The First World Festival of Black Arts was held in 1966 Dakar, Senegal. Nigeria was invited to hold the second festival in 1970. This second festival, called the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture was to be held in November/December 1975. Political problems in Nigeria caused the festival to be postponed for some years, but it was finally staged as "Festac '77" in Lagos in January, 1977.

As part of the preparations for Australia’s involvement in the festival, an Australian Coordinating Committee was formed in February 1974. In October 1974 Kath Walker was asked to become involved in this committee. Kath Walker attended the 5th meeting of the International Festival Committee held in Kaduna in November 1974. On her return flight, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) plane she was travelling on was hijacked in Dubai and flown to Tunisia. The hijack lasted three days, and one passenger was killed. She wrote two poems during this ordeal (held in Series A Subseries 1).

During the lead up to the Festival in 1977, Kath Walker was involved in the preparations for the event and eventually attended it as an Australian delegate and senior advisor.

These folders include documents from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs; correspondence, meeting agendas, minutes and reports for the Nigerian Co-coordinating Committee of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture; an open letter to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (dated 24 Jul 1975) regarding the poems, Yussef and Commonplace which she wrote when her plane was hijacked; reports from other countries; contract between Kath Walker and The Elizabethan Theatre Trust; Itineraries and quotations for proposed group travel to Nigeria with general background information about Africa from ACTU World Travel; Aboriginal Theatre Foundation - correspondence with Department of Aboriginal Affairs and interim reports regarding costings and budget for dancers, musicians and song men for trip to festival; and Tickets, invitations, brochures, programmes, report by Kath Walker about festival to the Australia Council, souvenirs, 1977.

Included in this file is materials, often accompanied by correspondence, such as leaflets, newsletters, minutes of meetings, and reports of activities, that relate to the following: Australian Participation in United States Bicentennial Celebrations; Australian Council of Churches; Australia Council. Public Lending Right Committee; Australian National Anthem Quest; Christian Science Monitor; Conference on Inter-cultural Education; Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Queensland; Festival Music Pty Ltd; Orange Festival of Arts; World Literature Today; Popular Theatre Troupe (includes the following programmes) -- Black Theatre Arts and Culture Centre proudly presents “The Cakeman” by Robert J. Merritt , 9th January thru to 30th, Directed by Bob Maza. -- Aboriginal Mowanjum Dancers Parkerville Amphitheatre: Jan 22-31. Presented by the Aboriginal Theatre Foundation with assistance of the Australian Council for the Arts. --Yeti presents on stage Vietnam, directed by Paul Richards, choreographed by Vivian Walker; Queensland Multicultural Task Force; Queensland Arts Conference; and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Conference, August 1984 (Kath Walker presented a paper on significant landscapes in the histories of Aboriginal peoples, with special reference to Stradbroke Island)

Poems and prose from admirers. Some of these writers are not identified. Some were regular correspondents. The writings in this file may also relate to letters from correspondents held elsewhere in the collection.

This file includes:
Curriculum Vitae of Kath Walker, Managing Director of the Moongalba Noonuccal-Nughie Education and Cultural Centre, 1978;
'Sidelights on a profile ... Kath Walker. C/M 3 June 1981';
Exercise book with 'Biography' on cover which has the handwritten story that starts 'On November 3rd 1920, two events took place at...';
Typescript autobiography that starts with a poem 'When the white glug contemptuously...' (8 pages, page 3 missing);
Typescript copy with heading 'Kathleen Jean Mary Walker' that begins 'On November 3rd, 1920 two events took place...' (4 pages) with poem 'Song of hope' attached;
Handwritten notes for curriculum vitae;
Photocopy of 1 page biography from book (unknown);
'Kath Walker story' by Bruce Dickson, June 9 1981;
3 cards (13 x 21 cm) with handwritten notes (on both sides) about 'Florries Place and the beach at Dunwich' 16 Nov 1976;
1 page (21 cm) with handwriting that begins 'A biography of Kath Walker as an example of the role of aboriginal women...' (undated);
13 pages (21 cm) with handwriting that begins 'That the small black baby girl born in....' (undated);
6 pages of handwritten notes.

Publications: Maori paintings by Gottfried Lindauer : pictures from the Partridge collection of paintings, 1965, A.H. ; A.W. Reed, Wellington, N.Z. [Inscribed by Matakone, 11 Sep 1972]

Marawili, W 1977, Djet : this is a story about a boy who became a sea-eagle, Nelson Australia, West Melbourne.

McCall, TB 1957, Blood and race : a study of the colour problem, Anglican Truth Society, Sydney

McCarthy, J & Pfund, K 1973, Legends of Papua New Guinea, Rigby, Adelaide. [Inscribed by Kurt Pfund]

Mia-mia : the magazine of MU Australia, 1968, Mother's Union, Eastwood, N.S.W. [See page 71]

National Aboriginal Day, 1977, Aboriginal Resources Unit, Perth, W.A.

New times (St. Marys, N.S.W.), 1976, Alternative Press Australia., St Marys, N.S.W.

New world outlook, 1971, Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, Education and Cultivation Division, in association with the United Presbyterian Church USA, New York, N.Y.

Newcastle Campaign against War and, R 1970, Australia's expendable babies : from dreamtime to nightmare, s.n., Newcastle.

Oke, R 1970, What now at Wattie Creek : report of the third Abschol field team which visited Wattie Creek in May-June of 1970, Abschol, Melbourne.

Olds, P 1972, 4 V8 poems, Caveman Press, Dunedin.

Orientation handbook (Deakin University. Students' Association Council), 1981, Deakin University Students' Association Council, Waurn Ponds, Vic. [Picture of Kath Walker on the cover]

Ostwald, BD 1979, Branded black, Ostwald Productions, Gladstone. [Signed by author]

Pan Africa : fortnightly review of pan-African affairs, 1965, Pan-African Press, Nairobi, Kenya. [Handwritten note on cover ‘see page 13]

Patrick, J 1966, Inapatua : a novel, Cassell, Melbourne. [Inscription not identifiable. Inscribed by Kath Walker]

Pearson, WH 1968, Henry Lawson among Maoris, Australian National University Press, Canberra. [Inscribed by author, Sep 1972]

Pi, O 1976, Street singe, the Author, Melbourne. [Inscribed by author]

Pittock, AB 1968, Toward a multi-racial society : the 1969 James Backhouse lecture, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia, Pymble [Includes marking up and annotations]

Powell, C 1966, A different kind of breathing : poems, South Head Press, Sydney. [Inscribed by author]

Queensland. Department of Education 1968, School Paper : Grade 6 and 7 volume 36 no. 1, Department of Education, Brisbane [Includes poem Corroboree]

Queensland. State Public Relations 1982, A History of Brisbane, State Public Relations Bureau, Brisbane.

Reeves, T 1972, Stones : poems, Caveman Press, Dunedin, N.Z. [Book no. 238 of 500. Signed by author]

Robinson, J 1980, Experiences from the tree of life : a journey through the timescape of my being, Sunshine Art Gallery, Boreen Point, Qld. [Inscribed by author, 1981]

Robinson, R 1958, Black-feller, white-feller, Angus and Robertson, Sydney. [Inscribed by author]

Rose, F 1968, Australia revisited : The aborigine story from stone age to space age, Seven Seas Publishers, Berlin. [Inscribed by author, 1968. Very faded]

Rose, LM 1959, Country of the dead : a novel, Angus and Robertson, Sydney. [Inscribed by author, 1963]

Ryan, JS 1964, The land of Ulitarra : early records of the aborigines of the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Mid-North Coast Regional Office, Dept. of University Extension, University of New England, Grafton.

Ryan, WM 1969, White man, Black man : the true story of a white man who was initiated into an Aboriginal tribe, Jacaranda, Milton, Q. [Signed by Kath Walker]

16 jobs with 71 plans. Drawings: ABC Commentators Box, Gardens Oval, Darwin, 1954 ; Legislative Council Chamber, Darwin 1954 ; Proposed Shopping & Community Centre, Fannie Bay 1954 ; Katherine School extensions, 1954 ; Aeradio and Meteorological Office, Alice Springs, 1954 ; Extensions, Outpatients Dept. Darwin Hospital, 1954 ; Single Teacher Primary School, 1955 ; Tourist Camp Toilet Block, Alice Springs, 1955 ; Native Ward, Katherine Hospital, 1955 ; Pre-school Centre, Darwin, 1956 ; N.T.A - Tennant Creek School additional classroom, 1955 ; Midwifery Block, Tenants Creek Hospital, 1954 ; Bus Passenger Shelter, Darwin ; Primary Schools, Cupboards etc in classrooms ; Bilateral Secondary School, Darwin, 1955 ; Native Hospital, Alice Springs.

University of Queensland St. Lucia Proposed Dental School Accommodation, James Birrell and Partners, April 1966: [Item 1] Ink line drawing on tracing paper; [Item 2] Ink line drawing on paper.

Thirteen working drawings, previously stapled together, for the completion of stage 2 of the J.D. Story Administration Building, with University of Queensland title block, University Architect J. P. Birrell, Assistant Architect L. Kulley, 47 x 74 cm:
[Item 1] Site plan, drawing number 45, ink line drawing on paper, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.207) ;
[Item 2] Lower ground floor, 'Office copy' written in red ink on lower right hand corner, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 46, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.208) ;
[Item 3] Ground floor, ink line drawing on paper, annotations in green pencil, drawing number 47, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.209) ;
[Item 4] First floor, ink line drawing on paper, pencil annotations, drawing number 48A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.210) ;
[Item 5] First floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 48B, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.211) ;
[Item 6] Second floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 49A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.212) ;
[Item 7] Second floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 49B, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.213) ;
[Item 8] Third floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 50, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.214) ;
[Item 9] Third floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 50A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.215) ;
[Item 10] Fourth floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 51, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.216) ;
[Item 11] South elevation, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 55, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.217) ;
[Item 12] West elevation, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 56, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.218) ;
[Item 13] Fifth floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 62, J.P. Birrell is the only architect on this plan, 1 Feb 1966 (previously numbered A10.219).
Seven working drawings for the completion of stage 2 of the J.D. Story Administration Building, with University of Queensland title block, University Architect J. P. Birrell, Assistant Architect L. Kulley, ink line drawing on tracing paper, 51 x 76 cm:
[Item 14] Fifth floor, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 52, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.198);
[Item 15] Roof plan, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 53, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.199);
[Item 16] Section, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 54, J.P. Birrell is the only architect on this plan, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.200);
[Item 17] Escape stair, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 58, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.201);
[Item 18] Miscellaneous details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 59, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.202);
[Item 19] Details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 60, Oct 1965 (previously numbered A10.203); and
[Item 20] Details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 63, 1 Feb 19665 (previously numbered A10.204).

James Birrell was given the brief by the Union College Council to design new accommodation for students. This file has pilot plans and sketches for the College. Drawings:
[Item 1] Job I Union College - St. Lucia - Pilot plan only, ink line drawing on tracing paper, topographical lines drawn in red pen, drawing number I/1, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.01) ;
[Item 2] Job I Union College - St. Lucia - Pilot plan only, ink line drawing on paper, with pencil annotations, drawing number I/1, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.02) ;
[Item 3] Job I Union College - Uplands Road St. Lucia - Thumb-nail perspective pilot planning scheme, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number I/2, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.03) ;
[Items 4 - 9] Sketch plans, ink and pencil line drawings on tracing paper, no title block, no job/drawing number (previously numbered A15.04 to A15.05 and A15.07 to A15.10. A15.06 missing)

The construction of Stage 1 commenced on 26 June 1964 and was completed in May 1965. This file comprises plans from contractors: [Items 1-3] Amelco American Elumin Co.; Series 802 windows for Union College ; set of 3 drawings, numbered A-2308-1 to A-2308-3; dated 17 Aug 1964 (previously numbered A15.78-80);
[Items 4-7] J. Connolly (Qld) Pty Ltd; Gearing details; set of 4 drawings, numbered B.973/1-B.973/4; dated Nov. 1964 (previously numbered A15.81-84).