Original typescript notes from the speakers at the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Conference held in Canberra from 1 to 4 April 1969. Speakers included: Gordon Bryant, Alan Duncan, Eric Onus, Jack Davis, Roy Dadaynga, George Winungoidj, Win Branston, Frank Roberts, Barrie Pittock, Barry Cohen, Joyce Clague, Kath Walker, Joe McGinness, Bobbie Brown, Harry Hall, Bruce McGinness, John Thomas, and Mrs Tucker (possibly Margaret Tucker).

Includes a handwritten note that over 300 people were at the conference.

Covering letter, addressed to 'Dear Sir' from Faith Bandler, New South Wales Secretary, Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The letter is about the claim of the Aboriginal people of the Gurindji community being permitted to occupy their lands in the Wave Hill and Limbunya regions of the Northern Territory. Also mentions Wattie Creek. The letter refers to an attached letter to the federal government but this letter is not present. The letter is typescript, with a handwritten note in pen to 'Ted' (possibly Ted Edgan) from 'F.H.' (possibly Frank Hardy).

The collection comprises two bound scrapbooks of records collected by Mary Montgomerie Bennett when compiling the history of her father, Sir Robert Christison; correspondence; and glass plate negatives. The bound volumes include: newspaper cuttings, extracts of newspaper cuttings, pamphlets, photographs, reprints of articles, and typescripts written by or relating to Sir Robert Christison and images of and information about the Dalleburra people who lived on the same land. Most of the material covers the period 1870 to 1910. The correspondence is that received by Mary Montgomerie Bennett regarding her book, Christison of Lammermoor. The plates contain images of Lammermoor Homestead, Sir Robert Christison, and various identified Aboriginal Australian individuals of the Dalleburra Tribe, Mitchell District in North Queensland.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.

Original typescript report by R. Anderson (possibly David Robert Anderson) on the Conference of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, held in Canberra during Easter 1967.

Duplicated typescript report, with handwritten annotations in pen, by Joe McGinness, President, Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, to the Annual Conference in April 1966.

Documents, leaflets, newspaper cuttings and correspondence on various topics, subject files, banners, badges, posters, periodicals, photographic material, constitution and programmes, rules, minutes, agendas, cashbooks, reports of local branches and Queensland Branch of Union of Australian Women, newsletters.

People in the photographs include: Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker), Ruth Wallace, Muriel Callofe [? Spelling], Joyce Lightning, C. Smith, M McBride, Sandra McGinness, Margaret Macdonald, Kerrie Davis, Gladys O’Shane, Lynette Macdonald, Margaret O’Shane, Doris Webb, Pat O’Shane, Janet Webb, Josie Dyer, and Marcia Langton.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions. This resource contains images of culturally sensitive sites.

Duplicated typescript of the constitution of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, as amended by the annual general meeting in Canberra in April 1964.

Draft typescript, with handwritten corrections and notes in pen, written after the eighth Annual Conference on Aboriginal Affairs held in Canberra from 16 to 18 April 1965. It outlines the discriminatory sections of the Australian constitution (Section 127 and Section 51, sub-section xxvi). Unknown author.

Typescript leaflet from the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, distributed as part of a campaign to abolish the Trust Fund system in Queensland. The leaflet is a follow-on from a previous leaflet distributed from October 1970, when the FCAATSI decided if the Commonwealth Banking Corporation did not dissociate itself from the Trust Fund system by 21 March 1971, they would transfer their business to another bank. This newer leaflet advises the Commonwealth Bank did not dissociate itself and the FCAATSI has transferred their business as a result. Again they ask supporters to do the same. Includes a section that can be torn off and completed by supporters, then mailed to the campaign headquarters.

Research material for thesis (University of Queensland, MA, 1994): “A history of political theatre in Brisbane as part of working-class cultural tradition and heritage: the Workers' Education Dramatic Society and the Student/Unity/New Theatre (1930-1962)". Includes playscripts, mostly performed by Student / Brisbane New Theatre, New Theatre, Unity Theatre; as well as playscripts, skits, and sketches by Jim Crawford.

Research material, drafts and proofs for her book 'Defiance: political theatre in Brisbane 1930-1962' (2000).

Personal papers of Murray Norris, notebooks of Ursula Southwell, and papers concerning George Eaton, Jim Crawford and other prominent figures in labour movement and radical culture circles. Oral history recordings, photographs and other research material relating to the Young Communist League, Eureka Youth League, leftwing bookshops in Brisbane and leftwing political activism. Some records of the Communist Party of Australia. Photographs, pamphlets and other material relating to the 1948 Queensland rail strike. Research material on the post-WW2 peace movement. Articles and speeches by Connie Healy and others are included in the collection as well as some personal correspondence and research material related to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.