West Virginia University, Women's Studies Center, Records A&M 5048

West Virginia University, Women's Studies Center, Records A&M 5048


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia and Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 5048
Title
West Virginia University, Women's Studies Center, Records 1885-2002 and undated
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/208352
Quantity
19.67 Linear Feet, 19 ft. 7 in. (4 document cases, 5 in. each; 10 record cartons, 15 in. each; 5 flat storage boxes, 3 in. each; 4 flat storage boxes, 4 in. each; 3 flat storage box, 6 in.; 1 oversized record carton, 17 in.)
Creator
West Virginia University. Center for Women's Studies
source
West Virginia University. Center for Women's Studies
source
Waugh, Lillian J., 1941-2018
source
Brown, Lillian C. Holmes, 1914-2010
source
Fleming, Dolores A., 1933-2015
source
Jewett, Eugene Alden, 1941-2013
source
Temple, Mary Walter
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

Casework files, reference letters, and infant care mateirals are closed for one-hundred years after the latest date of creation due to private and sensitive information. Materials in box 27 may begin to be accessed in 2039.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], West Virginia University, Women's Studies Center, Records, A&M 5048, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transfer from West Virginia University Women's Studies Center, Waugh, Lillian, 2000 January 18.

Transfer from West Virginia University Women's Studies Center, Waugh, Lillian, 2001 February 16.

Gift of Waugh, Lillian, 2002 July 07.

Transfer from West Virginia University Women's Studies Center, 2006 March 29.

Biographical / Historical

The Center for Women's and Gender Studies (CWGS) is an academic unit within West Virginia University's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences that offers a central location for discourse relative to the field of women's and gender studies. CWGS finds its origins in an informal Caucus for Women's Concerns formed in 1972 within West Viginia University (WVU) to "achieve equitable treatment of women." In 1977, the Caucus submitted recommendations to then-WVU President Gene Budig regarding the establishment of a women's studies program and an advisory council on women's concerns. In response to these recommendations, the Caucus was officially accepted by the university as the Council for Women's Concerns (CWC), which included a Women's Studies Subcommittee formed to research and help facilitate a formal women's studies program.

The first proposal for a women's studies program was submitted to the CWC by Renata Pore in 1978, upon which a search committee headed by Dr. Enid Portnoy of the English Department was established. In 1980, the Women's Studies Program (WSP) was officially established as an interdisciplinary program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Judith Stitzel, a founding member of the CWC, was selected to serve as the first part-time coordinator of the WSP.

Under Stitzel's direction, the WSP developed an undergraduate Certificate Program in Women's Studies to be first offered in 1984. Simultaneously, the Center for Women's Studies (CWS) was established in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research to provide a collective space for students to gather. Judith Stitzel was made the founding director of the center, a position she would hold until 1992, making her the longest consecutive director of the center. The CWS would become affiliated with the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in 1993.

The first undergraduate Certificates in Women's Studies at WVU were awarded to six students in 1986, the same year the first Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) graduated in Women's Studies. The Carrie Koeteurius Scholarship, which is still offered as of 2024, was first awarded to Deborah Gregory Eck and Lilo Ast in 1987.

One of the major projects of the CWS, the Women's Centenary, "Excellence Through Equity" began planning in 1987 with Dr. Lillian Waugh being chosen as the research coordinator. After several years of planning and research, the Women's Centenary commenced in September 1989 on the 100-year anniversary of the first group of women to be admitted to WVU as degree candidates. Events were held over a two-year period, including lecture series, galas, building rededications, historical tours, exhibits, time capsule creations, and county-wide engagements. The Women's Centenary culminated with a convocation in 1991 on the 100-year anniversary of the first woman to graduate from WVU, Harriet Lyon.

In 1992, Judith Stitzel stepped down as director of the CWS, and the position was taken up by Helen Bannan from 1994 to 1998. Under Barbara Howe's directorship from 1998 to 2007, a BA and undergraduate minor in women's studies was established to coexist with the Certificate in Women's Studies. The first WVU women's studies major, Jamie Lynn Baxter, graduated in December 2003.

Janice Spleth served as interim director between 2008 and 2009, before Ann Oberhauser took directorship in 2009. Under her leadership in 2012, the CWS was renamed the Center for Women's and Gender Studies to incorporate a larger scale of classes and topics. After Oberhauser stepped down in 2013, Jennifer Orlikoff took directorship until 2016. Between 2016 and 2019, Cari Carpenter and Kasi Jackson served as interim directors, during which the LGBTQ+ Center was opened. In 2019, Sharon Bird became director, a position she still holds as of October 2024. In 2021, the Center for Women's and Gender Studies moved into its home in the Hodges Hall, Suite 505.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains materials from the West Virginia University Women's Studies Center, now called the Center for Women's and Gender Studies. Materials include financial documents, organization records, newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, posters, and textiles. The earliest materials in the collection are letters from the first women to attend West Virginia University in 1885 prior to their admittance to the university in 1889. The latest materials include papers used by the West Virginia Women's Studies Center in their outreach and activity groups in 2002. The collection was divided into fifteen series based upon legacy titles provided with the original transfer of materials as well as addendums and restricted materials:

Series 1. Velma W. Miller (VWM) Papers, 1952-1996 and undated (Boxes 1, 4-5, and 21)

Series 2. Greek Life, 1905-1948 and undated (Boxes 2 and 4)

Series 3. Elma Hicks Martin (EHM), 1920-1994 and undated (Boxes 3 and 23)

Series 4. Women and West Virignia Univeristy, 1885-2000 and undated (Boxes 3, 6, 16-23, and 26) - Addendum 2006 March 29 (Box 26)

Series 5. Social Work Papers, 1922-1942 and undated (Boxes 3-4)

Series 6. Glassware Companies, 1899-1965 and undated (Boxes 3-4, 6-7, 11, and 23)

Series 7. Tida Bailey (TB) Papers, 1887-1991 and undated (Boxes 6, 15, and 23)

Series 8. Natalie Tennant (NT) Papers, 1990-1991 and undated (Boxes 6 and 21)

Series 9. Carrie Kate Fleming (CKF) Papers, 1890-1966 and undated (Boxes 9-10)

Series 10. Religion and Sprituality, 1971-1999 and undated (Boxes 7 and 12)

Series 11. West Virginia Women's Commission, 1984-1998 and undated (Boxes 8, and 13-14)

Series 12. General West Virginia Publications, 1951-1998 (Box 8)

Series 13. Equity, 1982-1997 and undated (Box 12)

Series 14. Home Economics, 1927-1994 and undated (Boxes 12-13, 15, and 21)

Series 15. Lillian J. Waugh Papers, 1937-2002 and undated (Boxes 24-25)

- Addendum 2001/07/11 (Boxes 24 and 25) Series 16. Restricted, 1928-2000 and undated (Box 27)

Related Material

A&M 3107, A&M 3376, A&M 5052, A&M 5131, and A&M 5234.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series 1. Velma W. Miller (VWM) Papers
1952-1996 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series consists of papers created and collected by Velma M. Miller (1907-1996), a founding member of the West Virginia Alliance for Women's Studies (WVAWS) and the first female president of the Monongalia Chamber of Commerce. Materials include newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, awards, scrapbooks and newsletters documenting her community service and work for the WVAWS and Monongalia County.

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Series 2. Greek Life
1905-1948 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series consists of scrapbooks, correspondence, and ephemera relating to various Greek life fraternities and sororities including Phi Upsilon Omicron, Phi Phi Alpha, and Chi Omega, particularly in regards to the development of women's involvement in these chapters. The scrapbooks contain photographs, correspondence, invitations, awards, certificates, cards, drawings, and ephemera from 1905 to 1948.

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Series 3. Elma Hicks Martin (EHM) Papers
1920-1994
Scope and Contents

This series consists of facsimile journal entries by Elma Hicks Martin (1909-1995), an early female graduate of WVU, from 1920 to 1994.

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Series 4. Women and West Virginia University (WVU)
1885-2000 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series consists of materials collected during research for the West Virginia University (WVU) Women's Centenary and generally relating to women at WVU, widely ranging from 1885 to 2000. It includes newsletters, newspaper clippings, publications, correspondence, exhibit materials, photographs, event and exhibit planning, ephemera, and research. Of particular interest are two dresses worn by early female students at WVU as well as a puppet created in the likeness of the first female graduate Harriet Lyon for the WVU Women's Centenary. There are also two reel to reel audio tapes and one cassette tape. Included in the 2006 March 03 addendum (Box 26) are two plaques that list the women who won the "Mary Catherine Buswell Award" which awarded women for their outstanding service at West Virginia University. Some award winners include Carol Wilkinson, Lillian J. Waugh, Kittie J. Blakemore, and Judith Stitzel.

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Series 5. Social Work Papers
1922-1942 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes materials relating to social work in the Morgantown area between 1910 and 1942. It includes studies into social work and information about students studying social work at West Virginia University, such as class journals and essays. Materials also include newspaper articles, publications, and reports.

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Series 6. Glassware Companies
1899-1965 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials regarding the function and operations of the Economy Tumbler Company (ETC), Morgantown Glassware Guild (MGG), and Morgantown Glass Works (MGW) between 1899 and 1965. It includes correspondence financial reports, audit reports, band ledgers, deeds, correspondence, loans, leases, tax forms, certificates, and receipts.

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Series 7. Tida Bailey (TB) Papers
1887-1991 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials relating to Tida Bailey, a teacher in Monongalia County in the 1890s. It includes correspondence, school materials, teacher certificates, programs, suffrage poems, photographs, and social event ephemera dated from 1887 and 1926.

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Series. 8 Natalie Tennant (NT) Papers
1990-1991 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains newspaper clippings related to Natalie Tennant, the first female WVU Mountaineer mascot from 1990 to 1991.

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Series 9. Carrie Kate Fleming (CKF) Papers
1890-1966 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials collected by Carrie Kate Fleming, an early female graduate of West Virginia University and member of Phi Betta Kappa. Materials include scrapbooks created by Carrie K. Fleming and her sister, Rosalean, and a military ball handbag.

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Series 10. Religion and Spirituality
1971-1999 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains research materials related to the study of women and spirituality. Materials include articles, poetry, meeting minutes, and publications.

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Series 11. West Virginia Women's Commission
1984-1998 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains material created by the West Virginia Women's Commission which was formed in 1977 to improve the status of women in West Virginia. Materials include reports, correspondence, pamphlets, articles, publications, catalogs, and policy papers.

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Series 12. General West Virginia Publications
1951-1998
Scope and Contents

This series contains publications related to West Virginia history.

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Series 13. Equity
1982-1997 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials related to the promotion of sex equity in schools and the workplace. Materials include reports, manuals, notes, and conference materials.

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Series 14. Home Economics
1927-1994 and undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes material created by the Home Economics department at West Virginia University. Materials include guest registers, photographs, and scrapbooks.

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Series 15. Lillian J. Waugh Papers
1937-2002 and undated
Scope and Contents

Included in the 2002 July 11 addendum (Boxes 24 and 25) are the records of Lillian Waugh, employee of the WVU Women's Studies Center from 1986 to 2000. It includes: directories of the Morgantown branch of the American Association of University Women (1998-2001); records of the WVU Women's Centenary and WVU Women's Studies Center (1986-2000); records of the Council for Women's Concerns (1977-1981) and the Social Justice Council (1988-1993); records of the West Virginia Alliance for Women's Studies (WVAWS) (1988-1991, 1997-2000); and short story sketches by Jane Greer, business woman and wife of H.C. Greer, owner and Publisher of the Morgantown Post (1937).

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