This organization was started at the State College of Washington (later Washington State University) in 1912 as the Women's League but changed its name to the Associated Women Students (AWS, later AWSWSU) in 1928. All undergraduate women automatically became members upon their enrollment at the university. A member of the Intercollegiate Association of Women Students, the purpose of AWS is to promote interest in student activities and encourage participation in various aspects of campus life. One of the early goals of the AWS was to raise money for a Women's Building. Funds for this project were raised by sponsoring an annual drama production, The College Revue. Other major activities which AWS sponsored and organized were Women's Day and Mother's Weekend.
The structure of AWS was reorganized in 1958 to parallel that of the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU). The Women's President's Council, composed of presidents of all women's living groups on campus, was incorporated into AWS as the House of Representatives at this time. The AWS governing body was made up of an Executive Board, the House of Representatives and a Senate which included elected women representative of each class. In 1981, AWSWSU merged with ASWSU.
The collection contains the records of the Associated Women Students of Washington State University (AWSWSU), from 1910-1974, with the bulk from 1940-1967. The minutes of the AWSWSU, arranged chronologically, comprise the largest quantity of material. Included with the minutes are correspondence, memoranda, agendas, attendance records and programs relating to retreats and other AWSWSU activities. Since AWSWSU committees are responsible for carrying out the goals of the AWSWSU, committee reports comprise a large part of the collection. They are arranged alphabetically by committee. Often included with these reports are correspondence and programs. Other material in the collection includes scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and financial records
Minutes are arranged chronologically, reports are arranged alphabetically.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Associated Women Students of Washington State University Records, 1910-1974 (Archives 115)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
WSU 3
The records of the Associated Women Students were reprocessed from their original location (WSU 3) by Anne Frantilla in June 1983.
Associated Women Students of Washington State University Records, 1954-1986
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.