Barbara Curthoys was born in Grafton, New South Wales, on 21 June 1924 to John Archibald and Eda McCallum (nee Lockwood).

In 1953 she became a full-time Communist Party of Australia Activist.

Curthoys joined the Newcastle Branch of the Union of Australian Women in 1954 and was secretary of the Branch between 1954-1960. Curthoys was elected to the organisation’s national body in 1960, 1963 and 1970. In the 1960s, she also served as secretary of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council Equal Pay and Aboriginal Advancement committees. She was also a founding member of the Newcastle Peace Forum.