Indiana University Association of Women Students records, 1921-1969, bulk
1960-1968
A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Whitney Olthoff
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
Association of Women Students (Indiana
University)
TitleIndiana University Association of Women
Students records, 1921-1969, bulk
1960-1968
Collection No.
C478
Extent
1 cubic foot (1 box)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
Established in 1895 as the Women’s
League, the Indiana University Association of Women Students worked to give an
official voice to women students. The collection consists of meeting minutes,
budgets, handbooks, program and issues files, and general administrative records of
the organization.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Administrative History
The Indiana University Women’s League was established in 1895. In 1920, the name was
changed to the Women’s Self Government Association (W.S.G.A.), and by 1927, it
changed a third and final time to the Association of Women Students (AWS).
Under the name of the Women’s League, the organization was more of a social group for
women on campus. At that time, only women who were faculty, staff, resident alumnae,
or students were eligible to join. During and after World War I, the organization
began to take a more serious turn toward the betterment of women. In 1920, the name
was changed to the Women’s Self Government Association, whose aim was to promote
unity among university women and to “promote and maintain the highest standards of
University life.” At this time, all women students automatically became members when
they paid their fees at registration.
In 1927, the organization became the Association of Women Students. By 1961, the
organization had become a member of the Intercollegiate Association of Women
Students, and its purpose was stated as follows:
“To bring about a greater spirit of unity and mutual helpfulness among women
students, to give expression to the wishes and opinions of women students, and to
encourage active cooperation in the work of women’s self-government.”
By the 1969-1970 academic year, the AWS disappeared from the yearbooks and registers,
so it seems that it was around this time that the group dissolved.
In 1997, a new group, the Women’s Student Association, was established on the IU
campus. The WSA works to eliminate racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism and ableism,
along with other types of oppression. The goal of the organization is to support
women through the use of activism, education and by raising awareness in the IU
community, and by providing an atmosphere for personal growth and social networking
for women. All students, faculty and staff at IU (including men) who are interested
in women’s issues, gender issues, sexism, oppression, health and empowerment are
able to join.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into two series: Women's Self-Government Association files
and Administrative files.
Scope and Content Note
This collection is organized into two series. The first, the Women’s Self Government
Association (WSGA) files (1921-1927) includes an annual report, as well as one copy
of the group’s constitution detailing the mission of the group, details on the
council and its members, and by-laws regarding proper social etiquette and
expectations of all members. The remainder of the series consists of six handbooks,
written for incoming freshman, spanning academic years between 1921 and 1927. Each
includes a welcome from Agnes E. Wells, Dean of Women and helpful advice from each
of groups council members. The handbooks also detail athletics and activities in
which new students should strive to participate, lists of important figures in WSGA
and other affiliated clubs, and other important notes related to each year.
The second series of Administrative files (1938-1969) is arranged alphabetically by
folder heading. Years covered range from 1938-1969, but the bulk of the records span
the period from 1960-1968. Found in the collection are records relating to the
Intercollegiate Association of Women Students, the Senior privilege system, and AWS
minutes spanning 1956-1967. Highlights include records relating to AWS’s movement to
change the regulations of hours for women in Indiana University residence halls.
Materials on this subject can be found throughout much of the collection, including
some folders devoted entirely to the topic.
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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.
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Related Material
Archived web sites for this organization may be included in
Archive-It
Related photographs may be available in the
University Archives
Photographs Database
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession numbers: C206, 7162
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Indiana University Association of Women Students records, Collection C478, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
The bulk of these records were separated from C206, the Indiana University Senate
records, 1938-1979.
Processing InformationProcessed by Whitney Olthoff.
Completed in 2012
Container List
Series:
Box 1
Women's Self-Government Association files, 1921-1927,
Series:
Administrative files, 1921-1969,
undated
Bulletins, 1957-1965
“Hours,”
Correspondence, Division of Student Personnel, 1964-1966
View item(s)
IAWS (Intercollegiate Association of Women Students),
Legislative Board,
General, circa 1950s-1968
View item(s)
Note
Includes the A.W.S. Board of Standards "Composite of Rules and Regulations of Indiana University" (1957 revision) and an undated
proposal for the organization of the Association of Women Students.
Summary of Regulations for Indiana University Women,
1953-1963
View item(s)
News Clippings,
"Hours," 1963-1967
Senior Privilege System,
Planning IRHA (Inter Residence Halls Association), undated
View item(s)