We present redshifts and stellar velocity dispersions for about 40 galaxies in each of 14 rich clusters from the southern cluster survey of Abell & Corwin (1983, Early Evolution of the Universe and Its Present Structure, p.179, Eds. Abell & Chincarini, Reidel, Dordrecht, Holland). The clusters cover a wide range of richnesses and Abell and Bautz-Morgan types, our aim being to compile a large, homogeneous database for examining and comparing dynamical phenomena and morphological properties. Further papers will present photometry for the clusters and an analysis of the database.