Women's Union Collection
Aurora Silva
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library
800 North Dartmouth Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (909) 607-3977
Email: specialcollections@claremont.edu
URL: https://library.claremont.edu/scl/
© 2021
The Claremont Colleges Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Karen May, 2014; Gift of Christina Orci, 2014; Transfer from Women's Union,
Pomona College, 2014.
Accruals
Additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processing Information
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.
Women's Union Timeline
| 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.
Organization and Arrangement
Folders are primarily arranged alphabetically by file name within the collection.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library’s online public access catalog.
Subject Terms
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
College students
Feminism
Women
Women -- Societies and clubs
Women's Union
Genre and Form of Materials
Art
Correspondence
Newsletters
Photographs
Publications
Box 1, Folder 1
Association for Feminist Awareness: Sisters Protesting Ignorance Rape &
Lies Publications
1988
Box 1, Folder 2
A Call to Action: Improving the Experience of Students of Color at Pomona
College
1996
Box 1, Folder 3
Feminists Against Repression Notes
1981-1983
Box 1, Folder 4
Interconnections Planning
undated
Box 1, Folder 5
Interconnections Planning, Schedule & Budget
1988
Box 1, Folder 6
Interconnections Planning & Budget
1989
Box 1, Folder 7
Interconnections Surveys
1989
Box 1, Folder 8
Interconnections Posters
1989
Box 1, Folder 9
Interconnections Schedule, Budget & Notes
1990
Box 1, Folder 10
Interconnections Planning
1990-1991, 1993
Box 1, Folder 11
Interconnections Planning, Budget & Posters
1990-1991
Box 1, Folder 12
Interconnections Schedule, Planning & Budget
1991-1992
Box 1, Folder 13
Interconnections Surveys, Planning & Posters
1992-1993
Box 1, Folder 14
Interconnections Surveys & Posters
1992-1993
Box 1, Folder 15
Interconnections Planning, Schedule & Posters
1994
Box 1, Folder 16
Interconnections Event Summary
2000-2001
Box 1, Folder 17
Interconnections Planning
2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 18
Masturbation Week Schedule & Information
undated
Box 1, Folder 19
Re-view Statement of Purpose
1989
Box 1, Folder 20
Re-view Advertising
circa 1989
Box 1, Folder 21
Re-view History of Coordinators, Notes, Memorandums & Layout
Guide
1989, circa 1990, circa 1993
Box 1, Folder 23
Re-view Social Issues
1989-1993
Box 1, Folder 24
Re-view Budget Requests & Advertisement Form
1989-1993
Box 1, Folder 25
Re-view Survey & Survey Results
circa 1993
Box 1, Folder 26
Re-view Surveys
1993-1994
Box 1, Folder 27
Re-view Meeting Notes & Layout
1995
Box 1, Folder 28
Re-view Planning Documents & Submissions
1995
Box 1, Folder 29
Re-view History & Budgeting
1996
Box 1, Folder 30
Re-view Meeting Notes & Planning
1996
Box 1, Folder 32
Re-view Submissions
Fall 1997
Box 1, Folder 33
Re-view Layout & Edits
Fall 1997
Box 1, Folder 34
Re-view Submissions
Spring 1997
Box 1, Folder 36
Women's Union Alumni Contacts
1982-1983, 1997-1999, 2000-2001
Box 1, Folder 37
Women's Union Planning, Projects & Posters
2000-2001
Box 1, Folder 38
Women's Union Meeting Notes
2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 39
Sexual Resources for the Claremont Colleges
2002
Box 1, Folder 40
Skill Share: Free Workshop Posters
undated
Box 1, Folder 42
Voices for Planned Parenthood, VOX
2001-2004
Box 1, Folder 43
Women of Color Social Collabrative Banner
2014
Box 1, Folder 44
Women's Union Statement of Purpose & Creation Planning
circa 1981, 1982, 1983
Box 1, Folder 45
Women's Union Feminist Discussion Group
1995-1996
Box 1, Folder 46
Women's Union News & Budget
2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 47
Take Back the Night
circa 1983, 2001
Box 1, Folder 48
Women's Union Budget & Handbook
2002
Box 1, Folder 49
Women's Union Project Log & Originals
circa 2003, 2004-2005,2009
Box 1, Folder 50
Women's Union Music
2003, 2009, 2013, 2014
Box 1, Folder 51
Women's Union Events & Flyers
2013
Box 1, Folder 52
Women's Union Events & Flyers
2014
Box 1, Folder 53
Weekly Women's Union Survey
2014
Box 1, Folder 54
Self defense tips
undated
Box 1, Folder 55
Acquaintance rape
undated
Box 1, Folder 57
Memo from Richard Fass to Pomona College Students
1983
Box 1, Folder 58
Women's Union events
1981-1983
Box 1, Folder 59
News clippings about the Women's Union
1983
Box 2
Women's Union Photo Album
undated
Box 3, Folder 1
Annual Inspiring Posters
2014
Box 3, Folder 2
WU projects assignment chart
undated
Box 4
Interconnections t-shirt
1988
Box 4
Interconnections t-shirt
1990
