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Finding Aid

Culhane, Claire

Claire Culhane fonds. -- 1956-1976. -- 6.2 m of textual records and graphic material.

Claire Culhane (née Eglin) was born on 2 September 1918 into a Russian-Jewish immigrant family in Montreal. She later married Gerry Culhane, a member of the Communist Party and trade-union activist but the marriage did not last. In 1967-1968 Culhane worked as an advisor and hospital administrator with the Canadian Anti-Tuberculosis Hospital in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Upon her return to Canada, she became very involved in peace activism. In 1976 she was appointed a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for British Columbia Penitentiaries. An author, one of her books was titled Why Is Canada in Vietnam? She died on 28 April 1996 in Vancouver. Biographical sketches, prepared by Vintage Bookshop in 1970, and by David Morrow at McMaster are available in hard copy.

Fonds consists of correspondence, photographs, manuscripts of a book and articles, personal documents, news clippings and other printed materials.

Title based on the content of the fonds.
The first accrual was purchased from the Vintage Bookshop, Vancouver, in May 1971. Beginning in April 1973 Culhane sent many separate accruals. They arrived every few months until May 1977. At that time a decision was made to stop receiving the accruals because of Culhane's shift to penal reform as her main interest. Some materials pertaining to penal reform already received by McMaster University were sent to the University of British Columbia.

Finding aid available in hard copy and electronically. There are also three drawers of name and subject index cards.
There are no access restrictions.
No further accruals are expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: January 25, 2007
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