Helen Leonard Collection - NJSN_AC-039 1961 - 2001

Box 1: A number of press clippings are found throughout Helen Leonard’s Papers but the contents of this box is purely press clippings dating from 1979 to 1997. They cover a wide range of topics that impact on women’s lives and include media, advertising, education, health, religion, environment, politics and law. Also contained in the press clippings are articles related to women and business/sport/money/ marriage/family/work/sexual harassment.

1. Press clippings / ABC Radio 1983 - 1984
2. Press clippings / Media Monitors 1997
3. Press clippings / Women’s Issues 1991 - 1997
4. Press clippings / Adele Horin / Jennie George 1995
5. Press clippings / UN World Conference on Women, Beijing 1995
6. Press clippings / Eva Cox / Boyer Lectures 1995
7. Press clippings / Computers 1995
8. Press clippings / Carmen Lawrence 1995
9. Press clippings / Education 1995
10. Press clippings / Health 1995
11. Press clippings / Internet 1995
12. Press clippings / Literature 1995
13. Press clippings / Miscellaneous 1995
14. Press clippings / Police Royal Commission 1995
15. Press clippings / Racism / NESB / Multi-culturalism 1995
16. Press clippings / Radio 1995
17. Press clippings / Religion 1995
18. Press clippings / Representation of Men 1995
19. Press clippings / Representation of Feminism 1995
20. Press clippings / Royal Women 1995
21. Press clippings / Television 1995
22. Press clippings / Transport 1995
23. Press clippings / Women and beauty 1995
24. Press clippings / Women and Business / Women and Sport / Women and Money 1995
25. Press clippings / Women and Marriage 1995
26. Press clippings / Women and Media Portrayal 1995
27. Press clippings / Women / Indigenous & TSI / Jennifer Isaacs 1995
28. Press clippings / Women and Law / Women and Politics 1994 - 1995
29. Press clippings / Women and Sexual Harrassment / Abuse / Assault 1991 - 1995
30. Press clippings / Women and Work 1995
31. Press clippings / Women and Family 1994 - 1995
32. Press clippings / Prominent Women 1980 - 1993
33. Press clippings / Women and Advertising 1991 - 1995
34. Press clippings / Environment 1990 - 1995
35. Press clippings / Women and Superannuation / Money 1989 - 1995
36. Press clippings / Men in Politics 1989 - 1995
37. Press clippings / Carmel Niland 1979 - 1989
38. Press clippings / Helen Garner’s “The First Stone” 1995
39. Press clippings / Abortion 1991

Journals – removed from this box and added to library catalogue

Box 2: This box contains general records mainly of a political nature and include a number of documents from the NSW Department for Women and the Department for the Status of Women. Other documents in this collection include speeches, reports, policies, handouts, media releases, and working papers upon the death of Edna Ryan “Celebrating Edna”.

1. Women into Politics / Constitution / Annual Report / Minutes & letters sent 1994 – 2001
2. CAPOW/ Honour Roll Nominations 2000 & Report to CEDAW 1997
3. Aust. Women's Constitution Network Steering Committee/ letters sent 2000
4. National Women's Centre: proposal for Catherine Helen Spence House 2000
1. Handouts / media releases / misc. women's organisations 1991 - 2000
2. Dept. for Women/ working papers / songs “The Revolting Sisters” / International Women's Day 1991 - 1999
3. CAPOW/ Tender to Develop Network for Non-Government Women's Organisations 1998
4. Council for Equal Opportunity in Employment / Susan Halliday media release 1998
5. Dept. for Women / “A History of International Women’s Day” 1998
6. NWJC / board member contacts & minutes of AGM 1998
7. Dept. for Women/ misc. papers / newsletter / factsheets 1995 –2001
8. Ministry for the Status & Advancement of Women / Reports from AGB McNair 1994 & 1997
9. Women & the Order of Australia award / misc. papers 1990 & 1997
10. Speeches / Pauline Hanson's maiden speech 1996 / Sandra Yates “Effective Communication” Women CEOS' lunch 1997
11. Dept. for Women/ Guidelines for organising a launch 1996
12. Dept. for Women/ Report on International Women's Day 1996
13. Office for the Status of Women / press releases 1989 -1996
14. Dept. for Women/ Poster for exhibition “Out of Line” 1995
15. Dept. for Women/ Report: Pornography and Violence against Women 1995
16. NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women / Report 1994 & Survey 1995
17. Published papers / 1990 – 1994
18. Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) / Report 1993
19. Office for the Status of Women / Report 1992 - 1993
20. Coalition Against Sexual Violence Propaganda / press release 1992
21. Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity / misc papers 1990 - 1991
22. ALP Policy for Women 1990
23. OSW Information / Women's Tax Convention 1989
24. OSW Newsletter December 1988
25. Letterheads from associated organisations
26. Publications (copies of front pages only – original documents held in JSNWL)
27. Women’s Information and Referral Service: Older Women Out There Info sheets (undated)
28. Unpublished papers / Women and the Vote undated / image of the Australian Women’s Suffrage Banner 1908
29. The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Bulletin 1993 / Booklet “International Humanitarian Law” undated
30. “Celebrating Edna” working papers upon the death of Edna Ryan 1997
31. “The Women’s Lobby” / journal article in Aust Journal of Political Science 1994 Box 3: This box contains mostly documents related to WRITES (Women’s Research Information Training Education Space) and Distaff Associates. Documents include Constitution & Certificate of Incorporation (WRITES), reports, minutes, course notes and conference papers, newsletters, and biography of Eva Cox.

1. WRITES (Women’s Research Information Training Education Space) / Financial Records 1991 - 1997
2. WRITES / Grant applications 1990 - 1997
3. WRITES / AGM Minutes 1993 - 1996
4. Distaff / Papers / 1993
5. WRITES / Constitution & Certificate of Incorporation 1990 – 1997
6. Distaff Associates / Reports 1994
7. Distaff Associates / Eva Cox / Discussion papers 1994
8. Distaff Associates / Phone policy kit & mail out list 1994 - 1995
9. Distaff Associates / Eva Cox / Conference Papers 1993 – 1994
10. The Women's Academy working papers 1991 – 1993
11. Eva Cox's Boyer Lectures 1995
12. Distaff / Workshop – “Lobby and be Heard!” 1992 (updated for WEL 1996)
13. Women’s Radio Network / Shrill Newsletter Vol. 1 1992
14. Distaff Associates / Administrative Papers 1992
15. Distaff / Eva Cox / course notes / Women in Management c 1992
16. Distaff / Minutes 1991 - 1992
17. Distaff / Correspondence 1989 – 1992
18. Distaff Associates / Training Course Descriptions 1990 - 1991
19. Distaff Associates / Handouts / Publicity 1989 - 1994
20. Distaff / Eva Cox biography 1991
21. Distaff Associates / Media release samples 1991
22. Distaff Associates / EOI for consultancy / domestic violence in NSW 1990
23. Distaff Associates / CVs undated Box 4: This box contains Helen Leonard’s personal papers which include diaries, address books and assorted personal material.

1. 1991 Diary
2. 1996 Diary
3. 1998 Memo book
4. Index book (addresses) – undated
5. Index book (addresses) – undated. Includes the following:
• newspaper clipping ‘Application for Grants’ 1996
• photo of unnamed woman
• 2 x postcards ‘Vote 1 Australian Women’s Party’
• Media Screening flyer – undated
• RPA Hospital patient card – diabetes centre – 1996

6. 4 x Index books (addresses) - undated
7. Exclusive Address book – undated. Includes the following:
• ‘The Word on Sunday’ flyer – undated
• Invitation to the 1999 International Women’s Day Breakfast
• Ticket to the 1998 International Women’s Day Breakfast
• WEL National Board and State Contacts – 1998
• Empty Telstra envelope
• The Women’s School of Self Defence flyer – 1997
• Handwritten voucher for mother / envelope with Mum written on front
• Fuel offer voucher 1998
• Receipt from Migrant Resource Centre for WEL Membership 1998
8. Electronic Diary (in paper form) October 1997 – May 2000
9. Assortment of personal material – 1990
10. Personal material / The Fabulous Fifties / Jan Bowen – 1994
11. Personal material / Quotations 1973 – 1985
12. Personal papers / CVs and related papers 1985 – 2000
13. Ephemera from 1996 diary + front cover of Good Weekend Jan 1993
14. Personal information / CV / Obituary / Ex Australian Women’s Register / Pymble Baptist Church Certificate of Church Membership 1961 Box 5: This box contains documents on Ageing with some reports and papers from the Office on Ageing. There are various publications and a statement by Premier Mr John Fahey on positive ageing (1993).

1. Office on Ageing: Older People media survey report & related papers 1992 - 1994
2. Office on Ageing: Report AGB Australia / Focus on Ageing 1991
3. Reports related to Health & Ageing 1985 - 1993
4. Office on Ageing: UN Proposals & Background for Global Radio link 1994
5. Office on Ageing: Papers / Facts about older People 1994
6. Office on Ageing: Seniors/ Media Network papers 1993
7. Office on Ageing: Objectives / Seniors Media Training Course Notes 1994
8. Office on Ageing: Program / Healthy Older People HOPP & related papers c 1992 (undated)
9. NSW Office on Ageing: Conference papers / Science, Technology & Ageing 29th National Conference 1993
10. Office on Ageing: Conference papers/ Premier's Forum on Ageing 1992 -93
11. Publications/ Older People & the Media 1992
12. Publication: How to avoid becoming an old codger 1993
13. Publication: Statement by Premier Mr John Fahey MP Positive Ageing – 1993
14. Reports / Telstra Bill Official Hansard 1996
15. Publication / Booklet / Telecommunications Bill Inquiry 1996 & Telstra (Dilution of Public Ownership) Bill

Reproduction rights are owned by Jessie Street National Women's Library. Material may be saved or printed for private research, however, if it is to be used for any other purpose, a ‘Request Permission to Publish’ form should be completed. RESTRICTIONS ON PHYSICAL ACCESS:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Library permission and acknowledgement required

BIOGRAPHY

Helen Leonard, feminist, nurse and photographer, was born on 7 March 1945 and was educated at Hornsby Girls’ High School, Sydney. At age 17, she enrolled as a student nurse at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, and worked for three years as a nurse and dental nurse in various settings.

Helen’s children, Christopher, Robin and Carolyn Inman were born within four years of each other. By 1973, Helen was an active member of the newly created Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (NMAA), working at the local level in group leadership and counselling. Eventually she began representing NMAA at a national level and by 1988 she had been appointed to the National Women’s Consultative Council (NWCC) as a representative of NMAA.

She was involved with many other women’s organisations including the Women’s Electoral Lobby, National Women’s Media Centre, National Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Foundation for Australian Women, Women’s Services Network (WESNET) and the Coalition of Australian Participating Organisations of Women (CAPOW!). As a lobbyist and photographer in the women’s movement from the 1970s onward, she recorded the activities of many women’s organisations, building an extraordinary library of photographs and recordings.

Helen died on 12 October 2001 and was posthumously awarded a high commendation in the community section of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Human Rights awards for her “tireless commitment to the rights of women, and broader issues of social justice.” She was survived by her partner, Judy Harrison, and her three children.

RESTRICTIONS ON REPRODUCTION

Library permission and acknowledgement is required to copy material for research purposes.

DATE OF ACQUISITION:

2002
EXTENT:

5 x standard archive boxes

INFORMATION RELATING TO COPYRIGHT STATUS:

Copyright holder is JSNWL.
INFORMATION RELATING TO COPYRIGHT HOLDER:

Copyright holder is JSNWL.
Jessie Street National Women's Library

English