MS 7992
Papers of Dr Barry Christophers (1922-1981)


NOTE: The c. 250 files in this collection were in no discernable order when they were received by the Library in 1989. The following arrangement is therefore one devised by staff of the Manuscripts Section.


Series 1: Aborigines, general, 1957-74

BOX 1

  • Tasmanian natives, 1958
  • Warburton natives, W.A., 195-79
  • Alcohol Robert Tudawali case, 1959-62
  • Max Brown, 1961
  • 4th National Aboriginal Conference, 1961
  • General files, 1957-65 (4 files)

BOX 2

  • Yallourn investigation and Report on Aboriginal Welfare, 1965
  • Social services, 1965-6
  • Drug dependence, 1966-73 (7 files)
  • Nancy Young, 1969
  • Jim Keefe visit to Bamaga, 1971
  • Frank Stevens, 1970-73
  • Whitlam's statement, 1973
  • National Aboriginal Consultative Council, 1973

BOX 3

  • General files, 1967-73 (6 files)
  • Richard Martin, 1973-74

Series 2: Anthropology, 1958-77

BOX 4

  • Use of dingos, 1958-9
  • Anthropology, 1964-77 (6 files)

Series 3: Aborigines Advancement League, 1958-69

BOX 5

8 files including: Gordon Bryant/Jim Davidson affair, 1964
  • Smoke signals Committee

Series 4: Council for Aboriginal Rights (Victoria), 1953-74

BOX 6

6 files , 1953-63, including:
  • Save the Aborigines Committee
  • Murray Jones case, Bendigo, 1955-8
  • Reserves, health, education
  • W.A. kangaroo water poisoning, 1960-61

BOX 7

6 files, 1960-74, including:

  • Lake Tyers, 1962
  • Struggle for dignity

Series 5: Industrial, 1951-70

BOX 8

  • Equal Wages for Aborigines Committee, 1963-67 (12 files)

BOX 9

  • Newcastle Waters and Wave Hill disputes, Northern Territory, 1966 (4 files)
  • North Australian Workers Union, 1951-67 (3 files)

BOX 10

  • Awards and wages in the pastoral industry, 1954-70 (13 files)
  • Equal wages for Aborigines/Frank Stevens (ANU), 1968

BOX 11

  • Wages and awards correspondence, 1968-70
  • ALCOA/Weipa/BWIU, 1964-7
  • Aircraft industry award, 1966-7
  • Cooperatives, 195961
  • Employment opportunities, 1967
  • Seminar on the Problems of Aboriginal Employment, Wages and Training Monash University, 1966

Series 6: Queensland, 1961-81

BOX 12

24 files on the campaign to abolish the system whereby Aboriginal wages were lodged in trust accounts with the Commonwealth Bank, 1963-73.

BOX 13

  • 15 files on resistance to the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Acts of 1965 and 1971 (including petitions and electoral campaigns), 1965-77.
  • Lockhart River Post Office, 1980-81
  • Hopevale Mission flogging, 1961-80 (3 files)

BOX 14

19 files on resistance to the 1971 Act, including the case of Jack and Annie Hansen versus the Director of Aboriginal Affairs and the overiding federal legislation introduced by the Whitlam government, 1970-77.

Series 7: Northern Territory, 1952-64

BOX 15

7 files including:

  • Statements by Paul Hasluck, Minister for Territories
  • Antislavery questionnaire, n.d.
  • Albert Namitjira's imprisonment, 1958-9
  • Newscuttings on Aboriginal conditions

Series 8: Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, 1958-78

(N.B.: Papers re the Queensland trust funds campaign in Series 6)

BOX 16

16 administrative files, 1958-69, including:

  • Citiizenship referendum
  • Yirrkala
  • Marriage
  • Federal Conference

BOX 17

9 administrative files, 1960-67

BOX 18

9 administrative files, 1968-73

BOX 19

16 files, 1971-4, including:

  • Political
  • Press articles and letters
  • National Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs
  • Annual Conference
  • Post Master General
  • Ruth Kaplon/D. Craigie

BOX 20

10 files, 19757-8, including:

  • National Aboriginal and Islander Liberation Movement
  • Papua New Guinea border
  • Advancement Party (North Qld)
  • Mrs Lena Murgha

Series 9: Non Aboriginal Interests, 1964-72

BOX 21

16 files on medical certificates, 1966-72, including files on state and federal awards and the Australian Medical Association.

BOX 22

  • Amnesty International, 1969-70
  • Honoraries and war service, 1967, including job applications
  • Council for Civil Liberties (NSW and Victoria), 1965-8
  • AMA Inter Suburban Subdivision, 1964-6

Series 10: Printed Material

BOXES 23-25

Unsorted pamphlets, newsletters, roneoed material, newscuttings and reports, 1960s and 1970s.

BOX 26

Various acts, regulations and ordinances re aboriginal affairs, 1950s-60s.

N.B.: Copies of the following serials were sent to Australian Selection at the time of sorting:

  • Aboriginal and islander forum, 1975-8
  • Origin, 1969-72
  • Aboriginal quarterly, 1968-9.

Papers added 27 July 1994

Aborigines, general, 1960 - 1971

BOX 27 FOLDERS 1-6

  • Registration of Births 1960s, 71
  • Statistics Dept & Law (C'wlth & States)
  • Referendum 27 May 1967
  • Correspondence 1964 - 71
  • Social Services, General 1960s
  • Addresses and Reports, including: Address of John Gorton, PM 1968, reports by
  • J McGinness, Stan Smith, Neville Bonner, Shirley Andrews, Herbert Groves and Anna Vroland. Biography by Mavis Thorpe Clarke.

Industrial 1961-1973

BOX 28 FOLDERS 7-9

  • Transcripts. Cattle Station Industry Award (Northern Territory) 1965.
  • Equal wages Aborigines 1965-73
  • Petitions
  • Wages & employment committee
  • Wages and awards - letter NT 1961

BOX 28 FOLDERS 10-16

  • QLD Hopevale floggings 1967.
  • Missions and reserves
  • Correspondence 1967-71
  • Declaration of Rights 1960
  • Statistics of wages 1962
  • WA Correspondence Don McLeod 1950s
  • Don Stuart and novel 'Yandy'
  • Permission to enter Native Reserve Port Headland
  • NT Statement by Paul Hasluck, Minister for Territories 1952
  • Trip to NT Joe McGinness
  • Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights
  • Appeal from Supreme Court NT to High Court Australia, Albert Namatjira and Gordon Edgar Raabe.

Federal Council for Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders 1964 - 77

BOX 29 FOLDERS 17-18

Federal Council for Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders correspondence and printed material.

Non Aboriginal Interests

BOX 29 FOLDERS 19-20

  • Poisons Act and drugs of addiction 1962
  • Drugs 1969,70
  • Flying Doctor Service 1964
  • National Health Scheme
  • Medical certificates

Printed material

BOX 30 FOLDERS 21-25

  • Various acts, regulations and ordinances 1928, 1946, 1950s-60s (2 folders)
  • Aborigines Advancement League 1961-69
  • Council for Aboriginal Rights. Kath Walker
  • Communist Party material
  • Aboriginal Legal Service (1 folder)
  • Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Monthly Bulletin 1962-75
  • Federal Council for Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders news 1970-71
  • Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship Monthly Bulletin 1962 (1 folder)
  • Pamphlets (1 folder)