[1986.0123] RECORDS OF TERESA WARDELL

Description

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IdentifierUMA-ACE-19860123Extent16 Units/BoxesLinear Meterage2.72Scope and ContentThe Records of Teresa Wardell date from 1866 to 1984, and were collected by Teresa Wardell while working for the United Nations, the Victorian government (as a social worker), community service organisations, the University of Melbourne, and while a member of various professional associations. There are also records about her professional writing as an academic, her research into penal reform, adoption, and child welfare, and her personal genealogical research files. The types of records include: children's case files, correspondence, photos, publications, newsletters, reports, hand-written notes, articles, meeting minutes and memorabilia.
The collection was transferred to the University of Melbourne Archives in May 1986. It was allocated the collection identifier 86/123, which was later changed to 1986.0123.
University archivists physically reorganised the records into nine series (groups), and wrote a description of each file for the catalogue and finding aid (Records Description List).
Records containing Personal, Sensitive and Health Information: While working for the Victorian State Government Children’s Welfare Department Teresa Wardell collected records which contain the names and details of individuals. For example, case cards and case files on children at the Boys and Girls Depots, Royal Park, written by her or other social workers. These files are Item Numbers 1986.0123.00038, 1986.0123.00046, 1986.0123.00047, 1986.0123.00048, 1986.0123.00135 Child Endowment notes (c1958); and, 1986.0123.00143 Notebook (c1957). Because they contain personal and/or sensitive information access to these items is ‘restricted’, which means clients need to meet special conditions for access (see Access Conditions).
In 2017, the University of Melbourne Archives undertook a project to improve discovery and access to records about people who grew up in orphanages and other out of home 'care' facilities in their collections. This included the Records of Teresa Wardell. An archivist looked through the files; amended or added description to the catalogue and finding aid (Records Description List); moved some restricted material into separate boxes (children's case files dated from c1936 -c1955 were moved to Unit/Box numbers 4 and 5); and, updated a name index of those case files (also restricted).
Versions of the finding aid: Two finding aids to the collection have been published. The first list was created in November 2004 and updated 12 July 2005. 2005 version, citation: The University of Melbourne Archives, List for 'Wardell, Teresa (86/123)', listed by Gabrielle Chiu and Jane Ellen, November 2004, Version 12 July 2005. (Please note: earlier documentation of the collection used a numbering system comprising a series and a series sequence number and people citing the collection may have used this number when referencing items in the collection. Also, the list was published with an error in the Series/sequence numbering. Series 9 was mistakenly identified as Series 14, and the list jumped from Series 8 to Series 14).
An updated version was published in 2017. Citation: The University of Melbourne Archives, Records Description List for ‘1986.0123: Records of Teresa Wardell', listed by Gabrielle Chiu, Jane Ellen, and updated by Christine Elias, published November 2017.
Attribution: There are no restrictions on using information from the finding aids, however, the University asks that you attribute (properly cite) material from the finding aids whenever and wherever you use it.ArrangementThe collection was transferred to the University of Melbourne Archives in May 1986. It was allocated the collection identifier 86/123, which was later changed to 1986.0123. The records did not appear to be in any particular order, so University archivists physically reorganised them into nine series (groups), and described items at file level. Appraisal decisions were taken at this point and material deemed of little value was weeded from the collection. Each item was then allocated an Item Number identifier (eg 1986.0123.00001), Title, Date Range and Description. The records were re-housed in archival boxes which were allocated an identifier eg Unit/Box: 1986.0123 Unit 1. Please note: Earlier documentation of the collection used a numbering system comprising a series and a series sequence number (see 'Previous control number' in the Description). People citing the collection may have used this number when referencing items in the collection. The series are:
1. Wardell Family: Records regarding Teresa Wardell's family genealogical research including relatives' birth and death certificates (Unit/Box: 1986.0123 Unit 1).
2. UNRRA & China: Material compiled and created by Teresa Wardell while working as an aid worker with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in China from 1946-1947 (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 2 and 1986.0123 Unit 3).
3. Philippines: Upon leaving China in 1947 Teresa Wardell went via San Francisco to Manila, where she took up another UN appointment. This series deals with her work as a Social Affairs Officer for the UN in the Philippines from 1947-1948 (Unit/Box: 1986.0123 Unit 3).
4. Employment: Records relating to Teresa Wardell’s employment as a social worker with the Catholic Social Service Bureau, the Children’s Welfare Department and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and later as a lecturer in the Department of Social Studies at University of Melbourne (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 3, 1986.0123 Unit 4 and 1986.0123 Unit 5).
5. Other Organisations of which Teresa Wardell was a committee member/office-bearer: Files regarding Teresa Wardell’s membership of social welfare organisations. Material includes minutes, correspondence, newsletters, reports, Wardell’s hand-written notes, brochures, news cuttings (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 5, 1986.0123 Unit 6, 1986.0123 Unit 7 and 1986.0123 Unit 8).
6. Professional Associations: Files regarding Teresa Wardell’s membership of professional associations including the Australian Association of Social Workers (Unit/Box: 1986.0123 Unit 9).
7. Other interests: Files relating to Teresa Wardell’s other interests including penal reform, adoption, and child welfare (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 9, 1986.0123 Unit 10 and 1986.0123 Unit 11).
8. Notes and Writings: These files represent a range of professional writing by Teresa Wardell including lectures for students, drafts of articles and many rough notes (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 11 and 1986.0123 Unit 12).
9. Miscellaneous: The context or significance of these documents was not clear to the University archivists, so a ‘Miscellaneous’ series was created for them. The records include personal correspondence, memorabilia, photos, certificates, Christmas cards, publications, sheet music (Units/Boxes: 1986.0123 Unit 14, 1986.0123 Unit 15 and 1986.0123 Unit 16).
The collection is housed in 16 archival boxes/units and measures 2.72 linear metres.Access StatusAccess restrictions apply for some itemsAccess ConditionsPeople can apply for access to ‘restricted’ records (those containing personal and/or sensitive information) by contacting the University Archivist and signing a Deed of Undertaking, see http://archives.unimelb.edu.au/. To request access to individual items quote the Item Number/s eg 1986.0123.00047. To request a box or boxes of records, please quote the Unit/Box number/s eg 1986.0123 Unit 3.
The University of Melbourne Archives coordinates with Find & Connect Support Services to provide extra services for those who grew up in orphanages and other out of home 'care' facilities, and their families. As such we encourage people eligible to apply for access to the restricted records via the support service. For support services contact details, please see https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/contact/.
*Please Note: Requests for ‘open’ records (those available to the general public) can be made via the University of Melbourne Reading Room. Restricted records are not available to the general public for 75 years from the date of the last action recordedRequest access to recordsRequest records from this accessionSearch within this Accession

Unit

1986.0123 Unit 0016

1986.0123 Unit 0015

1986.0123 Unit 0014

1986.0123 Unit 0013

1986.0123 Unit 0012

1986.0123 Unit 0011

1986.0123 Unit 0010

1986.0123 Unit 0009

1986.0123 Unit 0008

1986.0123 Unit 0007

1986.0123 Unit 0006

1986.0123 Unit 0005

1986.0123 Unit 0004

1986.0123 Unit 0003

1986.0123 Unit 0002

1986.0123 Unit 0001

Multiple Items

Catholic tracts and other publications

Children's Welfare Department Case Files

Provenance

CreatorWardell, Teresa M.

Dates

Date1866-1984

Description Control

Previous System ID1986.0123State of ListFully listedSource of DescriptionEmail from Damian Gleeson 5 February 2003

University of Melbourne Archives

Archives

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[1986.0123] RECORDS OF TERESA WARDELL