Osen (Lynn M.) Papers, 1952-2000, bulk 1969-1995

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Summary

Title:

Lynn M. Osen papers

Dates:

1952-2000, bulk 1969-1995

Creators:

Osen, Lynn M.

Abstract:

This collection comprises the papers of Lynn Moses Osen, who helped develop the Women's Studies program at the University of California, Irvine and actively spoke on behalf of women's education. The papers document Osen's teaching career at the University of California, Irvine and her speaking engagements at high schools, colleges, workshops, churches, and women's events throughout Southern California. The collection includes correspondence, awards, academic papers, resumés, course proposals and syllabi, clippings, fliers, and a signed copy of Osen's book, Women in Mathematics (1974).

Extent:

0.8 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

Lynn M. Osen papers. MS-R130. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises the papers of Lynn M. Osen, who helped develop the Women's Studies program at the University of California, Irvine and actively spoke on behalf of women's education. The papers document Osen's teaching career at the University of California, Irvine and her speaking engagements at high schools, colleges, workshops, churches, and women's events throughout Southern California. The collection includes correspondence, awards, academic papers, resumés, course proposals and syllabi, clippings, fliers, and a signed copy of Osen's book, Women in Mathematics (1974).

Although Osen was an active member of feminist and civic organizations throughout Orange County, California, the papers do not reflect these memberships or activities.

Biographical / historical:

Author and lecturer Lynn Moses Osen was an energetic spokesperson for women's rights throughout Southern California in the latter half of the 20th century. She actively participated in many professional and community organizations including the Orange County League of Women Voters and the Orange County Commission on the Status of Women. As an instructor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Osen was instrumental in the development of the Women's Opportunities Center and the Women's Studies Program and taught courses in mathematics, statistics, psychology, and women's issues.

During World War II young Lynn Moses received the U.S. Navy Department's Civilian Service Award for her original work in systems analysis. She continued working for the Navy after she married Don Osen in 1950 at the age of 30. In the 1960s and 1970s, Osen earned bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology.

Osen was known for her tireless efforts to promote women's equal education and employment. She was a driving force behind the establishment of the Orange County League of Women Voters in 1957 and was later the founding chairperson of the Orange County Commission on the Status of Women. She also served as head of the speakers' bureau for the National Organization for Women (NOW) in Orange County.

In addition to her work in female psychology, Osen was an accomplished statistician and mathematician and a member of the American Association of Women in Mathematics. Combining her interests in women's studies and mathematics, Osen wrote a well-received paper entitled "The Feminine Mathtique" (1971) and a widely translated book, Women in Mathematics (1974). She described the "feminine mathtique" as a myth that "encourages the notion that to enjoy mathematics in its many forms is to be, in some obscure way, at variance with one's womanhood" (Osen, 1974, p. 11); during her lifetime Osen devoted much of her time and energy to dispelling that myth among her contemporaries. To this end she designed and taught courses at UCI and presented workshops and lectures for various colleges, high schools, businesses, churches, and women's organizations throughout Southern California.

Osen's interests and activities expanded beyond women's issues to include memberships in organizations such as the Newport Harbor Art Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, California State Central Committee, Author's Guild (Author's League of America), Mental Health Advisory Board of Orange County, and the Western Psychological Association. Osen also contributed articles to Architectural Digest, Psychonomic Science, Rangefinder Magazine, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Mathematics Newsletter, and Reader's Digest.

In later years, Osen spent time traveling and writing; she contributed articles to magazines such as Asia, China Tourism Press, and Hong Kong Tatler. Osen continued to live in Laguna Beach, California and participate in women's organizations and the local Orange County community until her death in 2003.

Chronology
Date	Event
1920 November 13	Born in Alabama. (Father: William B. Moses.)
1945	Received U.S. Navy Department Civilian Service Award for original work in systems analysis.
1950 May 20	Married Donald Shotwell Osen.
1950-1954	Supervised Statistics Division, Industrial Relations Department, U.S. Navy.
1954	Gave birth to son, Frank Sanford Osen.
1957	Obtained charter and organized first Orange County chapter of the League of Women Voters.
1958	Volunteer for State Central Committee, Democratic Party.
1958-1959	Attended the University of California, Berkeley.
1961-1965	Vice President of Osen-Ojeda Development Corporation.
1966	Received Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine.
1968	Reciprocal Bibliographical Citations of Ten Psychological Journals.
1969-1977	Planned, coordinated, and taught Women's Studies courses at the University of California, Irvine.
1970	Multi-Dimensional Scaling
1971	The Feminine Mathtique
1972	Named "Outstanding Alumna," University of California.
1974	Women in Mathematics
1974	World Who's Who of Women
1985 September	Dawn Magazine's
2003 September 01	Died.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Frank Osen, 2006.

Processing information:

Processed by Cyndi Shein, 2007.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Bibliography:

Osen, Lynn M. Women in Mathematics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1974.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Women mathematicians -- California -- Irvine.
Women -- Education -- United States -- 20th century.
Women's studies -- United States -- 20th century
Feminism -- United States -- 20th century.
Mathematicians.
Ephemera -- 20th century
Fliers (Printed matter) -- California -- Irvine -- 20th century.
Clippings -- California -- Irvine -- 20th century.
Letters -- California -- Irvine -- 20th century.
Names:: University of California, Irvine. Women's Studies Program -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Archives
Osen, Lynn M. -- Archives
Places:: California -- History -- Sources

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Processed by Cyndi Shein; machine-readable finding aid created by Cyndi Shein
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-08-26 17:26:23 UTC .

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.