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Arnot, Jean Fleming (1903 - 1995)

MBE, FLAA

Born
23 April 1903
Pymble, New South Wales, Australia
Died
27 September 1995
Occupation
Librarian, Trade unionist and Feminist

Summary

Distinguished librarian, trade unionist and feminist, Jean Fleming Arnot, worked at the State Library of New South Wales from 1921 until her retirement in 1968. During her life Arnot was a member and leader of numerous women's organisations. Arnot was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) on 12 June 1965 for her community services in Sydney. She died in Sydney on 27 September 1995, at the age of 92.

Details

Born at Pymble, New South Wales, Jean Arnot was educated at Fort Street Girls' High School. She never married. Her distinguished career in librarianship was served with the Public Library of New South Wales from 1921 until her retirement in 1968. She was extension librarian in charge of services to country areas, 1944-1948; head cataloguer, 1950-1968; and acting Mitchell librarian, 1956-1958. In 1948-1949 Jean received grants from the British Council and the Carnegie Corporation of New York to study library services in Great Britain and North America. She was a member of the Australian delegation to the First International Conference on Cataloguing Principles, held in Paris in 1961.

A founding member of the Library Association of Australia (LAA) in 1949, she was convenor of its Cataloguing Code Revision Committee, 1962-1968, and elected Fellow in 1963. With the LAA's precursor, the Australian Institute of Librarians, she had served as a councillor, general secretary,1941-1943, and president of the New South Wales branch, 1941-1942. After she retired, Miss Arnot became honorary librarian of the Royal Australian Historical Society, 1975-1980. Her expertise remained much in demand; she advised on the cataloguing of private libraries and assisted the booksellers, Berkelouw.

From 1937 Jean became an active campaigner for equal pay for women. In 1944 she was the recipient of the Gold Medal of the Public Service Association of New South Wales. An accomplished and popular public speaker, Miss Arnot addressed a range of issues ranging from the historical to the contemporary. She had honed her debating skills through her involvement with the women's service organisation, the Kooroora Club, in the 1930s. The Club's affiliation with the National Council of Women of New South Wales led to Jean's long-time association with the latter, becoming president from 1960-1966, and elected honorary vice-president in 1972.

In 1959 she was the only female representative at the Conference on Unemployment, convened by New South Wales Premier, R. J. Heffron. She was also prominent in the activities of several other organisations. Arnot was president of the Business and Professional Women's Club, 1953-1954 and 1959-1960; president of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women, Division of New South Wales; founding member in 1961 and executive council member of the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign; vice-president of the League of Women Voters, 1974-1980; longtime member of and fund-raiser for the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association; and multiple office bearer of the Women's Club (Sydney, New South Wales).

Jean Fleming Arnot was appointed MBE in 1965 for services to the community.

Sources used to compile this entry: Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection catalogue.

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

  • Jean Arnot - interviews, 1974-1994, MLOH 394; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Arnot Luncheon - Book of Honour, 1996-, 1996 - ; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Arnot Memorial Service - papers, 1995, being attendance book and transcript of the service held in the Dixson Room, State Library of New South Wales, 5 October 1995, 5 October 1995, MLMSS 6130; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Arnot Papers, 1931 - 1976, ML MSS 3147; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Arnot Papers, 1907 - 1988, Ml MSS 3147 ADD-ON 1904; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Fleming Arnot - personal and professional papers, 1890-1995, 1890 - 1995, MLMSS 3147 ADD-ON 2070/1-15; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Jean Fleming Arnot - pictorial material and medals, 192--1995, 1920s - 1995, MLMSS 3147 ADD-ON 2070/16-17 and R 871; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Ros Bowden - interviews conducted for radio programmes and documentaries, ca.1975 - 1989, c. 1975 - 1989, Z MLOH 304; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Ros Bowden - interviews with people who knew Ida Leeson, former Mitchell Librarian, 1985, 1985, Z MLOH 23; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • State Library of New South Wales - Jean Arnot interviewed by John Macallister about her career in the State Library of New South Wales, 1991, 1991, Z MLOH 105; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • State Library of New South Wales - Jean Arnot interviewed by Rosemary Block about her life after she retired from the State Library. She also speaks in some detail of her colleagues Miss Nita Kibble and Miss Nita Dobbie, 1994., 1994, Z MLOH 214; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • State Library of New South Wales - Jean Arnot interviewed by Rosemary Block about her role in the development of the National Council of Women of Australia, 1994, 1994, Z MLOH 162; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

National Library of Australia Oral History Collection

  • Interview with Jean Arnot, librarian and activist for equal pay for women [sound recording] / Interviewer: Amy McGrath, ORAL TRC 659; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details

Published resources

The Australian Women's Register Exhibitions

Online Resources

See also

  • Lofthouse, Andrea (ed.), Who's who of Australian women, Methuen Australia, North Ryde (NSW), 1982, 504 pp. Details

Clare Land

Created: 24 September 2002, Last modified: 14 September 2005

Site-wide information and acknowledgements

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http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0125b.htm

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