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Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885-1974)

Also known as
Heagney, Muriel A. (Muriel Agnes) (1885-1974)
Occupation
anti-conscriptionist; feminist; schoolteacher; social reformer; women's activist
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-698052

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

Muriel Heagney worked tirelessly for the labour movement in various capacities during her long life. Her major commitment, however, was to achieve equal pay for women workers. Born into a labour family, she joined the Richmond branch of the Political Labour Council (later the Australian Labor Party - ALP) in 1906, and was a delegate to the Women's Central Organising Committee in 1909. Other positions she held included: membership of the Victorian central executive of the Australian Labor Party from 1926-1927; secretary of the Women's Central Organising Committee; and ex officio member of the party's central executive in 1955. She was a founding member of the Council of Action for Equal Pay which was established in Sydney in 1937 under the auspices of the New South Wales branch of the Federated Clerks' Union and was secretary for most of its existence. It disbanded in 1948. She returned to Victoria in 1950 and continued to maintain her union and political interests into the 1960s. Her publications include Are women taking men's jobs?, (1935), Equal pay for the sexes, (1948), Arbitration at the crossroads, (1954). She died in poverty in St Kilda in May 1974.

Heagney made two attempts to enter an Australian parliament. She made her first attempt in 1933 when she stood as an ALP candidate in the by-election for the state Legislative Assembly seat of Boroondara, which was held on 29 April. This was and remains a conservative seat. She was placed second in a field of seven on the primary vote, with 20.54 per cent of the vote, but on the two-party preferred count she was placed third, with 24.36 per cent of the vote, after the winner Trevor Oldham (United Australia Party) and James Nettleton, another United Australia Party candidate. This was a creditable performance as the ALP had not fielded a candidate for that seat in the 1932 state election. #xA; She made her second attempt in 1956 at the age of 70, when she stood unsuccessfully for ALP pre-selection to the Australian Senate.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

HEAGNEY, MURIEL AGNES (1885-1974), trade unionist and feminist, was born on 31 December 1885 in Brisbane, daughter of Patrick Reginald Heagney (1858-1922), publican and later a carpenter, and his wife Annie Agnes, née Currie. Muriel was raised in a Labor atmosphere. Her maternal grandfather, an Irish immigrant, was a friend of Peter Lalor. Her father, born in 1858 at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, was the son of Martin Heagney, farmer, and his wife Catherine, née Hogan, both from Ireland. Patrick went to Queensland in the 1880s, became an early member of the Australian Workers' Union and contributed to the Worker and the Bulletin. He married on 9 February 1885 at Isisford and moved his family to Melbourne in the late 1890s.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Related people and organisations

People

Australian Women's Register

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Resources

Selected resources (11)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885 - 1974)
    Bremner, J.
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  2. Brazen hussies and God's police fighting back in the depression years. [Revised version of article published in Hecate, v.8, no.1, 1982]
    Stone, Janey
    [1998]
    Published: Interventions, Melbourne
  3. Arbitration at the crossroads
    Heagney, Muriel
    [1954]
    Published: National Press, Melbourne
  4. Are women taking men's jobs?: a survey of women's work in Victoria, with special regard to equal status, equal pay, and equality of opportunity
    Heagney, Muriel
    [1935]
    Published: Hilton and Veitch, Melbourne
  5. In the cause of equality: Muriel Heagney and the position of women in the Depression
    Bremner, Jennie
    [c1982]
    Published: Hale and Iremonger, Sydney
  6. Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885-1975)
    Smith, Bruce A.
    [2001]
    Published: University of Melbourne
  7. Muriel Heagney and the Council of Action for Equal Pay 1937-1948
    Francis, Rosemary
    [1989]
    Published: The University of Melbourne, Melbourne
  8. Carrying on the Fight: Women Candidates in Victorian Parliamentary Elections
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2008]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  9. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press, Sydney
  10. Heagney, Muriel A. (Muriel Agnes) papers [manuscript] 1885-1974
    [manuscript : 1936 - 1968]
    The papers include a complete set of minute books and correspondence of the Council of Action for Equal Pay, 1937-1949. They include also autobiographical notes by Muriel Heagney, inwards and outwards correspondence 1936-1968, drafts and notes for the publication Are women taking men's jobs?(1935) and Arbitration at the crossroads, (1953), and for other proposed books, articles, papers and talks. Also papers relating to her role in the Australian Labor Party. Other papers include ACTU Bulletins 1954-1957 (4 issues); executive decisions made at various meetings, 1951-1958; assorted circulars and printed pamphlets; papers related to the Amnalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Unions cost of living investigation, 1927 and Heagney's logbook of activities when Women's Organiser for the Amalgamated Engineering Union.
    31
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 9106
  11. Jean Fleming Arnot - personal and professional papers, 1890-1995
    [Correspondence, diaries, Paper files and documents, Speeches, Printed material, Press cuttings : 1890 - 1995]
    1948-1949; Diaries (3): 8 Apr.-1 Aug. 1948, 2 Aug.-26 Nov. 1948, and 27 Nov. 1948-15 Feb. 1949, concerning study trip of American and British libraries (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/1) 5 Sep.-15 Dec. 1961; Diary mainly concerning trip to IFLA International Conference on Cataloguing Principles, Paris, 9-18 Oct. 1961 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/1) 1963-1994; Pocket appointments' diaries, being one for each year, except two for 1989, and excluding 1983 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/1) 1983-1988; A4 and quarto appointments' diaries (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/2) ca. 1913, 1933-1989; Correspondence, with enclosures including Future Projection for Women at Work, being her paper at the Victorian Employers' Federation Women at Work Conference, Melbourne, 21 July 1969, and copy of Public Aministration, vol. 5 no. 8, Dec. 1945, featuring her article, ' Employment of Women in the Civil Service'. Correspondents include Australian Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Division of New South Wales, Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign. New South Wales Committee, Ruby W. Board, Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney, R. F. Doust, Mary Fairfax, Sir Vincent Fairfax, Eileen Furley, Irene Greenwood, Harold Casterton (Harry) Harper, Noel L. Lamidey, Andrea Lofthouse, Norman Mackenzie, National Council of Women of New South Wales, Ted Noffs, Fanny Reading, Bessie Mabel Rischbieth, Jessie Street, Nancy Bird Walton and Margaret Woodhouse (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1934-1990; 'Letters of Library Interest and Documents', being correspondence, with enclosures including her paper, Cataloguing and Classification of Special and Private Collections, delivered at the Library Association of Australia Conference, Melbourne, 27 Aug. 1975. Correspondents include Henry and Leo Berkelouw, Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Jim Cleary, Gerald Fischer, Harold Casterton (Harry) Harper, Eleanor M. Hinder, W. H. Ifould, Phyllis Mander-Jones, John Andrew Osborn, Barrett Reid, G. D. Richardson and the State Library of New South Wales (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1948-1949; Letters received from her mother, Jane Arnot, Alison McPherson and a nephew. See also letters from Jean Arnot to family and friends, 1948-1949, 1961, at ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/15 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1959-1992; Postcards received and drafts not sent (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, AAD ON 2070/3) 1961-1975; 'Vice Regal & Official Christmas Cards' (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1964-1965; Correspondence concerning her nomination for MBE and congratulatory letters received (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1965-1991; References and testimonials for others (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/3) 1916-1969; Papers concerning her secondary education and employment with the Public Library of New South Wales (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1933-1994; Papers mainly concerning friends, colleagues and interests, including letters received, newscuttings and obituaries. Correspondents and/or subjects include James Allison, Zoe Emma Bertles, Freda Milicent Bryant, Flo Cluff, Alison Crook, Sir Vincent Fairfax, Film Australia, L. F. Fitzhardinge, Muriel A. Heagney, Theodora Hobbs, Millie Hoy, Marie V. Hurley, W. H. Ifould, Jessie Street Women's Library, Beatrice Anne Stewart Instone, Bee Miles, Museum of Australian Childhood, Molly Newman, Wilma Radford, Barrett Reid, Edith Alice Sims, Jocelynne A. Scutt, H. L. White and Margaret Woodhouse (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1948-1949; Papers concerning overseas study trip. Includes correspondence with the British Council and the Carnegie Corporation of New York; professional itinerary and copies of her report, Visit to Libraries in Britain and America 1948-9; theatre programs; and menus from the ship, RMS Queen Elizabeth (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1959-1961; Papers mainly concerning the International Federation of Library Associations' International Conference on Cataloguing Principles, Paris, 9-18 Oct. 1961 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1961-1962; Papers concerning 'Committee on Cataloguing Paris Conference - LAA File' (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1961-1967; Papers concerning Cataloguing Code Revision, including Australian working papers on 1961 IFLA Conference agenda items (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1962, 1972-1995; Papers concerning the Nita B. Kibble Literary Award and the Nita May Dobbie Award (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/4) 1962-1965, 1981-1993; Papers concerning her entries submitted to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, being the Reverend John McGarvie (1795-1853), W. H. Ifould (1877-1969), Nita Bernice Kibble (1879-1962) and Margaret MacPherson (1875-1956) (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1968; Papers concerning her retirement from the Public Library of New South Wales on 19 Apr. 1968, including testimonial under seal issued by the Library Trustees; letter received from G. D. Richardson, Principal Librarian, 26 Apr. 1968; farewell cards, invitations and tributes from outside the Library; letter received from Mollie Thomson, co-host of the afternoon tea party held in Jean Arnot's honour; and papers concerning universal party organised by Wilma Radford at the University of NSW, 27 Apr. 1968, with letters of appreciation received (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1968-1971; Papers concerning her indexing the reprint volumes of The Sydney Gazette 1810-1811 for the Library of NSW, including correspondence with Frank Dunn, Dixson Librarian (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1968-1992; Papers mainly concerning her oral history interview by Anne Robertson for the State Library of New South Wales' sesquicentenary and the Library's acquisition of her papers. Includes her notebook compiled for the interview with details of her career and campaign for equal pay. (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1969-1991; Papers concerning her cataloguing of the Library of Camden Park, Menangle, N.S.W., including correspondence with the owners, Quentin and Antonia Macarthur Stanham, 1969-1971 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1980-1992; Papers mainly concerning the State Library of New South Wales and its Library Society and the Australian Library and Information Association, including correspondence, newscuttings and invitations (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1987; Papers concerning the Library Association of Australia's 50th anniversary celebrations, Canberra, 2-4 Sep. 1987, including her talk on her first visit to Canberra for the launching of the Australian Institute of Librarians, 1937 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/5) 1993-1995; Papers concerning luncheons in honour of her 90th birthday, celebrated chiefly at Parliament House, Sydney, 19 Apr. 1993. Includes presentation album with letters received from, among others, Alison Crook, State Librarian; Jean M. Elliston, President, National Council of Women of N.S.W. Inc.; Premier John Fahey; Warren Horton, Director-General, National Library of Australia; Prime Minister Paul Keating; Kaye Loder, Convenor, National Women's Consultative Committee; Di Manning, President, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women; and G. D. Richardson; with a copy of Congratulations Miss Arnot (State Library of NSW Press, 1993), being augmented reprint of her 1946 ABC broadcast, Should Both Sexes Receive Equal Pay for Equal Work ? (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/6) 1994; Papers concerning Jocelynne A. Scutt's book, Taking a Stand - Women in Politics and Society (Artemus Publishing Pty Ltd, 1994), including letters received from Jocelynne A. Scutt, 15 May 1994, concerning her essay on Jean Arnot in the book (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/6) 1950-1951, 1964-1965, 1979; Certificates concerning her appointment to MBE, 1965; her election to Fellow of the Library Association of Australia, 1964; her Honorary Membership of the Royal Australian Historical Society, 1979; and copy of her report, Library Facilities in New South Wales Government Institutions, 1950, with note, 1951 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/7X) 1976-1994; File concerning British Empire Association, including circular leters received and printed material (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/8) 1948-1989; Files (2) concerning the Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney, including correspondence, membership lists, constitution and by-laws, material concerning the 40th anniversary of the Club, 1979; and the Club's study tour of Papua-New Guinea, 15-29 July 1968 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/8) 1985-1995; File concerning the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women Inc. Division of New South Wales, including correspondence, news bulletins, and constitution and by-laws (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/8) 1982-1995; File concerning the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women Inc., including correspondence and copies of Federation News (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/9) 1933-1937; File of Kooroora Literary and Debating Society magazine, being five volumes: 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36, 1936-37 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/9) 1980-1994; File concerning the National Council of Women Inc., including correspondence, circular letters received, material concerning Margaret Windeyer and report of the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales, 1892 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/9) 1990-1995; File concerning National Council of Women of New South Wales Inc., being printed material (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/10) 1978-1995; File concerning Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association, including circular letters received, reports and proceedings of the Association's 9th (Canberra, 1961), 13th (Seoul, 1975) and 15th (Saratoga Springs and New York, 1981) international conferences (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/10) 1955-1985; File concerning the Royal Australian Historical Society, including letters received from John Bennett, 1985, and D. I. McDonald, 1983; talks; copy of obituary of Harold Casterton (Harry) Harper by Hazel King; and printed material (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/10) 1967-1995; File concerning the Royal Australian Historical Society and its Library and Library Committee, including correspondence, newscuttings and printed material (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/10) 1960-1965; File concerning the Women's club, including correspondence, circular letters recived and annual reports (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/11) ca. 1937-1991; Literary papers, being mainly notes and drafts of talks and speeches, with related correspondence and newscuttings. Topics and themes: Travel, ca. 1949-1972, date unknown; National Council of Women, 1963-1966, date unknown; Public Service, ca. 1942-1945; Internationalism, 1966-1967; Old Sydney, 1979-1991; Bibliotherapy - Libraries, ca. 1937-1971, including New Anglo-American Code for Australian Libraries, 1967; Dedications in Books, 1946, 1988, date unknown; Local History, 1970-1978 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/12) 1937-1990; Literary papers continued. Topics and themes: Status of Women in the Christian Church, 1968-1980; Women in Australia - Norman Mackenzie - Status of Women etc., 1945-1975, 1990; Australia Day & Victoria League Coronation day, 1957-1984; 'Articles, etc & Speeches ... Not Library', 1937-1975, 1989, including 'Equal Pay for Equal Work', 1937, Conference on Unemployment, 1961, Ruby Board, with prisoners' Christmas cards, 1949, and pamphlet on the opening of Berrima Training Centre, 1949; Reminiscences of a Cataloguer, 1981; The Australian Subscription Library and the Royal Australian Historical Society Library, 197--1982, date unknown; Early Australian Newspapers, Sydney Gazette, Hobart Town Gazette, 1989, date unknown; 'Speeches Miscellaneous' concerning, among other topics, Christmas, retirement, missionary work, the Big Sister Movement, Sydney Harbour, Captain Cook Bi-Centenary, BPW Club of Sydney study tour of Papua-New Guinea, 1968, and Soroptismy (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/13) 1926-1989, date unknown; Newscuttings concerning librarians and libraries, including obituary of Edith Alice Sims (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/14) 1934-1994; Newscuttings mainly concerning Jean Arnot, being four folders: no. 1, 1934-1953, with letter received from Lorelei booker; no. 2, 1953-1961; no. 3, 1961-1967; no. 4, 1968-1994 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/14) 1952-1995; Newscuttings on a range of topics, with letters received from Irina Dunn, 1990; Irene Greenwood, 1978, 1990; W. Boyd Rayward, 1992; and the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre, Longreach, Qld, 1990-1991 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/14) 1968-1994; Newscuttings mainly concerning librarians and libraries, with letters received from, among others, Alison Crook and Wilma radford; list of Kooroora Club members, 1968-1969; invitations; and copy of speech, 'Australia's Cultural Heritage', by Sir David Smith to the A.C.T. Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, 5 June 1992 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/14) 1988-1990; Newscuttings concerning the property, Belltrees, at Scone, N.S.W., owned by the Michael and Judy White (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/14) 192--197-; Miscellaneous papers, including letters received from Jean Arnot to family and friends, 9 Apr. 1948-7 Feb. 1949, and to her sisters, Gillian and Mary Arnot, and Alison McPherson, 6 Sep.-7 Dec. 1961; photocopied specimens of handwriting of Library staff who have contributed to entries in the card catalogues, 192--193-; passports (2), 1948 and 1961-1966, with enclosed identity card, 1942,; travel documents for Paris trip, 1961, and New Zealand trip, 1973; and unused postcards, 194--197- (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/15) 1938-1990; Printed material, including order of proceedings of memorial ceremony for Emeritus Professor John Ward, AO, Patricia Ward, AM, Jennifer Ward and Moira Jennings at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, 21 June 1990, and of evening of tribute to Patricia Bruce Ward, AM, BA, DipED, FLAA, held at the State Library of NSW, 28 June 1990; and travel maps, 1938-198-, date unknown, including New South Wales Tourist Bureau regional maps, 1938 (Locn No.: ML MSS 3147, ADD ON 2070/15)
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
    MLMSS 3147 ADD-ON 2070/1-15

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885 - 1974)' - Australian Dictionary of Biography
    J. Bremner
    [1983]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
    Series: Volume 9
    pp 245-246.

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  1. [Biographical cuttings on Muriel Heagney]
    [Published : 1900-1990]
  2. Papers
    Heagney, Muriel A. (Muriel Agnes), 1885-1974
    [Unpublished : 1936-1968]
  1. Daley, Jane. 1881-1948
    anti-conscriptionist; labour party organiser; socialist; trade union official; women's activist
    ... Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885 - 1974) ...
  2. Leschen, Zuvele.
    ... Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885 - 1974) ...
  3. Council of Action for Equal Pay. 1937-1948
    ... Heagney, Muriel Agnes (1885 - 1974) ...