Special Collections & University Archives
HoursMonday - Friday 9 am - 4:30 pm LocationThe Special Collections is located on the east side of the Library on the 3rd floor. Take the stairs and turn left or take the elevator nearest the Circulation desk and turn right. Contact InformationPatricia W. & J. Douglas Perry Library |
The Papers of Women's Studies CollectionHistorical SketchThe Women's Studies program began in 1977 with a grant and was the first Women's Studies program in Virginia. Carolyn Rhodes was the coordinator of the pilot program which offered six courses relating to Women's influences in society. It grew and expanded under the leadership of Nancy Topping Bazin (Women's Studies Director, 1978-1985). In 1995, it became the first state-assisted school in the commonwealth to offer a B.A. and a B.S. in Women's Studies. The program also offers a minor in Women's Studies. Additionally, students may obtain a graduate certificate in Women's Studies or an M.A. in Humanities with an emphasis on Women's Studies through the Institute of Humanities. The Women's Studies Program became the Women's Studies Department in 2002. It offers scholarships to students, as well as hosting programs and events related to women and society. Scope and ContentsThe papers of Women's Studies date from 1978-2005. The collection contains administrative and financial documents, course descriptions, and department sponsored event flyers and brochures. The bulk of the collection features Women's Studies News, events, and courses offered throughout its duration. Series DescriptionsThis collection is divided into the following series: I. Administrative; II. Course Descriptions; and III. Events. Series I. Administrative: This series relates to the business and administrative aspects of the Women's Studies program. It is divided into seven sub-series. Sub-series A: Women's Studies Program. This sub-series includes materials specific to the Women's Studies Program itself, including its description and history, brochures, and certificates offered. Most of the material in this sub-series is not dated. Sub-series B: Correspondence. This sub-series includes correspondence in the form of interdepartmental memos on topics such as meetings, speakers, social events, and getting the word out about Women's Studies. Material is arranged chronologically and is dated from the 1970s to the 1990s. Sub-series C: Financial. This sub-series includes information on grants, trust funds, and scholarships. It includes the proposal for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant that was used to start the Women's Studies program. Material is arranged alphabetically. Sub-series D: Meetings. This sub-series contains materials related to Women's Studies meetings. Included are meetings of the Pilot Design Group that developed the Women's Studies program and sought out the NEH Grant that started the program; the Women's Studies Advisory Council; and the newsletter committee. Sub-series E: Newsletters. This sub-series includes Women's Studies newsletters from 1978 to 1996. Material is arranged chronologically. Sub-series F: Surveys and Reports. This sub-series includes the final report on the Women's Studies program to the National Endowment for the Humanities and a survey to evaluate non-participant attitudes about the ODU Women's Studies program. Both of these are from 1978. Sub-series G: Resources: This sub-series includes articles, lists, bibliographies, directories, news clippings, and other resources related to women and feminism. Material is arranged alphabetically and dates from 1976 to 2005. Series II: Course Descriptions: This series is divided into three sub-series of course listings and descriptions. Sub-series A: Booklets: The sub-series contains booklets relating to Women's Studies courses from 1979 to 1983. These include degree and certificate requirements, courses, required text, and other general information. Material is arranged chronologically. Sub-series B: Brochures: This sub-series contains brochures dating from 1977-1999. They advertise the Women's Studies Department and course offerings by the academic year. Materials are arranged chronologically. Sub-series C: Course Flyers: This sub-series contains flyers about courses offered by the Women's Studies Department at ODU, their descriptions, prerequisites, and what to expect from the course. Materials are arranged chronologically and date from 1978 to 1999. Series III: Events: This series documents the many events and programs held by the Department of Women's Studies at Old Dominion University. This series is broken into eight sub-series. Sub-series A: Concerts. This sub-series contains flyers, programs, news clippings, and other materials for musical performances sponsored by Women's Studies. Materials date from 1979 to 1987 and are arranged alphabetically by the name of the band or musician. Sub-series B: Conferences and Festivals. This sub-series contains flyers, programs, registration forms and other materials related to conferences and festivals. Material dates from 1978 to 1994 and is arranged chronologically. Sub-series C: Invitations. This sub-series contains invitations to Women's Studies events. Materials date from 1980-1989. Sub-series D: Lectures and Speakers Series. This sub-series contains flyers, posters, schedules, registration forms and other materials for Women's Studies lectures and speakers' series. Material dates from 1979 to 2000 and is arranged alphabetically. Sub-series E: Men's Events (sponsored by Women's Studies). This sub-series contains programs, flyers, and other materials for men's events sponsored by the Women's Center. Materials date from 1982 to 1983 and are arranged chronologically. Sub-series F: Returning Women's Events. This sub-series contains flyers, invitations, and other materials related to social and scholarly events for older women who are starting college for the first time or who are returning to school later in life. Material dates from the 1980s to the 2000s and is arranged chronologically. Sub-series G: Women's Weeks and Months. This sub-series contains flyers and programs for weeks and months devoted to women, such as Women's History Month. Material is arranged alphabetically and dates from 1982-2004. Sub-series H: Various. This sub-series contains flyers for miscellaneous Women's Studies events from the 1970s to the 2000s. These include both social and scholarly events. Material is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically if applicable. ProvenanceAll materials were donated by Dr. Carolyn H. Rhodes. AccessOpen to researchers without restrictions. Questions on literary property rights should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian. Size3 Hollinger Document Cases Collection NumberRG17-28A Container ListingSeries I. AdministrativeBox 1Sub-series A: Women's Studies Program Folder 1: Graduate Women's Studies Program Description Sub-series B: Correspondence Folder 6: Memorandums 1970s Sub-series C: Financial Folder 9: The Feminist Education Trust Fund Sub-series D: Meetings Folder 12: Newsletter Meeting [n.d.] Sub-series E: Newsletters Folder 15: Women's Studies at ODU newsletter, 1978 Sub-series F: Surveys and Reports Folder 20: Undergraduate Women's Studies Program: Final Report, 1978 Box 2Sub-series G: Resources Folder 1: College of Arts & Letters New Faculty List, 1988 Series II: Course DescriptionsSub-series A: Booklets Folder 10: Course Booklets, 1979 Sub-series B: Brochures Folder 15: Course Brochures, 1977-1979 Sub-series C: Course Flyers Folder 19: Course Flyers, 1978-1979 Box 3Series III: EventsSub-series A: Concerts Folder 1: Kristen Lems Concert, 1979 Sub-series B: Conferences and Festivals Folder 4: Every Woman's Festival 1980s Sub-series C: Invitations Folder 13: Invitations, 1980-1989 Sub-series D: Lectures and Speakers Series Folder 14: Reflections of Women Lecture Series, 1979 Sub-series E: Men's Events (sponsored by Women's Studies) Folder 17: Men: Roles in Transition: 1st Annual Men's Conference, January
23, 1982 Sub-series F: Returning Women's Events Folder 20: Returning Women's Events 1980s-1990s Sub-series G: Women's Weeks and Months Folder 22: National Business Women's Week, 1982 Sub-series H: Various Folder 25: Crossing the Gender Divide, 1987 Revised 2/8/11 |