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A guide to the Records at the University Archives.

Finding aid prepared by Nicole M. Mares and Carrie Schwier

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.)

Language
Materials are in English

Collection No.
C209

Extent
4 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Abstract
The American Association of University Women, Bloomington Branch was established on 12 February 1913 as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae with 60 charter members. They later became the AAUW in 1921. The goal of the group was to improve the status of women in higher education and to debunk myths concerning women academics. This collection is comprised of correspondence, financial records, governance files, meeting notes, reports, and scrapbooks. The collection also contains numerous subject files including those relating specifically to the Bloomington branch, and those relating to the Indiana and national divisions of the organiztion. These files contain materials on the history of the organiztion, various programs, committees, membership, conventions, and publications relating to the organization.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Administrative History

The national organization known as the American Association of University Women was founded in 1881 to promote the expansion of women's opportunities in education and employment. Established in Washington D.C. as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, the organization sought to combat prejudices against women in academics and in the workplace by publishing studies debunking myths about the "damaging" effects of education on a woman's health and by exploring women's opportunities in traditional and non traditional careers. The organization also raised money for the funding of fellowships for women to pursue advanced degrees and to conduct research.

Today, membership is open to anyone who holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. The A.A.U.W. has a membership of 150,000 individuals with approximately 1,500 branches nationwide. The organization conducts business on many fronts including education, international relations and politics. The A.A.U.W. consistently endorses legislation that promotes women's opportunities in the workplace and academic settings such as Title IX, the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act. In 1981 the A.A.U.W. established the Legal Advocacy Fund for the financial assistance of women seeking to combat sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace. The A.A.U.W. also established the Education Foundation to fund research and fellowships for university women and the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund, expanding their focus to include K-12 Education.

By 1987 the organization extended its membership to include men holding college degrees. Today, the organization continues to support women's education and employment efforts through financial assistance, research, and the promotion of legislation to combat all forms of discrimination.

The installation of a branch of the American Association of University Women was delayed in Bloomington, as Indiana institutions went unrecognized by the National Organization until 1912. A woman's eligibility was governed by her school's acceptability under the national organizations guidelines which called on institutions to provide students with a variety of course offerings and diverse library holdings, while at the same time maintaining membership in national organizations, and equal pay rates between the male and female faculty. When Indiana University finally gained acceptance under the A.C.A.'s, as it was then still known, guidelines activity to establish a Bloomington Branch commenced. The Bloomington Branch of the A.A.U.W. began 12 February 1913 under the name of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, and the branch changed its name accordingly when the national organization of the A.C.A. adopted the title of the American Association of University Women in 1921. Sixty women signed on as charter members of the Bloomington Branch, mostly young women who had recently received their college degrees. They originally met every second Wednesday of every month in the Student Building. In the early years of the group, they were unable to raise money for substantial fellowships, but did sponsor an annual essay contest through the English Department for university women, and also sponsored a discussion contest that awarded nominal prizes to cover the cost of books.

By the 1940s and 1950s the branch had a more solid foundation and was able to raise more funds, sponsor international fellowship recipients and conduct community based fundraising efforts. The Bloomington Branch remained active throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, promoting community involvement, educational diversification, and women's occupational issues. The Bloomington Branch of the A.A.U.W. always stayed politically involved, pushing forward important legislation for the betterment of women's experiences in education and the community.

Throughout the years the Bloomington Branch was active in the Indiana Division, the Great Lakes Region, and the A.A.U.W. national organizations, with four of its branch members going on to become Divisional Presidents. Also noteworthy was one of the Bloomington Branch's charter members, Nellie Showers Teter, who became Indiana University's first woman Trustee.

The Bloomington Branch of the A.A.U.W. was disbanded in July 1996.

Arrangement

The collection has been organized into three series: Administrative files, Subject files, and Scrapbooks.

Scope and Content Note

With materials which date from 1907 through 1997, the contents of the American Association of Unviersity Women collection is comprised of three series: Administrative files, Subject files, and Scrapbooks.

Series one, the Administrative file series (1916-1997), is comprised of five subseries: Correspondence, Financial records, Governance files, Meeting notes and Reports. Correspondence (1916-1997) includes incoming and outgoing correspondence that organized chronologically and according to the correspondence. Financial records (1949-1996) includes materals such as budgets, receipts and reports. The third sub-series, Governance files (1925-1993) is comprised mostly of bylaws and charters of the Bloomington Branch and the Indiana Division of the A.A.U.W. The Meetings notes (1939-1996) sub-series contains board meeting agendas and minutes, branch meeting minutes and bulletins, secretarial materials, and State Board meeting minutes. The fifth sub-series, Reports (1937-1992), is composed primarily of Annual Reports, Branch Reports, and Treasurer's Reports. Correspondence written by and addressed to Indiana University President, William Lowe Bryan, has been removed and filed in his presidential collection under the heading "A.A.U.W." Correspondence to or from William Lowe Bryan after he resigned as president of the university (June 1938) remain in the collection.

Series two, Subject files (1907-1996), are organized alphabetically by folder title. These files include branch histories, information on programs, calenders, fellowships and scholarships, membership information, A.A.U.W conventions, and several publications. The newsletters are arranged chronologically with the A.A.U.W. Bloomington Branch Newsletter running from 1969-1985. The newsletter was re-named the Bloomington Leaf in 1985 and in this collection the span continues through 1992.

Finally, Series three, Scrapbooks (1941-1988), contains the Scrapbook materials of the Bloomington Branch, and is comprised mostly of newspaper clippings cut from the Bloomington Herald Telephone and the Indiana Daily Student from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Photographs from this collection have been transferred to the Archives Photographs Collection. Please ask a member of the Archives staff to see them, if interested.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT , the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.)
  • American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.) --History --20th century --Sources.
  • American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.) --Archives.
  • American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.) --Records and correspondence.
• • Topics
  • Women college graduates --Indiana --Bloomington --Societies and clubs --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Women educators --Indiana --Bloomington --Societies and clubs --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Universities and colleges --Alumni and alumnae --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Feminism and education --Indiana --Bloomington --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Women --Education (Higher) --Indiana --Bloomington --History --20th century --Sources.
• • Titles
  • Graduate woman.
  • Leader in action.
  • Bloomington leaf.
  • Newsletter (American Association of University Women. Bloomington Branch (Ind.))

Separated Material

Photographs transferred to the University Archives Photographs Collection.

Correspondence written by and addressed to Indiana University President, William Lowe Bryan, has been removed and filed in his presidential collection under the heading A.A.U.W. Correspondence to or from William Lowe Bryan after he resigned as president of the university (June 1938) remain in the collection.

Administrative Information

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Series: Administrative files, 1916-1997 

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Subseries: Correspondence, 1916-1997 

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Box 1 General

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1920-1980s 

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1923 

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1924-1925 

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1935 

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1937-1943 

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1945-1947 

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1951-1956 

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1979-1980 

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Arpan, Holly, 1984-1986 

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Bruner, Marjorie A., 1996-1997 

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Greenleaf, Betty, 1966 

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Holmsted, R.W., 1937 

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Kinker, Kandace Libka, 1970s 

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Loose Correspondence, 1979,  undated 

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M.E. Dodds Scholarship Thank-You Notes, President's Copies, 1980-1981 

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Old Membership Correspondence, Joy Chamnes, 1916-1921 

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Pesyna-Newman, Kim, 1980s 

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Vogt, Mary, 1985 

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Yoder, Betty, 1986-1989 

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Yoder, Betty, Correspondence with Richard Lugar, 1988 

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Subseries: Financial records, 1949-1996 

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General

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Box 1 1955,  undated 

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1978-1979 

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AAUW Budgets

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1963-1970 

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1967-1986 

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1986-1989 

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Dues, 1986-1996 

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Financial Logbooks,

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1920-1927  View item(s)

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1949-1963 

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Paid Bills, 1968-1972 

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Remittance Transmitals, 1970-1973 

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State Treasurer Remittances, 1967-1968 

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Transmittal Reports Slips, 1959-1970 

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Treasurer's Materials, 1980-1989 

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Treasurer's Receipts and Reports, 1963-1967 

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Subseries: Governance Files, 1925-1993 

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Box 1 Arpan, Holly-Resolutions, 1984 

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Bill for an Act to regulate child age in schools, 1955 

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Bylaws and Charter

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1925-1969  (selected years)

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1941-1946 

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1973 Revision 

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1979 Revision 

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1981 Revision 

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1983 Revision 

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1985 Revision 

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1985-1987 

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1987-1989 

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1991-1993 

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Elected Branch Officers, 1954-1958 

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Indiana Division Branch Presidents, 1950-1951 

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Indiana Division Directory and Bylaws

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1942-1955 

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1968-1973 

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Not-for-Profit Status, 1954-1985 

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Tentative Legislative Program, 1941-1947 

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Subseries: Meeting Notes, 1939-1996 

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Box 1 General, 1940-1969 

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Arpan, Holly

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Agendas, 1985-1986 

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Minutes, 1985-1986 

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Binder, 1939-1940 

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Board Meetings, 1985-1989 

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Board Meeting Agendas

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1979-1981 

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1985 

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Lessing, Joyce (secretary), 1987 

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Nolan, Susan (secretary), 1988-1989 

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Simpson, K. Brooks (secretary), 1987-1988 

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Yoder, Betty (secretary), 1984-1985 

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Board Meeting Minutes

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1977-1981 

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1985-1986 

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Charbonneau, Sharon (secretary), 1981 

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Kamman, Ann (secretary), 1981-1984 

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Lessing, Joyce (secretary), 1986-1987 

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Nolan, Susan (secretary), 1988 

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Simpson, K. Brooks (secretary), 1987-1988 

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Yoder, Betty (secretary), 1984-1985 

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Board of Directors Minutes, 1942-1943;  1953-1954 

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Branch Bulletins, 1940-1943,  undated 

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Branch Meeting Minutes

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General, undated 

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1927-1932 

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1933-1939 

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1944-1954 

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1954-1955 

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1980-1981 

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1984 

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1984-1988 

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1985 

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Lessing, Joyce (secretary), 1986 

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Simpson, K. Brooks (secretary), 1988 

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Box 2 Convention Committee Minutes, 1981 

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Executive Committee Minutes,

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1953 

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1981 

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Program Meeting Minutes, 1981-1982 

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Secretarial Materials, 1979-1981 

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Secretary's Book, Bloomington AAUW

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Part 1, 1985-1990 

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Part 2, 1990-1996 

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State Board Meeting Minutes

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1953-1955 

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1955-1957 

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Supplements to Minutes, 1983-1985 

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Subseries: Reports, 1937-1992 

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Box 2 Annual Historian's Report, 1949-1954 

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Annual Reports

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Bloomington Branch

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1944-1946 

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1984-1986 

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Indiana Division

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1952-1953 

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1970-1973 

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Branch President's Reports

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General, 1939-1957 

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Blish, Louise, 1973-1975 

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Bruner, Marjorie, 1981-1984 

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Lockridge, Mrs. Ross F. (Elsie),

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1942-1943 

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1943-1944 

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Robinson, Una, 1941-1942 

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Zietlow, Ruth P., 1979-1981 

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Branch Reports

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1938-1939 

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1984-1989 

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Jackson, Lillian, 1937-1938 

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Report of the Committee on Graduate Women, 1939 

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Report of the Committee on Women's Education, 1950 

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State Report on International Relations, 1952-1953 

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Treasurer's Reports

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1946;  1950-1966 

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1967-1978 

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1978-1986 

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1986-1992 

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Cogswell, Judith (treasurer), 1965-1966 

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Miscellaneous reports

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1942-1944 

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1946-1955