Women's Electoral Lobby records,1970-1998

MLMSS 9078
R 2127

fonds

1970-1998

Textual Records, Moving Images, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Objects, Clippings

152446

11.39 metres of textual material (67 boxes)
31 sound recordings

The Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL) is a national, independent, non-party political, feminist lobby group. Founded in 1972, WEL lobbies politicians, unions, employers, educationalists and others on policies that promote equality and seek to change attitudes and practices that discriminate against women.

Reference:

Women's Electoral Lobby: http://wel.org.au/about/ (accesssed 28 August 2013)

Women's Electoral Lobby records, ca. 1970-1995. The collection comprises subject files, correspondence, minutes, financial records, membership records, newscuttings, Julia Freebury's papers, audio and video cassettes, and Juliet Richter's papers relating to the Women's Action Network.

BOXES 1-23
Subject files labelled by WEL with topics arranged alphabetically. Records include correspondence, reports, submissions, discussion papers, newscuttings, journals, flyers, newsletters, brochures etc., ca. 1972-1990

Box 1
Abortion, including correspondence, papers, newsletters, newscuttings, ca. 1977-1990

Box 2
Australian Bureau of Statistics publications, 1986-1988
Australian Women’s Groups, being correspondence, newsletters, etc, 1977-1980

Box 3
Child care, including correspondence, reports, newsletters etc., 1974-1983

Box 4
Child care, including surveys, policies, conference paper, flyers, ca. 1973-1982
Children and the United Nations International Year of the Child, being reports, discussion papers, newsletters, flyers, ca. 1979

Box 5
Contraception, including leaflets on family planning, flyers, newsletters, ca. 1979-1981
Discrimination: Commonwealth, including discrimination in employment, being correspondence, senate reports, newsletters, media releases, etc., ca. 1978-1983

Box 6
Discrimination: State, including discrimination in employment, being correspondence, reports, notes, ca. 1974-1985
Domestic violence, including correspondence, reports, questionnaires, 1979-1985

Box 7
Economics, including women and the budget, correspondence, reports, etc., 1973-1986
Employment, including equal pay, women and labour, being submission papers, conference papers, newsletters, newscuttings, flyers, ca. 1972-1986

Box 8
Education, including non-sexist education, early childhood education, being correspondence, reports, papers, newsletters, newscuttings, etc. 1979-1989

Box 9
Family Law, including property rights, superannuation, WEL Family Law Action Group, being correspondence, reports, papers, newsletters, newscuttings etc., ca. 1977-1986

Box 10
Families, including family allowance, lone parent families, being correspondence, reports, papers, newsletters, newscuttings etc., ca. 1976-1989
Feminism ca. being correspondence, articles, newsletters, newscuttings etc., 1973-1984

Box 11
Health including IVF, women’s health services, being correspondence, reports, journal articles, newsletters, newscuttings etc., ca. 1976-1990

Box 12
Housing, including low income housing, being reports, journal articles, newsletters, newscuttings etc., 1979-1987
Insurance and Taxation, including income tax reform, superannuation, being correspondence, newscuttings, 1973-1985

Box 13
International feminism, being correspondence, reports, newsletters, etc., 1975-1990

Box14
Legal issues including reports, statistics, notes, newsletters, 1972-1980
Lobbying including WEL lobbying kit, information leaflets, 1975-1982

Box15
Local Government, including information regarding getting elected to local government, ca. 1974-1983

Box 16
Maternity Leave including correspondence, reports, Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission transcripts of proceedings, ca. 1978-1979
Media and advertising, including sexism in advertising, being correspondence, reports, journal articles, newscuttings, ca. 1973-1983

Box 17
Occupational Health including discussion papers and conference papers, 1976-1982
Peace Movement including nuclear disarmament, being papers, newsletters, flyers, newscuttings, 1973-1986

Box 18
Political Parties, including state and federal parties, being reports, contact lists, flyers, ca. 1974-1983
Poverty, concerning poverty and Australian social services, 1973

Box 19
Pornography, including WEL policy statement, correspondence, reports, newscuttings, ca. 1975-1985
Pregnancy including journal articles on IVF, WEL position paper on Human Artificial Insemination, newscuttings, 1970-1985
Prostitution including journal articles, correspondence, newscuttings, research papers, 1973-1990

Box 20
National Agenda for Women Conference, 25–27 April 1986, being a ringbinder folder containing conference papers, minutes of meetings, correspondence, ca. 1985-1986

Box 21
Sexual Offences, including law reform, being correspondence, reports, ca. 1976-1989
Work Force including women and employment, women and unions, being journal articles, correspondence, newscuttings, research papers, 1973-1985

Box 22
Woman in Politics, being reports, correspondence, scrapbook of newscuttings, conference papers, journals, flyers, newsletters, 1975-1989

Box 23
United Nations Decade for Women, 1976-1985, including International Women’s Day, 1975, being correspondence, transcripts of speeches, reports, conference papers, journals, flyers, newscuttings, ca. 1975-1985
Women and Sport including reports, journal articles, flyers, newscuttings, ca. 1977-1980
WEL list of submissions 1972-1985; WEL organisational model, no date

BOXES 24-67
Folders labelled by WEL containing correspondence, reports, submissions, discussion papers, newscuttings, journals, flyers, newsletters etc., ca. 1980-1995

Box 24
Folders labelled: aboriginal, 1988; abortion, 1982-1991; accident compensation, 1986; affirmative action, 1985-1992; anti-discrimination, 1986-1992; arts environment

Box 25
Folders labelled: banking, 1985-1991; child abuse, protection, 1986-1988; child care, 1985-1992; education, 1987-1991; employment, 1983-1984, 1986-1992; family law, 1977-1991; housing, 1981-1991; Incorporation documents, 1988-1990

Box 26
Folders labelled: industrial relations, 1979-1993; International women’s groups, 1980-1990; NSW Budget 1982; petitions, 1979-1982; submissions, 1977-1990; violence, 1989-1991

Box 27
Folders labelled: archives research 1972-1983; birth defects, 1981-1983; correspondence 1983; employment submissions, 1972-1983; Freedom of Information, 1978-1987; general correspondence, notes, reports etc., 1977; Goods and Services Tax (GST), 1992

Box 28
Folders labelled: health, 1981-1993; insurance, 1982-1992; language; 1982-1990; legal submissions, 1974-1987; library and literature, 1983-1991; local government, 1974-1991; media, 1978-1992; WEL national policy, 1984-1987

Box 29
Folders labelled: Australia Post, 1992; media, 1979-1992; WEL membership, 1974-1977; migrants, 1978-1984; New Dawn newsletter, vol. 1, No. 1– vol 1. No. 6, 1975; WEL newsletter correspondence, 1980-1985

Box 30
Folders labelled: politicians, 1977-78, 1991; pornography, 1984; refuges, 1984-1989; sexual law reform, 1983-1988; social security, 1982-1991; sport, 1978-1990; superannuation, 1974-1992; taxation, 1973-1991; violence, 1985-1991; WEL correspondence, 1982; WEL Gosford, 1987-1988; WEL history, 1992; WEL submissions: anti-discrimination, retirement, superannuation, 1979-1992; Women in the home and workforce, 1976-1990

Box 31
Folders labelled: correspondence, 1977, 1982-1983; Federal election, 1974, 1975, 1984, 1987, 1990

Box 32
Folders labelled: State election, 1973, 1976, 1988; Local Government: Waverley, 1974

Box 33
Accounts, 1988-1990; Administration Committee minutes, 1987-1991; cashbook ledger, 1977-1983; Commonwealth Bank statements, 1989-1992; General Meetings minute book, July 1982 – December 1988; General Meeting minutes 1983

Box 34
Petty cash, 1975-1986; deposit and receipt books 1986-1991; Treasurer’s file, 1987-1989; wages, 1988-1989

Box 35
General correspondence, 1984-1995; financial statements, 1991-1992; General Meetings minute book, 1973-1978

Box 36
General Meeting minute book, 1989, General Meeting minutes, 1993; National Conference, 1986; international feminism, 1975-1985; submissions, 1978-1988; WEL election strategies and election pack, 1993

Boxes 37-40
Membership forms, 1985-1991

Boxes 41-43
Julia Freebury’s papers: Freebury was a WEL founding member. Papers include Sydney Women’s Liberation newsletters, 1977-1988; Women’s health in a changing society, 1975; WEL newsletters, 1973-1974; International Women’s Year, 1975; family planning 1976; New Dawn newsletter, 1975; Women’s Forum 1974; newscuttings, ca. 1973-1978; applications for funding, 1975.

Boxes 44-46
Day books, Feb. 1986– Dec. 1987; membership books, 1979-1987; diaries, 1988-1991; cash books, 1977-1988

Boxes 47-48
Press clippings, 1974-1975, 1978-1979; Information Kit for a Young Widow with Children, 1979

Boxes 49-50
WEL office correspondence, 1975-1988

Boxes 51-52
WEL National and State conferences, including conference papers, 1973-1991; WEL office administration files, including general correspondence, 1982-1987

Boxes 53-54
WEL office administration files, including general correspondence, 1972-1973; Federal and State election files, 1977-1983; WEL submissions, ca. 1973-1988

Boxes 55-56
WEL office administration files, including general correspondence, 1980, 1981; Tenth birthday celebration, 1982; Annual General Meeting, Incorporation, 1984; WEL state policies, 1991; state conference, 1992; newscuttings 1972-1979; National WEL correspondence, 1990; national conference, 1980-1981

Boxes 57-59
Membership computer printout, 1986-1991; membership cards and renewal forms, ca. 1979-1992

Boxes 60-61
Women’s Action Network, including correspondence, finance, minutes, delegations etc., 1988-1991. Women’s Action Network was a peak body of women’s organisations formed in response to NSW Premier Nick Greiner;WEL was one of the member organisations.

Box 62
Affirmative Action including correspondence, submissions, newscuttings, ca. 1985-1991

Boxes 63-66
Juliet Richter’s papers: Juliet Richter, a WEL member, was then a representative to the NSW State Govt. Women’s Advisory Council/Board. Papers include NSW State Govt. Women’s Advisory Board/Council minutes, 1974-1977; Women’s liberation papers, 1971; Women’s Sexuality Conference, 1973; newsletters, ca. 1978-1979; status of children, 1975; survey of WEL members, 1975

Box 67
Health Action Group, 1994-1995; anti-discrimination, 1986; Year of the Family, 1994

REALIA
Call No. R 2127
Pair of green women’s cotton shorts with white women's equality symbol on front left pocket, label: 'miss D', size 12, ca. 1975

VIDEO RECORDINGS
2 video cassettes: ‘Vox Populi, WAN’, 28 July 1988; ‘Broken Silence’, Vox Populi, September 1987.
Housed separately from the collection at MLMSS 9078. For enquiries about this material please contact the Manuscripts Section.

SOUND RECORDINGS
31 sound recordings being 3 sound tape reels and 28 sound cassettes relating to WEL including recordings of interviews, meetings, radio broadcasts, ca. 1977-1993.
Call No. MLOH 723
Sound recordings not to be issued – master tape only. For access please contact the Curator of Oral History.

Sound cassettes
1. Women’s representatives, 2 July 1977
2. M. Mackerras, 2 July 1977
3. What motivates women: political activisim, 2 July 1977
4. July Malcolm, Judith Steanes: How the other half lives, 13 September 1977
5. Di Graham, Edna Ryan, childcare, women’s role, politics: Anne & Sandi, 14 September 1977
6. Jan Aitken, Joan Bielski, Sheila Wilkinson: How the other half loves, 15 September 1977
7. The Coming Out Show: Women on the ABC Board, 34/83
8. Di Graham’s surprise party: Barbara Coddington, Faith Bandler, Jocelynne Scutt, Di Graham in response, 9 August 1986
9. Di Graham’s surprise party: Di Graham cont., Kay Fielden presenting gift, 9 August 1986
10. WEL Luncheons, Sydney: Just Elizabeth Evatt, 26 May 1986; Mrs. Stella Cornelius, 30 June 1986
11. Fourth WEL Luncheon, Sydney: Ms Jenni George, NSW President Teachers Federation member ACTU, 25 August 1986
12. Invitation to a Birthday Party: WEL-Informed’s
13. Late Night Live 22 September 1988
14. WEL Seminar, Sydney: Feminism and the environment: planning for small and large cities, green girls and the ecological housewife, 2 September 1990
15. WEL Seminar, Sydney: Feminism and the environment: Helen Ferris, Chair; Boon of Elect. For women, the economy and the environment, population, the Australian land and the environment, 2 September 1990
16. WEL General Meeting, 2 June 1991
17. Debt, Eva Cox, Life Matters, December 1992
18. Women in development, Coming Out Show: WEL, 8 May 1993
19. Families: Eva Cox, Joy Goodsell, Life Matters, February 1993
20. MFP, Radio National, January 1993
21. Child care conflict, tape 1, no date
22. Child care conflict, tape 2, no date
23. Child care conflict, tape 3, no date
24. Child care conflict, tape 4, no date
25. Victimless Crime, Janet Coombes, no date
26. Women in political parties, no date
27. WEL general meeting, 2 June 1991
28. unidentified sound cassette

Sound tape reels
29. Alice Cook speaking at WEL NSW State Conference, no date
30. Alice Cook speaking at WEL NSW State Conference, no date
31. unidentified sound tape reel

This material is held offsite and is usually available after 4pm on the next business day. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to MLMSS 9078
Access via appointment - Applies to R 2127

Copyright status:: In copyright
Approval for reproduction required: Requires the written permission of WEL
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords project 2013-2014

Edna Ryan Awards 2006, 2009-2012 have been catalogued separately at MLMSS 8964 (records for 1998-2005 are held by Jessie Street National Women's Library). June 2013

Contents list provided by the Women's Electoral Lobby