Home | Women's Suffrage | Federation | Effective Voting | Catherine Helen Spence | Political Awareness | In Parliament | The Workplace | Why South Australia? The Aboriginal Voice | Cultural Diversity |
|||||
The Ruby Hammond CollectionThis election poster represents a milestone in the context of Women & Politics in South Australia, being the occasion when Ruby Hammond became the first Aboriginal woman candidate in South Australia, in 1988. It is one of thousands of fascinating documents in the Ruby Hammond archival record group (PRG 1040) held in the Mortlock Library of South Australiana, and is reproduced here with kind permission of Ruby Hammond's family. The personal papers of noted South Australian Aboriginal activist and public servant Mrs Ruby Hammond were donated to the State Library after her death in 1992. Ruby's sister Mrs Irene Allan sorted this material as a volunteer project one day per week, unearthing many treasures. The series list for this Private Record Group 1040, which acts as a finding aid, is still in preparation by the State Library's Archival Services team. The archival collection occupies 57 boxes housed in a secure, temperature controlled environment. Until processing is completed, access to this material is not possible at this stage. The collection will become available later in 1998, with certain sensitive items having restricted access, and only accessible with written permission from the family. Probably the most poignant item in this collection is a certificate dated 1941 granting Ruby Ah Hang limited exemption from the provisions of the Aborigines Act. Prior to constitutional changes in 1967, indigenous Australians were subject to the provisions of various state Aboriginal protection acts, which restricted their activities and rights. Aboriginal people could apply for exemption, but in so doing were restricted in the contact they could have with other indigenous Australians. This shows a side of Australia most Australians would probably be unaware of, and is an important example of a private record group of both historical and contemporary value. It is documentary evidence such as this which is important for an archival collection to hold, to ensure that all sides of a story can be told. The range and scope of Ruby Hammond's activities and interests can be seen by the draft groupings of this significant and vibrant collection. Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Aboriginal publications relating to South Australia Arts Education General material Health issues Housing issues Land rights Legal rights Museum Personal papers Original exemption certificate from the Aborigines Act October 1941 A topic of particular relevance to this Women & Politics website relates to the political campaign run by Ruby Hammond as a candidate in the State Election of March 1988 for the seat of Port Adelaide. The folder of papers has:
Prisons Reports of a general nature Royal commission Women's issues World Peace issues As well as this archival record group, the Mortlock Library holds a copy of Margaret Forte's book Flight of an eagle : the dreaming of Ruby Hammond (Adelaide, Wakefield Press, 1995). |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|