Gale, (Gwendoline) Fay (1932-2008)
Papers 1936-1979
MSS 0050
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Fay Galye (R) with
Doreen Kartinyeri
Fay Gale was a cultural geographer, a leading academic and a passionate advocate of equal opportunity for women. She made significant contributions towards an understanding of the inequalities and injustices suffered by Aboriginal women and pioneered reforms to assist women to achieve their full academic potential.
Born in Balaklava in 1932, Fay Gale attended an all girls' secondary school where her teachers gave her a strong interest in academic achievement and a life long feminist perspective. She gained a first class honours degree from the University of Adelaide in 1953 and, while preparing her PhD, married and had two children. Her 1960 PhD thesis, A Study of Assimilation: Part Aborigines in South Australia, explored the complex and often tragic lives of part-Aboriginal women who had been taken from their mothers as children, and was published as a book in 1964.
In 1978, she became the first woman to be appointed as Professor at the University of Adelaide. In her academic career, Fay Gale continued to study the experiences of Aboriginal people and to document the vicious cycle of marginalisation they suffer through devastating effects upon the stolen generation, the disempowerment of Aboriginal women in their traditional roles, the subsequent cycles of juvenile crime among Aboriginal men and the fear, depression and violent abuse suffered by Aboriginal women.
In 1989, Fay Gale was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the knowledge of Aboriginal people and their culture.
In 1988, she became Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Adelaide and, in 1990, Vice Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, being the second woman in Australia to achieve the position of Vice Chancellor. Over the next seven years, she instituted a series of reforms at the University of Western Australia to rectify discrimination experienced by women students.
In 1996 Fay Gale was appointed the first woman President of the Australian Vice Chancellors Committee. In 1997, Fay Gale was appointed President of the Academy of Social Sciences, the first woman to hold that position.
Professor Gale deposited these papers related to her work concerning Aboriginal conditions and welfare with the University of Adelaide in 1990. They contain correspondence, original research and survey data, and a collection of registers and records compiled from official sources, notably the Point Pearce and Point McLeay births, marriages and deaths registers. Supporting the original research data is an extensive collection of background material sourced from and by Aboriginal associations, government officials and departments, students, and other researchers. The papers include some research files of Judy Inglis (Series 9) sent to Fay Gale in 1964 following Inglis' death, and the Point McLeay and Point Pearce genealogical card files compiled by Doreen Kartinyeri (Series 10).
Series 3 and 5.1 have been embargoed by Professor Gale until 2025.
Photograph and biographical note extracted from the biography of Fay Gale by Lado Shay on the Australian Women's History Forum site http://www.womenshistory.com.au
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Files related to Fay Gale's PhD "A Study of Assimilation: Part-Aborigines in South Australia", University of Adelaide, 1960
Series 3: Interviews and survey data regarding Adelaide Aborigines compiled in 1966 as research for Urban Aborigines RESTRICTED
Series 4: Background material for Urban Aborigines 1957-1966
Series 5: Interview material related to: Poverty Among Aboriginal Families in Adelaide: Research Report by Fay Gale and Joan Binnion, 1975
Series 5.1 RESTRICTED
Series 6: Not used
Series 7: Other research projects and publications by Fay Gale
Series 8: Other background/research material
Series 9: Judy Inglis research files
Series 10: Genealogies on card files compiled by Doreen Kartinyeri and reproduced in her genealogical publications
Series 1. Correspondence 6cm
Correspondence 1957-1960 re PhD research: "Assimilation of Aborigines in South Australia" (1960) 1.5cm
Includes correspondence with Paul Hasluck (Minister for Territories), A.F. Ellemor (Methodist Overseas Missions), Anthony Clunies Ross (Trinity College, Vic.), Ruth Bullpit (U.A.M.), Eric Price (SA Education Dept.) and other government officers and departments. Topics covered include scope of the thesis, visits to Koonibba and Yalata missions and Nepabunna station, removal of Aboriginal children, Aboriginal reserves, training of welfare officers. Also correspondence with Ellie Grave re a foster case, and comments on draft thesis by C.E. Bartlett (Aborigines Protection Board). Also some correspondence re Geography Refresher Schools.
Correspondence 1964-1969 re Social Science Research Council of Australia (SSRCA) Aborigines Project 1.5cm
Correspondence mainly with Director C.D.Rowley, mainly concerning urban Aborigines study and other minor research projects. Includes references to Pt Pearce and Pt McLeay births, marriages and deaths registers.
(see also Series 3-4 Urban Aborigines files)
General correspondence files 1959-1973 3cm
Includes correspondence with government officials and depts on Aboriginal matters, fellow researchers, mission and Aboriginal associations and institutions, on Aboriginal policy and welfare, and research sources. Correspondents include Alta Gordon, Di Barwick, Laurie Bryan re proposed Aboriginal Land Settlement Scheme (see also Series 8.1), Louise Hercus, Ronald Berndt (UWA) and Professor G. Lawton on Geography departmental matters. Also numerous invitations to speak to schools, service bodies and other associations. 1964 correspondence includes a report by Sgt Bert King of a July Aboriginal Advancement League trip to Pt Augusta, with a copy of a letter to Mr Riches from the Aboriginal Progress Association re newspaper reports on Pt Augusta and the need for a hostel (see also Series 7.2); 1965 includes letters re the establishment of an Aboriginal Scholarship Foundation; and 1966 letters of support re scholarship for John Moriarty.
Series 2. Files related to Fay Gale's PhD "A Study of Assimilation: Part-Aborigines in South Australia", University of Adelaide, 1960 36cm
2.1 Adjamantha Genealogy, 1957 (labelled Nepabunna)
2.2 "The Miracle of Ernabella: nomads of the pre-stone age become Christian": interview with the Rev. Ronald Trudinger (1958)3 p. typescript
2.3 Population files: statistics of Aboriginal populations compiled from Census 1954; police reports 1921-1957; notes on population, marriage etc from published sources; populations at stations and missions
2.4 Survey of firms: employment of Aborigines 1959. Completed survey forms "Employment available for mixed blood Aborigines"
2.5 Survey of stations: employment of Aborigines 1959. Completed survey forms "Employment available for mixed blood Aborigines" 2 folders
2.6 Field studies notebooks 1957-1958/59. 11 notebooks 12 cm.
MS notes taken on field trips to city and country areas, including:
- Copley, Maree
- Pt Pearce
- Nepabunna
- Kadina, Umeewarra & Pt Augusta
- Hunter, Oodnadatta & Nepabanna
- West Coast, City/Eden Hills
- West Coast 1958-
- 1957 Eden Hills, Tanderra, St Francis, Pt Pearce, S.East, Kingston etc
- Pt McLeay, Victor Harbor, Winkie, Murray
- Barmera, Winke, Berri, ..., City interviews
- 1958 North SA, Pt McLeay, Campbell House, Tailem Bend, Meningie, Brinkley
Headings are from Professor Gale's original card folders:
- Biological/tribal
- Government stations/reserves
- General policy – exemptions etc
- U.A.M. missions
- Other missions
- Law and justice
- Education policy and comparisons
- Occupations available
- Social barriers and white attitude
- Health and diet
- Housing
- Acceptance in towns
- Conclusions and suggestions
- Bibliography
See also Series 11: Slides to accompany thesis and Urban Aborigines study
Series 3. Interviews and survey data regarding Adelaide Aborigines compiled in 1966 as research for Urban Aborigines by Fay Gale, assisted by Alison Brookman (published ANU Press, 1972 [1973]) 1.4m
SERIES 3 FILES CONTAIN PERSONAL RECORDS OF ABORIGINAL PERSONS AND HAVE BEEN EMBARGOED UNTIL THE YEAR 2025.
Survey of 1,917 Aboriginals in Adelaide, including those living in institutions, or fostered or adopted into white families. Sponsored by the Social Science Research Council of Australia, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies and University of Adelaide Research Grant.
Arranged in assigned number order. Master checklist filed at beginning of series.
See also Series 11: Slides to accompany thesis and Urban Aborigines study
Series 4. Background material for Urban Aborigines 1957-1966 18cm
4.1 Contacts
- NT Aborigines resident in Adelaide 1/1/1966: including separate listings of children in fostering, education or institutional care; and NT Aboriginals employed in Adelaide 1/1/1966
- NT prison inmates in Adelaide 1/1/1966
- Hospital lists: includes NT Aborigines receiving medical care in Adelaide 1/1/1966; Aboriginals from country areas in hospitals January 1 1962-January 1 1965 (total nos. only); Child Guidance Clinic referrals 1961-1964; Numbers of Adelaide Aborigines in hospitals, Child Guidance Clinics and children committed by the Dept. of Social Welfare; list of NT patients at Parkside and Northfield mental hospitals, admitted 1949-1964
- Other contacts information: sport, education, Mary Harris, C.W.D.
- Information re Aboriginal people whose songs etc were recorded by C.J. Ellis (including Point McLeay, Point Pearce and West Coast peoples with additional individuals of interest – either living in Adelaide or connected with Aboriginal families)
4.2 Survey of schools (arranged alphabetically by name of school)
4.3 Abschol Survey Term II 1963 – all high, technical and area schools SA and NT
4.4 Aboriginal children in welfare care Adelaide 1965: statistics, lists of names; annotated Roneoed D.A.A. list of ‘Persons of Aboriginal blood in the metropolitan area'; notes from references; list of contacts
4.5 Survey of institutions: includes list of Aborigines in Brookway Park, Seaforth and Vaughan House; information on Aboriginal Women's Home, North Adelaide and Aborigines' Advancement League Hostel, Millswood (including description of Glenelg outing with Millswood girls 1965, and interview with Mrs Eileen Hughes on people from Colebrook Home, also typescript ‘Aboriginal Hostels – Their Needs and Problems' with correspondence re resignation of Mrs A.J. Lapthorne as matron of Millswood Aboriginal Girls Hostel, 1965); The Bridge Salvation Army Girls' Home, Gilbert St; Campbell House farm School (report by P.M. Rice to the Secretary Aborigines Protection Board 1962); Colebrook Home; Gerard Mission; Kennion House Church of England Boys' Home; Lentara Methodist Children's Home; Minda House (described by Sue Phillips-Rees); St Francis Home for Aboriginal Boys (information from Father McDee Smith); Salvation Army Boys' Home Kent Town; Salvation Army Girls' Home Fullarton; Tanderra (Torrensville); Warrawee Hospital
4.6 D.A.A. files 1962-1966
- Notes on officers and institutions (typescripts): includes interviews, notes from visits; copy of a report by P.M. Rice to the Secretary, Aborigines Protection Board "on observations made during the period 1/1/1961 to 13/1/1962 when I assumed charge of Campbell House Farm School, Meningie West, SA"; list and description of ‘photos taken at Gerard January 1965' and notes on Gerard Mission [by Elizabeth Letherby]; notes on Aboriginal Women's Home, North Adelaide, and notes on residents
- D.A.A. relation to C.W.D.: includes report to the Director by G.W. Pope 18 February 1966 concerning "my suggestions for the content of a new agreement with D.S.W. (typescript, photocopy); "Aborigines and persons of Aboriginal Blood: joint statement on procedures agreed by the Chairman, Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, and the Director of Aboriginal Affairs, to operate from 1 July 1963" (Roneoed typescript)
4.7 Yatala long-term Aboriginal prisoners 1962-1965 (ms list)
4.8 Aboriginal institutions
- MS table: ‘Population of Point Pearce & Point McLeay Aboriginal Reserves 1966'
- Point Pearce Aboriginal Station (1894-1965): typescript Records of births, marriages and deaths; Record of deaths; Record of Marriages; Causes of death 1880-1964; Report of a visit to Pt Pearce 17/5/1968, with typescript ‘Notes on the Natives of the Southern portion of Yorke Peninsula, S.A. / by Norman B. Tindale (contribution from the South Australian Museum 1936)
- Point McLeay: typescript Register of births 1857-February 1966 (plus photocopy), with photocopied entries from the Bible of Leila Rankine; typescript Record of deaths 1859-1966 (plus photocopy) and data encoding form; MS list of causes of death 1859-1965; typescript Record of marriages 1866-1963 (plus photocopy); List of families of Pt McLeay origin and others; MS report of a visit to Pt McLeay Reserve 7-11/3/1966; Typescript report ‘The survival of traditional language at Point McLeay, S.A. / by Elaine Treagus & Kay Patterson, working with Fay Gale 3p.; correspondence between Louise Hercus and Fay Gale re language collection, 1966?
- Poonindie Native Institution: MS notes, lists of names 1868-1889
See also Series 9 Judy Inglis research files on Pt Pearce and Pt McLeay
4.9 N.T. statistics/notes: includes list of missions; notes on policy and administration; statistics on education and police convictions; notes on welfare, schools, health, missions, mission work on cattle stations, hospitals, housing and reserves; with maps of NT Aboriginal reserves
4.10 Urban Aborigines ‘Interviews': includes list of Pt Lincoln families; list of Aborigines provided by D.A.A.; list of Croker island people in Adelaide; transcripts of interviews with individuals (arranged alphabetically) from West Coast, Adelaide region, Point McLeay and Point Pearce, Pastor Wendt of Hectorville etc
4.11 Notes/comments on Aboriginal and white attitudes ca. 1964-1966: includes many quotes of Aboriginal viewpoints
4.12 Aboriginal associations
- Aboriginal Friends Association: form; open letter
- Aboriginal Task Force contact list
- Aborigines Advancement League: brochure; newsletters June 1964-October 1966 (imperfect)
- Aborigines Progress Association: correspondence to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1965-1966); invitations to functions, including ball; open letter to Parliaments etc 1965 (Roneoed typescript); open letter 1964 (Roneoed typescript)
- United Aborigines Mission Inc.: thank you letters; Annual Reports 1956-1971 (impf.); newsletters (later called ‘Aborigine News') December 1958-October 1973 (impf.); National Missionary Council of Australia Ministers' Bulletin May 1957 & May 1960
4.13 Annabel Mullins: reports on visits to investigate records kept by Children's Hospital, Adelaide Hospital, medical institutions containing Aborigines, Aborigines Department, schools, and institutions run by Children's Welfare Dept.
4.14 Press clippings on SA and NT Aborigines 1965-1967, mainly from the Advertiser, also the Australian, On Dit, Woman's Day etc.
4.15 Notes on SA law relating to Aborigines for Chapter 3 of Urban Aborigines: includes court files for conspiracy case against Dick Carroll et al. 1965; photocopied regulations and articles; MS notes; correspondence with Roma Mitchell re her paper on the Aboriginal and the Law
4.16 Typed notes and extracts from "A Little More than Kin: Regional Affliction and Group Identity among Aboriginal Migrants in Melbourne" / Dianne E. Barwick (1963 PhD thesis)
See also Series 11: Slides to accompany thesis and Urban Aborigines study
Series 5. Interview material related to: Poverty Among Aboriginal Families in Adelaide: Research Report by Fay Gale and Joan Binnion, 1975 12cm
Study commissioned by the Commission of Inquiry into Poverty. Survey covered Aboriginals living in family households in the city of Adelaide in 1973, excluding Aboriginals in institutions or in white households.
5.1 Completed survey forms "Aboriginal Poverty Survey" includes information on families and households, expenditure, employment, income, involvement with welfare agencies, health and education 10cm
SERIES 5.1 FILES CONTAIN PERSONAL RECORDS OF ABORIGINAL PERSONS AND HAVE BEEN EMBARGOED UNTIL THE YEAR 2025.
5.2 "Poverty survey: original data": large folded sheet listing family information, weekly income and expenditure according to area of residence
5.3 Tabulated summary data tables, working notes/calculations
5.4 Summary tables on Aboriginal women in the urban situation: introductory details from published report on poverty, Aboriginality as recorded in census, employment, health, members of family away from home, grandchildren living with grandparents, grandparents' place of residence, family structures (compiled by student/research assistant?)
Series 6. SERIES NOT USED
Series 7. Other research projects and publications by Fay Gale 15cm
7.1 "Administration as Guided Assimilation (South Australia)" (typescript): essay for Aborigines Now: New Perspective in the Study of Aboriginal Communities, ed. Marie Reay (1964). Includes associated correspondence and newspaper clippings 1962-1964
7.2 Pt Augusta files
- Information on Pt Augusta provided by Alta Gordon [n.d.] Typescript, 16p.
- "Pt Augusta. A Summary of the Report and Recommendations of the Group which Visited Pt Augusta Aboriginal Reserve 8-9th February 1964"
- "Report of an Inspection of Pt Augusta Aboriginal Reserve and Umeewarra Childrens' Home, 8/9 Feb. 1964"
- Permit issued to Fay Gale for Davenport Aboriginal Reserve 1965
See also Correspondence series 1.3: 1965 letter from Mr Riches re need for an Aboriginal hostel at Pt Augusta
7.3 "Aboriginal Policy Trends" [1965?] Typescript, 23p. (not published, proposed for Current Affairs Bulletin)
7.4 "Aboriginal Employment in Adelaide" by Fay Gale and Ian Lewis [1966?] Typescript: report on assessment of employment opportunities for Aborigines in Adelaide from the employers' viewpoint. This assessment formed part of the larger 1964 survey on Aboriginal movement into Adelaide (see Urban Aborigines files)
7.5 "Aborigines and the Normal Social Welfare Channels" by Fay Gale, Sister Benedict and Margaret Bourne. 1966. Typescript (not published)
7.6 "Aborigines in Adelaide", for the Foundation of Aboriginal Affairs, 1966. Typescript, 2p. Includes letter to Mrs L.H. Cocks of the Foundation
7.7 "Impact of Urban Life on Aborigines" typescript of talk to Royal Geographical Society 7/7/1966, plus annotated draft
(see also "Patterns of Post-European Aboriginal Migration in South Australia" below)
7.8 "Patterns of Post-European Aboriginal Migration in South Australia", [1966?] Typescript, galley proofs and photographs; correspondence re reprints, and annotated typescript draft and annotated Roneo copy of "Summary of Preliminary Findings on Aboriginal Migration to Adelaide. Later published in RGS Proceedings 1966
See also Urban Aborigines files
7.9 Survey of Aboriginal foster children in Adelaide, ca. 1968: includes completed questionnaires and interview notes; also letter re publication of article "Foster Homes for Aboriginal Children" proposed for the Australian Journal of Social Work
See also Urban Aborigines files
7.10 "Report to the Select Committee on the Welfare of Aboriginal Children" [1969] Typescript
7.11 Huntington's Disease amongst Aborigines: includes correspondence, newspaper clippings and reprints; reports and correspondence concerning position of DAA Huntington's Disease project counsellor; roll of Huntington's Disease genealogies; publications including
- SA Huntington's Disease Association Magazine (April 1980)
- SA Dept for Community Welfare's first pamphlet on Huntington's Chorea (January 1974) – information provided by Marjory Angas, consultant to HD Project, Aboriginal Health Organisation
- "A Programme for the Management of Huntington's Disease amongst Aboriginal Families in South Australia" (1983, typescript) / report by Fay Gale
7.12 "The Need for Training Facilities for Sociologists" [1965?] Typescript
Series 8. Other background/research material 3cm
a. Published pamphlets and typescript articles on Aborigines 1950s-1960s: includes
- Printed pamphlets The Medicine Man; If We have a Conscience / Aborigines Advancement League; The Aborigines / Minister for Territories; Four Major Issues in Assimilation / National Missionary Council of Australia, 1963; The Facts on Wage Discrimination against Aborigines / Equal Wages for Aborigines Committee [1963?]; The Meaning of Assimilation / National Missionary Council of Australia, 1963; Assimilation in Action / Paul Hasluck, Minister for Territories [n.d.]; Aborigines in the Community / Minister for Territories, 1965; Why Not Hang Rupert Stuart?; Aboriginal Scholarships Committee; What is N.A.D.O.C.?
- Roneoed pamphlet on "Croker Island Methodist Mission"
- Roneoed publications of Northern Territory Administration Welfare Branch on Maningrida Settlement (1959); Warrabri Settlement (1959); Report by E.C. Evans on overland patrol to Lake Mackay and Kintore Ranges (1960); Appendices to Finke River Mission, Hermannsburg (1962); Beswick Aboriginal Reserve (1961)
- Typescripts: correspondence concerning Education Programme for ‘C' Division, Yatala, 1965; "Rough Outline of Aborigines Land Settlement Scheme" [n.d.]
See also Correspondence Series 1.3: correspondence with Laurie Bryan
b. Student project "The Establishment of Aboriginal Reserves in the County of Adelaide and Their Subsequent Occupation in the 19th Century" / Irene Hill and Dzintra Sils
c. "Aborigines in the Community": Discussion Papers for Frontier Conference [n.d.]
d. Form letters, blank survey forms (various projects)
Series 9. Judy Inglis research files 6cm
Judy Inglis, (1929-1962), graduated from the University of Melbourne as a Master of Arts and was later awarded a Diploma in Anthropology at Oxford University. She was the principal Administrative Assistant for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies at the time of her death. This material was sent to Fay Gale for her use in 1964 (see letters from Diane Barwick in Series 1 General correspondence file) Most of the Inglis papers are held by AIATSIS http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/finding_aids/MS2907.htm
a. Correspondence 1961-1964: includes letter from Ken Inglis to Fay Gale 14/9/1964 re dispersal of Inglis' research material, correspondence from Aunty Glad, and letters from informants at Point Pearce and Point McLeay
b. Point McLeay and Point Pearce notes/genealogies, including folded A2 sheets of genealogies
c. Notes on Thomas Adams from SA Archives, including record of Thomas Adams marriage to Konarto in 1948 and ms extracts from the Letterbook of the Protector of Aborigines 1840-1857
d. Notebook/address book ca. 1957-1959
Series 10. Genealogies on card files compiled by Doreen Kartinyeri and reproduced in her genealogical publications 80cm
10.1 Point McLeay Genealogies
- Alphabetical listing of individuals on file cards (2 small file drawers)
- Family genealogies, alphabetical (with index of surnames): 1966-67 (1 large file drawer)
10.2 Point Pearce Genealogies (1 large file drawer)
Series 11. Slides to accompany thesis and Urban Aborigines study, some dated 4 cm.
- Port Augusta (1958-1966)
- Finnis Spings, Pt Augusta (1957-1965)
- Moree,Copley,Leigh Creek, Oodnadatta (1957-1958)
- Nepabunna (1958-1971)
- Mission – Nepabunna (1958-1984)
- Pt Pearce (1957-1968)
- Yalata and Koonibba Missions (1958)
- Mission – Gerard/Finnis Springs (1958)
- Pt Lincoln, West Coast (1958-1965)
- Aboriginal – Historical
- Rural Aborigines (1958)
- Urban Aborigines (1964-1969)
See also Series 2: Files related to Fay Gale's PhD "A Study of Assimilation ... " and Series 3-4 concerning Urban Aborigines study
Land of the Ngarrindjeri [slide and booklet kit] (Adelaide: Educational Technology Centre, Education Dept., 1978) has been catalogued separately at Rare Book 994.232 S726El
The journal Wungudda: official organ of the Aboriginal Community, Port Augusta (1968) has been catalogued separately at Rare Book 305.8991505 W965.
Draft list prepared 1991 by Susan Woodburn
Revised Cheryl Hoskin
October 2007
