Gender and Women's Studies Program, 1972-
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Women's Studies began at Oberlin College in the early 1970s as an organized effort when the College Faculty, following a recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Status of Women, 1971-1972, developed additional courses relating to Women's Studies within the respective college departments. Since this beginning there have been three developmental phases: early curricular and governance initiatives, 1973-1974; the Women's Studies Committee, 1974-1982; and the Women's Studies Program, 1983 to the present.
During the first phase three faculty wives and a part-time faculty woman taught five Women's Studies courses: Children's Literature, Women and the Arts, A History of the Nineteenth Century American Woman, The Rhetoric of Social Movements and an Advanced Creative Writing Workshop. Oberlin Women's Studies Planning Collective (a subcommittee of the Committee on the Status of Women), the Women's Advisory Council and a Women's Studies Planning Committee all worked throughout 1973-1974 on developing a curriculum and gaining financial support for Women's Studies. Between 1972-1974 these committees worked with an interim Special Consultant in Women's Studies, Ellen Henle (nee Lawson) and two different associate deans, Zara Wilkenfeld and Paula Goldsmid (b.1943), who were responsible for developing an interdisciplinary approach to Women's Studies. The latter served until June of 1981.
In 1974 the Women's Studies Committee became a standing committee of the College Faculty. It was responsible for "coordinating curricular offerings in the area of Women's Studies, including the possibility of drawing up guidelines for a major in Women's Studies." From 1974 until 1976 the committee membership included four representatives from the College faculty; four students; the Associate Dean responsible for women's concerns; and two other individuals interested in Women's Studies. The latter were appointed by the first nine members and approved by the College Faculty. In the spring of 1976 the committee's composition consisted of five faculty women and two men, and seven students.
Outside of the College the Women's Studies Committee was active in chartering the National Women's Studies Association (NWSA); for it sent a representative to the founding convention in January 1977. Oberlin's membership in the Women's Studies of the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) not only fostered the development of the GLCA's program but also it stimulated Oberlin's own Women Studies Program. During 1978-1979 the Committee responded to the Educational Planning and Policy Committee (EPPC) questionnaire on long-term needs and Florence Howe's (b.1929) evaluation. These documents recommended the development of the "Program with Coordinator" model, which solidified the long term development and plans of the Women's Studies Committee.
The committee achieved a major goal when the EPPC passed a resolution in 1982 that made Women's Studies a program. By this time the curriculum included twenty seven "core" courses (not all taught annually) and forty one "related" courses. These cross-listed courses were mostly taught by tenured or tenured track faculty members. The introduction of Women's Studies 100 in 1981-1982 constituted the first program class offering.
From the beginning financing and staffing problems plagued the Women's Studies Program. In early years of Women's Studies funds were gathered from different internal sources to underwrite isolated projects. Later it obtained outright grants, from the college and the National Endowment for the Humanities, to develop a core curriculum. Like the program itself the staffing patterns evolved inadvertently to meet the needs of the program. After ten years of using faculty from other departments or programs a Women's Studies position, for three to five years, was authorized in 1982. Two years later Micaela di Leonardo was hired for a three year term but left after only one year. Again a period of two years elapsed before another person was hired to fill this position (a part-time professor was hired for the interim).
Parallel development occurred in the administration of the program. Over a two year period the position of the coordinator was filled by three people, two hired administrators and one student intern. Included among the duties and responsibilities were researching of information for program development; scheduling and arranging events; coordinating publicity and a program brochure; and special handling routine of administrative duties.
From 1989 to 1993 the Women's Studies Program participated in the National Women's Studies Association (NWSA) Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) project "The Courage to Question: Women's Studies Programs and Student Learning." Under this project the role of Women's Studies programs was evaluated and studied through a series of assessments and surveys focusing on student perceptions.
In March 2003 the program’s name was changed to the Gender and Women’s Studies Program.
Author: Pam Kirwin Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe majority of these records were acquired from the Office of the Women's Studies Program on June 14, 1988. Upon its creation in 1982, that office had inherited files relating to Women's Studies from the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences responsible for women's concerns. Many of those files are now a part of this collection. The Women's Studies Program Office transferred to the Archives minutes and memoranda from the 1987/88 academic year in September 1988.
Additional records were transferred to the Archives on June 23, 1988 by Cynthia Comer, Associate Head of Reference for the Main Library, who had acquired them from the Associate Dean's Office. Of the records in that lot relating to Women's Studies, only those containing signed correspondence were retained. They became Subgroup I, Series 10. Program Development File. The remainder, consisting primarily of brochures, flyers, and catalogs of books and films, were destroyed. In July 1988, Ms. Comer sent to the Archives 56 cassette tapes of Women's Studies Sandwich Seminars.
Materials concerning the Women in Science Career Workshop were discovered in the Science Library by Librarian Alison Riker, who subsequently sent them to Barbara McGill in Serials Cataloging. McGill then transferred those materials to the Archives. Multiple copies and invoices were discarded.
In 1993, additional records were received from Linda Silver. This accession included minutes (1988-92), annual reports (1988-92) and records of the NWSA/FIPSE project "The Courage to Question" 1989-93.
In 2006 the College Archives received an additional installment from the office of Gender and Women’s Studies (Frances Hasso), the program’s name since 2003.
See March/April 1978 issue of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine, "Women's Studies: Valid and Necessary Results of Student Women's Studies Questionnaire." Also Nellie Heldt Lectures (0/00/15); Committee on the Status of Women (33/1); Alumni and Development Records, Former Faculty, Staff, and Trustees (28/3) for Paula Goldsmid, Ellen Lawson, and Zara Wilkenfeld; Lawson and Merrill; Women's History Project records and Associated files (30/157); Judith Larkin Elkin The Great Lakes Colleges Association. Twenty-one Years of Cooperation in Higher Education; and "Current Scholarship in Women's Studies" (16/8).
Other related files can be found in the records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (9); Office of the Provost (4); Records of President Robert Works Fuller (2/10); President Emil C. Danenberg (2/11); and the Papers of Ellen Lawson (30/193); and Paula Goldsmid (30/231)
Records of the Gender and Women's Studies Program (Women’s Studies Program prior to 2003) date from 1972 to 2008 and trace the establishment, organization, development, and administration of first a Women's Studies curriculum, later the Women's Studies Program, and, as of 2003, the Gender and Women’s Studies Program. These records include minutes, correspondence, reports, financial records, and a variety of other materials that document the functions of the Women's Studies Program, such as designing courses, establishing curricular guidelines, program evaluation, advising students, sponsoring lectures, conferences, and seminars, and participating in the women's studies movement at the regional and national level. The records are organized into two subgroups and eighteen series:
Subgroup I. Administrative Files
Series 1. Charter
Series 2. Minutes
Series 3. Correspondence
Series 4. Annual Reports
Series 5. Program Review
Series 6. Financial Records
Series 7. Curriculum and Advising
Series 8. Seminars, Conferences, and Lectures
Series 9. Surveys and Questionnaires
Series 10. Program Development File
Series 11. Historical File
Series 12. Publications
Series 13. Faculty Additions
Series 14. Committee Files
Subgroup II. Affiliate Organizations
Series 1. Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA)
Series 2. National Women's Studies Association (NWSA)
Series 3. North Central Women's Studies Association (NCWSA)
Series 4. Northern Ohio Women's Studies Consortium (NOWSC)
SUBGROUP AND SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Sub-Group I. Administrative Files, 1972-1994, 2003-05, 2008 (3.8 linear feet)
Administrative Files consists of records documenting the establishment, organization, development, and administration of Women's Studies at Oberlin College. Arranged in twelve series: Charter; Minutes; Correspondence; Annual Reports; Program Review; Financial Records; Curriculum and Advising; Conferences, Seminars, and Lectures; Surveys and Questionnaires; Program Development File; Publications; and Historical File.
Series 1. Charter, n.d. (0.1 linear feet)
This series consists of several drafts of a document describing the structure and procedures of the Women's Studies Program Committee.
Series 2. Minutes, 1974-1993 (0.3 linear feet)
The minutes record the agenda and discussion at meetings of the Women's Studies Collective (February-April 1974) and its successors, the Women's Studies Committee (November 1974-1982) and Women's Studies Program Committee (1982- ). Arranged chronologically.
Series 3. Correspondence, 1974-1993 (0.4 linear feet)
Contains incoming and outgoing letters and memoranda of the Women's Studies Committee and Women's Studies Program Committee. Major topics include women's studies curriculum, programs and events, and participation in the Great Lakes Colleges Association and National Women's Studies Association. Chronological.
Series 4. Annual Reports, 1978, 1982-92 (0.2 linear feet)
Annual reports made by the chair(s) of the Women's Studies Program Committee to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. They discuss budget, curriculum, personnel, the student body, prizes and awards, and events. Chronological.
Series 5. Program Review, 1978-95, n.d. (0.2 linear feet)
Consists of drafts of a report and related correspondence compiled by consultants at the request of the Women's Studies Program Committee. These records document the development of Women's Studies at Oberlin, evaluate the program's strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations for improvements. Relate program review records from 1989 to 1993 can be found in the NWSA/FIPSE project files in subgroup II. Arranged chronologically.
Series 6. Financial Records, 1974-1997 (0.1 linear feet)
Financial records include the budget for a National Endowment for the Humanities consultancy (1981), the Program Committee budget, 1982-83, and library materials budget, 1974-79, and other financial materials through 1997. Arranged chronologically.
Series 7. Curriculum and Advising, 1973-1996 (0.5 linear feet)
Contains guidelines and proposals for individual majors, a list of students majoring in Women's Studies, 1976-1983, course descriptions and syllabi, and a creative writing booklet entitled "Threatening Choices" produced by students in the EXCO Women and Body Image Class, Spring 1988. Materials on advising are filed first by document type, followed by materials on curriculum filed alphabetically by course title.
Series 8. Seminars, Conferences, and Lectures, 1975-83, 1987-88 (0.8 linear feet)
Consists of flyers and news releases for various events; correspondence and related documents concerning Gerda Lerner's visit and lecture at Oberlin; a National Science Foundation grant proposal, correspondence, publicity, and biographical information on participants in the Women in Science Career workshop; correspondence, memoranda, and schedules regarding Sandwich Seminars, and 56 cassette tapes of Sandwich Seminars.
Series 9. Surveys and questionnaires, 1972, 1978, 1980-82, 1993 (0.l linear feet)
Contains results of a "questionnaire for community contributions to a program in women's studies," 1972; raw data and a summary of "Student Women's Studies Questionnaire," 1972; and a report entitled "Response of the Women's Studies Committee to the Long-Range Planning Questionnaire," with related documents, 1978. Arranged chronologically. Also included are interviews of Oberlin College Women, 1980, and a 1993 survey of students.
Series 10. Program Development File, 1973-86, n.d. (0.7 linear feet)
The Program Development File includes correspondence, flyers, brochures, and course syllabi accumulated by the Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Paula Goldsmid in the early stages of planning a Women's Studies program. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series 11. Historical File, 1976-1989, 1994 (0.1 linear feet)
Contains historical summaries of the committee and program, 1976 and 1981, and lists of committee members, 1981-82 and no date, and other materials (i.e. correspondence, reports) that provide documentation of the early years and development of the Women’s Studies Program. Arranged chronologically.
Series 12. Publications, 1974-77, 1982-94, 2003-05, 2008, n.d. (0.3 linear feet)
Consists of publications stemming from the Women's Studies program, including the Friends of Women's Studies Directory, 1988 and a flyer on Women's Studies at Oberlin, no date, copies of the newsletters WomaNews, 1974-77 and 1982-, Woman News, 1974-76, and the newsletter of the Gender and Women’s Studies Program, 2003-05 and 2008. Also included is a copy of Radical Teacher, 1977. Arranged alphabetically by title.
Series 13. Faculty Additions, 1975, 1978, 1981-94
Consists of various files relating to the hiring process of the Women’s Studies Programs. Included are requests for temporary and permanent additions to staff, advertisements for positions as well as notes on contemporary tenure-line candidate employees.
Series 14. Committee Files, 1971-72, 1974, 1980-85, 1991-94
This series consists of files that relate to Women’s Studies committees. It includes files from the Committee for the Education of Women at Oberlin, the Women’s Studies Program Committee, Subcommittee files and others.
Subgroup II. Affiliate Organizations, 1976-1993 (1.6 linear feet)
This subgroup contains records documenting Oberlin's affiliation with organizations concerned in some way with the development of women's studies as an academic discipline. Each organization is a series. Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), National Women's Studies Association (NWSA), North Central Women's Studies Association (NCWSA), and the Northern Ohio Women's Studies Consortium (NOWSC).
Series 1. Great Lakes Colleges Association, 1976-1983 (0.6 linear feet)
Contains documents relating to Oberlin's participation in the Women's Studies section of the GLCA, including correspondence, flyers, and reports dealing with conferences and workshops; lists of speakers, consultants, and films; the GLCA Women's Studies Newsletter, 1976-83, and Resource Handbook, 1976-79; and correspondence regarding visiting scholar Florence Howe and copies of papers by Howe, 1978. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series 2. National Women's Studies Association, 1976-83, 1985, 1989-93 (0.8 linear feet)
Consists of correspondence, questionnaires, newsletters, and flyers dealing with Oberlin's participation as a founding member of NWSA and information sheets, program summaries, and papers delivered at national conferences, 1979-1982. Also, there are folders pertaining to "The Courage to Question" Project undertaken 1989-93. Also included are copies of the NWSA publication Women's Studies Newsletter, 1977-78.General materials are filed first, chronologically, followed by conference materials, also filed chronologically.
Series 3. North Central Women's Studies Association, 1977-82 (0.1 linear feet)
This series contains planning documents, newsletters, and conference programs of the NCWSA. Arranged chronologically.
Series 4. Northern Ohio Women's Studies Consortium, 1977-79 (0.1 linear feet)
Contains proposals for a Consortium, 1977 and meeting programs, 1978-79. Arranged chronologically.