The Merv and Janet Copley Symposium

Please join us for the Merv and Janet Copley Symposium, which will showcase some of the vital research that has resulted from the bequest and archival collection from across the University of Newcastle.

Janet Copley, with her husband Merv, was a tireless political activist and campaigner for social justice in Newcastle. During their lifetime, Janet and Merv left a significant collection of archives, comprising over 348 boxes of news clippings, ephemera, as well as Merv’s diaries and autobiographical writing. Although the Merv and Janet Copley collection began arriving at the University of Newcastle (UON) Library from 1978, the collection was not formally accessioned until 2006, with support from the Vera Deacon Fund.

In 2017, the University of Newcastle received the Janet Copley Bequest. These funds were used to establish undergraduate scholarships, doctoral scholarships and provide seed funding for early- and mid-career researchers across the Humanities and Social Science disciplines to access the University’s historical archival and visual collections. These contributions to the University of Newcastle, as representing the broader region, mean that we now know more about not only Newcastle and the Hunter, but also Australia as a whole.

This is a free event but registration is essential for catering purposes.