Guide to the International Museum of Women Records MSS.2014.02.15
Beaudry Allen
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
2015
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: International Museum of Women Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2014.02.15
Physical Description:
17 boxes
(20.83 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1993-2014
Abstract: The International Museum of Women Records, 1993-2014, relate to the Museum's continued promotion of women's history and rights
through exhibition and events development. The records consist of administrative documents, news-clippings, exhibit materials,
photographs, and audio-visual materials.
Related Materials
The Women's Heritage Museum/International Museum of Women Records, MSS-2010-02-18, San José State University Library Special
Collections and Archives.
Scope and Content
The International Museum of Women records consist of adminstrative records, reports, presentations, photographs, audio-visual
materials, exhibit research and committee documents, and related ephemera spanning from 1993 to 2014. As a whole the collection
reflects IMOW's strive for diversity and continued commitment to giving voice to issues affecting women around the world.
The bulk of the collection relates to the exhibits, which encompass many aspects to the production and maintenance- from the
research, design, fundraising, marketing, outreach, events, and press associated- with each exhibit. The more recent exhibitions
include printed out versions of the online exhibit. The collection also has a substantial amount of adminstrative records
which relate to IMOW's insitutional strategic planning, including the transition to becoming a virtual museum. To a lesser
extant the adminstrative files include the Global Council records, the international advisory board to the Museum.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into eleven series; Series I: Administrative Files, 1993-2011; Series II: Speaker Series, 2004-2011;
Series III: Women of the World Exhibit, 2003; Series IV: Celebrating Women, 2004; Series V: California Woman Suffrage 1870-1911
Exhibit, 2004; Series VI: Imagining Ourselves Exhibit, 2005-2007; Series VII: Photographs and Audiovisual Materials, circa
2000-2011; Series VIII: Awards and Recognition, 1993-2009; Series IX: Oversized Materials; Series X: Exhibits, 2007-2013;
Series XI: Programs and Sponsored Events, 1995-2013.
As to maintain original order the collection arrangement, exhibit materials are together as subject series and original file
names have been retained when applicable.
Biographical / Historical
The International Museum of Women (IMOW), originally called the Women's Heritage Museum (WHM), was founded in 1985 when Jeanne
McDonnell, Anne Murray, and Jane Van Dusen signed the papers of incorporation. The mission of this social change museum was
to value the lives of women around the world. The museum documented women's history through exhibits and sponsored a variety
of programs focused on educating the public and improving the status of women.
The first public program held by the museum provided historical information on the California suffragist Sarah Wallis, and
was held in a park named for her. In 1985, the museum also published the Women's Heritage Museum News, a quarterly newsletter
that was eventually distributed nationally. After its inception, the museum created several exhibits documenting women's history.
Since the museum lacked a permanent building, the exhibits were loaned to various museums and venues for display. California
Woman Suffrage 1870-1911 opened in 1986 and was shown in the California State Capitol and the National Women's Hall of Fame
in Seneca Falls, New York. Progress of the Women's World featured the works of 70 artists from over 50 countries and was displayed
in the visitors lobby of the United Nations in 2000. The museum also sponsored local events, including an annual book fair,
a program to provide educators with resources for Women's History Month, tours of the Juana Briones House, and the reenactment
of historical events. In addition, the museum organized tours to sites of interest in women's history.
At a 1997 board meeting hosted by Elisabeth Colton, the members decided to take the museum in a new direction. Along with
changing the name to the International Museum of Women (I.M.O.W.), the board began plans to secure a permanent exhibit space
in San Francisco. The Presidio Project was a plan to convert a building at Presidio Park into a museum space for the I.M.O.W.
The board also attempted to build a museum site at Pier 26 in San Francisco. These projects ultimately failed due to lack
of funding and the economic downturn. In addition, the I.M.O.W. initiated a speaker series, sponsoring lectures from authors,
artists, and political figures.
In 2005, the institution decided to "focus on creating a new kind of museum that would engage and impact women around the
world" through a digital environment (International Museum of Women, 2010). They supported this initiative through the creation
of several online exhibits; including the 2006 exhibit Imagining Ourselves: A Global Generation of Women, which won the Anita
Borg Social Impact Award. The I.M.O.W. also built strategic relationships with organizations that shared similar goals.
Preferred Citation
International Museum of Women Records, MSS-2014-02-15, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Beaudry Allen, April 2015. Additional materials added to series I, II, III, VIII, IX, X, and XI, and
finding aid updated, by Stephanie Watson, June 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Museums and women
Women -- Suffrage -- California -- History -- Exhibitions
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Women's Rights Advocates
Women's rights -- San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
Women's History Month
Women's rights -- California
Women -- Museums
Series I: Administrative Files, 1993-2014
Scope and Contents
This series includes general administrative files, presentations, board minutes, news-clippings, correspondence, and concept
develpoment reports. These records document the organizational planning, especially redevelopment to an online platform, and
financial operations of the International Museum of Women. The material on the Global Council includes member files, meeting
minutes, reports, and agendas. Financial information includes budgets, bank statements, tax information, and receipts; however,
these financial and tax records are restricted. Of particular note, Of particular the series includes documents relating to
sponsorship, National Women's History program, film festivals, and Women, Power, and Politics exhibit.
Arrangement
This series maintains the original order of the creator.
Box 1
Financial Reports, Strategic Planning, and Development
1999-2009
Conditions Governing Use
Administrative Files (box 1) are restricted to only IMOW employees.
Box 2
Concept Development and Press Mentions
Box 3
Pier 26 Campaign, Media Correspondence, and Newsletters
1998-2008
Box 4
Global Council Administrative Files
2004-2014
Box 5
Global Council Members Files
2004-2011
Series II: Speaker Series
2004-2011
Scope and Contents
This series details the IMOW Speakers Series: Extraordinary Change, which was held quarterly in San Francisco, as a series
of lectures by women around the world who have made unprecedented changes to their community and the lives of women worldwide.
Included are photographs, press releases, and transcripts of each lecture. Arranged chronologically.
Box 6
Speakers Series Event Files
2004-2011
Series III: Women of the World Exhibit, 2003
Scope and Contents
This series consists of reports, exhibit publicity and educational materials, and the exhibit's website relating to the creation
of the Women of the World Exhibit. The exhibit, curated by artist Claudia DeMonte, focused on how the representation of a
woman expressed from different styles, traditions, and countries with over 117 works originally featured in the project.
Box 7
Exhibit Information: Administrative Files, Plannings, and Program
2003
Series IV: Celebrating Women Exhibit
2004
Scope and Contents
This series consists of exhibit research materials and reports, exhibit translations, and exhibit object files. These materials
document the development and design of the IMOW exhibit, Celebrating Women. The exhibit was a presentation of images and objects
that reflected the festivals, ceremonies and competitions from around the world that provided diverse insight in the concept
of the feminine spirit. The exhibit, was based on the book Celebrating Women by acclaimed photo-journalist Paola Gianturco,
which featured her photography, artifacts, music and compelling accounts of seventeen celebrations from Austria, Bolivia,
Brazil, China, Finland, French West Indies, India, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, and the United
States.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 8
Exhibit Information: Brochures, Exhibit Text, Reports, and Object Files
2004
Box 17, Folder 2
Exhibit Poster: "Imagine a Fierce Competitor..."
2004
Box 17, Folder 3
Exhibit Poster: "Imagine a Strong Warrior..."
2004
Series V: California Woman Suffrage 1870-1911 Exhibit, 2004
Scope and Contents
The series includes Borrower’s Packets, File-photos of exhibit panels and text, and supportive research materials, and press
releases.
Files are arranged alphabetically by subject, and then chronologically by folder.
Box 9
Exhibit Information: Research and Related Materials
Series VI: Imagining Ourselves Exhibit, 2005-2007
Scope and Contents
This series consists of anthologies, online exhibit relating to the Imagining Ourselves exhibit. The exhibit Between March
8, 2006 and December 31, 2007, more than a million people participated in Imagining Ourselves. The project included a published
anthology, a series of global events, and a multilingual online exhibition of user-contributed film, photography, music, poetry
and personal essays--all in response to the question, "What defines your generation of women?"
Box 10
Exhibit Information and Overview packet
Series VII: Photographs and Audiovisual Materials
circa 2000-2011
Scope and Contents
This series consists photographs, negatives, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, and a flash drive. The bulk of the series mainly pertains
to Imagining Ourselves exhibit videos, images, and development containing master digital copies. To a lesser the extant the
series contains miscelleanous exhibit object photographs.
Arranged by format.
Box 12
Miscellaneous exhibit object photographs and negatives, undated, 2003
Box 13
Celebrating Women Manuscript, CD-R
2003 September
Box 13
California Suffrage Powerpoint Presentation," CD-R
2005
Box 13
Imagining Ourselves images and videos, 2004-2007
Scope and Contents
Includes slideshow by Rebecca Greenberg and materials are on CD and DVD.
Series VIII: Awards and Recognition
1990-2009
Scope and Contents
This series mainly pertains to awards, commendations, and proclamations received by IMOW from the county of San Francisco,
the State, and other organizations for IMOW’s efforts in awareness and women's education.
This series is arranged by format.
Box 14
Proclamations, awards, certificates, and recognitions
1990-2009
Series IX: Oversized Materials
2003-2009
Scope and Contents
Includes oversized drawings, news-clippings, and exhibition posters for Women of the World (2003) exhibit and Celebrating
Women (2004) exhibit.
Box 15
Press mentions
2007, 2009
Box 17
Exhibition posters
2003, 2004
Series X: Exhibits
2007-2013
Scope and Contents
This series consists of exhibit and research materials, promotional documents, and publications from the following exhibits:
Economica, Young Women Speaking the Economy, Mama: Motherhood Around the Globe, Women, Power and Politics, Muslim Women’s
Art and Voices, and Paths for Women Making Change. These exhibits explore topics such as: women’s influence on the economy,
global experiences of motherhood, and women in politics.
Box 16
Exhibit Information: Research Materials, Promotional Documents, and Publications
2007-2013
Series XI: Programs and Sponsored Events
1995-2013
Scope and Contents
This series consists of publicity, documents and programs related to I.M.O.W sponsored events. Examples of documents in this
series are: The I.M.O.W Annual Gala programs and news clippings, annual book award flyers, book fair flyers and various educational
program's promotional materials.
Box 16
Programs and Sponsored Events Information: Publicity, Documents and Programs
1995-2013
