Guide to the Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records MSS.2015.06.23
Eilene Lueck
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
March 2022
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2015-06-23
Physical Description:
3 boxes
(2.42 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1977-2013
Date (bulk): 1990-1996
Abstract: The Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records documents thirty years of the history of the OWL Santa
Clara County Chapter. The records include OWL publications, the minute records of the Board of Directors, correspondence,
scrapbooks, photographs, event documents, newsletters, news clippings, financial records, and ephemera.
Scope and Content Description
The Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records documents thirty years of the history of the Santa Clara
County Chapter of OWL (SCCC-OWL) that was founded in 1982. Contained in this collection are publications, newsletters, articles,
event files, organizational records, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera that document the history of OWL on a national,
state, and local level. These records demonstrate how OWL sought to protect the civil rights of older women across the country
through grassroots advocacy. While the material primarily focuses on news, events, conferences, and administrative records
of SCCC-OWL, state and national documents are also included.
The publications contain books and newsletters created by OWL or related organizations relevant to OWL's mission and values.
Featured prominently are the annual Mother's Day Reports, Grey Papers, and two decades of SCCC-OWL newsletters. Single topic
books were published to highlight particular issues important to OWL's cause such as caregiver protections, health education,
prevention of elder abuse, and end of life control.
Similarly, the conferences, events, and programs focused on preventing and mitigating problems faced by older women. Reports
and proceedings from national conferences are included, such as the White House Mini-Convention (Growing Numbers, Growing
Force) where OWL was founded. Local conferences and events presented by SCCC-OWL feature prominently, especially the 1996
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse.
Organizational records from SCCC-OWL include correspondence between board leadership, public relations, by-laws, and membership
lists. Additional multimedia is included containing photographs of OWL members and two documentaries on the history and mission
of OWL.
Arrangement
The Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records are arranged into four series and organized alphabetically
then chronologically: Series I. Publications, 1977-2007; Series II. Conferences, Events, Programs, 1982-2008; Series III.
Organizational Records, 1978-2008; Series IV. Multimedia, circa 1980-2005.
Organizational History
Founded in 1980 after the White House Mini-Conference held in Des Moines, Iowa, the Older Women's League (OWL) was created
by Tish Sommers and Laurie Shields as a grassroots advocacy group for older women. The mission of OWL was to support older
women through ensuring that caregivers received appropriate legal support, ending discrimination in employment and job training,
and preventing federal budget cuts to programs that would affect older women's access to healthcare. OWL would go on to contribute
to national and local healthcare reforms, including legislation such as the COBRA Act and the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987.
Publications documenting the civil rights issues that older women faced were published on a monthly and yearly basis aimed
at both members of the organization and legislators. These records were compiled by Rena Speer Modell, the first president
of OWL's Santa Clara County Chapter. Modell later stepped down as president after two years in office, but remained a prominent
member of the board of directors over the following years. The local chapter of OWL operated out of Santa Clara, CA. In addition
to their monthly newsletter, the OWL Santa Clara County Chapter hosted and contributed to several conferences including the
1996 Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse held at San José Community College.
OWL's national organization was formally dissolved in 2017, but several local chapters in California are still in operation.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
Older Women's League (OWL), Santa Clara County Chapter Records, MSS-2015-06-23, San José State University Library Special
Collections & Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Eilene Lueck on 3/22/2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Older Women's League (U.S.) -- Santa Clara County Chapter
Women's rights -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
Civil rights -- United States
Women -- Political activity -- California
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Series I. Publications
1977-2007
Arrangement
This series was arranged alphabetically by title then chronologically.
Scope and Content Description
This material in this series consists of published books, handbooks, reports, newsletters, and flyers distributed by the Older
Women's League and related organizations. The books, reports, and flyers illustrate the issues important to OWL's mission
such as mitigating caregiver burnout, preventing elder abuse, and ensuring access to healthcare. The newsletters further discuss
issues relevant to the OWL and also provide updates on OWL activities to members of the organization.
Sub-Series I. Older Women's League Publications
1977-2007
Box 1, Folder 1
Caregiving: First Line of Defense Project
undated
Box 1, Folder 2
Chronic Care Workers: Crisis Among Paid Caregivers of the Elderly
1988
Box 1, Folder 3
Grey Papers No.1-8: Issues for Action
1979-1982
Box 1, Folder 4
Grey Papers: Special Topics
1986-1987
Box 1, Folder 5
The Independence Long-Term Care Policy
undated
Box 1, Folder 6
Mission Statements, OWL
undated
Box 1, Folder 7
Mother's Day Cards
circa 1987-2004
Box 1, Folder 8
Mother's Day Reports
1987-1995
Box 1, Folder 9
Mother's Day Reports
1997-1998
Box 1, Folder 10
Mother's Day Reports
1999-2000
Box 1, Folder 11
Mother's Day Reports
2001
Box 1, Folder 12
Mother's Day Reports
2002-2004
Box 1, Folder 13
Mother's Day Reports, Related Publications
1994-2000
Box 1, Folder 14
Older Women's League Leaflets, National and Regional
circa 1980-2000
Box 1, Folder 15
Older Women's League Leaflets, Santa Clara County Chapter
circa 1982-2000
Box 1, Folder 16
Older Women's League Newsletters, National Office and Educational Fund
1977-1983
Box 1, Folder 17
Older Women's League Newsletters, Regional Chapters
1992-2005
Box 1, Folder 18
Older Women's League Newsletter's Santa Clara County Chapter
September 1989 - December 1995
Box 1, Folder 19
Older Women's League Newsletter's Santa Clara County Chapter
January 1996 - December 1998
Box 1, Folder 20
Older Women's League Newsletter's Santa Clara County Chapter
January 1999-December 2007
Box 1, Folder 21
Older Women's League of California (OWL-CA) Newsletters
1992-2002
Box 1, Folder 22
OWL: a Better Future for Women
1993
Box 1, Folder 24
The OWL Observer
1982-1990
Box 1, Folder 25
The OWL Observer
1991-1994
Box 1, Folder 26
The OWL Observer
1995-2003
Box 1, Folder 27
The OWL Observer, Special Editions
1993
Box 1, folder 29
OWL Field Advocate Newsletters
1990-2000
Box 1, Folder 30
OWL Organizing Manual
July 1981
Box 1, Folder 31
OWL Report: Caring for Caregivers
1990
Box 1, Folder 32
OWL Report: Making Ends Meet
1990
Box 1, Folder 33
OWL Women of Diversity Coming Together
1993
Box 1, Folder 34
The State of Older Women in America
circa 2000
Box 1, Folder 35
Taking Charge of the End of Your Life: Proceedings of a Forum on Living Wills and Other Advance Directives
1985
Box 1, Folder 36
Tish Sommers Obituary
1985
Box 1, Folder 37
Women's Health Education Project, publications and related correspondence
1994
Box 1, Folder 38
Women's Health Education Project, folder
1994
Box 1, Folder 39
Women You Know: Stories from Medicare
undated
Sub-Series II. Non-OWL Publications
1977-2005
Box 2, Folder 1
Adaptions to Aging -- A survey for people over 40
circa 1998
Box 2, Folder 2
Age is Becoming: An Annotated Bibliography on Women and Aging
1977
Box 2, Folder 4
Commission on the Status of Women Publications
1995
Box 2, Folder 5
The Congressional Quarterly Editorial Research Report
1981
Box 2, Folder 6
Domestic Mistreatment of the Elderly: Towards Prevention
1995
Box 2, Folder 7
The Feminization of Poverty
1982
Box 2, Folder 8
Health Monitor
May/June 2004
Box 2, Folder 9
Inequality of Sacrifice: The Impact of the Reagan Budget on Women
1986
Box 2, Folder 10
The Involvement Book, National council of Jewish Women
1992
Box 2, Folder 11
Leaflets, related organizations
undated
Box 2, Folder 12
The Legislative Process: A Citizen's Guide to Participation
undated
Box 2, Folder 13
Medicare & You, Government Handbook
2005
Box 2, Folder 14
The Sandwich Generation
1996
Series II. Conferences, Events, and Programs
1982-2008
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by title and then chronologically.
Scope and Contents
This series contains the materials and proceedings of individual conferences, events, public meetings, and programs presented
or attended by the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Older Women's League. Items included consist of conference preparation
material, flyers, news clippings, scripts, and correspondence on a national and local level.
Box 2, Folder 15
Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
1996
Box 2, Folder 16
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Co-Sponser and Donor Materials (1 of 2)
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 17
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Co-Sponser and Donor Materials (2 of 2)
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 18
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Handouts
1996
Box 2, Folder 19
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Leaflets
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 20
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Meeting Materials
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 21
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Oversized Presentation Poster
1996
Box 2, Folder 22
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Participant Folder
1996
Box 2, Folder 23
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Presenter Information
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 24
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Public Relations (1 of 2)
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 25
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Public Relations (2 of 2)
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 26
Conference on Mid-Life and Elder Abuse Schedules, Directions, and Registration
1996
Box 2, Folder 27
Daisy: Juliette Gordon Low Dramatic Reading
2001
Box 2, folder 28
Eldercare: The Many faces of Caregivers Programs
undated
Box 2, Folder 30
Meeting Invitations, OWL Santa Clara County Chapter
1990-2007
Box 2, Folder 31
No! on Knight Flyers
2000
Box 2, folder 32
Older Americans' Mental Health Week
2003
Box 2, Folder 33
Older Women's League of California Annual Membership Meeting 1990
Box 2, Folder 34
OWL National Convention
1995
Box 2, Folder 35
Senior Resource Forum
2008
Box 2, Folder 36
Santa Clara County Chapter Meeting Announcements
1997-1999
Box 2, Folder 37
Taking Charge - The Later Years
1989
Box 2, Folder 38
Western Gerantological Society, 26th Annual Meeting
1980
Box 2, Folder 39
White House Mini-Conference on Older Women
1980
Box 2, Folder 40
White House Mini-conference on Older Women Reports
circa 1980
Box 2, Folder 41
Women's Programs, San Jose State University
undated
Series III. Organizational Records
1978-2008
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by title and then chronologically.
Scope and Contents
This series includes the internal organizational records of the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Older Women's League compiled
by board member Rena Modell. It includes correspondence, meeting minutes, public relations, newspaper clippings, financial
records, telephone and mailing lists, and supplemental research material.
Box 2, Folder 42
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, OWL Public Relations (1 of 2)
1978-2005
Box 2, Folder 43
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, OWL Public Relations (2 of 2)
1978-2005
Box 2, Folder 44
By-Laws, Santa Clara County Chapter of OWL
1983-2004
Box 2, Folder 45
Correspondence, Santa Clara County Chapter of OWL Leadership
1991-2004
Box 2, Folder 46
Drafts and Meeting Minutes
undated
Box 2, Folder 47
Finacial Records, OWL and Affiliates
1982-1996
Box 3, Folder 1
Insurance, Post-Retirement Funds, and Social Security Resources
1997-2005
Box 3, Folder 2
Job Seeking Resources
1982-1992
Box 3, Folder 3
Leadership Development Resources
1980-1999
Box 3, Folder 4
Media Correspondence, OWL local and national
1993-1996
Box 3, Folder 5
Meeting Agendas
1996-2008
Box 3, Folder 6
Petitions and Voting Guides
1993-2001
Box 3, Folder 7
Supplimental Material For OWL Meetings and Programs
undated
Box 3, Folder 8
Telephone Lists, Directories, and Membership Records
1991-2000
Series IV. Multimedia
circa 1980-2005
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by title and then chronologically.
Scope and Contents
This series contains multimedia items created by the Older Women's League and includes DVDs, VHS, and photographs. The audiovisual
media are documentaries, while the photographs are of prominent national and local members of the OWL organization.
Box 3, Folder 9
OWL at 25: Informed Involved Empowered DVDs
2005
Box 3, Folder 10
OWL presents The Truth About Women and Social Security, VHS
Box 3, Folder 11
Photograph Copy of OWL Santa Clara County Chapter Members
undated
Box 3, Folder 12
Photographs of Charter Members and OWL Founders
circa 1980-1985
