Betty Archdale papers, approximately 1890-1991, compiled by, and with the research papers and sound recordings of, Dierdre MacPherson, approximately 1990-2000

MLMSS 9091/Boxes 1-19
MLMSS 9091/Boxes 20X-24X
MLOH 487
VT 2861

fonds

approximately 1890-2000

Textual Records, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Graphic Materials, Moving Images, Photographs, Design Drawings, Oral Histories

447417

Microfilm : Helen 'Betty' Elizabeth Archdale [1907-2000] - Papers relating to her mother, Mrs. Helen Archdale (Russell) [1876-1949], including a microfilm copy (frames 101-360) of her autobiographical mss. work, 'An Interfering Woman', in 16 Chapters (Chapter 2 is missing). The microfilm copy CY 4624 includes 2 letters (total of 44pp.), from Adela Pankhurst Walsh, 1945, at frames 26-69.
Microfilm : Publication, 'Votes for Women', Vol. 1, nos. 1-29, Oct. 1907 - 24 Sept. 1908. London, The Reformer's Press.
Microfilm : Refer to Contents for location numbers
Digitised : Applies to MLOH 487

4.55 metres of textual material (19 boxes and 5 outsize boxes). Many files include photographs. 1 videorecording
78 audiocassettes (70 hr., 53 min.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

Helen Elizabeth (Betty) Archdale was born on August 21, 1907 in London to mother Helen (nee Russel), a feminist and journalist, and father Theodore Montgomery, a British army officer.

She attended Dunhurst Junior School and went on to St Leonard's secondary school in St Andrews, Scotland where she served as head prefect and captain of the cricket team. The school's attitude to women, who were offered the same syllabus as boys, later provided a strong influence to Archdale's principles in her education career.

Archdale went on to study law and economics at McGill University in Montreal where her brother Alexander was studying. She returned to London where she continued studies in International Law and was called to the Bar at Grays Inn. Her legal career however was cut short in 1933 when she was chosen to captain the English cricket team to tour Australia and New Zealand. The tour was marked as a success and the English team did not lose a match in Australia.

In 1939, Archdale's cricketing pursuits were put on hold by the commencement of World War II, when she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service. Her service carried her to Singapore, Africa, the Middle East and Australia and earned her an MBE which was presented to her in 1944.

By the end of the war Archdale was stationed in Sydney and was offered the position of principal of the Women's College at the University of Sydney. Archdale accepted the job and decided to settle in Sydney where in 1951 she was joined by her brother Alexander, an actor who later founded Marian Street Theatre. Some time after Alexander's arrival, the pair purchased a block of land in Galston where they built their own property from rammed earth which they named 'Northis'.

In 1958 Archdale became headmistress of Abbotsleigh Girls School in Wahroonga. Influenced by her university background, Archdale initiated a more partcipatory approach in the school, encouraging more independent thinking from her students. She introduced physics to the curriculum, previously deemed as unnecessary for girls' education. She took students to a wide variety of artistic performances including plays and concerts. Archdale also introduced sex education classes for her students which stirred controversy among some parents and the wider community. Her frank and controversial views led her to becoming prominent in the media as a spokesperson for education.

In 1991 Archdale left her Galston home and entered a retirement village at Killara. She died on 11 January, 2000.

Diedre MacPherson, born 1947, is a Sydney based journalist and writer. She attended Abbotsleigh Girls School at the time that Betty Archdale was headmistress. Macpherson began her biography of Archdale in 1990. In researching the biography, MacPherson was given Archdale's original papers including private and public correspondence, personal documents and photograph albums, including some passed down by Archdale's mother and father. MacPherson also conducted many interviews for the publication which she recorded on sound cassettes. Her biography of Betty Archdale, 'Daughter of a suffragette', was published in 2002.

References
'I think I did more good than harm' / James Cunningham, Diedre MacPherson. Sydney Morning Herald, January 15, 2000.

Compiled from the collection

Papers of Betty Archdale (BA), her brother Alexander (AA), her mother Helen (HA) and Father Theodore Montgomery (TMA) filed with research papers of Deirdre MacPherson (DM).

BOX 1
1. Diaries of TMA, 1895-1903, 1913-1917

2. 'Chapter 1 "Theodore", including letter sent by British War Office to Helen Archdale from British War Office relating to TMA, 1950; DM research material

3. 'Chapter 2, ARCHDALES, England', including BA correspondence relating to family history; DM research material

4. 'Irish Families in Australia and New Zealand', Vol. 1

5. 'The World Book of Archdales'

BOX 2
1. 'Misc. papers, 1876-1974', including birth certificate of Helen Archdale (nee Russel); family photographs of HA; letters from Adela Pankhurst to HA, 1945; letter from 'Vincent' to AA relating to HA; DM research material. (Request Microfilm CY 4624)

2. 'Manuscript of An Interfering Woman', being typescript manuscript of Helen Archdale's autobiography, including handwritten annotations. (Request Microfilm CY 4624)

3. 'Votes for Women', London, The Reformer's Press, Vol. 1, no. 1, Oct. 1907 - no. 29, 24 Sept. 1908. (Request Microfilm MAV/FM4/10926)

4. DM typescript drafts

5. DM research material; news cuttings

6. Letters from Margaret Rhondda, Mrs. Pethick-Lawrence sent to Betty Archdale, 1938-1950; BA draft letter to Margaret Rhonnda; photograph of house; photograph of [N---?] and [M----?] MacDonald

7. 'Documents in cause, D. McLaren-v-Scotsman', published 1856

BOX 3
1. 'Chapter 7. Betty's Education' including school photographs and character reference of BA, 1930s; documents relating to St. Leonards School, St Andrews, Fife; DM research material and typescript drafts

2. 'Chapter 8. McGill - London and law', including BA character reference, 1935; correspondence between BA and her mother, 1928-1932; BA barrister practising cerfiticate, 1937; press clippings, DM research material and typescript drafts

3. 'Chapter 10. "Depression". Ellen Wilkinson', including DM typescript drafts

4. Small notebook with Christmas card addressed to 'Bucket'

5. 'St Leonards School, 1877-1977'

6. Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings relating to BA's cricket career, 1939

7. Women's college journal, volume 9, 2000

8. Small photographic album of BA's cricketing team in Australia, [1930s]

BOX 4
1. Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings relating to BA's cricket career, 1931-1941

2. 'Chapter 9. Cricket' including newsletters and publications of Women's Cricket Association and others, 1935-1990; correspondence, 1990-1993; press clippings collected by BA; DM research material

3. [Cricket cont.], including 'When cricket was fun', BA's unpublished manuscript; BA correspondence ca. 1934-1987; newspaper cuttings collected by BA, ca. 1977-1987

4. BA diary, 1934

BOX 5
1. 'WRENS', ca. 1940-1987, including photographs relating to BA's service as naval officer, warrant of appointment, 1943; letter sent by Buckingham Palace to BA that accompanied medal, 1953; other correspondence; press clippings; DM research material, press clippings, typescript drafts

2. [File containing correspondence and press clippings relating to BA's service in WRENS]
i) '1942, Gossipy letters from Wrens who were under Betty's authority'
ii) [News cuttings, 1941-1942]
iii) '1942, cuttings, airgraphs'
iv) [BA letters sent to her mothers, ca. 1942]
v) '1943, letters + cuttings, airgraphs'
vi) [News cuttings, 1945]

3. 'Elizabeth Miller's manuscript, WRENS'

4. BA diaries, 1943 and 1944

BOX 6
1. 'Alex Archdale's letters to his mother, 4/1/1942 - 11/7/46'

2. [Letters sent from BA to her mother, 1945-1946]

3. [Letters sent from BA to her mother, 1944-1945]

4. [Letters sent from BA to her mother, 1945]

5. BA Diaries, 1941-1942 and 1942

BOX 7
1. 'Public letters to Betty', being letters received by BA, 1974-1987

2. 'Letters to Betty', being letters received by BA, ca. 1957-1993, including letter sent by Prime Minister Gorton, 1968, letters sent by Sir John Kerr 1976-1977

3. 'Herald Library Archives', including DM research material, copies of press clippings, ca. 1970s-1980s

4. 'Uni of Sydney Archives', including DM research material

5. 'Non personal correspondence - Univers., education, WEA, etc.', including letters received by BA, ca. 1970s-1980s

6. 'ABC radio tapes', including DM research material, interview transcript 1999

7. 'Chapter 12, Women's College '46-'58', including publications contributed to by BA and Helen Archdale, 1957-1958, news cuttings; letters received by BA, ca. 1950s-1990s; group portrait including BA, ca. 1950s; letters sent by BA to her mother, ca. 1949; DM research material, news cuttings

BOX 8
1. 'The Meticulous Man, Alexander Archdale, 1974', being typescript draft of television play

2. 'Nocturne by A.M. Archdale', being typescript play script

3. 'Open and Shut, a play in three acts by Alexander Archdale' being typescript play script

4. 'Chapter 15, Alec, Mud House, Galston', including photographs of 'Northis', BA's residence in Galston; portrait photographs of AA; press clippings, correspondence relating to Marian Street Theatre, AA and Glaston property; DM research material, press clippings, handwritten drafts

5. [BA and AA guest book, 1977-1980]

6. [Photo album of building of 'Northis', Galston, 1952]

7. [Album of Archdale family photographs, ca. 1922]

8. [Photographic album of Helen Archdale, up to April 1925]

BOX 9
1. 'Photographs for "Northis"', being photographs taken of the building of BA's residence in Galston, ca. 1950s

2. '"Northis", a pise house', being typescript play script written by AA

3. 'Public Property by Alexander Archdale and Alan Yatse, 1974' being typescript play script

4. 'Women of Shakespeare by Alexander Archdale', including typescript play script, biographical information relating to AA

5. [Designs and plans relating to Northis, ca. 1950s]

6. 'Take one actor, prices & odds', including typescript play script, handwritten notes relating to play, ca. 1972

7. 'Abbotsleigh', including transcripts of speeches given by BA, ca. 1960s; DM research material, press clippings, typescript drafts

BOX 10
1. 'Betty's library', including typescript list of BA's books

2. [Scrapbook of news cuttings relating to plays and theatre, ca. 1927-1935]

3. 'Betty Archdale - drafts of tapes' (2 folders), being transcripts and notes relating to DM interviews with BA, ca. 1990s

BOX 11
1. 'Interviews A-K' (2 folders), being transcripts and handwritten notes relating to interviews conducted by DM

2. 'Interviews L-Z' (2 folders)

BOX 12
1. [Photographs relating to BA, 1900s] (2 folders)

2. [BA calendar diaries, 1976-1989]

3. 'Photos used in The Suffragette's Daughter', being approx. 30 photographs

4. [Further photographs relating to BA, 1900s] (2 folders)

BOX 13
1. 'Retirement', including chiefly press clippings and news cuttings; DM research material relating to BA's retirement, ca. 1980s-1990s

2. 'Privacy committee', including annual reports; correspondence, ca. 1970s

3. [Committees, submissions, projects, ca. 1970s], including correspondence, submissions and transcripts of speeches given by BA; DM research material

4. 'Original Manuscript by Diedre MacPherson [of Suffragettes Daughter], ca 1990s

BOX 14
1. 'Chapter 13. Abbotsleigh', including accounts of BA by ex-students; press clippings and news cuttings relating to BA and education, ca. 1970s-1980s; DM research material, typescript drafts

2. 'Biographical material', includes 'Betty Archdale, a great educator', unpublished manuscript by A.J. Fletcher, ca. 1980s; DM research material

3. 'Retirement', including news cuttings ca. 1970s-1980s; letters received by BA relating to her book 'Indiscretions of a headmistress', ca. 1973; DM research material

BOX 15
[Issues of 'The Weaver. Abottsleigh', 1956-1969]

BOX 16
1. Issues of 'Around Abbotsleigh', 'Foundation News' and 'The Weaver', ca. 1990-2002

2. 2 copies of 'Girls at School' by Betty Archdale, 1970

3. Portrait [print] of BA by Alexandra Asovtseff, ca. 1981

4. Photograph album of dinner given for BA by Womens' College Union, 1983

BOX 17
[4 scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings relating to BA and cricket, 1934-1939]

BOX 18
1. [Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings relating to BA and cricket, 1935-1937]

2. [Scrapbook of photographs relating to Women's Suffrage movement, ca. 1910]

3. [Cricket scorebook, 1934]

4. [Archdale family photograph album, ca. 1910s-1930s]

BOX 19
1. [4 scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings relating to BA and women's cricket, 1934-1935]

2. 10 mounted photographs of "Northis', BA's property in Glaston, ca. 1950s; 2 photographs of BA playing cricket at Northis, 1 photograph of BA kindling fire, ca. 1985

3. [3 scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings of articles written by BA, for the Daily Mirror, 1970s]

4. 'Shoulder to Shoulder / Midge Mackenzie', published 1975, relating to suffragettes

BOXES 20X-24X Outsize

BOX 20X
1. [TMA photographic album including military travels through China and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904]

2. Doctorate of Letters presented to BA by University of Sydney, 1985

3. [Aerial photograph of Galston, undated]

4. [Photos used in The Suffragette's Daughter], including photographs collected by TMA during military service, 1900s; portraits of BA, ca. 1910s-1990s

4. [Pages of scrapbook of newspaper cuttings relating to BA and women's cricket, 1934-35

5. [Publicity portraits of Alec Archdale taken by Jane Plotz]

BOX 21X
1. [Archdale family photograph album ca. 1900s-1930s]

2. [TMA photograph album relating to military service including travels to U.K., France, Ireland, ca. 1900s]

BOX 22X
1. [TMA photograph album relating to military service including travels to Egypt, Italy, Scotland, West Africa, ca. 1898-1904]

2. [TMA photograph album relating to military service and family photographs including travels through England, Scotland, Italy, India, ca. 1904-1905]

BOX 23X
1. [TMA photograph album relating to military service and family photographs including travels through India, England, Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Turkey, Russia, ca. 1904-1911]

2. [TMA photograph album relating to military service and family photographs including travels to Germany, Belgium, Scotland, England, France, The Netherlands, South Africa, India, ca. 1911-1912]

BOX 24X
1. [TMA photograph album including Archdale family photographs and those relating to military service including travels to India, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, ca. 1912-1913]

VIDEOCASSETTE
Fair play, the golden eras of women's test cricket, 1987 (CALL NO.: VT 2861)

Diedre MacPherson arranged this collection into files which she titled

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