TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

History

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Series I: Organization and Administration, undated, 1902-1988

Series II: Programs, undated, 1903-1988

Series III: History and Anniversaries, undated, 1892-1980

Series IV: Publications, 1934-1988

Series V: Projects, undated, 1938-1987

Series VI: Fellowships, 1895-1988

Series VII: Legislative Activity, 1937-1988

Series VIII: Publicity, 1941-1988

Series IX: Branches, 1912-1988

Series X: National, 1951-1988

Series XI: Memorabilia, undated, 1973-1981

Series XII: 1993 Addendum, undated, 1912-1990

American Association Of University Women

Connecticut Division Records

History

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was founded by Boston University graduate, Marion Talbot, as an organization of female college graduates. On 14 January 1886, sixty-five women met in Washington, D.C., and adopted a constitution for the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA).

The ACA originated the following five policies which have continued to be used throughout the organization's history: only women from qualified institutions are admitted as members; branch formation is encouraged; research is conducted through committees; distinguished persons are invited to present their research before the branches; study groups are encouraged to look at all aspects of education. These were the basic founding principles of ACA.

The first Connecticut branch of ACA was formed in 1892, shortly after Yale University began admitting female graduate students. Miss Lillian Pruden was the first president. During this period, membership was almost solely from New Haven. Because no state-wide organization existed, ACA encountered problems while working on was programs such as the solicitation of Liberty Loans, and it became apparent that reorganization was necessary. On 1 May 1920, the first meeting of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae Branches and College Clubs was held.

Membership lagged during the 1930s due to the Depression, and in the early 1940s, the organization encountered further problems caused by the travel restrictions of World War II. ACA continued its work, however, concentrating on war drives such as the collection of tin cans, paper, and aluminum. During the late 1940s, its activities focused upon the returning veterans and the consequential lowering of female enrollment in universities.

In 1954, after a series of name changes, the organization settled upon the American Association of University Women. Its goals during the 1950s were three-fold: to increase the number of female faculty; to increase focus upon children; and to offer political education in the form of legislative workshops. AAUW embarked on may social, educational, and political projects in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1974, for example, the Connecticut State Division Research Project and Endowment Fund was established, providing money to assist career and academic counseling for adults. Also, a Status of Women Committee was formed to analyze the number of women employed in decision making positions within state government.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, AAUW has continued to promote legal, social, educational, and economic equity for women in an attempt to move women into policy making positions in all sectors of society. Furthermore, AAUW supports a strong educational system at all levels, having established an educational foundation as early as 1888, and, in 1983, a legal advocacy fund to pursue these goals.

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Scope and Content

The collection contains the administrative records of the Connecticut Division of the AAUW. Recent additions (2001-2006) to the collection have not been processed and are not represented in this finding aid.

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Arrangement

Series I: Organization and Administration (undated, 1902-1988) consists of information about the structure of AAUW. This series includes minutes and correspondence dating to the 1920s, as well as by-laws, directories, membership materials and financial information (ledgers, journals and budgets).

Series II: Programs (undated, 1903-1988) records AAUW's involvement with educational, cultural and topical interests. The education files include Higher Education reports from 1972-1973, a 1941 Board of Education study, and records from the Senior Courtesy Awards. This series documents AAUW's cultural interests and international relations. Topics range from science and law to revolution in modern China.

Series III: History and Anniversaries (undated, 1892-1980) includes a brief history of the national organization, a scrapbook and files on celebrations (Connecticut Division's 50th anniversary).

Series IV: Publications (1934-1988) contains press releases, copies of the national publication, Charter Oak Leader, and state newsletters dating back to 1934.

Series V: Projects (undated, 1938-1987) is a diverse set of materials. Some of the projects are political in nature. AAUW's participation in election night coverage and a study on women in state government, for example. Other topics include (social) leadership workshops and the Coalition on Women's Issues; (education) Teacher of the Year and Library Projects.

Series VI: Fellowships (1895-1988) contains records of fellowships given under the following names: Alice Hamilton, Claire Fulcher, Margaret Morris, and Martha Hoag. Lists of names and three books about idealism and scholarship are included.

Series VII: Legislative Activity (1937-1988) outlines AAUW's legislative program from 1937-1938. Also included are newsletters from 1937-1986 and ERA efforts from 1951-1978.

Series VIII: Publicity (1941-1988) includes articles, brochures and photographs.

Series IX: Branches (1912-1988) is arranged into seven subseries: Greenwich, Hartford, New Canaan, Orange-Milford, Other, Subject files and Scrapbooks. The series contains information on all twenty-five ConnecticutAAUW branches. Included here are minutes, reports, records and scrapbooks detailing branch projects.

Series X: National (1951-1988) focuses on materials produced and distributed by the National office. The national charter, by-laws, legislative history, recruiting information and policy notes are filed here. Projects such as Leaders in Action, Civil Defense and Action for Equity can also be found in this series. The one subseries, International, contains materials from or about the international branches of the AAUW.

Series XI: Memorabilia (undated, 1973-1981) contains convention banners (4 from New Canaan branch), citations and related items. The Robin was done by Joan Weaver and Doris Makris.

Series XII: 1993 Addendum (undated, 1912-1992) consists of materials added to the collection in 1993. Arranged into four subseries: Administrative, Branches, Scrapbooks and Publications. Administrative: includes annual reports, by-laws revisions, membership information, data on the Nestle Boycott, tax information and Women in Leadership files. Branches includes files of the Clinton, Norwalk, Norwalk-Westport and Waterbury branches. Scrapbooks holds news clippings collected by the Norwalk and Waterbury branches. Publications contains a memoir by Virginia Crocheron Gildersleeve as well as a book review. This series will be integrated into the collection as time permits.

All series but X and XI are arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to specific Connecticut-based professional associations. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Subjects:

Document Types:

Occupations:

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

The collection was donated to the University of Connecticut Foundation in December, 1987. The records were transferred to the Historical Manuscripts and Archives Division of the University Libraries upon receipt.

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], American Association Of University Women Connecticut Division Records. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Historical Manuscripts and Archives (now Archives & Special Collections) received the materials as a transfer from the University of Connecticut Foundation in 1987. Subsequent donations have been made directly by the historian of the Connecticut Division to Archives & Special Collections.

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Detailed Description