Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1969-1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Neville Thomas Bonner AO (28 March 1922 - 5 February 1999), elder of the Jagera people, was the first Indigenous Australian to become a member of the Parliament of Australia. He served as President of the One People of Australia League (OPAL) from 1970 to 1974.
Repository
Archival history
Collection previously titled as: Papers, 1969-1979
Collection alternatively titled as: Neville Bonner Collection.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Correspondence, scrapbook, publications relating to Neville Bonner's Presidency of the One People of Australia League (OPAL) and his time as Senator for 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 people now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms and descriptions.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Folder 1: Title on original envelope (now discarded due to damage) "Senator Bonner early confidential papers. For Shay: as indicated in will. Not for any Library". Includes: how to vote cards for Liberal Country Party (1970 election); flyer for 1970 election 'Are you big enough to "Put some colour in Canberra"...'; list of names on OPAL (Board of Directors) letterhead; correspondence, greetings cards and newspaper cuttings, 1971 to 1979
Folder 2: Correspondence, receipts, business cards, travelling expenses, minutes, biographical information, and other papers, 1970 to 1971
Folder 3: Correspondence marked confidential and / or personal; three colour photographs; one black and white photograph; correspondence with Kath Walker, 1970 to 1971. [Restricted due to sensitivity concerns by processing archivist]
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1969 to 1971. Includes correspondence written / received as president of OPAL. Some sensitive correspondence has been rehoused into Folder 3. Original folder (now discarded) had title "Government ministers etc.".
Folder 5: Restricted correspondence, 1969. [Restricted by donor]
Folder 6: Letters of support on ‘Compensation for Dispossession’: newspaper cutting and correspondence, 1972 to 1974
Item 1: Scrapbook: newspaper cuttings, Jul 1970 to Dec 1970. [Scrapbook compiled by Heather Bonner (nee Ryan)]
Items 2-5: Four annotated copies of Opal : official journal of One People’s Australia League: Sep 1966, issue 8, Jul 1968, issue 23, Sep/Oct 1972, issue 26, Jun/Jul 1973
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Restricted access to Folders 3 and 5. Permission to access restricted material may be submitted to the Fryer Librarian for consideration.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright varies. Can be reproduced for personal research and study. For other uses see About copyright . Please attribute the Fryer Library.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma MMS ID
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- OPAL (Organisation) (Subject)
- Bonner, Neville T. (Neville Thomas), 1922-1999 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Revised
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Revised, SJB, 24-Apr-2025.
Revised, SJB, 22-Nov-2022.
Revised, AM, 04-Mar-2020.
Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.