The sub-series comprises records of the emergencey shelter for women founded by June Callwood in 1974, including files of the Board of Directors, minutes of meetings, reports of the Housing Issues Committee, housing research, various draft proposals for a resource centre, and a log book for June-October 1974. These records reveal the challenges of founding and funding a shelter for battered women and the day to day operations of the shelter in support of these victims. A large file of research by journalist Elaine Dewar on Nellie's holds tax records, financial statements, agreements with the Ministry of Community and Social Services, letters patent for Women's Hostels Incorporated, and records of its business registration. There are also records relating to Havelock House, the Constance Hamilton co-op, and other related organizations. Callwood's organization of the April 1992 fundraising variety show, "On Stage for Nellie's", produced records which reveal the arrangements, stage programme, performers, direction by Martha Henry, and work of soliciting patrons and funding. The files hold correspondence with Martha Henry, Lincoln Alexander, Pierre Berton, Margaret Atwood, Avie Bennett, Bill Whitehead, Barbara Hall, Arlene Perley Rae, Pauline McGibbon, Joan Chalmers, Lorna Marsden, Nancy Ruth, Rosemary Brown, and Brian Mulroney. In addition, there are eight still photographs from Teri Chilmar's 1981 documentary film about Nellie's (1991-352 DAP).
The "Nellie's Shit" and "More Racist Mess" files reveal Callwood's experience of having allegations of racism levelled against her by Nellie's women of colour caucus in 1991. The backlash against her, at the time when she was organizing the "On Stage for Nellie's" benefit, forced her resignation from Nellie's Board of Directors in May 1992, and ultimately from the Writer's Union of Canada in December 1993. The controversy also produced many endorsements of her character and actions by leading Canadian cultural figures and expressions of public support against the perceived excess of political correctness. Her files hold official records of Nellie's documenting the allegations, such as formal statements by the women of colour caucus; clippings from newspapers and magazines showing media coverage and public reaction to the controversy and her resignation; and correspondence mainly showing support.
She received dozens of letters of support from friends and supporters but the effects of the campaign against her are visible in newspaper columns about racism and the cancellation of speaking engagements. The Nellie's controversy spilled over into the pages of the Writers' Union of Canada's newsletter after she gave the 1993 Margaret Laurence Memorial Lecture. The files document her resignation from the writer's union, its support for the "Writing thru Race" conference in 1994, and its awarding of an honorary life membership to her in May 1994. Her correspondents, primarily writing in support of her, include Al Purdy, Arlene Perley Rae, Margaret Norrie McCain, Sonja Dunn, Marni Jackson, Janet Lunn, Sally Armstrong, Barbara Wade Rose, Moira Farr, Mendelson Joe, Sylvia Gelber, Lyle Slack, Dorris Heffron, Anna Cameron, Margaret Collier, Pauline McGibbon, Sylvia Fraser, Myrna Kostash, Barbara McDougall, Peter C. Newman, Betty Jane Wylie, Greg Gatenby, Claire Mowat, Moira Simpson, Dr. David Mibashan, Robin Mathews, Timothy Findley, Andreas Schroeder, Sharon Brown, Penny Dickens, Matt Cohen, Gregory Cook, Carol Shields, John Honderich, Judy Steed, Peter Bronfman, and Margaret Gibson.
