People Australia

searches all National Centre of Biography websites
searches all National Centre of Biography websites
searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Life Summary

Name	Edna Minna Ryan
Alternative Names	Edna Minna Nelson Edna Minna Jones
Born	15 December, 1904 Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	10 February, 1997 (aged 92) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Cause of Death	unknown
Cultural Heritage	Norwegian Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Related Entries	[View as tree] Ryan, John Francis (husband) Reeve, Charles Thomas (related entry)
Education *	Fort Street Girls' High School (Sydney) (student, 1916-1920) Newtown Public School (Sydney) (student, 1917-1918) University of Sydney (honorary degree, 1985) Macquarie University (honorary degree, 1995)
Occupation or Descriptor *	anti-conscriptionist (1916-1917) New South Wales, Australia clerk (1920-1932) New South Wales, Australia communist (1927-1932) New South Wales, Australia trade union official (1929-1932) New South Wales, Australia poulterer (1952-1958) New South Wales, Australia local government councillor (1956-1965) New South Wales, Australia clerk (1958-1973) New South Wales, Australia trade union official (1965-1973) New South Wales, Australia feminist (1973-1997) New South Wales, Australia labour historian (1975-1997) New South Wales, Australia
Key Events *	International Women's Year Tribune, Mexico City (1975) (delegate)
Legacies *	Edna Ryan Award (eponym)
Key Organisations *	Federated Clerks Union of Australia (NSW) (member, 1920-1932) Workers' Educational Association (NSW) (organiser, 1935-1945) Australian Labor Party (NSW) (candidate, 1953) Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees' Union of Australia (NSW) (organiser, 1965-1972) Women's Trade Union Commission (founder, 1976) Australian Society for the Study of Labour History (NSW) (life member, 1986-1993)
Political Activism *	anti-conscriptionist (activist, 1916-1917) Communist Party (national) (member, 1927-1932) Militant Women's Movement (NSW) (member, 1929) Australian Labor Party (NSW) (member, 1944-1997) Women's Electoral Lobby (NSW) (member, 1973-1997) ALP (federal) (life member, 1987-1997)
Workplaces *	Fairfield City Council (NSW) (councillor, 1956-1965) Fairfield City Council (NSW) (deputy mayor, 1957-1958) Prospect County Council (NSW) (employee, 1958)

* Dates are approximate