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Women's Center records

Notifications

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
003
Repository:
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Extent:
4.88 linear ft. (11 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Women's Center records (HCF.003) Quaker and Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.
Date:
1970-2019 (inclusive)
Creator:
Haverford College. Women's Center
Form:
Photograph albums, minutes (administrative records), and Correspondence
Abstract:
This collection contains records created by the Women's Center at Haverford College. The materials begin in the 1970s during the creation of the center and extend through to 2019. Included in this collection are materials about the history of the Women's Center and coeducation at Haverford, log books kept by the staff members, posters about their events, publications they created such as Herstory and newsletters, information sheets about sex and other topics, and some photographs.

During the 1980-1981 academic year, Haverford College began to admit female first year students. At this point Haverford was still a male dominated institution, even though they had already begun to admit some female transfer students and students from Bryn Mawr College, the women's college located nearby. In 1979, the president of Haverford College appointed a Committee on Women to evaluate the college and submit suggetions for changes necessary to smooth the transition of admitting female first year students. In the academic year 1980-1981, a group of female Haverford students banded together to campaign for the creation of a Women's Center. It was created in 1981, despite some concerns that such a center would segregate women from the community. The first and long term director of the Women's Center was Marilou Allen. Along with student staff members, Allen made the Women's Center both a physical meeting place for community conversations and an event planning body focusing on women's issues. They published a newsletter called "Vicissitudes" and hosted events such as lunch discussions, ERA letter-writing campaigns, lectures, concerts, and workshops. The women's center was located for years in the basement of the Dining Center, until it was moved to the Campus Center in 1994. As the twentifirst century progressed, the mission of the Women's Center changed, and their name changed to reflect that. The apostrophe was changed to an astericks in order to emphasize that the Women*s Center was a resource for all members of the Haverford community, regardless of their sex and gender. As of May 2018, the mission statement of the Women*s Center reads: "The Haverford College Women*s Center is a safe, inclusive, intersectional space open to folks to all genders. As a safe space, we believe in cultivating trust, accountability, transparency, support, empowerment, and a commitment to growth. We provide resources, education, outreach, and programming to the Haverford community. By modeling an accessible feminist collective, we seek to build solidarity among women, feminine-identified folks, and all marginalized communities." Some of the reoccuring events and activities that the Women's Center has put on throughout their history include: Sexvember, Take Back the Night, Speak Out, Herstory, Senior Women's Brunch, and the student hotline.

This collection contains records created by the Women's Center at Haverford College. The materials begin in the 1970s during the creation of the center and extend through to 2019. Included in this collection are materials about the history of the Women's Center and coeducation at Haverford, log books kept by the staff members, posters about their events, publications they created such as Herstory and newsletters, information sheets about sex and other topics, and some photographs. There are also materials about sexual misconduct that contain politices, fact sheets, and personal experiences with sexual harrasment and assault.

There are materials in this collection related to sex and sexual violence. They are labled "Sexual Misconduct". These materials include both informational handouts as well as personal accounts of positive or traumatizing experiences.

This collection is arranged chronologically. Materials pertaining to sexual misconduct are at the end of the collection. Oversize event posters are stored separately.

Processed by Madison Arnold-Scerbo, completed June, 2018.

Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
Madison Arnold-Scerbo and Krista Oldham
Finding Aid Date
June, 2018
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17)

Collection Inventory

History of Co-Education and the Women's Center at Haverford, 1970-1977.
Box 1
History of Co-Education and the Women's Center at Haverford, 1978-2002 and undated.
Box 1
Historic News Articles and Pamphlets, 1973-1993 and undated.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Pertaining to the women's movement, feminism, and the Equal Rights Amendment.

Staff Log Book, 1982-1984.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1984-1987.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1987-1990.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1991.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1991-1992.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1992-1993.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1993.
Box 1
Staff Log Book, 1993-1994.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1993-1994.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1994-1995.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1995.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1995.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1997-1998.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 1998-2000.
Box 2
Staff Log Book, 2011-2012.
Box 2
Women's Center Advisory Committee, 1985-1987.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center Advisory Committee

Staff job description, 1986.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Job descriptions for women's center staff

Guest Book, 1991-1993.
Box 2
Calendar, 1993.
Box 2
Budget, 1993-2002.
Box 3
Staff manuals, 2009-2010.
Box 3
Capstone project, 2012.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Capstone assignment by Janice Lion answering the question: how is the mission of the Haverford College Women's Center best articulated through its presence and programs today, thirty years after its establishment?

Meeting agendas and miscellaneous, 2012.
Box 3
Women's Center Event Planning and Assessment, undated.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Planning and assessment forms for events held by the Women's Center

Girlz 2 Women Program, 2000-2001 and undated.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, meeting minutes, and flyers pertaining to the Girlz 2 Women Program

Programming, 2008-2012 and undated.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to Women's Center programming

Meeting minutes, 1983-1994.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center board

Meeting minutes, 1995-1996.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center board

Meeting minutes, 1999-2002.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center board

Meeting minutes, 2008-2010.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center board

Meeting minutes, 2011-2013.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Minutes from the Women's Center Board

Correspondence, 1985-2009.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Correspondence to and from the Women's Center staff

Herstory, 1983-1986.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 1987-1991.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 1992-1999.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 2000-2004.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 2005, 2007-2009.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 2010, 2012-2015.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, 2011, 2017.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Herstory, undated.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Publications by the Haverford College Women's Center, filled with the stories of senior women at Haverford.

Event Posters, 1983-2007.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Posters about events hosted by the Women's Center

Event Posters, 2008-2019.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Posters about events hosted by the Women's Center

Event Posters, undated.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Posters about events hosted by the Women's Center

Oversize Event Posters, 1985-2019 and undated.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Oversize posters advertising Women*s Center events

Promotional Materials, 2012-2013.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Materials promoting the Women's Center and its staff.

Handouts and Workshop Materials, 1996, 2015-2016, undated.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Materials distributed at Women*s Center workshops and other events.

Newsletters, 1982-2005.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Newsletters published by the Women's Center

Newsletters, 2006-2015.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Newsletters published by the Women's Center

Women of Color Anthology, 1989-2000.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Pamphlets of writing by Haverford students

Co-Education Survey, 1991.
Box 6
Women's Center Survey, 1992.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Survey conducted by the Women's Center about sexaul violence

Women's Center Survey, 1992.
Box 6
Take Back the Night posters and readings, 1994-2014.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Posters and readings for an annual event hosted by the women's center called Take Back the Night, which is "a candle lit rally-vigil-march to protest violence against women, particularly sexual assault"

Speak Out posters and readings, 1996-2014.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Posters and readings for an annual event hosted by the women's center called Speak Out "A pluralism-style safe space to speak out about domestic violence and emotional abuse"

"For My Sisters" and "Daughters of Promise", 1997-1998.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Pamphlets of writing by Haverford students

Feminism Campaign and Photo Shoot, 2013.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Instructions and posters from a campaign answering the prompt: "I need feminism because..."

Self Care Mirror Quotes, 2015.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Quotes from a postering campaign about self care

Tri-Co Transportation Stranded Survey, undated.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Survey conducted by the Women's Center about people getting stranded at another tri-co school after the last transportation of the evening stops running.

The Clothesline Project, 2009.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

The Clothesline Project was an initiative intended to promote healing and support for survivors and allies of sexual violence.

Careers and women, 1979-1983.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

A collection of articles and essays

Fact Sheets, 2005-2009.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Pertaining to contraception, LGBTQ, abortion, sexual assault, kink, sex toys, body image, and eating disorders.

History of Women month, 1988-1991.
Box 7
Hope is Vital: Eating Issues ;& Body Image binder, 1998-2000.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Binder with worksheet and organizing materials for Hope is Vital, a theatre-based prevention/education community dialogue and outreach program. Most of the materials pertain to body image and eating disorders,

Hope is Vital: Eating Issues ;& Body Image binder, 1998-2000.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Binder with worksheet and organizing materials for Hope is Vital, a theatre-based prevention/education community dialogue and outreach program. Most of the materials pertain to body image and eating disorders,

Rape Culture Materials, 1985 and undated.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Posters, display, and feedback from the display about rape culture

Religion and Women, 2003-2008.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Posters and correspondence related to the Women's Center events about women and religion

Safe Zone Manual Haverford, undated.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Educational materials about LGBTQ+ topics at Haverford

Safe Zone Workshop Curriculum and Feedback, undated.
Box 8
Senior Women's Dinner, 2003.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Posters and correspondence related to the Women's Center annual event, the Senior Women's dinner or brunch

Sex Education, undated.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Resources on sex education

Sex Education Comic, 2014.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

A comic book about sexual education called "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf" created by an artist in New York City

Sex Toy Raffle, 2001-2015.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Posters and correspondence related to the Women's Center annual event raffling off sex toys

Sexual Assault Information, Haverford College Resources, 1990-2012.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by various parties at Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information, Haverford College Resources, 1997-2009.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by various parties at Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information, Haverford College Resources, undated.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by various parties at Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information from Outside Sources, 1980-1993.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by parties outside Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information from Outside Sources, 1994-2012.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by parties outside Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information from Outside Sources, undated.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by parties outside Haverford College

Sexual Assault Information from Outside Sources, undated.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to sexual assault created by parties outside Haverford College

Sexual Misconduct, Barclay Rape Incident, 1981-1986.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Newspaper articles pertaining to an incident at Haverford

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policies, 1990.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Includes policies for Haverford College, as well as other universities

Sexual Misconduct, Student Assistant Hotline, 1991-2001.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Materials pertaining to the Women's Center hotline run by students for sexual misconduct situations

Sexual Misconduct, Committee on Sexual Assault, 1992-1993.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

correspondence, agenda for a conference, fliers about sexual assault

Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct Policies, 1996-2012.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Policies related to sexual misconduct, from Haverford College as well as other universities

Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct Policies, 2011-2013.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Policies related to sexual misconduct, from Haverford College as well as other universities

Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct Policies, 2012-2014.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Policies related to sexual misconduct, from Haverford College as well as other universities

To Make a Difference: A Trainer's Guide for Working with Campus-Based Women's Centers ;& Other Women's Organizations, 1984.
Box 9
To Make a Difference: A Trainer's Guide for Working with Campus-Based Women's Centers :& Other Women's Organizations, 1984.
Box 9
WoMentoring, undated.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Documents about the WoMentoring Project that connects female students with female faculty/staff members in mentoring relationships to combat the general lack of institutional recognition for the unique challenges facing women in academia

Feminists Against Porn slides, undated.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

63 slides

Photographs, 2000s.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

photographs from the early 2000s of Womens Center events

Scrapbook, undated.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

12" by 12" handmade scrapbook with 13 pages about the history of the Women's Center.

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