Guide to the Papers of Vivienne Abraham
MS 9152
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | February 1998 |
| Last updated: | March 2000 |
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Personal papers, 1942-1972
Series 2 Federal Pacifist Council: general, 1944-1982
Series 3 Federal Pacifist Council: Vietnam War, 1964-1979
Series 4 Overseas Pacifist Organisations, 1938-1980
Series 5 Conscientious Objectors, 1951-1972
Series 6 Peacemaker, 1946-1973
Series 7 War Resisters' International, 1946-1973
Series 8 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1943-1989
Series 9 Pacifist Movement of Victoria, 1954-1968
Series 10 General correspondence, 1967-1971
Series 11 Fellowship of Reconciliation (F.O.R.), 1950-1971
Series 12 International Fellowship of Reconciliation (I.F.O.R.), 1947-1973
Series 13 Australian Peace Pledge Union, 1943-1972
Series 14 Religious Society of Friends, 1948-1986
Series 15 Other peace movements, 1943-1983
Series 16 Miscellaneous ephemera and cuttings, 1949-1982
Series 17 Printed material
Container List
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Abraham, Vivienne, 1920- |
| Title: | Papers of Vivienne Abraham |
| Date Range: | 1938-1989 |
| Collection Number: | MS 9152 |
| Extent: | 15.06 m (103 boxes + 2 cartons) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
| Abstract: | Correspondence, research material, notes, cuttings, ephemera, printed material and other papers. |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection includes correspondence (mostly with G.A. Bishop), research material, notes, cuttings, ephemera, printed material and other papers relating to the Federal Pacifist Council, conscientious objectors, War Resisters International, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Pacifist Movement of Victoria, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Peace Pledge Union, Religious Society of Friends, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Peacemaker and other pacifist and peace movements.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the National Library by Vivienne Abraham, through Dr Kenneth Rivett, in 1995. Some of the papers appear to have come from Vivienne Abraham's sister, the late Shirley Abraham.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Vivienne Abraham, National Library of Australia, MS 9152, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
| 1920 | Vivienne Grace Abraham was born in Melbourne |
| 1946-1952 | Honorary Secretary of the Australian Peace Pledge Union (Victoria) |
| 1947-1949 | Honorary Secretary to the acting editor of the Peacemaker |
| 1953-1955 | Editor of the Peacemaker |
| 1955 | Abraham moved to Sydney |
| 1961-1962 | Lived in Israel and Lebanon. During her stay in the Middle East, Abraham and G.A. Bishop, a fellow pacifist and a close friend, represented the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia at the conference in Lebanon. |
| 1964-1968 | Joint editor of the Peacemaker with her sister Shirley Abraham |
| 1969-1971 | Editor of the Peacemaker |
| 1982-1989 | Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Australian Section) |
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Personal papers, 1942-1972
This series contains the personal papers of Vivienne Abraham and a fellow pacifist and friend, G.A. Bishop. The material includes correspondence, diaries, notebooks and personal files, particularly relating their overseas visits after World War II.
Subseries 1.1 Personal papers of Vivienne Abraham
Folder 1 Papers relating to 1948 trip to England, Germany and Scandinavia
Folder 2 Writings and notebooks re War Resisters International, c.1948
Folder 3 Notes, 1948-1951
Folder 4 Notes and notebooks, 1964-1970
Folder 5 Notebook, 1970-1971
Folder 6 Manuscripts and typescripts of articles, c.1964-1972
Folder 7 Typescripts (undated)
Subseries 1.2 Personal papers of G.A. (Tony) Bishop
Folder 8 Biographical file
Folder 9 Federal Pacifist Council file, 1942-1944
Folder 10-11 Personal files, 1942-1948
Folder 12-20 Personal files, 1942-1948
Folder 21 Correspondence with Vivienne Abraham, 1947-1949
Folder 22-23 Correspondence, 1947-1948
Folder 24 Overseas diaries, 1947-1948
Series 2 Federal Pacifist Council: general, 1944-1982
The Federal Pacifist Council was the Australian Section of the War Resisters' International. Shirley Abraham was Honorary Secretary between 1951 and 1953. In 1961 and 1962 Vivienne Abraham lived in Israel and Lebanon. During her stay in the Middle East, Abraham and G.A. Bishop represented the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia at the conference in Lebanon.
The papers consist of minutes and meeting papers, correspondence, general and specific files and papers relating to the Australian Pacifist Conferences of 1946-1949.
Folder 18 Correspondence with constituent groups on organisation and literature distribution, 1947-1948
Folder 19 Correspondence with constituent groups re establishing a group in Western Australia, 1946-1947
Folder 40 Report of Second Australian Pacifist Conference, Mount Evelyn, Victoria, January-February 1947
Folder 41 Australian Pacifist Conference, Belair SA, 1948, including conference report by Abraham, 1948
Folder 85-89 Correspondence, including the British Service Civil International Correspondence, 1947-1953
Folder 119 Correspondence concerning Federal Pacifist Council publications, including the Peacemaker, 1970-1976
Folder 121 Conference material, 1940-1971
Including reports on the 1946 Australian Pacifist Conference at Thornleigh, NSW and papers relating to drafts resistance.
Folder 137 Pacifist Community Service: correspondence, tenancy agreements and financial records, 1945-1970
Folder 138-139 Copies of the National Service Act (1951-1957), the Defence Act (1930-1956), the National Service Act (1950), amendments to the National Service Act (1951-1955 and 1966-1968) and related papers
Folder 145-147 Financial papers, including cash books, receipt books, bank statements and reports, 1943-1973
Series 3 Federal Pacifist Council: Vietnam War, 1964-1979
The Federal Pacifist Council was the Australian section of the War Resisters' International. It played an active part in resisting the Vietnam War. It supported people who refused to be conscripted during the Vietnam War. Abraham was an active member of the Australian section of the F.P.C.
The series includes leaflets, roneoed material, photocopies, notes and printed material. The files have been arranged in chronological order.
Series 4 Overseas Pacifist Organisations, 1938-1980
Abraham was in contact with various overseas organisations and she received ephemeral material produced by these organisations. They include pacifist organisations in UK, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Middle East, South Africa, Germany, Scandinavia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Japan.
The types of papers include notes, newsletter, leaflets, roneoed and other printed material. They have been arranged by countries and in chronological order.
Series 5 Conscientious Objectors, 1951-1972
The Conscientious Objectors was an Australian organisation which played an active role in a national campaign against conscription. Abraham was a key player in the movement. Shirley Abraham was Honorary Secretary of the Conscientious Objectors' Advisory Committee (Victoria) between 1964 and 1972.
The series contains correspondence, notes, transcripts of court cases, cuttings, press releases, printed material and records of the Committee in Defiance of the National Service Act, Conscientious Objectors and the Non-Compliers.
Folder 15-21 Name files, 1968-1979
Arranged by names of supporters, including Joan Baez, Davis Hodgson, Peter Hornby, David Keane, David Martin, Geoff Mullens and J. Neil Prewett.
Folder 22-25 Name Files, 1968-1971
Including Brian Ross, Des Phillipson, John T. Cohen and Jeremy Gilling.
Folder 58-64 Records of Conscientious Objectors Advisory Committee: ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, 1965-1969
Series 6 Peacemaker, 1946-1973
The Peacemaker was the official monthly publication of the Federal Pacifist Council. Shirley Abraham was Business Manager of the journal from 1949 to 1954. Vivienne Abraham was Honorary Secretary to the acting editor of the Peacemaker between 1947 and 1949. She was editor of the journal (1953-1955), a joint editor, with Shirley Abraham (1964-1968) and editor (1969-1971). The series contains correspondence concerning the production and subscription of the journal, research material, mailing lists, drafts and financial papers.
Series 7 War Resisters' International, 1946-1973
War Resisters' International (WRI) was an international peace organisation which was founded during the Second World War. Its Australian section was known as the Federal Pacifist Council.
Series 8 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1943-1989
Shirley Abraham was the Honorary Secretary of the Victorian branch of the Australian Section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) between 1969 and 1970. The series includes correspondence, minute books, financial papers, leaflets, circulars and records of peace organisations (including the Pacifist Movement of Victoria).
Series 9 Pacifist Movement of Victoria, 1954-1968
Shirley Abraham was Honorary Secretary between 1961 and 1971. The series include correspondence, minutes of meetings, notes, circulars, leaflets and annual reports.
Series 10 General correspondence, 1967-1971
The series comprises correspondence, 1967-1971, and other papers relating to the Vietnam War.
7 folders/items.
Series 11 Fellowship of Reconciliation (F.O.R.), 1950-1971
Shirley Abraham, sister of Vivienne Abraham, was an active member of the Victorian Branch of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The series mostly comprises papers of the Victorian Branch of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. They include Shirley Abraham Papers, correspondence with F.O.R. branches, pamphlets, leaflets, Membership, lists of attendance, newsletters, conference papers and minutes, newsletter of F.O.R. and Peace Pledge branches and other printed material.
Folder 15-21 Shirley Abraham Papers, 1972-1976
Including notices on the death of Abraham (1972-1976), correspondence with F.O.R. branches, pamphlets, leaflets, newsletter of F.O.R. and Peace Pledge branches and other printed material.
Series 12 International Fellowship of Reconciliation (I.F.O.R.), 1947-1973
The series includes minutes of meetings, copies of Challenge (newsletter of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, 1964-1976), copies of Report (I.F.O.R. newsletters, 1970-1975), correspondence, minutes of meetings, circulars, photographs, printed material and other papers
Folder 1-7 Minutes of meetings, copies of Challenge (newsletter of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship), 1964-1976, correspondence and other papers, 1975-1979
Series 13 Australian Peace Pledge Union, 1943-1972
Vivienne Abraham was Honorary Secretary of the Australian Peace Pledge Union (Victoria) between 1946 and 1952. In March 1952 the Australian Peace Pledge Union (Victoria) and the Christian Pacifist Movement (Victoria) formed the Pacifist Movement of Victoria.
Series 14 Religious Society of Friends, 1948-1986
The series include newsletters, circulars and cuttings. For Records of the Religious Society of Friends see MS 4953.
8 folders/items.
Series 15 Other peace movements, 1943-1983
The series includes newsletters, leaflets, circulars and cuttings published by other peace movements.
Series 16 Miscellaneous ephemera and cuttings, 1949-1982
The series comprises miscellaneous leaflets, circulars and cuttings.
Container List
| Series | Folder/Item | Box |
| 1 | 1-4 | 1 |
| 1 | 5-11 | 2 |
| 1 | 12-21 | 3 |
| 1 | 22-24 | 4 |
| 2 | 1-8 | 5 |
| 2 | 9-30 | 6 |
| 2 | 31-35 | 7 |
| 2 | 36-42 | 8 |
| 2 | 43-51 | 9 |
| 2 | 52-58 | 10 |
| 2 | 59-65 | 11 |
| 2 | 66-70 | 12 |
| 2 | 71-78 | 13 |
| 2 | 79-84 | 14 |
| 2 | 85-89 | 15 |
| 2 | 90-92 | 16 |
| 2 | 93-95 | 17 |
| 2 | 96-103 | 18 |
| 2 | 104-107 | 19 |
| 2 | 108-113 | 20 |
| 2 | 114-124 | 21 |
| 2 | 125-134 | 22 |
| 2 | 135-141 | 23 |
| 2 | 142-148 | 24 |
| 2 | 149-156 | 25 |
| 2 | 157-162 | 26 |
| 2 | 163-165 | 27 |
| 2 | 166-168 | 28 |
| 3 | 1-6 | 29 |
| 3 | 7-12 | 30 |
| 3 | 13-18 | 31 |
| 3 | 19-23 | 32 |
| 3 | 24-26 | 33 |
| 4 | 1-11 | 34 |
| 4 | 12-20 | 35 |
| 4 | 21-29 | 36 |
| 4 | 30-36 | 37 |
| 4 | 37-42 | 38 |
| 4 | 43-54 | 39 |
| 5 | 1-6 | 40 |
| 5 | 7-14 | 41 |
| 5 | 15-21 | 42 |
| 5 | 22-28 | 43 |
| 5 | 29-34 | 44 |
| 5 | 35-42 | 45 |
| 5 | 43-47 | 46 |
| 5 | 48-57 | 47 |
| 5 | 58-67 | 48 |
| 5 | 68-77 | 49 |
| 6 | 1-7 | 50 |
| 6 | 8-14 | 51 |
| 6 | 15-25 | 52 |
| 6 | 26-34 | 53 |
| 6 | 35-40 | 54 |
| 7 | 1-7 | 55 |
| 7 | 8-11 | 56 |
| 7 | 12-18 | 57 |
| 7 | 19-24 | 58 |
| 7 | 25-30 | 59 |
| 7 | 31-35 | 60 |
| 7 | 36-39 | 61 |
| 7 | 40-43 | 62 |
| 7 | 44-51 | 63 |
| 7 | 52-56 | 64 |
| 8 | 1-3 | 64 |
| 8 | 4-9 | 65 |
| 8 | 10-17 | 66 |
| 8 | 18-26 | 67 |
| 9 | 1-8 | 68 |
| 9 | 9-17 | 69 |
| 10 | 1-7 | 70 |
| 11 | 1-7 | 71 |
| 11 | 8-14 | 72 |
| 11 | 15-21 | 73 |
| 11 | 22-28 | 74 |
| 11 | 29-34 | 75 |
| 11 | Printed material | 76-78 |
| 12 | 1-7 | 79 |
| 12 | 8-14 | 80 |
| 12 | 15-59 | 81 |
| 12 | 60-65 | 82 |
| 13 | 1-10 | 83 |
| 14 | 1-6 | 84 |
| 14 | 7-8 | 85 |
| 15 | 1-4 | 85 |
| 15 | 5-10 | 86 |
| 15 | 11-16 | 87 |
| 15 | 17-18 | 88 |
| 15 | 19-22 | 88 |
| 15 | 23-29 | 89 |
| 16 | 1-7 | 90 |
| 16 | 8-13 | 91 |
| 16 | 14-19 | 92 |
| 16 | 20-28 | 93 |
| 16 | 29-33 | 94 |
| 16 | 34-38 | 95 |
| 16 | 39-47 | 96 |
| 17 | Printed material | 97-105 |