Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson (MR)’s work as senator and legislator, is further subdivided into 16 sections and includes reports, correspondence, cuttings, flyers, minutes and agendas. Material relating to her work in Ireland includes that relating to the Labour party of which she was a member from 1976 to 1985 (P143/2/1); material covering Robinson’s work as a senator from 1969-1989 including in relation to various elections, and as a member of the Irish Parliamentary Joint Committee on European Communities Secondary Legislation 1977-1989 (P143/2/2); material relating to Northern Ireland, excluding the period covering Robinson’s term as President of Ireland (P143/2/3); reports from the Constitution Review Group, 1990s (P143/2/4); material relating to the Council of State 2004-2013, of which Robinson was a member (P143/2/5); and to the Irish Sub-committee on Women's participation in Politics (P143/2/16).

Material relating to her work at a European and International level includes material relating to the Trilateral Commission 1973-1980, of which Robinson was a member (P143/2/6) [the Trilateral commission was founded in 1973 by private citizens of Western Europe, Japan and North America to foster closer cooperation among these three regions on common problems]; reports and other research material relating to Europe Plus 30 (P143/2/7), the TEPSA [Trans European Policy Studies Association] project (P143/2/8), the European Parliament (P143/2/9), FAST [Forecasting and Assessment in Science and Technology] (P143/2/10). Material covering MR's work in relation to Ireland and its place in Europe include Ireland and the European Internal Market (P143/2/11), The Single European Act (P143/2/12), ICEM [Irish Council of the European Movement] (P143/2/13) and to TASC and The Democracy Commission for which Robinson acted as International counsellor (P143/2/14).

For material relating to MR's term in office as President of Ireland (1990-1997) please see P143/4.

Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson’s work with the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ) which she founded in 2010 after returning r to Ireland. A centre for education and advocacy on sustainable and people-centred development in the world’s poorest communities, it was based out of Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and came to a planned end in April 2019.

Material in this series is further divided into ten subseries covering minutes (P143/8/1); articles, reports and background information (P143/8/2); briefing packs and biographies relating to specific visits and/or events (P143/8/3); correspondence (P143/8/4); administration, staff issues, internal correspondence (P143/8/5); press, including statements, cuttings and photographs (P143/8/6); addresses and speeches (P143/8/7); funding (P143/8/8); Troika+ [Women Leaders on Gender and Climate Change] (P143/8/9) and ephemera (P143/8/10).

[Archivist’s Note 1: some material in this series has been closed due to the sensitive nature of the contents, and/or in adherence to GDPR regulations.

Archivist’s Note 2: some material overlaps with Robinson’s work with the United Nations as Special Envoy (P143/5/5-7)), with Realizing Rights – The Ethical Globalisation Initiative (P143/6), with The Elders (P143/7) and with her work as patron to several organisations (P143/9)].

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Material in this series relates to the numerous awards, degrees and honorary degrees received by Mary Robinson throughout her career, is further divided into six subseries and one file, and consists of certificates, correspondence, awards and medals, photographs, cuttings, ceremonial gowns and programmes. It relates to degrees and honorary degrees (P143/10/1); awards given (P143/10/2); medals given (P143/10/3), material relating to the Prince Asturias Prize (P143/10/4); material relating to Club de Rhodes [Women of Europe - Robinson was the Irish Laureate for Women of Europe Award in 1988 ] (P143/10/5) and academic wardrobe (P143/10/6). The final file consists of lists of awards (P143/10/7).

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Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson’s work at or in collaboration with academic institutions, is further subdivided into 21 subsections and includes correspondence, reports, course material, speeches and addresses, minutes, itineraries, commencement programmes, flyers and posters.

Material in the first subseries (P143/3/1) covers Robinson’s time in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) including that relating to her roles as Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law, 1969-1975, Lecturer in European Community Law, 1975-1990 and Chancellor, 1998-2019. Material in the subsequent ten subseries relates to Robinson’s work as visiting lecturer, or board member with other universities, including University of San Francisco, 1982 (P143/3/2); European University Institute, Florence 1985-1990 (P143/3/3); Royal Irish Academy, 1981-2008 (P143/3/4); Yale University, 1995-2009 (P143/3/5); Harvard University, 1998-2018 (P143/3/6); University of Pennsylvania, 2001-2006 (P143/3/7); Asian University for Women, 2001-2007 (P143/3/8); London School of Economics, 2002-2014 (P143/3/9); Brown University, 2003-2006 (P143/3/10); Emory University, 2003-2009 (P143/3/11); Columbia University, 2003-2011 (P143/3/12); University of Pretoria, 2004-2009 (P143/3/13); KAUST [King Abdullah University of Science and Technology], 2008-2010 (P143/3/14); University of California - Berkeley's School of Public Health, 2009-2013 (P143/3/15) and BRAC University Bangladesh, 2009-2011 (P143/3/16).

Material in the remaining subseries (P143/3/17-22) relates to talks and speeches given by Robinson on the University Circuit; commencement events; correspondence and posters respectively.

This series consists of Mary Robinson’s personal diaries from 1967-2013 (P143/16/1) and daily schedules and engagements from 1998-2013 (P143/16/2).

[Archivist’s Note: Robinson’s term as President of Ireland is not covered by the diaries present in the first subseries.]

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Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson’s various roles as part of the United Nations (UN), is further divided into 9 subseries, is arranged chronologically per subseries and includes reports, briefing packages, correspondence, cuttings, flyers, minutes and agendas.

Material in the first subseries (P143/5/1) relates to Robinson’s term as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, September 1997-September 2002, excluding her time as Secretary General of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, 2000, which is covered in P143/5/2. The third subseries (P143/5/3) relates to the UN Global Compact [a joint initiative of global leaders from the world of business, labour and civil society, under leadership of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The initiative, in support of universal values and responsible business operations, was first proposed at World Economic Forum Davos 1999]. Material in P143/5/4 relates to CSAG [Civil Society Advisory Group to the United Nations on Women, Peace and Security], 2010-2011. Material in the three subseries which follow relate to Robinson’s various roles as UN Special Envoy: (1) for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, 03/2013-07/2014 (P143/5/5); (2) on Climate Change, 08/2014-2015 (P143/5/6) and (3) on El Niño and Climate, 2016 (P143/5/7). Material in the final two subseries respectively relate to Ireland and the UN Security Council (P143/5/8) and general ephemera (P143/5/9).

[Archivist’s Note: some material in this series has been closed due to the sensitive nature of the contents, and/or in adherence to GDPR regulations]

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Material in this series relates to Realizing Rights – The Ethical Globalisation Initiative (RR) which was founded by Mary Robinson in October 2002 shortly after her departure from the United Nations, in partnership with the Aspen Institute, Columbia University and the International Council on Human Rights Policy. Robinson’s position within the organisation was that of President. Their stated mission was to put Human Rights standards at the heart of global governance and policy making and to ensure that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable were addressed on global stage. The organisation focussed on three areas in particular: imbalances in global trade and development policies; global inequities in health with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS in Africa and barriers to more humane international migration. The initiative was wound down in 2010.

The series is further divided into 27 subseries. The first nine subseries relate to the organisation itself and its administration and include minutes (P143/6/1); articles, reports and background information (P143/6/2); briefing packs and biographies relating to specific visits and/or events (P143/6/3); correspondence (P143/6/4); administration, staff issues, internal correspondence (P143/6/5); press, including statements and photographs (P143/6/6); legal documents (P143/6/7); daily schedules (P143/6/8), and material which had initially been stored in file-boxes, and which have been kept together as per the pre-existing arrangement (P143/6/9).

Material in P143/6/10 relates to the relationship between RR and the Earth Institute, Columbia University where RR was based. P143/6/11-13 consists of material which was already in a pre-existing arrangement and relates to Migration, Penal Reform and the EUIC respectively [European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation].

Several of the subsequent subseries relate to sources of funding for RR (P143/6/14) and various foundations including the Ford Foundation (P143/6/15); Atlantic Philanthropies (P143/6/16); and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (P143/6/19). Other organisations covered in this series include Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights (BLIHR) 2002-2010, of which Robinson was Chair (P143/6/17); the World Bank (P143/6/18); Al Gore Generation Investment 2004-2010 (P143/6/20); World Trade Organisation 2005-2006 (P143/6/21); MLI [Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health] 2007-2011 (P143/6/22); Clinton Global Initiative 2005-2014 (P143/6/23); ICCA [International Center for Corporate Accountability] 2003-2004 (P143/6/24); ICHRP [International Council of Human Rights Policy (one of the three partners involved in RR)], 2010-2011 (P143/6/25); and General Investment Management, of which Robinson was an advisory board member (P143/6/26). The final subseries consists of RR ephemera.

[Archivist’s Note 1: some material in this series has been closed due to the sensitive nature of the contents, and/or in adherence to GDPR regulations.

Archivist’s Note 2: some material overlaps with Robinson’s work with the Elders, (P143/7) and her work as patron to several organisations (P143/9)].

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Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson’s work with The Elders from 2007 to 2018. In 2007 she was invited by Nelson Mandela to become a founding member of The Elders, the formation of which was announced on Mandela’s 89th birthday in Johannesburg, 18 July 2007. Envisaged as a group of independent global leaders working together for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet, it was the brainchild of Peter Gabriel and Richard Branson. The Elders programmes are encompassed by three overarching themes: Governance and Leadership; Conflict, its Causes and Consequences; and Inequality, Exclusion and Injustice. On 1 November 2018, Robinson was appointed Chair of The Elders, succeeding Kofi Annan who had died earlier that year and who had in turn succeeded Archbishop Desmond Tutu as chair.

Material in this series is further divided into seven subseries covering minutes (P143/7/1); articles, reports and background information (P143/7/2); briefing packs and biographies relating to specific visits and/or events (P143/7/3); correspondence (P143/7/4); administration, staff issues, internal correspondence (P143/7/5); press, including statements and photographs (P143/7/6) and ephemera (P143/7/7).

[Archivist’s Note 1: some material in this series has been closed due to the sensitive nature of the contents, and/or in adherence to GDPR regulations.

Archivist’s Note 2: some material overlaps with Robinson’s work with the United Nations (P143/5), with Realizing Rights – The Ethical Globalisation Initiative (P143/6), with the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (P143/8) and with her work as patron to several organisations (P143/9)].

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Material in this series relates to Mary Robinson’s work as honorary president, patron, chair, board member or ordinary member of numerous organisations and charities, and includes minutes, reports, correspondence, briefing material, programmes, photographs, cuttings and ephemera.

The series is further subdivided by organisation into 39 subseries which are arranged in chronological order where possible and appropriate. Material includes that relating to Cherish [the Irish Association of single parents], 1972-1990, for which Robinson was president (P143/9/1); Council of Women World Leaders for which Robinson was chair) (P143/9/2 ); Club de Madrid (P143/9/3); Oxfam International, 2002-2012, for which Robinson was honorary president (P143/9/4); Commission on Democracy in Ireland for which Robinson was International Counsellor (P143/9/5); Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2006-2018, for which Robinson was a board member (P143/9/6); Arab Democracy Foundation, for which Robinson was a founding member of the board of trustees (P143/9/7); The B Team, for which Robinson was member and later ambassador (P143/9/8); Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, for which Robinson was on the selection committee (P143/9/9); Institute of Human Rights and Businesses for which Robinson was patron of the board (P143/9/10); World Justice Project for which Robinson was honorary co-chairperson (P143/9/11); European Climate Foundation, for which Robinson was an advisory board member (P143/9/12); Concern, 2003-11 (P143/9/13); European Former Leaders Group / European Experts Group 2011 (P143/9/14); GAVI Alliance, 2003-2015 [founded in 2000 as successor to Children's Vaccine Initiative, and originally known as Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation], for which Robinson was chair in 2007, 2008 (P143/9/15); World Economic Forum (P143/9/16); Red Ribbon on Aids, 2006, for which Robinson was a member of the Jury (P143/9/17); Irish Chamber Orchestra, for which Robinson was chair from 2003-2008 (P143/9/18); American Philosophical Society, 2001-2011, for which Robinson was a member (P143/9/19); Global Health Foundation, for which Robinson was [on board of Trustees?] (P143/9/20); British Irish Association, for which Robinson was a [member?] (P143/9/21); Centre for Sport and Human Rights, for which Robinson was a founding chair (P143/9/22); Brookings Blum Roundtable (P143/9/23); Global Public Policy Institute, for which Robinson was on the advisory board (P143/9/24); Silatech, for which Robinson is a member of the founding board (P143/9/25); Children’s World Blood Bank, for which Robinson was co-president, 2002-3 (P143/9/26); Fundacao Champalimaud [Champalimaud Foundation], 2011, for which Robinson was board member and honorary chair (P143/9/27); Fund for Global Human Rights, 2011 for which Robinson was board member and honorary chair (P143/9/28); Generation Investment Management, 2012 for which Robinson was advisory board member (P143/9/29); FoGrameen [Friends of Grameen, a campaign set up by Robinson in support of Grameen Bank and its founder Bangladeshi Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus, who was alleged victim of politically motivated attacks] (P143/9/30); Mastercard Foundation, for which Robinson was board member (P143/9/31); Anna-Maria Hellenic Foundation, for which Robinson was board member (P143/9/32); Transparency International, for which Robinson was member of advisory council (P143/9/33); Eisenhower fellowships, for which Robinson was on board of trustees (P143/9/34); One Young World [Counsellor? Patron?] (P143/9/35); Wyeth [Stockholder?] (P143/9/36) and International Community of Women living with HIV/AID (ICW), for which Robinson was a patron (P143/9/37). The final two subseries consist of a small amount of material relating to several other organisations (P143/9/38) and a general list of the organisations and Robinson’s role with them (P143/9/39).

[Archivist’s Note 1: some material in this series has been closed due to the sensitive nature of the contents, and/or in adherence to GDPR regulations.

Archivist’s Note 2: some material overlaps with Robinson’s work with the United Nations as Special Envoy (P143/5/5-7)), with Realizing Rights – The Ethical Globalisation Initiative (P143/6), with The Elders (P143/7) and with the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (P143/8)].

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Material in this series relates to publications written about and/or by Mary Robinson, is further divided into 7 subseries and includes drafts, correspondence, cuttings and programmes.

P143/11/1 consists of material relating to “Mary Robinson: The Authorised Biography”, by Olivia O’Leary and Helen Bourke, 1998. Material relating to Robinson’s own memoir, “Everybody Matters – My Life Giving Voice”, 2013, co-written with her daughter Tessa, can be found in P143/11/2. Material in P143/11/3 relates to “A Voice for Human Rights”, 2010, a collection of public addresses given by Robinson from 1997-2002, edited by Human Rights activist Kevin Boyle. Boyle worked very closely with Robinson during her time as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, working as a special advisor and speech writer.

The fourth subseries, P143/11/4, consists of material relating to Robinson’s many contributions to and endorsements of publications by others, in particular in the field of Human Rights. The final three subseries consist of correspondence (P143/11/5); articles and op-eds written by or about Robinson (P143/11/6) and correspondence relating to books gifted to Robinson over the course of her career (P143/11/7).

[Archivist’s note: Kevin Boyle’s archive, A44, is also held at the University of Galway]

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