Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho records
Content Description
The material in this archival group is contained in one small file box. It consists of newspaper clippings, correspondence, minutes of meetings, reports of university committees, legal documents relating to the 1973 law suit which the Women's Caucus filed against the university, and brochures designed to inform women students of the opportunities available to them at the university. Series 2 of the collection also includes newspaper clippings, publications, and newsletters pertaining to the American Association of University Women and women in technology in the United States.
Dates
- Creation: 1971-1980
Creator
- Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
In 1971, U of I President Ernest Hartung appointed a committee to study the high attrition rate of women students. About 35 percent of students were women, and their drop-out rate was 25-30 percent. The committee's scope was broadened to include other issues affecting women on campus, including the number of women in various faculty ranks, promotion, pay scales, etc. The committee did extensive work over the next year or so and published their findings (U of I's first "campus climate" report). Those interested in the committee's work would meet weekly, and became known as the Women's Caucus.
When President Hartung told the Women’s Caucus he was unable to make the changes they demanded, and that they would have to file a formal complaint against the institution, the Core Group did exactly that, filing a complaint against the university with the Idaho Human Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in May 1973.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, minutes of meetings, and legal documents of the Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho. Also, newspaper clipping, newsletters, and publications pertaining to the American Association of University of Women and women in Technology in the U.S.
Arrangement
The material in this group was separated by subject and the items in each area were then arranged chronologically. Folders containing the material are arranged alphabetically.
Series 2 consists of the second donation to the collection, processed in 2024.
The materials in this group were separated by subject and genres, and the items in each area were then arranged chronologically. Folders containing the material are generally arranged alphabetically. Duplicates were discarded.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Series 2 was donated by Sharl Kay Keskinen, the last secretary of the Women's Caucus and its Core Caucus in July 2024.
- Title
- Guide to Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen; updated by Sara Szobody in 2022. Additional material was added and finding aid updated by Trixie Zwolfer in 2024.
- Date
- 1982; 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository