mnsss523 Sisters Inc. Records, 1996-2008 Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

2012

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 13.0. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. February 20, 2012 Finding aid written in English. Collection Overview Sisters Inc. Sisters Inc. Records1996-2008 MS 670 4 boxes (2.5 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Community service organization. The Sisters Inc. Records document the organization's programming for girls, particularly the mentoring program. Materials include participants' writings, information sheets, and surveys that detail participants and activities. There are also production materials and tapes from a video project as well as conference and research files. There are also administrative materials such as fundraising files, board and committee minutes, and reports. Historical Note

Sisters Inc. (sometimes known as Sisters Ink) was a small, community-based organization in the rural hilltowns of Western Massachusetts from 1996-2008. It was started by local women in the community who wanted to support girls as they entered adolescence by creating a "hardiness zone," a community in which girls could flourish and remain bold and strong. Founded by Ellen Pulleyblank Coffey and Deborah Coffey, the organization was directed by Kelly Anderson for most of its tenure. Programs included: an art-based mentoring program for girls ages 9-12, a music based program for teen girls, a mother-daughter reading group, self-defense workshops, and annual art exhibits, lectures, and public events aimed at creating dialogue around the needs and desires of girls. Over the years, Sisters reached hundreds of rural girls and women and hosted events with Carol Gilligan, Evelyn Harris, Rachel Maddow and others. Sisters Inc was funded by Community Development Block Grants, the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, and Local Cultural Councils. All events and programs were free to participants. The organization folded in 2008 due to lack of funding.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Sisters Inc. Records consist of administrative and programming material from the organization's 12 year tenure. Among the administrative materials are fundraising files, board and committee minutes, and reports. Two boxes of financial records are closed to research. Records of programming for girls, particularly the mentoring program, are documented with writings, information sheets, and surveys that detail participants and activities. There are production materials and tapes from a video project as well as conference and research files.

[NOTE: The contents list for this collection is not online. Contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you would like one sent to you.]

The records are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following caveats: Portions of collection are stored offsite; researchers must give 48 hours advance notice. Portions of collection are closed - contact the Sophia Smith Collection for more information. This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to the unpublished works in this collection that were created by the organization Sisters, Inc. Copyright to materials authored by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Sisters Inc. Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.

The Sisters Inc. Records were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection by Kelly Anderson in 2011.

Accessioned by Amanda Izzo, May 2011

Children's writings, American -- 20th century Community development -- History -- 20th century -- Sources Girls -- Societies and clubs -- History -- 20th century -- Sources Girls -- United States -- History -- Sources Rural women -- History -- Sources Women -- Massachusetts, Western -- Social conditions Women in community development -- Massachusetts, Western Youth -- Services for -- United States -- History -- Sources Sisters Inc.