Jean Fleming Arnot (1903–1995)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2016
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;
This person appears as a part of the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 19. [View Article]
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 4 December 2023.
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
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.
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