Reference code: GB-0033-CSU-D7
Title: National Board of Catholic Women Archive
Dates of creation: 1962-2014
Extent: 33 boxes
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: National Board of Catholic Women
Language: English
The National Board of Catholic Women (NBCW) was founded in 1939 following an initiative by Cardinal Hinsley to encourage the Catholic Women's League, Union of Catholic Mothers and Catholic Girls Association to work together to promote the war
effort. The Board acts as a forum in which Catholic women of England and Wales share their views and concerns at diocesan and national level on the role of Catholic women in the Church and wider society, in order to fulfil their evangelical mission
to the Catholic Church. Its aims include challenging discrimination and promoting women's rights to gender justice, to represent the views and concerns of Catholic women to the Bishops' Conference and to the government, and to work ecumenically with
women of other faiths and secular groups. It works in a variety of areas, including communications, ecumenism and interfaith, education, environment, marriage and the family, international links, social responsibility, and women in the Church. The
organisation has consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC), and is a member of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations and the European Alliance of Catholic Women in Europe. It has representation on a number of other
organisations including the Women's National Commission (WNC), National Council of Women (NCW), National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO), Women's Co-ordinating Group for Churches Together in England and Wales, Women's World Day of Prayer,
Methodist/RC Discussions, CAFOD, National Council of Lay Associations, and the Catholic Union. It publishes regular reports, organises conferences, and produces, twice a year, a nationally distributed newspaper
Catholic Woman which gives information about its activities and reflects the variety of views among its membership.
The papers of the National Board of Catholic Women date predominantly from the early 1970s to the present day, with little surviving from the early years of its foundation. They include: annual reports; minutes of meetings; officers' papers;
papers relating to the Board's role as a consultative body for the United Nations, Catholic Bishops' Conference, and other religious and secular organisations; conferences and events; publicity papers including newspaper cuttings, responses, draft
letters to newspapers, and press releases; as well as publications of the Board and other organisations.
Deposited by Pearl Clarke and Freda Lambert between April and June 2015
There is restricted access to records less than 30 years old, with some further restrictions, generally as noted, on records less than 80 years old where the Data Protection Act applies.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from pg.library@durham.ac.uk and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright
owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
1. Central Governance
2. Officers' Papers
3. Consultative Papers
(a) United Nations Economic and Social Council
(b) Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
(c) Diocesan Links
(d) Links with other organisations
4. Committees and Campaigns
(a) Committees
(b) Campaigns
5. Conferences and Events
6. Publicity
7. Publications
The contents of the collection have been appraised and clean duplicates removed.
Further accruals are expected.
Catholic Women's League
D10
The National Archives
BN 29/2346: National Board of Catholic Women: memorandum and correspondence relating to adoption of children
1. Central GovernanceD7/A1 1963/64 - 2008/09
Annual reports of the National Board of Catholic Women
Wanting: 1964/65, 1973/74, 1976/77, 1986/87, 1988/89, 2006/07-2007/08
2 files
D7/A2 1962 - 2012
Papers relating to the annual general meetings of the National Board of Catholic Women, with associated papers, correspondence, photographs and minutes of meetings
From 2001, the Annual General Meetings included conferences and study days so these papers include conference reports and programmes which duplicate papers in D7/E1
File 1: 1962 - 1983
File 2: 1987 - 1988
File 3: 1989 - 1991
File 4: 1992 - 2000
File 5: 2001 - 2004
File 6: 2005
File 7: 2006 - 2012
Photographs: [1980 x 2010]
8 files
D7/A3 1964 - 2012
Papers of the meetings of the Executive Committee, including minutes and associated papers
File 1: 1964 - 1974
File 2: 1977 - 1986
File 3: 1987 - 1994
File 4: 1995 - 1998
File 5: 1999 - 2002
File 6: 2003 - 2005
File 7: 2006 - 2012
7 files
D7/A4 1938 - 2012
Papers of board meetings, including minutes and associated papers
Volume 1: 1938 - 1943
Volume 2: 1944 - 1952
File 1: 1953 - 1963
File 2: 1964 - 1969
File 3: 1970 - 1977
File 4: 1978 - 1988
File 5: 1989 - 1995
File 6: 1996 - 1999
File 7: 2000 - 2003
File 8: 2004 - 2012
2 volumes & 8 files
D7/A5 August 2007
Papers relating to the National Board of Catholic Women strategic plan for 2007-2009, including draft plan and correspondence
1 file
D7/A6 14 April 1979 - September 2009
Papers relating to administrative and internal matters, including revisions of the constitution, guidelines for officers, and job advertisements
2 files
2. Officers' PapersD7/B1 29 September 1994 - 4 May 2006
Presidents' papers, mostly correspondence relating to appeals for assistance from various Catholic organisations and internal administration, as well as photographs of past presidents
1 file
D7/B2/1-2 9 July 1991 - 2012/13
Secretaries' papers:
2 files
D7/B2/1 9 July 1991 - 14 September 2005
Correspondence, mostly membership enquiries
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/B2/2 1991/92 - 2012/13
Membership address lists
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/B3/1-3 30 September 1965 - 31 August 2011
Treasurers' papers:
2 files & 1 volume
D7/B3/1 30 September 1965 - 31 August 2011
Account statements for the National Board of Catholic Women
1 file
D7/B3/2 10 March 1965 - 2012
Correspondence, mostly on financial transactions
1 file
D7/B3/3 1982 - 1986
Cash ledger, including payments, receipts and bank reconciliations
1 volume
D7/B4/1-3 10 August 1990 - 23 November 2012
Development Officer (Angela Perkins's) papers:
3 file
D7/B4/1 1979 - 1996, 2007
Development Officer's account statements
1 file
D7/B4/2 10 August 1990 - 1 May 2005
Correspondence, mostly on potential funding sources
1 file
D7/B4/3 16 May 1994 - 23 November 2012
Papers relating to grant applications for funding
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
3. Consultative Papers(a) United Nations Economic and Social CouncilD7/C1 27 February 1995 - 29 August 2009
Papers relating to the National Board of Catholic Women's role as a consultative body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and its involvement in improving the position of women across the world, including conference papers,
responses, correspondence, and reports
File 1: 27 February 1995 - 19 January 1999
File 2: 22 January 2000 - 31 August 2001
File 3: 25 February 2002 - 29 August 2009
3 files
(b) Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and WalesD7/C2/1 28 August 1987 - 6 May 2008
Papers relating to the National Board of Catholic Women's role as a consultative body to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales on the profile of Catholic women in the Church, including responses, correspondence, minutes of Low
Week meetings, reports, photographs
File 1: 17 June 1987 - 6 July 1997
File 2: 5 January - 20 December 1998
File 3: 2 January - 13 December 1999
File 4: 14 January 2000 - 4 December 2002
File 5: 21 January 2003 - December 2004
File 6: 6 March 2005 - 6 May 2008
Photographs: [1990 x 2008]
7 files
D7/C2/2 14 January 1989 - 8 December 2012
Papers relating to the conferences and meetings of the Joint Dialogue Group, established as a forum of communication between the National Board of Women and the Catholic Bishops' Conference, including conference papers and minutes of meetings,
with associated reports and correspondence:
File 1: 14 January 1989 - 13 December 1993
File 2: 12 January 1994 - 13 October 1995
File 3: January 1996 - 28 October 1999
File 4: 24 February 2000 - 10 June 2002
File 5: 2003 - December 2004
File 6: January 2005 - June 2006
File 7: January 2007 - 8 December 2012
Miscellaneous undated papers: [1991 x 2012]
8 files
©) Diocesan LinksD7/C3/1 May 1990 - 2003
Papers relating to the management of the National Board of Catholic Women's links with the Catholic dioceses of England and Wales
1 file
D7/C3/2/1-21 4 April 1988 - 24 November 2012
Papers of individual dioceses:
21 files
D7/C3/2/1 6 May 1991 - 28 July 2000
Birmingham
1 file
D7/C3/2/2 15 June 1997 - 22 June 2004
Brentwood
1 file
D7/C3/2/3 25 June 2000 - 30 April 2001
Brighton & Arundel
1 file
D7/C3/2/4 March 1994 - 26 November 2006
Cardiff (archdiocese)
1 file
D7/C3/2/5 22 July 1995 - 1 July 2004
Clifton
1 file
D7/C3/2/6 12 October 1995 - 2009
East Anglia
1 file
D7/C3/2/7 31 January 1998
Hallam
1 file
D7/C3/2/8 September 1988 - 4 August 2001
Hexham and Newcastle
1 file
D7/C3/2/9 20 July 1995 - 24 November 2012
Lancaster
1 file
D7/C3/2/10 5 March 1994 - 13 June 2001
Leeds
1 file
D7/C3/2/11 25 September 1997 - 25 July 2000
Liverpool (archdiocese)
1 file
D7/C3/2/12 20 December 2002
Menevia
1 file
D7/C3/2/13 22 September 1988 - 2 August 2012
Middlesbrough
1 file
D7/C3/2/14 7 November 1990 - 19 May 2012
Nottingham
1 file
D7/C3/2/15 15 September 1997 - [?2012]
Northampton
1 file
D7/C3/2/16 December 1991 - 28 September 1999
Plymouth
1 file
D7/C3/2/17 11 December 1989 - [2012]
Portsmouth
1 file
D7/C3/2/18 4 April 1998 - 24 November 2007
Salford
1 file
D7/C3/2/19 23 July 1997 - February 1999
Shrewsbury
1 file
D7/C3/2/20 4 October 1995 - 17 May 2000
Southwark (archdiocese)
1 file
D7/C3/2/21 November 1993 - 31 March 2003
Wrexham
1 file
(d) Links with Catholic organisationsD7/C4/1 14 January 1989 - 14 March 2006
Association of Catholic Women
File 1: 14 January 1989 - 21 December 1994
File 2: March - 15 December 1995
File 3: 4 February 1996 - December 1998
File 4: 14 January - 20 December 1999
File 5: 8 January 2000 - 8 August 2001
File 6: May 2002 - 14 March 2006
5 files
D7/C4/2 18 December 1990 - 2010
CAFOD
1 file
D7/C4/3 2003 - 2004
Catholic Young Men's Society
1 file
D7/C4/4 1 March - 29 June 2003
Catholic Union
1 file
D7/C4/5 28 September 1989 - 21 October 2006
Catholic Women's League
1 file
D7/C4/6 5 November 2000 - 24 August 2001
Catholic Women's Network
1 file
D7/C4/7 May 1968 - 27 December 2000
Churches Together
1 file
D7/C4/8 9 July 1998 - 2004
Conference of Religious
1 file
D7/C4/9 27 November 1993 - 25 March 1995
Consortium of Christian Organisations
1 file
D7/C4/10 January 1994 - 2002
Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women (EFECW)
1 file
D7/C4/11 1994 - 2003
Justice and Peace
D7/C4/12 16 November 1971 - 1983
Laity Commission
2 files
D7/C4/13 June 1996 - 5 January 2005
National Conference of Priests
1 file
D7/C4/14 29 April 1996 - 20 December 2004
National Council of Lay Associations
1 file
D7/C4/15 22 October 1988 - 19 April 2004
National Council of Women
File 1: 22 October 1988 - 16 December 1993
File 2: January - 15 December 1994
File 3: 18 January - 5 December 1995
File 4: 22 January 1996 - 19 April 2004
4 files
D7/C4/16 28 March 1998 - 26 February 2001
Newman Association
1 file
D7/C4/17 25 July 1995 - 11 March 2003
St Joan's Alliance
1 file
D7/C4/18 1989 - 10 January 2006
Union of Catholic Mothers
1 file
D7/C4/19 December 1988 - 12 May 2009
Women's National Commission
See also D7/C1
1 file
D7/C4/20 June 1983 - 2008
World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations
File 1: June 1983 - December 1991
File 2: 25 June 1991 - 21 November 1993
File 3: 3 February 1994 - 12 December 1995
File 4: 22 January 1996 - 31 December 1997
File 5: January 1998 - 31 December 1999
File 6: 8 January - 31 December 2000
File 7: 4 January - 20 June 2001
File 8: 7 July - 19 December 2001
File 9: February 2002 - 25 November 2004
File 10: 24 January - 19 December 2005
File 11: January 2006 - 2008
11 files
D7/C4/21 4 July 1991 - 10 March 2009
Papers of other organisations, including Catholic Agency for Social Concern, Parents Against Oral Conception for Children, Association of Catholic Chaplains in Education, Voice for Choice, and others
1 file
4. Committees and Campaigns(a) CommitteesD7/D1/1 16 November 1997 - 10 March 2010
Papers relating to the central administration of committees and convenor groups, including minutes of convenor meetings and guidelines
1 file
D7/D1/2 April 1990 - 5 January 2009
Papers of the Bio-ethics Committee
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D1/3 22 October 1988 - 15 June 2011
Papers of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee
File 1: 22 October 1988 - 17 May 2003
File 2: 19 February 2004 - 29 September 2007
File 3: 28 February 2008 - 15 June 2011
3 files
D7/D1/4 June 1991 - April 2005
Papers of the Education Committee
1 file
D7/D1/5 18 February 2004 - January 2009
Papers of the Environment Committee
1 file
D7/D1/6 2 March 1990 - 7 May 2010
Papers of the International Committee
2 files
D7/D1/7 October 1990 - July 2004
Papers of the Marriage and Family Committee
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D1/8 16 November 2003 - 29 September 2005
Papers of the Social Responsibility Committee
1 file
D7/D1/9 25 June 1988 - 6 February 2003
Papers of the Science and Technology Committee
1 file
D7/D1/10 22 February 1985 - February 2008
Papers of the Women in the Church Committee
2 files
D7/D1/11 22 October 1987 - 17 September 1991
Papers of the Women's Inter-Church Committee
1 file
(b) CampaignsD7/D2/1 [?1990] - 2010
Papers relating to the National Board of Catholic Women campaigns against domestic violence, including the publication of a report entitled
“Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence”
Convened by the Marriage and Family Committee
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/2 1989 - 1990
Papers relating to an investigation by the National Board of Catholic Women into the role of women in the Catholic Church, subsequently published as a NBCW Discussion Paper entitled
Women - status & role, life & mission
Convened by the Women in the Church Committee
1 file
D7/D2/3 1991
Papers relating to an investigation by the National Board of Catholic Women into the role of women in the Catholic Church, subsequently published as a report entitled
“Be not afraid”
Convened by the Women in the Church Committee
1 file
D7/D2/4 1995 - 29 May 2000
Papers relating to an investigation by the National Board of Catholic Women into the admission of Christians from other churches to Holy Communion in Roman Catholic churches, subsequently published as
May my husband (a Christian from another Church) ever receive Holy Communion with Me? How?
Convened by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee
1 file
D7/D2/5 February 1997 - 21 February 2002
Papers relating to the National Board of Catholic Women's Millennium Project, a joint campaign with CAFOD to place a particular focus on women during the Millennium Festival, resulting in the publication of
Journey to the Millennium
The publication of
Journey to the Millennium was convened by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee
1 file
D7/D2/6 30 September 1998 - 6 April 2000
Papers relating to an investigation by the National Board of Catholic Women into the Eucharist and implications for Christian ecumenism, resulting in the publication of the report
“One Bread One Body”
Convened by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee
1 file
D7/D2/7 23 October 2003 - 19 November 2012
Papers relating to the role of the National Board of Catholic Women in the Women's Interfaith Media Library Project, a campaign to promote a more positive image of women in the media
File 1: 23 October 2003 - 3 November 2005
File 2: 25 January 2006 - 5 November 2008
File 3: 1 May 2009 - 19 November 2012
3 files
D7/D2/8/1-7 1982/83 - 2 November 2010
Papers, mostly reports and published articles, on various subjects, probably collected by the National Board of Catholic Women for campaigns
10 files
D7/D2/8/1 1982/83 - 23 April 1994
Married men in the priesthood
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/2 20 June 2005 - 2 November 2010
Prostitution
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/3 20 June 1995 - October 2008
Sex tourism and child exploitation
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/4 10 September 1992 - 17 August 2000
Child sexual abuse
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/5 6 October 1988 - 30 July 2002
Teenage pregnancy
1 file
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/6 28 September 1990 - 6 June 2000
Women and priests in non-celibate relationships
File 1: 28 September 1990 - 1 December 1993
File 2: 17 January 1994 - 14 December 1996
File 3: 11 January 1997 - 6 June 2000
Miscellaneous undated papers: [1990 x 2000]
4 files
CLOSED FOR 80 YEARS IN LINE WITH THE UK DATA PROTECTION ACT (2018)
D7/D2/8/7 17 March 2003 - 23 June 2004
Catholic women and the European Union
1 file
Conferences and EventsD7/E1-3 March 1986 - 19 June 2013
Conference papers, including correspondence, programmes, transcripts of papers, and reports:
2 files
D7/E1/1 March 1986 - July 2009
Papers of National Board of Catholic Women conferences
1 file
D7/E1/2 June 1989 - 19 June 2013
Conference/workshop papers from other organisations, including the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Action Homeless Concern, and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
1 file
D7/E1/3 [1980 x 2010]
Photographs of NBCW and other organisations' conferences, mostly unidentified
2 envelopes
D7/E2/1-3 1977 - 2009
Papers of study days and other events, including correspondence, programmes, and handouts:
2 files
D7/E2/1 1977 - 2008
Papers of National Board of Catholic Women annual study days
1 file
D7/E2/2 2004
Papers relating to the Greater Manchester Churches Together Walk of Discovery showcasing the role of women in Manchester's community and church life
1 file
D7/E2/3 June 2009
Papers relating to the National Board of Women
“70 Years of Action” event, celebrating 70 years of the organisations
1 file
PublicityD7/F1 10 October 1987 - 10 December 2007
Cuttings from a variety of national and Catholic newspapers concerning the work of the National Board of Women and other issues affecting women more generally:
File 1: 10 October 1987 - October 1989
File 2: 11 February 1990 - 15 November 1992
File 3: 17 January 1993 - 27 April 1994
File 4: 15 January - 17 November 1995
File 5: 17 January - 8 December 1996
File 6: 31 January - 27 December 1997
File 7: January - 29 December 1998
File 8: 2 January - 21 November 1999
File 9: 24 January - 29 December 2000
File 10: 5 January 2001 - 10 December 2007
Undated paper: [1987 x 2007]
11 files
D7/F2 25 October 1988 - May 2012
Papers relating to the management of publicity, including correspondence, draft leaflets and publications, and minutes of media meetings
1 file
D7/F3 27 October 1988 - 12 May 2006
Official responses and open letters to government officials and religious leaders protesting on various issues affecting women, including human embryology; export of land mines; Third World debt; child protection; stem cell research; sexual
reproductive rights; conflict resolution; cluster bombs; teenage pregnancy; the misuse of the Abortion Act, the proposed Orde Missae; tuition fees for female students; sex trafficking; and prostitution
3 files
D7/F4 October 1989 - 2005
National Board of Catholic Women press releases on women's issues (for subjects see above)
1 file
D7/F5 30 June 1990 - 24 March 2005
Draft letters sent to national and Catholic newspapers on women's issues (for subjects see above)
1 file
D7/F6 [1990 x 2009]
National Board of Catholic Women publicity leaflets
1 file
PublicationsD7/G1 1990 - 24 June 2002
Papers relating to the production of
Catholic Women, the newspaper of the National Board of Catholic Women, including correspondence, draft articles and photographs
2 files
D7/G2 1992 - 2003
Catholic Women
For a more detailed catalogue entry, search for “National Board of Catholic Women Archive” in the Durham University Library catalogue
25 issues
D7/G3 January 2003 - July 2009
Papers relating to the production of
Catholic Omnibus, the newspaper of the National Board of Catholic Women, including correspondence and draft articles
This was the successor to
Catholic Women
1 file
D7/G4 2003 - 2008
Catholic Omnibus
For a more detailed catalogue entry, search for “National Board of Catholic Women Archive” in the Durham University Library catalogue
24 issues
D7/G5 1991 - 2003
Printed publications by the National Board of Catholic Women
For a more detailed catalogue entry, search for “National Board of Catholic Women Archive” in the Durham University Library catalogue
5 publications
D7/G6 1980 - 2006
Printed publications by other organisations
For a more detailed catalogue entry, search for “National Board of Catholic Women Archive” in the Durham University Library catalogue
36 publications
