The Ruby Hammond Collection

This 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
Ruby's employment during her time at the Royal Commission
Law Reform Commission items

Aboriginal publications relating to South Australia
Periodicals such as Nunga news, and Black News, and numerous books.

Arts
Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute—1989-1991, when Ruby was a Board member
Aboriginal Arts Board—1973
Festival Fringe—1989-1991
Diary from period of employment in the Department for the Arts and Cultural Heritage

Education
Aboriginal School of Music
Kaurna Plains School

General material
Adelaide College of Arts and Education 1978 to 1981 when Ruby was a Board member

Health issues
Letters, reports, discussion papers

Housing issues

Land rights
Correspondence, committee minutes, material relating to the Aboriginal Lands trust, of which Ruby was a Board member
Reports of field trips to Pitjantjatjara Lands

Legal rights
Minutes of Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc. from 1970s to 1990s, of which Ruby was Director

Museum
Minutes of National Museum Advisory Committee 1984-86 when Ruby was a Board member

Personal papers
Correspondence, general papers and reports, invitations, seminars
Papers and lecture notes for the Bachelor of Arts in Aboriginal Administration 1983-84
Diary written by Ruby on an Aboriginal delegation to China in December to November 1972

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:

• coaching on how to be filmed

• policy paper and draft

• draft of press release

• draft of speech

• card, poster, flyer

• nomination as candidate

• an issue of Femnews

• letter to constituents

• notes

• result of election provided by electoral commission (Ruby Hammond came fifth out of eight candidates).

A close look at another of the personal boxes shows the breadth of Ruby's concerns:

• country aboriginal women early 1970s

• report on United Nations women's conference November 1979

• statement form the film "Sister, if only you knew"

• paper from Australian peace Committee April 1980

• women and Labour July 1984

• real experience of racism late 1980s

• transcript of interview early 1980s

• land rights and Aboriginal health

• eye on next generation September to October 1991

• towards a bi-cultural policy March 1?

Prisons

Reports of a general nature

Royal commission

Women's issues
Material for conference on the International Year of the Child 1979
Housing needs of women and children November 1991
Women's Electoral Lobby papers for conference
General reports relating to conferences, such as the National Women's Consultative Committee, International Indigenous Women's Conference, United Nations conference, International Women's year 1976

World Peace issues
American Indian newsletters, Peace Courier and other newsletters and pamphlets

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).