Arnot, Jean Fleming (1903–1995)
Jean Fleming Arnot (1903-1995) librarian, trade unionist, and women’s rights activist
Birth: 23rd April 1903, Pymble, NSW. Daughter of James Fleming Arnot, bank accountant and later bookseller and lending library proprietor, and his wife Jane, née Thorn. Death: 27th September 1995, Sydney.
- Grew up in Pymble, NSW; joined Public Library of NSW, 1921.
- active in Public Service Union, NSW 1920s-1968
- equal pay activist, delivering landmark speech at PSU conference, 1937, winning union gold medal
- 1947 one of first women to attend Biennial Conference of Australian Public Service Federation.
- Upon retirement in 1968 was head cataloguer at State Library.
Sources
Red Tape, November 1988; SMH, 22 April 1993;
Original Publication
Additional Resources
- Trove search
- is awarded a bursary, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 1916, p 12
- joins in the Kooroora Club's 10th birthday celebrations, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 February 1939, p 7s
- the chairman of the Qld Library Board denies Arnot's accusation that women were not considered for the job as State Librarian because of their sex, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 1 April 1947, p 3
- replies to Queensland Public Library chairman, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 11 April 1947, p 2
- supports 'flying' library services for the outback, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 October 1947, p 11
- is to investigate library work in England, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 1948, p 2
- has been inspecting library work in the US and UK for the last 10 months, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 1949, p 7
- letter to the editor supporting the Bus Employees' Union campaign against one-man buses, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 August 1951, p 2
- is elected president of the Sydney Business and Professional Women's Club, Sunday Herald (Sydney), 17 August 1952, p 27
- photo, Sunday Herald (Sydney), 17 August 1952, p 27
- profile, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 22 October 1952, p 8
- letter to the editor supporting equal pay for women, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 September 1953, p 2
- photo, Sun-Herald (Sydney), 8 November 1953, p 51
- is to debate the issue of equal pay on 2GB radio, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 July 1954, p 7s
- is elected senior vice-president of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 September 1954, p 8s
- photo, Australian Women's Weekly, 22 September 1965, p 11
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Arnot, Jean Fleming
- Magoffin, Ann Margaret (friend)
- Anderson, Henry Charles (work colleague)
- Windeyer, Margaret (work colleague)
- Ifould, William Herbert (work colleague)
- Kibble, Nita Bernice (work colleague)
- Leeson, Ida Emily (work colleague)
- Jones, Phyllis Mander (work colleague)
- Metcalfe, John Wallace (work colleague)
- Radford, Wilma (work colleague)
- Board, Ruby Willmet (associate)
- Berkelouw, Isidoor (employer)
- Cohen, Fanny (teacher)
- Heagney, Muriel Agnes (influence)
- McGarvie, John (subject)
- MacPherson, Margaret (subject)
- Latham, John Greig (related entry)
Citation details
'Arnot, Jean Fleming (1903–1995)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/arnot-jean-fleming-14114/text33902, accessed 18 May 2022.
Jean Arnot (right), 1964
National Archives of Australia, A1501, A5216/1
Life Summary [details]
Birth
23 April,
1903
Pymble, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Death
27 September,
1995
(aged 92)
Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Cultural Heritage
Religious Influence
Education
Occupation
Awards
Clubs
Legacies
Key Organisations
- Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs
- Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign
- Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney
- League of Women Voters (NSW)
- National Council of Women (NSW)
- Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association (NSW)
- Public Service Association of NSW
- Australian Institute of Librarians (NSW)
- Council of Action for Equal Pay (NSW)
- New South Wales Council of Action for Equal Pay
- Australian Institute of Librarians (federal)
- Australian Dictionary of Biography (ANU)
- Library Association of Australia (federal)
- Royal Australian Historical Society