Merv & Janet Copley Collection

The Merv and Janet Copley Collection is held in Special Collections and the Janet Copley Bequest funds undergraduate and doctoral scholarships and provide funding for researchers across the Humanities and Social Science disciplines to access the University’s historical archival and visual collections.

Copley Collection LISTING AVAILABLE HERE

Merv and Janet Copley were Novocastrians who played a significant part in the development and expansion of the Newcastle Unionist Movement from the 1940s to the early 2000s. Members of dozens of leftist societies and committees, the Copleys were instrumental to the development of anti-air pollution legislation in the 1960s, the International Women’s Day celebrations held in Newcastle, and increased union rights within New South Wales. The Copleys also provided unique insights into the historical and social developments occurring during their lives. Keen amateur historians, the couple were heavily invested in writing down the history of the world around them and providing a snapshot of the events occurring in their everyday lives.

The Collection is held at the University of University of Newcastle and includes ephemeral material, such as pamphlets, leaflets and election material, newspaper clippings, autobiolographical writings, diaries, background research material. Samples of this vast collection are available below, compiled by Thomas Romanis (Museum & Heritage Studies, University of Sydney) who reviewed parts of the collection in 2020 and also prepared biographies for Merv and Janet Copley AVAILABLE HERE

If you would like to access the collection please contact archives@newcastle.edu.au