Mollie Lukis OBE

Mollie Lukis graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1933 and commenced a career in mathematics. A change of direction came in 1944, when Mollie was appointed to oversee the creation of the government archives collection, pioneering the creation of the State Archives. Mollie remained State Archivist until her retirement. A passionate and proactive collector of material for the Battye Library of West Australian History, Mollie inaugurated a travelling oral history collection program in 1961 that was the first and largest for any Australian state. She is particularly remembered for her work on behalf of country districts, including copying important Battye materials to be held as part of local archival collections in regional public libraries.

Mollie was generous with her support for, and input to, a number of community organisations, mainly in the fields of Western Australian history and the promotion of education and opportunities for women. A passionate advocate of women's rights, Mollie served actively on the WA Committee for Equal Opportunity during 1975-1983. Mollie was a founding member of the WA Branch of the National Trust of Australia, and strong supporter of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, which later named her a Fellow.

Mollie was a founding member of the inaugural Library Board of Western Australia, serving from 1952-55 and again in 1974-77. She was also a member of the Library Association of Australia and in 1963 was awarded a Fellowship of that organisation in recognition of her invaluable work as an archivist. Mollie was made a Fellow of the Library Board in 1989.