Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Historical Note
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Accession No. 4521-001: Women in Communications, inc. records, 1911-1981
- Accession No. 4521-002: Women in Communications, inc. records, 1915-1996
- Accession No. 4521-003: Association for Women in Communications records, 1907-2009
- Accession No. 4521-004: Association for Women in Communications records, 1960-2009
- Names and Subjects
Association for Women in Communications records, 1907-2009
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Association for Women in Communications
- Title
- Association for Women in Communications records
- Dates
- 1907-200919072009
- Quantity
- 43.2 cubic feet (45 boxes and 2 vertical files)
- Collection Number
- 4521
- Summary
- Records of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), Women in Communications, inc., and Theta Sigma Phi
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Association for Women In Communications (AWC) began as Theta Sigma Phi, a journalism honorary society. Theta Sigma Phi was established on April 8, 1909 by female students, notably Georgina Davis, née MacDougall, in the Journalism program at the University of Washington. The purpose of Theta Sigma Phi was to bring together women in journalism, honor women who distinguished themselves in journalism, and raise standards and improve working conditions for women in the profession. The society soon grew into a national organization with strong roots in the Seattle and Washington State, where chapter officers served as national officers until 1934.
Theta Sigma Psi supported the Hospitalized Veterans Project, which began in the 1940's, through 1970. Veterans' writings were published in the periodical Veterans' Voice. Theta Sigma Psi also began publishing The Matrix, a periodical for Women Journalists, in 1915. The Matrix was replaced by PRO/COMM (later the Professional Communicator) in 1981.
In October 1972, the national society's name was officially changed to Women In Communications, Inc. (WICI), which reflected its changing role as less honorary society and more professional organization; in 1996, the name again changed to Association for Women in Communications. Originally focused on print and broadcast journalism, the AWC's scope has expanded to other media of communication, including graphic design, photography, public relations, advertising, marketing, and online media. The AWC is also known for granting Clarion and Headliner awards to professionals across these varied disciplines.
The Matrix Foundation was established as the educational affiliate of AWC circa 1998; it too grants several annual awards.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Consult the scope and content information for each accession listed below.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 4 accessions.
- Accession No. 4521-001, Women in Communications, inc. records, 1911-1981
- Accession No. 4521-002, Women in Communications, inc. records, 1915-1996
- Accession No. 4521-003, Association for Women in Communications records, 1907-2009
- Accession No. 4521-004, Association for Women in Communications records, 1960-2009
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 4521-001: Women in Communications, inc. records, 1911-1981Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, bylaws and ritual, annual meetings, chapter manuals, directories, lists, reports, financial records, project files, publicity, Matrixmagazines, newsletters, records on 16mm negative microfilm.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Source: Anne Hecker, September 2005
Accession No. 4521-002: Women in Communications, inc. records, 1915-1996Return to Top
Scope and Content: Historical features, bylaws and other organizational features, manual, handbook, minutes, financial records, reports, publications and newsletters, membership directories, Board rosters, committee lists, list of presidents, project files, surveys, clippings, audiotapes and videotapes.
Acquisition Info: Source: Anne Hecker, December 1996
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Accession No. 4521-003: Association for Women in Communications records, 1907-2009Return to Top
Scope and Content: Board meeting minutes, photographs, biographical features, membership directories, conference programs, reports, bylaws, planning files, card files, historical features, correspondence, publications, clippings, scrapbooks and artifacts; 1909-2009.
The two scrapbooks (including clippings, photographs, correspondence and poems) in this accession were created by AWC founder Georgina MacDougall Davis. Seven issues of the paper she created for her lab in Journalism while attending UW are also included: issues 1-2 (December 1909) are titled Weekly Reporterand issues 3-7 (December-January 1909-1910) are titled Second Ward Reporter.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Acquisition Info: Nancy Wright, April 2010
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Accession | ||
| 1 | 4521-003 | National Board meeting minutes
Scope and Content:
In addition to meeting minutes, these files contain annual and
financial reports, conference proceedings, correspondence, handbooks and
related documents.
|
1926-1964 |
| 2 | 4521-003 | National Board meeting minutes and related
materials
Scope and Content:
In addition to meeting minutes, these files contain annual and
financial reports, conference proceedings, correspondence, handbooks and
related documents.
|
1964-1989 |
| 3 | 4521-003 | National Board meeting minutes and other
materials
General Notes:
The box contains empty folders for board meeting minutes for
years 2000-2002.
Scope and Content:
In addition to meeting minutes, these files contain annual and
financial reports, conference proceedings, correspondence, handbooks and
related documents (1990-1999). Also included in this box are historical
mementos and information, reports, planning files, and career surveys
(1927-1997).
|
1927-1999 |
| 4 | 4521-003 | Journalism career surveys and studies, member
statistics, award files
Scope and Content:
This box contains lists of winners of Headliner awards and
portrait files of winners by name (A-S).
|
|
| 5 | 4521-003 | Award files, membership pamphlets and
directories
Scope and Content:
This box contains Headliner award winner portrait files and
biography files by name (T-Z for portrait files and A-Z for biographies).
Membership directories span 1920-1991, but do not represent a complete run.
|
|
| 6 | 4521-003 | Membership directories, conference programs and
historical items
Scope and Content:
Membership directories in this box span 1994-1997; conference
programs date circa 1980-2009. The file for AWC's centennial anniversary
conference in 2009 contains a CD-ROM. Also included in this box are a handbook
with CD-ROM for the Matrix Foundation, two scrapbooks created by Georgina
MacDougall Davis and dating circa 1907-1975, card files on members and
chapters, and lapel pins showing the Matrix logo and the WICI logo.
|
1907-2009 |
| 7 | 4521-003 | Historical correspondence and photographs from
conferences
Scope and Content:
Historical correspondence labeled "Founders letters" can be
found in this box, but the bulk of these files contain photographs, contact
sheets, and negatives documenting AWC conferences from 1970-2003 (there is an
empty folder for 2004). Some of these photos were taken by professional
photographers. The files include six CD-ROMs of digital photographs as
well.
|
|
| Vertical file | 4521-003 | Conference photographs
Scope and Content:
|
1984 |
| Vertical file | 4521-003 | Newspapers:
Weekly Reporter/
Second Ward Reporter
Scope and Content:
This paper was produced by Georgina MacDougall Davis for a
Journalism lab when she attended the University of Washington. Issues 1-7 are
included.
|
1909 December - 1910 January |
Accession No. 4521-004: Association for Women in Communications records, 1960-2009Return to Top
Scope and Content: Materials relating primarily to the 100th Anniversary of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) in 2009 and, in particular, the DVD "100 Years: 1909-2009" that was created in celebration of this anniversary. Included are photographs, publications, newspaper clippings, articles, release forms, correspondence, video scripts (drafts and final copies), financial/expense records, interview log sheets, interviewee biographical material and contact information, and CDs and videos of photographs and interviews that were used to create the DVD, as well as 4 copies of the DVD "100 Years: 1909-2009." Also included are AWC and Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) newsletters, a membership directory, letterheads, logos, and a list of Matrix Table honorees.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Nancy L. Wright, 2014-05-23
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1 | 4521-004 | Association for Women in Communications (AWC)
photographs, publications, and organization information |
1920s-1990s |
| 1 | 4521-004 | Organization and founder photographs |
1910s-1970s |
| 1 | 4521-004 | Chapter charter pages |
undated |
| 1 | 4521-004 | 100th Anniversary video project interview log sheets;
interviewee information and contact information |
2009 |
| 1 | 4521-004 | Membership brochures |
various years |
| 1 | 4521-004 | 100th Anniversary video project papers, including
release forms, correspondence, scripts (drafts and final copies), financial and
expense information |
2009 |
| 1 | 4521-004 | 2009 National Conference materials |
2009 |
| 1 | 4521-004 | Photographs and information of the AWC's first male
members |
1972-1995 |
| 1 | 4521-004 | Georgina Davis photographs, biographical information,
correspondence, articles, and exhibit materials |
1960s-1980s |
| 2 | 4521-004 | CDs and videocassettes of photographs and interviews for
the 100th Anniversary DVD |
2009 |
| 2 | 4521-004 | 100 Years, 1909-2009 DVD |
2009 |
| 3 | 4521-004 | Inventory of interviews and photographs for 100th
Anniversary video project |
2009 |
| 3 | 4521-004 | Matrix Table Honorees, 1937-1987 |
1987 |
| 3 | 4521-004 | Seattle Professional Chapter letterheads |
undated |
| 3 | 4521-004 | Theta Sigma Phi logos |
undated |
| 3 | 4521-004 | WICI newsletters |
1988-1992 |
| 3 | 4521-004 | WICI newsletters |
1993-1999 |
| 4 | 4521-004 | Photocopy of the University of Washington
Daily |
12/13/1909 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Journalists--Washington (State)
- Women journalists--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Davis, Georgina
Corporate Names
- Association for Women in Communications. Seattle Professional Chapter--Archives
- Association for Women in Communications. Seattle Professional Chapter--By-laws
- Association for Women in Communications. Seattle Professional Chapter--Membership
- Theta Sigma Phi--Archives
- Women in Communications, inc.--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Business correspondence
- By-laws
- Ephemera
- Minutes (Records)
- Newsletters
- Records (Documents)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
