Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho records, 1971-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho
Title
Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho records
Dates
1971-1980 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic feet
Collection Number
MG 109
Summary
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.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Description of Item], The Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho records, MG 109, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

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.

Acquisition Information

Series 2 was donated by Sharl Kay Keskinen, the last secretary of the Women's Caucus and its Core Caucus in July 2024.

Related Materials

Related materials may be found in: UG 71 (Women's Center Records), UG 59 (Women's Center Records), and MG 455 (Betsy Thomas Papers).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: The Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Affirmative Action
28 items : Contains several newspaper articles from the Idahonian (1973-1975) dealing with affirmative action at the university, a letter from Virginia Wolf to President Hartung and Vice-president Richardson regarding affirmative action at the university, a copy of the Women's Caucus complaint filed with the Idaho Commission on Human Rights (May 18, 1973), minutes from two meetings of the Faculty Council in the fall of 1974 in which affirmative action was discussed, and the university's affirmative action plan as printed in the University Register, October 20, 1975.
28 February 1972-11 September 1979
1 2
Brochures, Publications
22 items : Contains two issues of a newsletter entitled Awareness published at the University of Idaho, one copy of a Boise newsletter Feminist, and one issue of the Women's Center Newsletter. The remaining items in the folder are brochures published by the university which were designed to inform women of the opportunities available to them at the university.
1 October 1971-March 1975
1 3
Legal Suit
43 items : On May 18, 1973, the Women's Caucus filed a suit against the University of Idaho, charging the university with sex discrimination in hiring, promotion, and salary. This folder contains several of the legal documents in the case, correspondence with the Idaho Commission on Human Rights, and related newspaper articles.
24 May 1973-13 August 1980
1 4
Legal Suit Interrogatory
1 item : On May 18, 1973, the Women's Caucus filed a suit against the University of Idaho, charging the university with sex discrimination in hiring, promotion, and salary. This folder contains an interrogatory for the case, including several legal documents and correspondence.
14 January 1960-20 July 1973
1 5
Legal Suit (Duplicate Interrogatory)
1 item : On May 18, 1973, the Women's Caucus filed a suit against the University of Idaho, charging the university with sex discrimination in hiring, promotion, and salary. This folder contains an interrogatory for the case, including several legal documents and correspondence. (duplicate copy)
14 January 1960-20 July 1973
1 6
Meetings
97 items : Contains notices of meetings and minutes of meetings of the Women's Caucus for the period December 1971 to April 1980. Material is very incomplete for most years, 1971, 1977, 1978, and 1979 contain one item each. The most complete years are 1973 and 1974.
7 December 1971-16 April 1980
1 7
Notices, Letters, and Memos
111 items : Contains the Constitution and by-laws of the Women's Caucus which were adopted in 1980. There are also several miscellaneous letters regarding the organization of the caucus, letters dealing with the lack of women on committees, including the Presidential Search Committee, suggestions for women speakers for the 1972 Borah Symposium, a list of caucus members, newspaper and magazine articles dealing with the women's movement in general, the report of the university's committee on language use policy, a brief history of the Women's Caucus, and a transcription of tapes made during a meeting caucus members had with President Hartung in April 1972.
21 February 1972-1 May 1980
1 8
Salary Equity
87 items : Contains charts of academic salary distribution for the academic years 1972/1973 to 1976/1977, a report of the university committee on collective bargaining (1975), correspondence with the US Dept. of Labor Wage and Hour Division regarding the university's violation of the Equal Pay Act, questionnaire, newspaper articles, correspondence with George Kibbie of the Idaho Human Rights Commission regarding the compliance review, and the University of Idaho response to recommendations in the report of the State of Idaho Human Rights Commission compliance review (1977).
26 April 1972-1 May 1980
1 9
Women on Campus
101 items : Contains reports of the Committee on Women's Education and the President's Committee on Women's Programs, studies on the reasons for the high drop-out rate among female students—including the results of questionnaires sent to those who dropped out, and newspaper articles related to the above material.
19 April 1971-November 1974
1 10
Women's Status in Contemporary Society
9 items : This was the title of a seminar held at the University of Idaho Student Union Building on February 19, 1972. The items in this folder include the printed program and seven newspaper articles.
12 February 1972-23 February 1972

Series 2: Addition to the Women's Caucus of the University of Idaho RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 11
Conciliation Agreement
3 items : Contains copies of the conciliation agreement between the Women's Caucus and the University of Idaho and a program for the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the Conciliation Agreement.
8 May 1974-May 2009
1 12
Conciliation Agreement Compliance Review
9 items : Contains drafts of the compliance review of the conciliation agreement, responses to the compliance review from the University of Idaho Women's Caucus and the University of Idaho, and correspondence pertaining to the compliance review.
2 July 1979-5 February 1980
1 13
Correspondence: Dr. Jean Hill and Charles Nicholas
6 items : Contains correspondence between Dr. Jean Hill, Dean for Student Advisory Services and chairperson of the Women's Caucus, and Charles Nicholas, director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission.
22 May 1975-8 March 1976
1 14
Correspondence: Dr. Jean Hill and Dr. Hartung
4 items : Contains correspondence between Dr. Jean Hill, Dean for Student Advisory Services and chairperson of the Women's Caucus, and Dr. Hartung, President of the University of Idaho.
8 March 1976-25 April 1977
1 15
Correspondence: Dr. Jean Hill and George R. Kibbe
6 items : Contains correspondence between Dr. Jean Hill, Dean for Student Advisory Services and chairperson of the Women's Caucus, and George R. Kibbe, Director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission.
2 December 1976-17 March 1977
1 16
Correspondence: Idaho Human Rights Commission (General)
8 items : Contains general correspondence between the Idaho Human Right Commission and various parties.
24 February 1978-3 May 1979
1 17
Correspondence: Idaho Human Rights Commission and the Women's Caucus
13 items : Contains correspondence between the Idaho Human Rights Commission and members of the Women's Caucus at the University of Idaho.
26 October 1977-13 August 1980
1 18
Correspondence: Miscellaneous
5 items : Contains miscellaneous correspondence.
20 August 1973-12 June 1979
1 19
Correspondence: Women's Caucus and the Idaho State Board of Education
2 items : Contains correspondence between members of the Women's Caucus and Edward L. Benoit, the president of the Idaho State Board of Education.
23 July 1976-3 August 1976
1 20
Correspondence: Women's Caucus Members
33 items : Contains correspondence between members of the Women's Caucus.
7 March 1972-25 November 1981
1 21
Correspondence: Women's Caucus and President Richard Gibb
13 items : Contains correspondence between members of the Women's Caucus and Richard Gibb, University of Idaho President.
1 22
Correspondence: Women's Caucus and the University of Idaho
13 items : Contains correspondence between members of the Women's Caucus and various individuals and groups at the University of Idaho.
7 October 1974-13 April 1981
1 23
Miscellaneous
9 items : Contains miscellaneous papers, including lists of University of Idaho new faculty, an overview of teaching faculty in academe (from ACE Faculty and Staff Survey Newsletter), the State of Idaho Commission on Women's Programs newsletter vol. 1 no.1, the University of Idaho University Register vol. 2 no. 22, a preliminary draft of a Title IX review, minutes from a university faculty meeting, a CETA VI Projects weekly time report, and a vehicle release order form.
20 August 1973-5 November 1979
1 24
Miscellaneous Notes
32 items : Contains miscellaneous handwritten notes.
10 July 1978-April 1981
1 25
Newspaper Clippings and Publications
9 items : Contains newspaper clippings and publications about sex discripinaiton and equal pay in higher education.
19 September 1973-9 June 1980
1 26
Salary and Affirmative Action: Affirmative Action Committee
15 items : Contains correspondence and papers pertaining to the University of Idaho Faculty Council Affirmative Aciton Committee.
7 April 1976-13 October 1978
1 27
Salary and Affirmative Action: College Placement Council Reports
2 items : Contains reports from the College Placement Council, entitled "Employment of Recent College Graduates, October 1972" and "College-Trained Manpower: Supply and Demand."
20 August 1973-29 October 1973
1 28
Salary and Affirmative Action: Faculty Policy
8 items : Contains correspondence and policy pertaining to faculty salary information at the University of Idaho.
17 January 1977-21 April 1978
1 29
Salary and Affirmative Action: Faculty Salary Models and Residuals
33 items : Contains salary models and residuals for faculty at the University of Idaho.
27 September 1976-26 October 1978
1 30
Salary and Affirmative Action: Job Review Questionnaire
12 items : Contains correspondence about a faculty job review questionnaire and drafts of the job review questionnaire.
16 September 1975-30 September 1975
1 31
Salary and Affirmative Action: Miscellaneous
31 items : Contains miscellaneous papers related to salary and affirmative action at the University of Idaho.
10 October 1973-23 June 1977
1 32
Salary and Affirmative Action: Professional Exempt Staff
9 items : Contains papers, policy, and reports pertaining to the employment of professional exempt staff.
1 33
Salary and Affirmative Action: Salary Adjustments
35 items : Contains faculty salary adjustment forms.
23 April 1974-6 May 1974
1 34
Salary and Affirmative Action: Scope/Risk Analysis Data
23 items : Contains scope/risk analysis data and forms.
21 May 1976-11 February 1977
1 35
Salary and Affirmative Action: Salary Equity Committee
40 items : Contains correspondence, reports, and papers pertaining to the University of Idaho Salary Equity Committee.
1 November 1973-28 April 1980
1 36
Salary and Affirmative Action: Salary Equity Committee Meetings
20 items : Contains minutes from meetings of the University of Idaho Staff Salary Equity Committee
13 September 1973-23 November 1976
1 37
University Policy
7 items : Contains university policy papers.
22 October 1974-10 March 1980
1 38
Women's Caucus Constitution and Bylaws
2 items : Contains the consitution and bylaws of the University of Idaho Women's Caucus.
1 May 1980
1 39
Women's Caucus Information
3 items : Contains a list of women's caucus membership, purpose statement for the Women's Caucus, and a summary of the Women's Caucus at the University of Idaho.
13 February 1976-October 1978
1 40
Women's Caucus Meeting Notes and Materials
16 items : Contains minutes and materials for meeting of the Women's Caucus at the University of Idaho.
4 June 1974-10 December 1981
1 41
Women's Caucus Meeting Transcript
1 item : Contains transcript from a meeting between members of the Women's Caucus and Dr. Hartung, President of the University of Idaho.
22 April 1976
1 42
American Association of University Women
16 items : Contains correspondence, newsletters, and publications from the American Association of University Women.
1 February 1982-11 March 1983
1 43
Robert Theobald's Address to Women and Technology Forum
1 item : Contains transcript from Robert Theobald's Address to the Women and Technology Forum in Phoenix, Arizona in March, 1982.
13 March 1982
1 44
Women in Technology/Taking Hold of Technology
55 items : Contains newspaper clippings, newsletters, and publications about Women in Technology/Taking Hold of Technology in the United States.
9 May 1974-March 1983

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University of Idaho. Women's Caucus
  • Women college students