HMSS 0286 Gabrielle Watt Papers

ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection

HMSS 0286 Gabrielle Watt Papers

Call Number

HMSS 0286

Collection 

Gabrielle Watt Papers

Date Range

1959-2011

Quantity

0.62m (4 manuscript boxes)

Access Conditions

open

Copying conditions

full

Related Collections

HMSS 0150 Art Thread Designs;
HMSS 0149 Batik Association of the ACT;
HMSS 0035 Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association, Canberra City Group;
HMSS 0005 Action for Public Transport

Gabrielle Watt was educated at Frensham, Mittagong, before working in libraries in Sydney 1947-1960 and at the National Library in Canberra 1960-1962. She was awarded the Registration Certificate of the Library Association of Australia in 1962 and worked as a cataloguer at CSIRO Black Mountain library 1962-1964, then as librarian in charge of the library at CSIRO Division of Computing Research, later renamed CSIRONET, from 1964 to 1986. The Division was reorganised and she was made redundant. Gabrielle then returned briefly to CSIRO Black Mountain library before working at several libraries until 1989.

Gabrielle was always interested in textiles and textile art, taking courses at Sydney Technical College 1949-1951, and from 1983 to the mid 1990s undertaking a variety of craft and small business courses and workshops in Canberra. She qualified as a milliner from ACT Institute of TAFE in 1991. She exhibited successfully at Royal Canberra Show from 1989, and at Crafts ACT, the Fashion Industry Council and several private shows from 1990. A keen photographer, Gabrielle began exhibiting in 1976.

After being made redundant in 1986, Gabrielle began a new life of small business ventures and community involvement. She established her business name of Archangel Enterprises in 1986, under which she managed home stays and a tour guide service, and sale of her hats and other craft work. She was a foundation member of a textile design group called Art Threads and Design, and a member of the Batik Association and several informal embroidery groups. For many years she assisted the Chief Steward of Textiles at the Royal Canberra Show.

Having joined the CSIRO club for retired employees, SIRET, in 1987, Gabrielle went on to be president from 2003-2005. She was a member of many community organisations, including PPSEAWA (Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association), Friends of the ACT Public Libraries, CWA Canberra Evening Branch, Action for Public Transport, and as a member of the University of the Third Age (U3A) was on the committee that arranged the lunchtime forums. She has also been a supporter of the Quakers and Galilee Inc.

Gabrielle travelled extensively, including trips to Scotland for researching the Watt family history, the results of which were deposited with the National Library of Australia.

This collection represents nearly 50 years of Gabrielle’s life and work in Canberra.

 
BOX LIST

 

BOX
NO.

DESCRIPTION

QUANTITY

DATE RANGE

1

PROFESSIONAL RECORDS AND PUBLICATIONS
- curriculum vitae with lists of exhibitions, other achievements, entries in directories
- photocopy of Library Association of Australia registration certificate
- Certificate in Millinery May 1991
- commercial and business certificates
- correspondence relating to employment, 1959-1987
- letters of recommendation
- list of publications plus texts

1 file

1959 – 2011

 

 

 

 

1

CANBERRA TEXTILE TRAINING CENTRE
Newsletters, course details, correspondence

1 sleeve

1992 – 1993

 

 

 

 

1

ARCHANGEL ENTERPRISES
- Business plan, Certificate of Registration of Business Name, designs for letterhead, business cards etc, and notice of non-renewal of business name
- Business correspondence, general, 1986 – 1991
- At Home Down Under – art work, flyers, 1989
- Always Unique, 1993

1 file

1989 – 2001

 

 

 

 

1

EXHIBITIONS, MODELLING EVENTS, PRIZES

 

1981 – 2000

 

Photographic exhibitions 1981, 1988

1 sleeve

 

 

Members’ exhibitions at Crafts Council of the ACT, Art Thread Designs, ACT Batik and Surface Design Association, and personal exhibitions at art galleries, charity fashion shows, etc

1 folder

 

 

Personal entries in the Royal Canberra Show and the Canberra Times Canberra Crafts Expo, and correspondence with the Show Society

 3 sleeves

 

 

Photographs of exhibitions and modelling events

1 album, 2 wallets

 

 

 

 

 

1

SIRET CLUB
The Club for retired members of CSIRO. Includes minutes of meetings and newsletters

1 folder

2001 – 2010

 

 

 

 

1

CONVICT CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIA 1788-1868 (EXHIBITION)
Research for the exhibition, and photographs

1 sleeve

2009

 

 

 

 

2, 3

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1962 – 2010

 

Family

 

 

 

June and Graeme Morley; Kirstin Sercombe; Pauline Thomas; Tim Watson; Peter Watt; Margaret Whitehead; Angela Sawbridge; Watt family; Sona Watt; Williams family

7 folders

 

 

Friends

 

 

 

Friends A-Z; Gill Shadbolt nee Heming; Godfrey and Margaret Lance; Quakers; Japanese visitors

4 folders

 

 

Certificates of appreciation

1 sleeve

 

 

 

 

 

3

ORGANISATIONS
These are the organisations that Gabrielle Watt was involved with in Canberra

 

1991 – 2011

 

Quakers: correspondence, particularly concerning donations on behalf of Gabrielle’s parents, meeting papers

1 file

2003 – 2009

 

SIRET Club: minutes, newsletters, correspondence

1 file

2001-2011

 

Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association, Canberra City Branch: minutes, newsletters, correspondence

1 file

2009 – 2010

 

Country Women’s Association Evening Branch: minutes and correspondence, photographs

1 file

2003; 2009 – 2010

 

Galilee Inc – Eileen Wallace Memorial Scholarship: correspondence and certificate of acknowledgement

1 file

2003 – 2009

 

Senate Inquiry into Long Term Unemployment – submission

1 sleeve

1995

 

Action for Public Transport: correspondence and notice of winding up

1 sleeve

1991

 

University of the Third Age (U3A): monthly forums – arrangement of speakers, speakers’ biographies, general administrative papers

1 bundle

2002 – 2009

 

 

 

 

4

PROPERTIES
1/18 Edmondson Street, Campbell: ownership and rental papers, photographs, 1992-2003
19 Gill St, Lyneham: sale papers, 1988

2 sleeves, 1 album

1988 – 2003

 

 

 

 

4

PHOTOGRAPHS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Includes an album of photographs and guest list for Gabrielle’s 80th birthday party in 2008

2 albums, 2 sleeves

1880s – 2008

 

 

 

 

4

TRAVEL
Overseas trips including to Scotland for family history research, and trips within Australia with the National Trust

1 folder

1992 – 2010