Community worker, socialist, feminist, peace activist, social reformer, teacher. Left activist and teacher. Born in England, she came to New Zealand in 1924 and worked for the YWCA. After marrying Eric Cook, she joined the Unemployed Workers Movement in 1934 and Communist Party. Returned to England and worked as journalist on left-wing publications. Came back to New Zealand in 1948 as a teacher, and left to teach at University of Hanoi in 1960. Retired to NZ in 1968, where she became involved in numerous causes. See DNZB (Vol 4, 1921-1940, p106-107, C30)
Cook, Freda Mary, 1896-1990
Interview with Cath Kelly about Freda Cook
Date: 11 Jun 1998
By: Kelly, Catherine Vera, 1926-2017
Reference: OHColl-0653/1
Description: Interviews Cath Kelly about peace activist Freda Cook Interviewer(s) - Jenny Skinner Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available Agreement form only filed at OHA 4708.
Papers relating to Freda Cook
Date: 1963-1996
From: Bailey, Rona, 1914-2005 : Papers and recordings
Reference: 2006-041-076
Description: Includes essays on Cook for Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and for Book of New Zealand Women and some related correspondence; order of service for her funeral,1990. Also copies of `Stories of the Vietnamese resistance' by Freda Cook, Christchurch, 1963 and `Freda Cook, a tribute, letters from Vietnam, 1961-1968' Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Cook, Eric Kingsley, d. 1948 :[Portrait of bearded man reading. 1947?]
Date: 1947
By: Cook, Eric Kingsley, 1906-1948; Cook, Freda Mary, 1896-1990
Reference: A-303-007
Description: Shows a bearded man seated casually sideways on a green armchair reading a book or sheet of paper, with a pencil in his hand. There is a radio on a small table at the right. Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - EC; Mount recto - bottom right - Eric K Cook / 1947, 7A Fitzroy Square, / London W.1. Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, on brown paper stuck to card, 248 x 328 mm. Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - 82-333. - Transferred from Freda Cook papers in Manuscripts and Archives..
Dann, Christine, fl 1970s : Papers relating to Freda Cook
Date: 1978
By: Dann, Christine Rose, 1952-
Reference: MS-Papers-10463
Description: Comprises letters, questionnaire, newspaper articles, Broadsheet No. 24, `The Vietnamese as I knew them, 1960-1968', by Freda Cook. Quantity: 3 folder(s). 0.03 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs, typescripts, printed matter (photocopies) Processing information: Not yet listed
Cook, Freda, 1896-1990 : Papers
Date: [ca 1956-1971]
By: Cook, Freda Mary, 1896-1990
Reference: MS-Papers-4414
Description: The collection contains two of Freda Cook's notebooks which include notes about education, linguistics and also notes on the people, history, politics of India, Vietnam and Tibet together with three handwritten, illustrated (story?) books dated 1956 and 1957. On the back of one is written `Nic's mother Eli makes these books for him from the prison'. Also included are a number of printed pamphlets and books, including two by Noam Chomsky, a pamphlet on fascism in Greece, and postcards of New Delhi. Source of title - Supplied title Freda Cook lived and taught in Vietnam in the 1960s. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss and printed material
Jenny Skinner - Freda Cook (research essay)
Date: 1998
From: Bailey, Rona, 1914-2005 : Papers and recordings
Reference: 2006-041-074
Description: `Freda Cook: A dissenting voice in a conformist society', History 489 Research Essay, Victoria University of Wellington, 1998. Accompanied by a covering letter and cassettee tape containing interview of Bailey by Skinner (transferred to Oral History Archive) Quantity: 1 box(es).
Obituaries
Date: 1994-1999
From: Locke, Elsie Violet, 1912-2001 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-7202-257
Description: Obituaries and newspaper tributes to recently deceased notable New Zealanders Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Typescripts and printed matter
Ephemera
Date: [1960-1982]
From: Slingsby, Harold, fl 1941-1991 : Papers relating to peace activities
Reference: MS-Papers-5554-10
Description: Comprises flyer for `Advance' and NZ Peace Council membership; AGM notice for Wgtn branch, NZ Peace Council, notice for meeting at which Slingsby was speaking, Radio the Voice of Vietnam Christmas greeting (1982), flyer for `Freda Cook, a tribute', notice for a Freda Cook meeting of NZ Peace Council (Wgtn Branch), and letterheads for NZ Peace Council (Wgtn Branch) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Loney, Alan :Photographs by various photographers
Date: 1920s-1990s
By: Thompson, Paul David, 1951-; Black, Peter, 1948-; Wieben, William, 1941-; Loney, Alan Perress, 1940-
Reference: PAColl-6190
Description: Photographs of page layouts. Photographs by Bill Wieber are of patterns, colours, and textures of exterior wall surfaces, urban demolition sites, and buildings. There is a large print of Freda Cook at an anti-Vietnam War demonstration. Two photographs are by Paul Thompson, and one by Peter Black Quantity: 6 b&w original photographic print(s). 12 colour original photographic print(s). Provenance: Purchased from Alan Loney in 1999. Transfers: Tranferred material includes: - - - To Ephemera: "Paging the book". 22 August-28 September 1997 poster (Eph-C-BOOK-ARTS-1997-01); Henry Moore sculpture exhibition catalogue 1956/57 (Eph-A-SCULPTURE-1956-01); A bill to guarantee a loan for the service of New Zealand. 23 July 1857 (Eph-B-ECONOMY-1857-01) - - To Photo Archive: 2 photos by Paul Thompson and 1 by Peter Black; Photos taken by Bill Wieben (Wellington) ca 1991 at the request of Alan Loney; 6 unidentified photos. - - - To Special Printed Collections - see list compiled by Robert Petre and documented elsewhere on Library system. - - To MSS: Transcript of letter from Denis Glover to Eric Gill, 6 April 1938; Typed letter on handmade paper from Adrienne Rewi to Alan Loney, 15 February 1989; Note from Michael Harlow to Alan Loney on the back of a narrow strip of marbled paper..
Cook, Freda, 1896-1990 :Photographs
Date: ca 1914-1997
By: Cook, Freda Mary, 1896-1990; Kelly, Catherine Vera, 1926-2017
Reference: PAColl-7773
Description: Photographs relating to Freda Cook, including portraits of Freda Cook taken ca 1914-1990, and photographs of her friends and students. Arrangement: Negatives at 35mm-45668 and 1/4-108248-F Quantity: 8 colour original photographic print(s). 19 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 b&w original negative(s). Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - Reference MS-Group-1204, Cook, Freda, 1896-1990 : Papers (A2003-246) - Transfer from Manuscripts and Archives.
Richards' visit to the United Nations
Date: 1977
From: Richards, Trevor, 1946- : Papers
Reference: 99-278-25/06
Description: Personal file of letters from friends and activists in New Zealand to Richards while visiting the UN in New York; includes some letters and notes from Richards. Identified persons entered under Name but many signed off with Christian names and Richards' wrote to them using their Christian names. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Papers on women in the book
From: Bridget Williams Books : Papers relating to Book of New Zealand Women/Ko Kui Ma Te Kaupapa
Reference: 92-130-02
Description: Contains research notes, correspondence with contributors and other information relating to the entries for each women who appeared in the book. Quantity: 1 box(es).
Biographical notes
Date: [ca 1955-1993]
From: Locke, Elsie Violet, 1912-2001 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-7202-406
Description: Research notes on various New Zealanders, prominent in areas of interest to Locke. Includes Freda Cook, Henry Monson, Stan Hemsley, Bette Johnson, Bill Sykes, Nat Gould, Dr Odd Base, Murray Shaw, Elizabeth McGowan, James Andrews and Abner Clough Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter
Correspondence
Date: 1969-1972
From: Milner, Ian Frank George, 1911-1991 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-4567-007
Description: Identified persons entered under Name. Also includes letter from Sybil (husband, Derek), of Sussex. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
1981 tour planning conference (b)
Date: 1979
From: Richards, Trevor, 1946- : Papers
Reference: 99-278-35/2
Description: Inward and outward correspondence relating to planning protest against the 1981 tour; includes clippings, completed enrolment forms, press releases and related material. Also includes minutes kept for the conference (15-16 Sep) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Notes - Collins-Cranston
From: Roth, Herbert Otto, 1917-1994: Collected papers, personal papers, photographs and ephemera
Reference: MS-Papers-6164-016
Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Demonstration at the RNZAF airbase at Woodbourne, 1971
Date: 1971
From: Westra, Ans, 1936-2023: Photographs
Reference: AW-0228
Description: All frames show protesters at a demonstration at the RNZAF Airbase at Woodbourne. Frames 7 to 9 show a young man with leaflets advertising the Socialist Action group. A policeman is visible in frame 5. Frames 9 to 11 show Freda Cook, with a camera, and wearing a placard which reads "New Zealand for New Zealanders. Vietnam for the Vietnamese". Unless otherwise stated, all persons are unidentified. Photographs taken by Ans Westra. Source of descriptive information - Notes written by Westra, accompanying the corresponding proof sheet Quantity: 4 b&w original negative(s) 120 strips containing 12 images. Physical Description: Cellulose acetate roll film
Miscellaneous international file
Date: 1973
From: Richards, Trevor, 1946- : Papers
Reference: 99-278-09/01
Description: Correspondence, circulars, reports and other papers relating to relations with anti-apartheid groups outside New Zealand; includes Anti-apartheid Movement's, `Report on activities and developments, A/R Oct 1972-Sep 1973', and correspondence with embassies Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Inward correspondence - Cook, Freda
Date: 1956-1966
From: Alley, Rewi, 1897-1987: Papers and photographs
Reference: MS-Papers-6533-051
Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Outward correspondence - Cook, Freda
Date: 1957-1962
From: Alley, Rewi, 1897-1987: Papers and photographs
Reference: MS-Papers-6533-060
Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).