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ODU University Archives
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[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Dr. Carolyn Rhodes
Gift.
Friends of Women's Studies is the community support group for the Women's Studies program at Old Dominion University. The purpose of the Friends of Women's Studies is to preserve and strengthen the Women's Studies program at ODU, to educate the community and university about the program, and to underwrite functions of the Women's Studies program that are otherwise unfunded.
The Women's Studies program itself began in 1977 with a grant and was the first Women's Studies program in Virginia. Carolyn Rhodes was the coordinator of the pilot program which offered six courses relating to women's influences in society. It grew and expanded under the leadership of Nancy Topping Bazin (Women's Studies Director, 1978-1985). When she resigned in 1985, the future of the program seemed in doubt.
Carolyn Rhodes (Women's Studies Coordinator, 1977-78) mobilized professional women at ODU and in the community to form the Friends of Women's Studies to support the continuance of the Women's Studies program. Also involved were Ellen Mars (Women's Caucus President), Edie Harrison, Zelda Silverman, Sharon Adams, and Nellie Hayse (who was to become the first President of the Friends of Women's Studies). The group of women rounded up a support group, held meetings, and developed a constitution. The number of supporters grew and the organization began to take shape.
On January 25, 1986, an organizing committee of close to 80 women met for the inaugural event of the Friends of Women's Studies attended by hundreds. The initial tasks of the organization were to raise money for the Women's Studies program and to provide public lectures explaining exactly what Women's Studies was all about.
In 1990, the Friends of Women's Studies began funding the Women's Studies Student Essay Contest and the Women's Studies Junior Faculty Lecture. In 1995, when Women's Studies became a major, the Friends of Women's Studies started an endowment scholarship, named in honor of Carolyn Rhodes. They also began buying Women's Studies journals for the ODU Library. When Nancy Bazin retired in 1999, the Friends of Women's Studies raised money for an endowed scholarship for graduate students in her honor.
Friends of Women's Studies sponsors Work in Progress conferences in the community, provides support for an annual feminist activist fair, provides a mentoring program for Women's Studies students, produces the Like Minds newsletter, and hosts an annual dinner that includes speakers. Board members are made up of women professionals, faculty members, former Women's Studies students, and other individuals from the University and local community. Much of the success of the Women's Studies program comes from the support of the Friends of Women's Studies.
Note written by Special Collections Staff
This collection contains material related to the formation of the Friends of Women's Studies, the development arm of the Old Dominion University Department of Women's Studies. Included in the collection are administrative materials, such as bylaws and correspondence; news articles; newsletters; event invitations; information on grants and scholarships; and photographs.
The collection is organized into six series: Series I: Administrative; Series II: Events; Series III: Grants and Scholarships; Series IV: Meetings; Series V: Newsletters/News Articles; and Series VI: Photographs.
Old Dominion University Department of Women's Studies Records (RG 17-28A).
This series contains administrative and business related materials including by-laws; correspondence; address lists; and promotional brochures for the organization.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Address List, 1996, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Board of Directors Address List, 1986, 1992, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Brochures, 1988-1998, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Bylaws of Friends of Women's Studies, 1990, undated, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Correspondence to Caucus members & Friends of Women's Studies, 1986-1999, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Directory of Women Scholars of Hampton Roads, 1989-1990, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, "Talking Paper" Support Group for Women's Studies, 1985, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 23, Reference Material, 1989, undated, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 24, Fundraising, circa 1988-1992, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains event invitations for the various events and lectures, including the retirement party for Nancy Bazin and the appointment of Dr. Ellen Lewin as the director of Women's Studies in 1986. Also included is a program for the 1986 lecture series "Changing Perspectives for Women."
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Event Invitations, 1986-2018, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 9, Invitation to Reception--Dr. Ellen Lewin, 1986, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 10, Conferences and Programs, circa 1986-1992, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains Endowed Lecture Grant Applications, and information on the Nancy Topping Bazin Graduate Scholarship and its recipients.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 11, Endowed Lecture Grant Application I, 1983-1987, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 12, Endowed Lecture Grant Application II, 1983-1984, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 13, Scholarships, 1999, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains meeting minutes, promotional materials for the Friends of Women's Studies Annual Dinner Meeting, and meeting invitations.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 14, Annual Dinner Meetings, 1986-2005, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 15, Friends of Women's Studies Meeting Invitations, 1986, 1996, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 16, Meeting Minutes, 1986-1992, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains issues of the Like Minds newsletter, along with the group's first unnamed newsletter; news articles related to the formation of the Friends of Women's Studies; and an annotated copy of Belles Letters magazine.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 17, Newsletters, 1986-1992, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 18, Like Minds Newsletter, 1998-2005, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 19, News Articles/Releases, 1986-2022, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 20, Belles Letters, Volume 10, Issue 3, 1995, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains various photos related to the Friends of Women's Studies including awards and celebrations.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 21, College of Arts & Letters Photos, undated, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 22, Unidentified Photo, undated, Friends of Women's Studies Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.