• Entry type: Organisation
  • Entry ID: AWE0184

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Australia

(From 1919 – )
  • Nationality Australian
  • Occupation Social action organisation

Summary

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom was formed at a congress in Zurich in May 1919. Its genesis stemmed from a joint tour of the USA by British suffragist Emmeline Pethwick-Lawrence and Hungarian feminist Rosika Shwimmer in 1914. In 1915, the Sisterhood for Peace (SIP) was formed in Melbourne, and in 1919 SIP members travelled to attend the conference in Zurich. SIP then reconstituted itself as the Australian section of the WILPF. Its headquarters remained in Victoria when WILPF branches were later established in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The Australian section was formally separated from the Victorian branch in 1920.

Aside from campaigning for international disarmament and an end to all war, WILPF has taken action on a wide range of social justice issues.

Published resources

  • Edited Book
    • Australian Feminism: A Companion, Caine, Barbara, Gatens, Moira et al., 1998
  • Book
    • Left-wing Ladies : The Union of Australian women in Victoria 1950-1998, Fabian, Suzane and Loh, Morag, 2000
    • The quest for peace as I have known it in Australia, Moore, Eleanor M. (Eleanor May), [1949]
  • Book Section
    • Greenwood, Irene, Caine, Barbara, 1998
  • Journal
    • Peace and Freedom, 1962-
  • Newsletter
    • Peace and Freedom, 1962-
    • W.I.L.P.F. bulletin / Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, N.S.W. Branch, 1966-1996
  • Resource

Archival resources

  • State Library of Western Australia
    • Records, 1942-1996 [manuscript]
    • Records 1941-1984 [manuscript]
    • [Collection of information relating to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, WA Branch]
  • The University of Melbourne Archives
    • Records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
    • Pethybridge, Eva
  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Papers of Vivienne Abraham 1938-1989 [manuscript]
    • Papers of Meredith Stokes, circa 1970-1997 [manuscript]
    • Records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Australian Section, 1943-2014 [manuscript]
  • State Library of Victoria
    • Papers of Anna Vroland, 1947-1973. [manuscript].
    • Records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1915-1973. [manuscript].
    • Records, 1952-1982. [manuscript].
  • Murdoch University
    • Irene Greenwood talks with Grant Stone
  • Fryer Library, The University of Queensland
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Queensland Branch Records
  • Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. N.S.W. Branch - Records, 1960-1990
  • State Library of South Australia
    • International Women's Day Committee Research Project : Summary Record [sound recording] Interviewers: Celia Frank and Kirstin Marks
  • State Library of New South Wales
    • Irina Dunn papers, ca. 1980-1984, with papers collected relating to early feminists, 1873-1983
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. N.S.W. Branch - further records, 1960-1992, together with the records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Australian Section, 1963-1992

Related entries


  • Member
    • Abraham, Vivienne (1920 - 2003)
    • Vroland, Anna Fellowes (1902 - 1978)
    • Goldstein, Vida (1869 - 1949)
    • Picone, Catherine (Cathy) (1949 - )
    • Forte, Kathleen (Margaret) (1917 - 2001)
    • Cornelius, Stella (1919 - 2010)
  • Membership
    • Blackburn, Doris Amelia (1889 - 1970)
    • Pethybridge, Eva
    • Roseby, Gertrude Amy (1872 - 1971)
    • Baillie, Helen
  • Related Organisations
    • Western Australian Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity (1958 - 1973)
  • Subordinate
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - South Australian Branch
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Western Australian Branch (1933 - )
  • Superior
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Victorian Branch (1915 - )
  • President
    • Buckland-Fuller, Dorothy (1922 - 2019)
  • Related Women
    • Godfrey-Smith, Anne (1921 - 2011)
    • Durham, Helen (1968 - )
  • Affiliated
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - ACT Branch (1982 - )
    • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - New South Wales Branch (1920 - )