Contact Information:
Special Collections
Academy Library
UNSW@ADFA
CRICOS Provider Code: 00100G
Australian Defence Force Academy
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6268 6270
Fax: +61 2 6247 2324
Email: specialcollections@adfa.edu.au
URL: http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/speccoll/speccoll.htm
| Prepared by: | Special Collections |
| Date completed: | January 2005 |
| Encoded by: | Special Collections |
| Last updated: | April 2007 |
© Australian Defence Force Academy. All rights reserved.
| Collector: | Mead, Jenna |
| Title: | Papers of Jenna Mead |
| Date Range: | 1944-2000 |
| Reference Number: | MS 353 |
| Extent: | 1.47 m (12 boxes, 2 posters) |
| Repository: | Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA |
| Abstract: | This collection comprises manuscript papers and related material produced and accumulated by the feminist academic Jenna Mead. |
The first part of the archive deals with the Ormond College case and includes primary materials such as original correspondence, depositions and witness statements, and examples of secondary materials accumulated by Dr Jenna Mead. The Ormond College case, in which Dr Alan Gregory faced complaints of sexual harassment by two female students at Ormond College in the University of Melbourne in 1991. Dr Mead who, as a senior member of Ormond College and a principal supporter of the complainants, became embroiled in a protracted public debate which arose when the Australian author Helen Garner published her highly controversial non-fictional account of the case and the larger questions surrounding it in her book The first stone : some questions about sex and power in 1995. After the publication of book, some Australian feminists for a variety of reasons condemned Garner.
Garner, a well-known feminist, wrote passionately of her struggle to understand the motivation of the two young women who used the law to bring charges against the Master of the college. Although subsequently cleared in court of both charges, Alan Gregory's personal and academic life was devastated. Likewise, both young women are reported to have been profoundly affected by the incident and its explosive fall-out.
Dr Mead's accumulation of the papers includes material which allows the Ormond College case to be considered in the context of efforts which were being made both within the University of Melbourne and in Ormond College to establish processes which might allow sexual harassment cases to be handled according to agreed guidelines.
The second part of the archive includes material relating to bodyjamming, edited by Mead in 1997. bodyjamming is a volume of essays on sexual harassment, feminism and public life, which in various ways reflect on the issues thrown up by the Ormond College case and its aftermath. This is the first book-length response that attempts to deal with both the significance of the sexual harassment case and the meaning and aftermath of Helen Garner's narrative of that case.
Note: The identities of the complainants in relation to the alleged indecent assaults are suppressed by court order. Disclosure of these identities will be in contempt of court and liable for legal prosecution.
Special Collections staff has imposed the series arrangement of this collection to describe and preserve context and relationships.
Jenna Mead was born on the 18 February 1953 in Perth, Western Australia. She was educated at Canberra Girls' Grammar School, the Australian National University (BA Hons) and the University of Melbourne (MA, PhD). She held a New South Wales Teacher's Scholarship, an Australian Postgraduate Award (University of Melbourne) and a La Trobe University Postdoctoral Fellowship. Mead has been a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Sydney and a Senior Academic Visitor, Churchill College, Cambridge. She has also worked at Deakin University, Ormond College (University of Melbourne), La Trobe University and the University of Tasmania.
Mead has published widely in the areas of medieval, feminist and cultural studies.
Mead's publications include:
Books:
bodyjamming : sexual harassment, feminism and public life, edited with the introduction by Mead (1997); excerpted on the Sydney morning herald internet site, November 1997
Forthcoming The Broad Arrow; Or, Passages from the history of Maida Gwynnham, a lifer, edited with the introduction by Mead; Notes Peter Pierce and Jenna Mead
Electronic:
With Philip Mead and David Lawton, Tasmanian Archival Sites, 1996. ARC-funded project, 2000-entry data base with hotlinks and search facility
Articles and Reviews:
'Where is the west' published in Meanjin, Volume 52, no. 4, Summer 1993, p. 728-740 [A1]
'" ... the anti-imperial approaches to Chaucer (are there those?) : an essay in identifying strategies' published in Southern review, Volume 27, no. 4, December 1994, p. 403-417 [A1]
'Reading by Said's lantern : Orientalism and Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe' published in Medieval encounters : Jewish, Christian and Muslim dialogues and culture, 5.3, 2000, p. 350-57 [A1] - republished in Al-Masaq Islamand the Medieval Mediterranean, Volume 15, no. 1, March 2003, p. 77-82 [A1]
'The general prologue : reading medieval stories' chapter in Viewpoints ... V.C.E. English literature, edited by Brian McFarlane (Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1986), p. 230-237 [C]
Medievalism and memory work, medievalism and the Gothic in Australia, edited by Stephanie Trigg (Melbourne University Press, Melbourne; Brepols, Turnhout, forthcoming) [C]
Review of Chaucer and the social context by Peggy Knapp (1990) and Culture and belief in Europe 1450-1600 : an anthology of sources], edited by David Englander ... [et al.] (1990) entitled 'Producing culture : medieval and early modern texts', published in Cultural studies, Volume 9, no. 2, May 1995, p. 385-389 [D1]
'Self-fashioning and the history of ME', review of David Matthews book entitled The making of Middle English 1765-1910 in The UTS review, 7.2, Nov 2001, p. 177-184 [D1]
'Caroline Leakey : body and authorship', a/b auto/biography studies, Volume 8, number 2, Fall 1993; special topic: 'Feminist biography', guest editor: Janet Sharistanian, p. 198-216 [A1]
'(Re)producing Caroline Leakey's The Broad Arrow', Meridian, 10.1, 1991, p. 81-88 [A1]
'Caroline Leakey, Oliné Keese and Bio/discourse', Australian feminist studies, 20, Summer 1994, p. 53-76 [A1]
'Missing bodies : young women and the media', Australian feminist studies, 12.26, 1997, p. 245-55 [A1]
'On sexual harassment', The new land lies before us, edited by George Papaellinas ([Sydney] : Angus and Robertson, 1995), 165-80 [A2]; series RePublica 2
'Nights at the circus : Angela Carter's rereading of romance', Mattoid, 21, 1985, p. 10-25 [A3]
'Parler femme: a specular reading of Toril Moi', Photofile, 31, Spring 1990, p. 14-16 [A3]
'Politics, patriarchy & Death', Island magazine, 53, Summer 1992, p. 66-69 [A3]
'Reviewing/Genre/Gender', Island magazine, 39, Winter 1989, p. 86-90 [A3]
'The first stone : feminism and non-fiction', The Sydney papers, 7.4, Spring 1995, p. 121-31 [A3]
'Sexual harassment, feminism and public life', The Sydney papers, 10.1, Summer 1998, p. 69-75 [A3]
'The case of the missing body' in Sexed crimes in the news, edited by Adrian Howe (Annandale, NSW, Federation Press, 1998) 77-87 [C]
Desire and subversion in feminist writing with Rosemary Sorensen, Age monthly review, 10.2, June 1990, p. 14-18 [D1]
'Striking chords : multicultural literary interpretations', edited by Meridian 12.2, October 1993, p.176-81 [D1]
Chapter in book [C1] 2001 entry for Caroline Leakey, Dictionary of literary biography, vol. 230 Australian literature 17-88-1914, first series, edited by Selina Samuels (Detroit, London: The Gale Group, 2001), p. 245-53
2003 entry for Amanda Lohrey, Dictionary of literary biography, edited by Selina Samuels (Detroit, London: The Gale Group, forthcoming)
References:
Biographical details provided by Dr Mead 17 January 2004
AustLit : The Resource for Australian Literature, September 2006.
The collection is restricted. Formal written permission is required from Dr Mead prior to use. This requirement is so that potential researchers are aware of their obligations to safeguard the privacy of the women who originally gave evidence in the Ormond College case.
Papers of Jenna Mead, Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA, Australian Defence Force Academy, MS 353, Series [Number], Folder [Number].
The collection was acquired by the Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA from Jenna Mead in two installments, in 1998 and 2001.
The National Library of Australia holds Papers of Helen Garner at MS 9265, which document the Ormond College case, the writing of the The first stone : some questions about sex and power and the ensuring debate.
Sexual harassment of women -- Victoria -- Melbourne -- Case studies
Feminism -- Australia
Women in mass media
Mass media -- Australia
Sexual harassment in universities and colleges -- Victoria -- Melbourne
Series 1 The Ormond College Case,
1944-1996
The papers are principally composed of records, documents, correspondence and publications relating to charges of sexual harassment at Ormond College in 1991, and the subsequent legal and public controversy. They include correspondence, press reports, articles, letters to the editor and examples of Helen Garner's journalism, copies of some essential primary documentation including Ormond College minutes, depositions and witness statements by the complainants and fellow students concerning the incident itself. The correspondence is an interesting and important body, which includes letters from Helen Garner, letters written between Dr Mead and Dr Alan Gregory (the former Master of Ormond College who stood accused of abusing his position by sexually harassing young women students at Ormond) and letters which provide a range of other perspectives on the case and the wider issues raised by it.
The collection also deals with some of the issues which flowed from Garner's intervention in the case and which led to it becoming a battleground for the expression of feminist perspectives determined in part by significant generational differences.
Folder 1-4
Ormond College case
1991-1992
Including:
Mead's 19 p. folder list; transcripts of notes of phone calls taken by Jenna Mead; correspondence; newsletter; Alan Gregory's curriculum vitae; Ormond College case notes; sexual harassment procedures material
Folder 5
Ormond College case,
1992-1996
Including:
Correspondence and letters of support including copies of emails; Ormond College case notes including Four Corners draft; letters from Helen Garner, together with a 4 p. cut and paste draft of Garner's manuscript referring to Mead, and a photocopy of her letter to Gregory
Folder 6-7
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Letters of support and letters of criticism to Jenna Mead
Folder 8-10
Ormond College case,
1992-1995
Including:
Columnists - articles, reviews of The first stone : some questions about sex and power, letters to the editor; profile on David Pennington and Moira Rayner
Folder 12
Ormond College case,
1992-1995
Including:
Equal Opportunity pamphlets and leaflets, and a copy of a letter of complaint to Mr G. Latham
Newspaper articles on the complaints' court case regarding access to the final draft of The first stone : some questions about sex and power against the book's publishers, Pan Macmillan, and Garner
Folder 13-15
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Mead on the Ormond College case including drafts of articles, radio editorial, notes and correspondence, and reviews of The first stone : some questions about sex and power
Folder 16
Ormond College case,
1996
Including:
Australian Press Council - 'Press Council rules in Ormond College case'; errors in their report; correspondence; and booklet
Folder 17
Ormond College case,
1992-1996
Including:
Miscellaneous material - correspondence, legal advice on defamatory material in The first stone : some questions about sex and power, Rimmer v Ormond College Council and articles
Folder 18
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Mead's Sydney Institute lecture - correspondence, articles and manuscript and typescript drafts of the lecture, publicity for lecture
Folder 19
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Politics Panel, La Trobe University - articles, notes, correspondence and review of The first stone : some questions about sex and power
RMIT talk/workshop, 7/5/1995, including correspondence, notes, typescript draft of the speech by Mead and publicity flyers
Folder 20
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Geoffrey Gibson - photocopies of correspondence with Gibson; transcript of broadcast item, ABV2, Melbourne
Material on Another case
Folder 21
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Helen Garner at the Sydney Institute - newspaper articles and letters to the editor
Folder 22
Ormond College case,
1993-1996
Including:
Helen Garner, early journalism - articles, reviews, biography and references together with a letter from the compiler of the articles
Folder 23-25
Ormond College case,
1992-1995
Including:
Helen Garner - The first stone : some questions about sex and power, reviews, articles, extract, letters to the editor and cartoons; emails re literary prizes
Folder 26
Ormond College case,
1995
Including:
Production survey, reviews and notes for the movie Gross misconduct; correspondence and treatment for a mini-series by Julie Goodall entitled 'Ormond College'
Anne Summers - articles
Folder 30
Ormond College case,
1991-1992
Including:
Ormond College equal opportunity minutes, agendas papers, correspondence and articles
Folder 31
Ormond College case,
1944-1990
Including:
Ormond College women - articles, memos, photographs, correspondence and policy papers
Folder 32
Ormond College case,
1991-1992
Including:
Ormond College Dean of Women Students proposal - correspondence, minutes of meetings, notes and memos
Katie Lush - material relating to Lesbia Harford, memo re Katie Lush Award and essay on Lush by Katrina M. Schlunke entitled 'Her brilliant career', p. 162-169
Series 2 bodyjamming,
1992-2000
The papers are principally composed of records, documents, correspondence and publications relating to the publication bodyjamming, edited by Mead and published by Random House Australia, Milsons Point, NSW in 1997. The book has drawn on a wide range of writers to respond to the issues raised by the Ormond College case and The first stone : some questions about sex and power. They include correspondence, typescript drafts of essays, proofs, cover designs, reviews and photographs; articles on the book and articles on sexual harassment. Also included are minutes and court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Pty Ltd ("the first defendant") and Jenna Mead ("the second defendant").
Psychologist Susan Mary Nixon was employed by the University of Melbourne as director of its counselling service up until 26 April 1996. She sought damages resulting from comments made by XX in the chapter entitled 'Sticks and stones', which refers to Ms Nixon's role as conciliator in what has become known as the "Ormond College case". Nixon felt that she had been held up to public ridicule and contempt, her reputation had been severely and permanently injured and she had thereby suffered loss and damage.
Random House and Dr Mead accepted that this chapter contained serious errors of fact concerning the role and behaviour of Ms Nixon as conciliator, and that the chapter was damaging to her. Nixon settled her defamation action for an undisclosed sum in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne in May 2000.
Folder 15
bodyjamming - book reviews, criticisms and interview; letters, emails and cards of appreciation,
1997
Folder 18
bodyjamming - newspaper articles relating to sexual harassment and the Ormond College case, 1992-1995
Folder 22
bodyjamming - Sydney Institute address by Mead and Meaghan Morris on Tuesday 25 November 1997
Including:
Correspondence; articles; annotated typescript drafts by Mead entitled 'bodyjamming, feminism and public life', published in the Sydney papers, volume 10, no. 1, Summer 1998, p. 69-82
Folder 23
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead, 1998-2000
Including:
Secondnamed defendant's affidavit of discovered documents, folder 1
Folder 24
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead, 1998-2000
Including:
Secondnamed defendant's affidavit of discovered documents, folder 2
Folder 25
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead, 1998-2000
Including:
Secondnamed defendant's affidavit of discovered documents, folder 3
Folder 26
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead,
1998
Including:
Supreme Court Book for case number 5553 of 1998
Folder 27
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead,
1998
Including:
Supreme Court No. 5553 of 1998 Jenna Mead's discovered documents
Folder 28
Court files relating to the defamation case Susan Nixon v Random House Australia Pty Ltd and Jenna Mead,
1998-1999
Including:
Privileged and confidential key documents folder, Random House and Jenna Mead -ATS- Suzy Nixon. This folder has been prepared by Phillips Fox for the consideration of Random House/Jenna Mead. It is strictly confidential and legally privileged, 20 January 1999
Series 3 Audio Visual
This small series comprises one untitled and undated floppy disk, and one untitled microcassette.
Series 5 Posters, 1997
This small series comprises two copies of a poster entitled 'Jenna Mead on that book exclusive, October 26, 1997'
| Series | Folder/Piece | Box | Location | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1-8 | 1 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 9-18 | 2 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 19-26 | 3 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 27-30 | 4 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 31-34 | 5 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1-3 | 5 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 4-11 | 6 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 12-16 | 7 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 17-22 | 8 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 23-25 | 9 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 26-28 | 10 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 29-31 | 11 | Main | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | 12 | AV | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 12 | AV | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | Cabinet 4 drawer 10 |