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Southern California Women for Understanding records
Coll2011-076
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Southern California Women for Understanding records
creator:
Southern California Women for Understanding
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2011-076
Identifier/Call Number: 221
Physical Description:
2.6 Linear Feet
8 boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1975-1998
Abstract: Survey records, meeting minutes, newsletter editorial material, photographs, negatives, correspondence, financial records,
event programs, press releases, manuscripts, promotional material, and other material documenting the activities of Southern
California Women for Understanding (SCWU), 1975-1998. Founded in 1976, SCWU was an organization of women "dedicated to creating
an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian issues within both the homosexual and heterosexual communities." Notably, this
collection includes numerous photographs and textual content used in the publication of the SCWU newsletter, as well as a
1988 survey of 1000 lesbian women.
Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU) was founded in 1976 to create "an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian
issues within both the homosexual and heterosexual communities." Betty Berzon, a lesbian board member of the predominantly
male Whitman-Radclyffe Foundation, took hold of the idea to form an all woman support group in Southern California. Twenty
women attended the first meeting in a private home, and ten decided to start a women's group.
At the first meeting of what was to become SCWU, Myra Riddell was elected chair, and the name "Southern California Women for
Whitman-Radclyffe" was adopted. However by July 1977, the group decided to break with Whitman-Radclyffe and form an independent
organization of women. SCWU incorporated in August 1978, and the organization began forming chapters a year later. In 1979,
SCWU held its first Lesbian Rights Award, and Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were the first honorees. By 1980, the number of
members exceeded 500, and an office was opened with a fulltime staff person. In 1984, SCWU established the L. Diane Anderson
Trust to support education and research on lesbian issues. Support of community organizations also expanded with the sponsorship
of Connexxus Women's Center/Centro de Mujeres.
Described in 1982 as one of the largest lesbian support organizations in the country, SCWU at its peak had over 1100 members
who were predominantly professional, educated women. By the late-1980s, the group was experiencing internal conflicts and
its membership began to dwindle.
Source:
[Box 1, Folder 4] Southern California Women for Understanding Records, Coll2011-076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
The 1988 lesbian survey results were donated by Bunny MacCulloch to the International Gay & Lesbian Archives on September
19, 1982. The donor and date of acquisition for the remaining materials is unknown.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Southern California Women for Understanding Records, Coll2011-076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian
Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, December 2012. Revised with additional description to the photographs, January 2016.
This collection includes administrative records, promotional material, Lesbian Rights Award event records, newsletter editorial
records, and survey records from Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU), 1975-1998, an organization "dedicated
to creating an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian issues." The General Administration Series includes minutes, correspondence,
promotional material, manuscripts, and a 1988 survey of 1000 lesbian women conducted by the SCWU research committee. The
Newsletter Editorial Material and Photographs Series comprises photographs, editorial copy, clippings, newsletters and other
material used in the publication of the SCWU newsletter, including numerous annotated photographs of SCWU members and events.
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. General administration
Series 2. Newsletter editorial material and photographs
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women's rights
Lesbians -- Services for
Lesbian activists -- United States
Lesbian feminism -- Archival resources
Lesbian rights
Lesbians -- California -- History
MacCulloch, Bunny (Nancy Winifred)
Berzon, Betty
Strik, Margo