Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s interest in and research about global population trends in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. This sub-series is mostly comprised of published grey literature on topics related to population, including population statistics, population policy, laws, education, and world fertility surveys.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s volunteerism as part of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada, where she was vice president between 1975–77, and also served on the board. In 1975, Bishop represented the PPFC at the United Nations International Women’s Year Tribune in Mexico.

Records in this sub-series include documentation of Bishop’s participation in several international conferences (such as itineraries, photographs, notes, and reports); newspaper clippings; committee documents; correspondence; reports; financial records and statements; and draft marketing and communication of the PPFC.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s writing (published and unpublished) on family planning and birth control, particularly on its history in Canada. Bishop’s writing projects which are documented in this sub-series include: “The Politics of Abortion: Trends in Canadian Fertility by Larry Collins, Revisited” (Atlantis, 1982); “The Early Birth Controllers of BC” (BC Studies, 1984); “Vivian Dowding: Birth Control Activist 1892-“ (Not Just Pin Money, 1984); a contribution to the first Canadian Encyclopedia on the history of birth control in Canada; and an article on the Roman Catholic Church and the birth control movement.

Records contained within this sub-series include draft manuscripts; research notes; correspondence with publishers; and published editions of these various writing projects.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s involvement with the International Planned Parenthood Foundation. Bishop was appointed to a Laws and Policy Panel by the Western Hemisphere Board of the International Planned Parenthood, and served as a representative in at least five international conferences between 1976–1984.

Records in this sub-series include reports, policy documents, and other grey literature on family planning topics; newsletters; draft writing and speeches; correspondence; and newspaper clippings.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s interest in and writing about the topic of abortion, both historical and contemporary. The sub-series mostly comprises Bishop’s accumulation of newspaper articles reflecting perspectives on abortion access covered in news media from the 1960s to the 1980s. It also reflects Bishop’s research and published writing on the subject of abortion; perspectives within the Roman Catholic Church for and against abortion; abortion statistics in Canada; and medical information on abortion.

Records include newspaper clippings and magazine articles; reports on the subject of abortion; communication on abortion by pro-life movements (e.g., pamphlets, newsletters, articles); draft articles authored by Bishop on abortion; as well as some briefings, memorandums, press releases, and correspondence between Canada members of parliament.

Sub-series reflects a set of interviews conducted by Mary Bishop in the late 1970s relating to her long-term project of documenting the history of the birth control movement in Canada between 1920 and 1980. Bishop interviewed several individuals with lived experience connected to this history, including physicians; religious leaders; and women and couples who spoke about their experiences seeking reproductive healthcare. The interviews were funded by a grant from the Explorations Programme supplied by the Canada Council.

Records in this sub-series include interview transcripts; typed and handwritten notes; interview releases; accompanying documentation on the history of birth control and dissemination of information about family planning; and one photograph.

Sub-series reflects a set of subject files maintained by Mary Bishop on a wide range of topics related to the social, political, and economic dimensions of family planning, birth control, and population growth. The files cover a broad spectrum of these subjects, including families and family planning (adoption, artificial insemination, birth control methods, sex education); population growth and planning (Zero Population Growth, non-governmental organizations); and social issues (child and spousal abuse, aging, unemployment, poverty). A small number of subject files on other topics is also present.

Records contained within the sub-series are mostly newspaper and clippings, and reproductions of articles; also contained within are government publications, pamphlets; and some correspondence.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s interest in and research about population growth and change, with a particular focus on the Canadian context.

Records contained in this sub-series include published grey literature on topics related to Canadian population, including immigration; population policy; and population statistics and projections.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s volunteer involvement with the Planned Parenthood Association of British Columbia. Bishop was the President of this organization in 1971, 1972, and 1973, and she served on the board between 1966–1970. She also served on various committees with the PPABC.

Records contained in this sub-series include organizational records for the Planned Parenthood Association of British Columbia (such as financial records, minutes, annual reports, constitution and by-laws), as well as newspaper clippings, correspondence, and committee documents.

Sub-series reflects Mary Bishop’s volunteer service and membership within organizations outside of the IPPF, PPFC, and PPABC. These include the University Women’s Club of Vancouver; Alumni UBC, where Mary Bishop served on the Heritage Committee; the Norman Mackenzie Alumni Scholarship selection committee; and various Status of Women action committees at municipal, national, and international levels.