The University of Washington Women's Council was established by the provost's office in 1972 to ensure that UW's affirmative action goals were met. These goals included promoting, developing, and advancing the rights and equal opportunities for all women at UW. The council also acted as an advisory group to the director of the Office for Affirmative Action for Women. Katharine B. Thom held the director's position and was an ex-officio member of the council until 1975. The council's advisory role included establishing direction and guidelines concerning the development of opportunities for UW women in employment, education, and extracurricular activities in accordance with federal and state affirmative action guidelines. Members of the women's council considered their work to be part of the larger human rights movement.
Membership in the UW Women's Council was limited to 15-25 women representing a balance of faculty, staff, and students. The council sought to include members with diverse points of view. Appointments were made to the council for a period of one academic year with the possibility of reappointment for two additional terms. The offices of chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer were also rotated in the same cycle. The council met on a monthly basis to review activities and agendas based on the group's purpose and mission, and to discuss specific problems. It often weighed in on specific cases of employment discrimination, particularly as it related to job classification, tenure, and pay inequity; it also researched issues of concern to women in the university community. The provost's office had a continuing role in the administrative functions of the council. Philip Cartwright and George Beckman held the office of provost during the council's life span.
The council helped to set up the Women's Information Center and served as the center's advisory committee. In the fall of 1983, the Women's Council changed its name to Council on the Status of Women.
The collection consists of the records of the University of Washington Women's Council and of its steering committee. Also included are records collected by the Women's Council from the Task Force on the Comparability of Certain Exempt and Classified Positions, the UW Women's Studies Advisory Committee, and the UW Faculty Senate Special Committee on Women.
Access is partially restricted. Contact the Special Collections division, University of Washington Libraries for details.
These are public records; use is unrestricted when access is granted.
Transferred by Ruth Robinson, 1974 and 1975; Linda Erickson of the Equal Employment and Affirmative Action Office, 1985; and Anne Guthrie, 1989.
Processed in 2005.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Major administrative records include membership files, minutes, goals, and procedures. Most correspondence is limited to members of the university community. Major correspondents include women who held leadership positions in the council as well as representatives of various UW administrative offices: Anne Guthrie, Thelma Kennedy, Veleda Pierre, Ruth Robinson, Mira Sinco, Rose Stogsdill, Katharine Thom, Mary Lou Tull, Lesley Wilson, and the University of Washington Office of the President and Office of the Provost. Subject series include background information on the status of women in general, sexual harrassment, comparable worth, and Title IX. There are also letters and meeting minutes covering the hiring of a new director for the Office of Equal Opportunity for Women.
Several of the grievance files are restricted.
Restricted.
Restricted.
Restricted.
The steering committee was established to act on behalf of the UW Women's Council between regular meetings and during the summer recess. It consisted of the chairperson of the Women's Council and four elected members.
Restricted.
The Faculty Senate Special Committee on Women was created in 1972 for the purpose of "investigating the problems of women faculty, suggesting solutions to such problems, and participating in carrying out such solutions." The committee was interested in a range of issues including hiring, promotion, tenure and affirmative action, salary equity, faculty women's grievances and the procedures for resolving them, and women graduate students.
The committee advised the UW Women's Studies program on curriculum, hiring, and other issues.
Material includes agendas and correspondence.