Housewives Association of New South Wales. (1918-)

Function
Membership organisation, Women's Rights Organisation and Lobby group
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-764065

Biographies

The Housewives Association of New South Wales was founded in 1918 largely due to the efforts of the artist Portia Geach. Influenced by a meeting of a housewives' association she had attended in New York in 1917, on her return to Sydney she formed and was first president of a similar organisation in her own state. The Association initially aimed to educate women in the principles of proper nutrition and to combat profiteering and rising food prices. It soon broadened its interests, becoming a considerable lobbying force on issues affecting women and children generally.

The Association had wide affiliations from its earliest years - including the Parks and Playgrounds Association, Health Week, National Trust of Australia, National Council of Women, Town Planners’ Association, United Nations Associations of Sydney and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. In 1928 Geach reorganised the association as the Housewives' Progressive Association. In 1938 the Housewives' Progressive Association was incorporated under the chairmanship of Eleanor Glencross with Geach a director. Their rivalry led to the expulsion in 1941 of Portia and four others, who alleged that the association had been working in cooperation with the Meadow-Lea Margarine Co. Pty Ltd. In 1947 she formed the breakaway Progressive Housewives' Association. The original organisation continued in a somewhat reduced form.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Housewives Association of New South Wales.

Selected resources (5)

Australian Women's Register

  1. From "Thrift" to "Scientific Spending": The Sydney Housewives' Association between the WarsSydney Gazette 6 9-19 : From "Thrift" to "Scientific Spending": The Sydney Housewives' Association between the Wars
    Foley, Meredith
    [1984]
  2. The Housewife
    [1933-1982?]
    Published: Housewives' Association of New South Wales
  3. Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales: Housewives Association of New South Wales Papers (1964 - 1985)
    Correspondence; minutes of meetings; pamphlets re religious organisations (Primarily Festival of Light); Presidents' addresses and editorials; newsletters from other organisations; information re conferences, seminars and meetings of other organisations; financial records; membership records; reports, media releases and citculars (most from government); newpaper clippings; advertising materials.
    MLMSS 4629
  4. Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales: Housewives Association of New South Wales - Further Papers (1972 - 1984)
    1972-1983; Correspondence : mainly copies of letters sent by the president, Mrs E. Porter 1973-1984; Meetings : agendas, minutes, and related papers 1974-1981; President's reports and messages 1972-1984; Miscellaneous papers including Festival of Light material
    MLMSS 4629 ADD-ON 2127
  5. National Library of Australia Oral History Collection: Interview with Mary Wright [sound recording] / Interviewer: Richard Raxworthy
    8 tape reels : 3 3/4 ips., mono. ; 5 in. Interview conducted in 1988. Mrs Wright speaks of her family background and her early life in SydHouney; her first marriage; living conditions during the 1920s; the Militant Women's Group; scabs and the timberworkers' lockout, Glebe; evictions from houses; rations; demonstrations; International Women's Day; Civil War in Spain; Jessie Street; Selina Maloney; meeting Tom Wright; Communist Party social activities; Paddy Drew; Tom's involvement in the union; his work at Wonderlex; New Guard; Workers' Defence Corps; welfare inspections; Woman Today; Spanish Relief Committee; Tom's work on the Labor Council; Idris Williams; Bill Orr; fights in the Labor Council; caucusing; Jim Healey; Ernie Thornton; book raids; women's wages; Jessie Street's involvement in the labour movement; Della Elliot ; Tom's involvement in the ACTU; Tom's overseas trips; his work with aborigines; Housewives Association; Union of Australian Women; International Women's Day committee; miners' strike; book raids; Vietnam demonstrations; her work in the Bankstown area; changes to the women's movement; communism; the ALP.
    ORAL TRC 1948/43

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  1. ELLIZABETH LEIGH'S PAGES FOR WOMEN From Day to Day Queen Chooses New Curtains
    The Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 1929 - 1931) Tuesday 20 August 1929 p 22 Article
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  2. Women To Stand At Elections
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