mnsss319 American Association of University Women Records, 1921-1983 (ongoing) Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College American Association of University Women Records, 1921-1983 (ongoing) Finding Aid MS 330 2005 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview American Association of University Women American Association of University Women Records1921-1983 (ongoing) MS 330 2 boxes (1.25 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Women's collegiate association. Collection conisists primarily of printed material relating to the organization and its Boston and Los Angeles branches. Historical Note

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was the first organization of university women in the United States. It was founded as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA) on January 14, 1882 by sixty-five women from Boston University, the universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, Cornell, Oberlin, Smith, Vassar, and Wellesley. In 1921, the name was changed to the American Association of University Women after the ACA merged with the Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae (founded 1883 in Chicago) and the Southern Association of College Women (founded in 1903). The AAUW led the movement to improve conditions and facilities for women in many colleges and universities. Early administrators used AAUW institutional admission as leverage to obtain funding for women's dormitories, to improve the salaries of women instructors, and to encourage the hiring of women in positions beyond the instructor level, as well as to promote a cordial attitude toward women students. Today the Association promotes the advancement of women's education and women in society by funding projects of branch and state divisions and individual members through research and project grants and fellowship programs. The AAUW maintains a library and an archival collection on women, supports a lobbying team on women's issues, and produces numerous publications. There are branches in every state and a membership of nearly two hundred thousand.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Records consist of printed material related to the AAUW and its Boston and Los Angeles branches. The collection also contains some memorabilia and audio tapes of the 1981 National Convention in Boston.

NOTE: There is no container list for this collection. Please contact us for more information.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following caveats:

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Portions of collection are stored offsite; researchers must give 48 hours advance notice.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

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

American Association of University Women Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms American Association of University Women--History--Sources Universities and colleges--Alumni and Alumnae--United States--History--Sources Women college graduates--United States--History--Sources Women--Education--United States--History--Sources Women in the professions--United States--History--20th century--Sources