Women's Union Collection, 1981-2014

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Summary

Creators:
Women's Union
Abstract:
This collection contains planning documents, correspondence, copies of the Re-View newsletter, photographs, artwork, budget proposals, and meeting minutes related to the Pomona College Women's Union.
Extent:
3.4 Linear Feet (1 record carton, 1 flat storage box, 2 oversized flat storage boxes)
Language:
Languages represented in collection: English.
Preferred citation:

[Identificaiton of item] Women's Union Collection (PC-0041). Pomona College Archives, Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Women's Union Collection contains budgets, founding and planning documents, and project proposals. There are also copies of Women's Union publications, photographs, and artwork created at Women's Union events.

Biographical / historical:

The Women's Union was founded in 1983 by Feminists Against Repression (FAR) in response to an increase of hate speech, including sexist and racist remarks toward minority groups on campus. Organized in 1978, FAR fought to establish stricter rules regarding sexual assault and violence against women and created the Women's Union (WU) as a safe space for women. Its initial purpose was to enable its members to reclaim feminism against typical stereotypes and provide resources, such as counseling services and crisis hotlines. The second floor of Walker Lounge was chosen as the permanent space for FAR and other Women's Union activities.

Among the first activities at the WU were Thursday lunch talks which were held for faculty, professionals, graduate students, and others to come and discuss a topic of their choice related to the WU's mission. In addition, Interconnections, a women's retreat, was established to bring female faculty and students together for mutual support. From this retreat, it was suggested that women at Pomona College should have an ongoing outlet to voice their feminist beliefs. From this meeting, the feminist publication Re-View was born. Its goal was to create an opportunity for the women of the Claremont Colleges to be seen and heard more professionally.

The Women's Union continues to be a safe space for students and aims to harbor community engagement along with community support.

Women's Union Timeline
Date Event
1978
Creation of Feminists Against Repression, working with the Gay Student Union.
1981
Colleen O'Neil writes a letter ot the Pomona College administration regarding the need for a safe space for women.
1983
The Women's Union is established in collaboration with Toni Clark and Pomona students.
First Women's Union Thursday Noon Discussion is held in the Women's Union.
1984
Lesbian Student Union began holding meetings in the Women's Union.
1988
First Interconnections takes place.
1989
The Re-View begins publication.
1993
The Closet, or the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resource Center opens in Walker Lounge.
1996
The Women's Union, along with Student Liberation and Action Movement (SLAM), create the "Call to Action", which was intended to address instances of hate speech and intolerance on campus.
2001
A chapter of Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX) is created to raise awareness to the Claremont Colleges community about contraceptives and family planning options.
2004
The Women's Union and SLAM revise the "Call to Action" in order to improve the campus climate for students who had been made to feel marginalized.
2013
First Women of Color Social in the Women's Union.
Acquisition information:
Gift of Karen May, 2014; Gift of Christina Orci, 2014; Transfer from Women's Union, Pomona College, 2014.
Processing information:

Processed by Aurora Silva in 2014.

Arrangement:

Folders are primarily arranged alphabetically by file name within the collection.

Accruals:

Additions to the collection are anticipated.

Physical location:
Please consult repository.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to the Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identificaiton of item] Women's Union Collection (PC-0041). Pomona College Archives, Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.

Location of this collection:
333 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 621-8138
archives@pomona.edu
Website