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Women's Union Collection
PC.0041
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Title: Women's Union Collection
Dates: 1981-2014
Collection number: PC.0041
Creator:
Women's Union
Extent:
3.4 Linear Feet
(1 record carton, 1 flat storage box, 2 oversized flat storage
boxes)
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Library. Special Collections, The Claremont
Colleges Library, Claremont, CA 91711.
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.
Physical Location: Please consult repository.
Language of Material: Languages represented in
collection: English.
Administrative Information
Collection open for research.
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to
the Archives.
[Identificaiton of item] Women's Union Collection (PC-0041). Pomona College Archives,
Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Karen May, 2014; Gift of Christina Orci, 2014; Transfer from Women's Union,
Pomona College, 2014.
Additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processed by Aurora Silva in 2014.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
| 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. |
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Folders are primarily arranged alphabetically by file name within the collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library’s online public access catalog.
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
College students
Feminism
Women
Women -- Societies and clubs
Women's Union
Art
Correspondence
Newsletters
Photographs
Publications