of art galleries at which Guy Boyd exhibited, see series 5.)

Phyllis Boyd was actively involved with a number of groups relating to her social and religious interests and to her strong interest in issues relating to feminism. Papers relating to this involvement include agenda and minutes of meetings, reports and general correspondence. One of the main correspondents was Babette Francis with whom Phyllis served on the committee of the Endeavour Forum. (Correspondence relating to Phyllis Boyd's interests may also be found in series relating to specific organisations and in subject files in series 14.)

From the early 1960s onwards, Phyllis Boyd was an inveterate writer of letters to politicians, to editors of newspapers and magazines and to producers of television and radio programs. The letters invariable took issue with some political process or the content of an article or program and included in this series are copies of a large number of the letters she wrote.

Series 3. Guy Boyd, 1963-1989

This series contains papers relating specifically to Guy Boyd. There is biographical material, financial and other papers relating to his career as a sculptor and a copy of a thesis by Barbara A. Rothermel entitled 'The life and works of Australian sculptor Guy Boyd (1923-1988)'.

In 1976 Guy Boyd, with his wife and four youngest children, moved to Canada to live, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1981. He felt that opportunities for sculptors in Australia were limited and that by moving to North America he had a better chance of establishing a career for himself. In addition to this, he would not be associated with the Boyd family name and felt this would allow his art to be considered on its own merit and not in association with other members of his family.

In 1980, on a trip back to Australia, Guy Boyd discovered that his grand-parents' old home in Sandringham was for sale. The house had great sentimental value to Boyd, due to the many happy times he had experienced there as a child. He decided to buy the house and in 1981 returned to Australia with his family to live in it.

Note: a large collection of catalogues for exhibitions of Guy Boyd's work can be found in Series 5 and photographs of many of his sculptural pieces are in Series 7.

Series 4. Phyllis Boyd, 1936-2001

This series comprises papers relating specifically to Phyllis Boyd. In a letter written in 1972 to her sister, Mary, she describes herself as '...an ardent feminist but NOT the Women's Lib variety...'. This is reflected in her strong interest and active involvement in supporting issues which related to the traditional role of women as mothers, wives and home-makers. There are typescripts of articles, reports and book reviews she wrote, together with typescripts of speeches she gave. There are also biographical papers comprising certificates, early work and personal references, papers relating to Phyllis Boyd's time in the RAAF, an incomplete set of diaries (1982-2001) and a large group of notebooks, mostly containing notes relating to the various causes with which she was associated.

There is correspondence and drafts of a chapter by Phyllis Boyd on the ordination of women which was included in Women Priests in Australia?: The Anglican crisis, edited by David Wetherell and published by Spectrum Publications, Melbourne in 1987.

Note: other series in this guide relate to Phyllis Boyd's involvement with specific organisations and series 14 contains subject files that she accumulated on a number of topics in which she had an interest.

Series 5. Exhibitions, 1947-2001

This series comprises catalogues of exhibitions of work by Guy Boyd and other members of the Boyd family, together with catalogues of collections in which their works are held. Guy Boyd started his artistic career as a potter, establishing the Martin Boyd Pottery in Sydney in 1946 and the Guy Boyd Pottery in Melbourne in 1952. However, in 1964 he decided to devote himself to sculpture, which he continued with until his death in 1988. His work comprised mainly figures which reflected human movement and included many female nudes.

There is one catalogue for a 1950 exhibition of work from the Martin Boyd Pottery. The remainder of the catalogues of Guy Boyd's work are for exhibitions of his sculpture. Galleries at which Guy Boyd exhibited include the Australian Embassy, Washington; Australian Galleries, Collingwood; Philip Bacon Galleries, New Farm (Brisbane); Beaver Gallery, Canberra; Kim Bonython's Hanging Horse Gallery, Paddington and his Bonython Art Gallery, North Adelaide; Dominion Galleries, Montreal; Greenhill Galleries, Perth; Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahra; Andrew Ivanyi Galleries, South Yarra; the Johnstone Gallery, Bowen Hills (Brisbane); Leicester Galleries, London; Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza; Randall Galleries, New York; Shaw Rimmington Gallery, Toronto and Von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle.

There are numerous catalogues relating to other members of the Boyd family in this series. There are also catalogues for exhibitions by John Perceval and Sidney Nolan.

Series 6. Legal papers, 1976-1981

Guy and Phyllis Boyd lived in North America from 1976 to 1981. They owned two properties in Toronto, Canada and one in Dallas, Texas. This series contains legal papers relating to their real estate dealings in both Canada and the United States.

3 folders

Series 7. Photographs, c1890-1990s

The bulk of this series comprises black and white photographs of the sculptures of Guy Boyd, together with proof sheets and a small number of negatives. There are also photographs of Guy Boyd with his works and of African dancers, possibly used as the inspiration for some of his pieces. A small number of family photographs can be found in this series.

Series 8. Martin Boyd, 1953-2000

The author Martin Boyd was Guy Boyd's uncle. On Martin's death in Rome in 1972, Guy Boyd became his heir and literary executor and most of the papers in this series relate to role. The bulk of the papers comprise correspondence with literary agents Curtis Brown (principally with Tim Curnow) regarding sales and distribution of Martin's books and various proposals to produce stage and film versions of some of his works. Also included are numerous royalty statements, contracts and correspondence regarding Martin Boyd's estate. There are typescripts of film and stage adaptations of Martin Boyd's books by Brian and Judith Bell, Howard Griffiths, Michael Cook, Michael Cove, Barry Lowe and Hamish McDonald. Also included are typescripts of writings about Martin Boyd by Anthony Bradley, Dorothy Green, John McLaren, Brenda Niall and Peter Smalley.

Earlier papers include Martin Boyd's 1971 appointment diary, copies of his contracts with Lansdowne Press (1965-1970) and Abelard-Shuman, New York (1962) and newspaper cuttings. There is also a photocopy of Martin Boyd's book Love gods, published by in London in 1925 and written under the pseudonym Martin Mills and photocopies of some of his poems, which were included in his books Verses by M. ÁB. B., published in London c1918 and Retrospect, published in Melbourne in 1920.

Series 9. Family papers

This series comprises papers relating to the family histories of both Guy and Phyllis Boyd. There are copies of the Boyd family tree, typescripts of poetry and writings by family members on both sides, a small amount of correspondence and biographical papers.

There are papers relating to Thomas and Evelyn Gough, Doris Boyd's parents. They comprise an edited typescript of chapters XVII - XXV of a book by Evelyn Gough entitled 'The eternal best', a booklet of her poetry entitled The epic of Bert Hinkler, the homing bird of Bundaberg, which was published in Melbourne by A.H. Massina in 1928 and a typescript entitled 'Boy's reminiscences of His Majesty the King's visit to Canada in 1860' by Thomas Gough.

Papers relating to the Nairn and McNamara families, from whom Phyllis was descended, include copies of the wills of her father, grandmother and aunts Leila and Agnes McNamara, travel diaries kept by Agnes, cuttings of poetry by E.R. Nairn and a copy of a booklet entitled 'The Kreuslers and their descendants, 1344-1989' which relates to the McNamara side of the family. Leila was a well-known South Australian artist and there is an exercise book of her anatomical sketches and a small reproduction of one of her paintings.

There are also miscellaneous papers relating to the children of Guy and Phyllis Boyd, including birth certificates, baby health care cards and school reports.

Series 10. Lindy Chamberlain Campaign, 1980-1992

Following the return of a guilty verdict against Lindy Chamberlain in the trial over the disappearance of her daughter, Azaria, in 1981, Guy and Phyllis Boyd were amongst the first people involved in what was eventually to become a national campaign calling for a judicial inquiry into the case. Guy Boyd drew up a petition entitled 'A Plea for Mercy' and became involved in organising meetings and support groups and gathering signatures. In 1984, he edited Justice in Jeopardy: twelve witnesses speak out, a critical analysis of witness statements and forensic evidence presented at the trial.

This series includes correspondence and papers relating to the campaign. There are letters lobbying politicians and other public figures, newspaper cuttings and campaign ephemera. A large part of the correspondence comprises letters of support from people around Australia and there is one folder of correspondence with Professor B. Boettcher from the University of Newcastle.

Also included is a video cassette of a meeting held in Caulfield on 8 November 1983, cassette tapes of a meeting held at Melbourne Town Hall on 23 March 1984 and a copy of a self published work entitled The dark side of the law by Glenn Rosendahl, 1984, containing the dedication 'To Lindy and Michael'.

Papers, 1983-1992 (File 1)

Notes of a public meeting of 'A Plea for Mercy' campaign held at Caulfield, November 1983; letters of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, 1983-1985 and 1992; citation presented to the Boyd family by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, nd

Correspondence, 1980-1986 (File 2-6)

Correspondence, 1987-1996 (File 7)

Correspondence with politicians, 1983-1984 (File 8)

Correspondence with Professor B. Boettcher, 1984 (File 9)

Letters of support for the campaign, 1982-1986 (File 10-18)

Correspondence and papers relating to the Chamberlain Innocence Committee, 1985 (File 19-20)

Correspondence and papers relating to the National Freedom Council, 1987-1990 (File 21)

Papers (File 22)

Negative responses to the 'A Plea for Mercy' petition, 1984; campaign advertisements

Papers relating to the campaign (File 23-25)

Petitions, newspaper cuttings and papers relating to the campaign, 1984-1987 (File 26)

Copy of The dark side of the law by Glenn Rosendahl, 1984 (File 27)

Cassette tapes: 22 commercially produced copies of 'Six trial witnesses speak out', recorded at Melbourne Town Hall, 23 March 1984 and one tape annotated 'To Babette from Liz', 26 October 1981 (File 28)

Side 1 - 10/26/81 To: Babette. From: Liz. Side 2 - 10/26/81. 1 of 23 [cassette tape], 26.10.81 (Item 1) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000319

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 2 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 2) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000320

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 3 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 3) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000321

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 4 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 4) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000322

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 5 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 5) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000323

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 6 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 6) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000324

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 7 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 7) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000325

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 8 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 8) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000326

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 9 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 9) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000327

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 10 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 10) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000328

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 11 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 11) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000329

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 12 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 12) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000330

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 13 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 13) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000331

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 14 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 14) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000332

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 15 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 15) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000333

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 16 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 16) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000334

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 17 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 17) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000335

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 18 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 18) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000336

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 19 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 19) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000337

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 20 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 20) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000338

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 21 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 21) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000339

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Side 1 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Mrs L Stevenson, Mr & Mrs G Lowe. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 2 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mrs J West; Letters Mrs Boyd, Mr G Boyd. 22 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 22) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000340

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Side 3 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Melbourne Town Hall, 23.3.84. Prof. B. Boettcher, Mr L Harris. "Save Lindy Chamberlain", c/o Guy Boyd, P.O. Box 93, Launching Place, Vic., 3139. Side 4 - Six Trial Witnesses Speak Out. Mr L Harris (cont.); Mr W Goodwin, Dr H Driscoll; Letter to Prime Minister. 23 of 23 [cassette tape], 23.3.84 (Item 23) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000341

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Video tape of the public meeting held at Caufield, 8 November 1983 (File 29)

On VHS: Guy Boyd. Public Meeting 8/11/83. A C.P.C. production [VHS video], 8.11.1983 (Item) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000318

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Series 11. Women Who Want to be Women, 1980-2000

Phyllis Boyd was a founding member and Victorian co-ordinator of the organisation Women Who Want To Be Women (WWWW), the aim of which was to enhance the status of uniquely female roles under the precept that men and women are equal but different. This series contains correspondence and papers relating to the activities of WWWW. There are numerous letters from politicians, often containing quite detailed replies in response to WWWW's lobbying on issues such as the Sex Discrimination Bill 1984, the Equal Opportunity Bill, the Embryo Experimentation Bill and the In-Vitro Fertilisation Programme. There are also reports, submissions, copies of government press releases, ephemera and correspondence with Babette Francis, the organisation's National and International Co-ordinator.

Correspondence, 1980-1983 (File 1)

Correspondence, 1984 (File 2)

Correspondence, 1985-1987 (File 3)

Women who want to be women. Correspondence 1985-87. On tape: Side 1 (Ron L, D+C). Side 2 (Facing Up) L, Dr C Barry Smith, Mary + Doreen? [cassette tape], 1985-87 (Item 1) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000342

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Cassette tape with the title 'Mrs M. [Marianne] Crowe - True Advancement of Women' which was a paper she presented at the United Nations Decade for Women, WWWW information seminar, 23 June 1985 (File 3)

Women who want to be women. Correspondence 1985-87. On tape: Mrs M Crow. True Advancement of Women [cassette tape], 23.6.85 (Item 2) - Piece NLA.MS-SAV000343

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Series 12. Women Against the Ordination of Women, 1987-1994

In 1987, Phyllis Boyd was approached by Sandra McColl about joining her in the formation of an Australian equivalent of the British Anglican Church group Women Against the Ordination of Women (WAOW). Phyllis Boyd was appointed as the National Secretary. In 1993, after the vote by the General Synod in Melbourne in 1992 to allow the ordination of women, it was decided to dissolve the group and for members to join the Association for Apostolic Women. In 1993, Phyllis Boyd decided to join the Catholic Church.

Contained in this series are papers relating to the campaign run by WAOW, which involved the lobbying of members of the Anglican clergy and church bodies, promoting the cause and preparing submissions for presentation at Synod meetings. They comprise correspondence, papers written by Phyllis Boyd, Synod papers, reports, agenda and minutes of meetings, submission papers, promotional flyers and brochures, copies of the WAOW newsletter, newspaper cuttings and copies of journal articles.

Most of the papers were contained in files created by Phyllis Boyd and these have been kept intact. Related unfoldered papers have been listed chronologically.

Series 13. Australian Family Association, 1987-2000

In 1987 Phyllis Boyd joined the Australian Family Association (AFA), which was founded in 1978 by a group of Christians concerned that traditional family values were being eroded by various groups in western society. In 1989 she was elected Vice-President of the Victorian Branch and from 1996 to 2000 was its President. Dr Joe Santamaria was the Association's National President.

Through her role in the AFA, Phyllis Boyd was involved in lobbying government bodies and organisations about issues which it was felt impacted on the role of the family. Such issues included the rights of the child, drug addiction, euthanasia, family allowances, homosexuality and pornography.

Contained in this series are papers relating to Phyllis Boyd's involvement with the AFA. They include correspondence, minutes of meetings, AFA press releases, copies of the AFA bulletin Family Update, pamphlets and other ephemera. Most of the papers were contained in files created by Phyllis Boyd and they have been kept intact. Related unfoldered papers have been listed chronologically.

Series 14. Subject files, 1962-2000

Phyllis Boyd had a keen interest in a broad range of social, feminist and religious issues. In this series are a number of subject files she accumulated relating to these interests. They contain correspondence, newspaper cuttings, booklets, minutes of meetings and newsletters.

Series 15. Journals and papers, 1981-2000

Contained in this series are journals and miscellaneous papers written by others, which were accumulated by Phyllis Boyd. They mostly relate to her broad interests in social issues, the role of the family and feminism. Journals include Family Forum, Light, The Horizon, The Phyllis Schlafly Report and Contentions

Series 16. Newspaper cuttings, 1968-2000

This series comprises newspaper cuttings relating to Guy Boyd and his work, to the Boyd family in general and to the interests of both Guy and Phyllis Boyd such as the arts, social issues, conservation and religion.

Series 17. Miscellaneous papers, 1976-2000

A small group of miscellaneous papers accumulated by Guy and Phyllis Boyd are contained in this series. There are typescripts of interviews conducted by Colin Smith as research for a proposed publication on the Boyd family of Murrumbeena and the local history of Murrumbeena. They comprise interviews with Phyllis Boyd, David Boyd, Margot and Robert Beck and other residents of Murrumbeena. There are also several booklets and tourist brochures, a cash journal and a deposit book, a bound typescript of a novel (no title, author or date) and plans for renovations of their Sandringham home.