Macdonald, Amelia Morrison Fraser (1865-1946)

Field of activity
Church woman, Social reformer, Tailoress and Women's rights activist; café owner; Girl Guides’ leader; social reformer; tailor/tailoress; women's activist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-771058

Biographies

MACDONALD, AMELIA MORRISON FRASER (1865-1946), social reformer and women's activist, was born on 17 June 1865 at Blackburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, elder daughter of Peter Fraser, cooper, and his wife Isabella, née McRae. Amelia attended school at Govan, Glasgow. When she was 11 years old, her mother died, and she worked as a seamstress to support herself and her sister. At West Govan on 2 August 1886 she married with the forms of the Church of Scotland Alexander Parkinson Macdonald (d.1937), a steamship steward and caterer. They emigrated to Sydney where, for nine years, she ran a tailoring business. In 1896 the Macdonalds moved to Western Australia. Amelia opened a café in Barrack Street, Perth, which continued to operate until 1913. Her orphaned 19-year-old niece Isabella Millar had joined the childless couple in 1910; Bonnie Brae at Glen Forrest was their home from 1916.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Born, educated and married in Scotland, Amelia Macdonald migrated to Australia in 1887, living first in Sydney where, for nine years, she ran a tailoring business. In 1896 she and her husband, Alexander, moved to Perth, where she lived for the rest of her life. Her own experience of losing her mother at an early age, along with that of her neice who was orphaned as a young woman, no doubt made her acutely aware of the precariousness of women's fortunes, and how intricately connected they were to those of men. Macdonald spent all her adult life working towards untangling these connections and reforming the legal, educational and social structures that operated to oppress women and children. Connected to the church (she taught Anglican Sunday School classes), she was also deeply influenced by the ideas of the Theosophists. Their guiding ideals of spiritual force, service, social reform, universal education and equal citizenship provided the platform for the Women's Services Guilds Of Western Australia, an organisation Macdonald helped to establish in 1909. She was also important on the establishment of the National Council of women in W.A. and she supported the Workers' Educational Association and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Amelia Morrison Fraser Macdonald

Selected resources (8)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. Macdonald, Amelia Morrison Fraser (1865-1946)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online : Macdonald, Amelia Morrison Fraser (1865-1946)
    Ogilvie, June
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150226b.htm
  2. JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia: Johnston, Isabella Jane, 1891-1976 Papers (1909 - 1991)
    Articles; biographical notes on prominent Western Australian women; broadcast talks; calendar; cards; constitutions of Women's Service Guilds (1916, 1924); newspaper cuttings; files; invitations; minutes; shopping lists; programs; reports; scrapbooks; services sheets; issues of "The dawn"; stationery. The material relates mainly to women's issues, and the Women's Service Guilds in particular.
    ACC 3926A.
  3. Australian Historic Records Register: Girl Guides Association, WA (Inc.) (1915 - 1987)
    Scrapbooks of newsclippings relating to Guide activities, including an account of the public meeting to form the Association, 1915-1980s (1 box). Letter signed by Robert Baden-Powell, referring to approval of the constitution for the Western Australian Association, 1919 (1 item). Miscellaneous photograph albums relating to Guide activities, camps, buildings, people, 1920s-1980s (1 box). Panoramic photograph of Guide and Scout rally at Brennan Park, Perth, for the visit of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, 1931 (1 large framed photograph). Visitors' book for the Association's headquarters, 1936-1970s (3 bks). Register of personnel in Western Australia, 1930s (1 bk). Miscellaneous publications relating to Guiding, including teaching materials, training and development handbooks, test requirements, 1930s-1970s (1 box). Miscellaneous log books from various Guide units, including articles, reports and newsclippings, relating to their activities, 1930s-1960s (4 bks). Minutes of State Executive meetings, 1954-1959 (1 vol.). Miscellaneous records relating to the building of the Paxwold Training Centre and Camp Site, including photographs, plans, minutes of the Building Committee meetings, newsclippings, 1950s-1980s (1 box). Miscellaneous records relating to the activities of the Air Ranger Guides, 1965 (1 file). Newsletters, Commissioner's News, 1969-1971 (1 file). Miscellaneous programs, brochures, souvenir programs of special events, handbills, 1960s-1980s (1 small box). Scrapbook compiled for the State Commissioner's Challenge, on the subject of the history of the Girl Guide Movement in Western Australia, 1979 (1 large album).
    2980
  4. JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia: Women's Service Guilds of Western Australia Records (1896 - 1959)
    Minute books (1913-1956); annual conference files (1936-1952); general correspondence files (1914-1952); subject files on political, social and moral issues (e.g. immigration, native welfare, maternal welfare); reports on various issues relating to women.
    ACC 1949A
  5. JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia: Women's Service Guilds of Western Australia Records (1909 - 1992)
    State Executive minute books (1926-1970); miscellaneous volumes including minutes of general meetings (1909-1919); subject files; records of Perth Branch, Fremantle Branch and Swanbourne Branch; history (compiled 1977); membership lists (1909-1921); biographical notes, including Daisy Bates and Irene Greenwood; by-laws (1925); newspaper cuttings concerning Aboriginal issues; scrapbooks (1909, 1915-1919, Child Welfare Conference 1916); photographs.
    ACC 2530A, 4343A-4347A
  6. JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia: Women's Service Guilds of Western Australia Records (1931 - 1968)
    Minutes of the executive (1931-1937, 1943-1949); minutes of monthly business meetings (1936-1940); miscellaneous file (1942-1968).
    ACC 2626A
  7. JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia: Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Western Australia, Minute books [manuscript] (1935 - 1937)
    ACC 4853A

Resources by Amelia Morrison Fraser Macdonald (1)

  1. Papers
    MacDonald, Amelia Morrison Fraser, 1865-1946
    [ Unpublished : 1920-1944 ]
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.896)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.896)

Resources about Amelia Morrison Fraser Macdonald (11)

  1. Papers
    MacDonald, Amelia Morrison Fraser, 1865-1946
    [ Unpublished : 1920-1944 ]
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.373)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.373)

  2. Amelia MacDonald and family
    [ Photograph : 1995 ]
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.311)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.311)

  3. Isabella Johnston and Amelia MacDonald [picture]
    Ruskin Studio
    [ Poster, chart, other ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.215)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.215)

  4. Amelia MacDonald [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.371)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.371)

  5. Amelia MacDonald [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.371)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.371)

  6. Members of the Women's Service Guilds wrapping "Dawn" newspaper [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.957)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.957)

  7. Members of the Women's Service Guilds wrapping "Dawn" newspaper [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.957)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.957)

  8. Women's Service Guild Silver Jubilee dinner [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.262)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.262)

  9. Women's Service Guild Silver Jubilee dinner [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.262)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.262)

  10. Official guests at Women's Service Guild Silver Jubilee dinner [picture]
    [ Photograph ]
    View online
    At WA State Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.552)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.552)

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  1. VICTORIA. ARRIVED.
    The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 27 September 1860 p 2 Article
    ... F. Scott, J. Kendall, J!. Joel, W. Aitche.son, Miss Russell, Mr. and. Mrs, fraser, Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald, W. Rutherford, C. Walton, J. Burn, Mrs. E. Bura, A Gardner, J. Shanks, M. Dalzicl, A Davidson, W. Dalziel, W. Longville, H. Harper, D. Jones, J. Percy, G. Lough, A. Morrison, Mrs. Cuddy, G. ... 375 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Wednesday 22 September 1954 p 40 Family Notices
    ... Pat and George at Woodside. Sept. 17-a son (David George). Thanking Dr. Ebell and staff. MACDONALD ... Gus and family. BOLGER: On Sept. 21. 1954, at Leederville, Amelia Bolger, of 88 Grant-street, ... Thursday. Arthur E. Davies & Co. R.I.P. BOLGER: On Scot. 21, Amelia, dearly beloved mother of Pea and ... 3976 words
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  3. THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS.
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    ... Brothers George Wra Campbell Macdonald, Lram ing College, Thomas M Int}re Macgregor, St TranciB Xavier ... S S Charles Norman Morrison, G C , Helen. Louise Morrison, F S , Geelong, Margaret Annie Morrison, ... bbellcu Christian Brothers Charlea Dunbar fahew S C , Caroline Amelia Shuter, Miss bínele, David BinkB ... 5258 words
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