This collection contains files accumulated by Karen Leonard, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, documenting equity issues for women in higher education in California and their cases, actions, and organizations. The material was compiled during Leonard's involvement in several equity rights organizations including her work as co-founder of the organization Women at Irvine in the 1970s; co-chair and president of the UCI Chapter of California Women in Higher Education in the 1970s and 1980s; member or chair of UCI Academic Senate committees on Affirmative Action (including chairing the systemwide committee) and Privilege and Tenure in the 1970s and 1990s; Affirmative Action Coordinator of University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) in the 1970s; and founder of the UCI Faculty Women's Association in the 1980s.

Karen Leonard, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, was hired at UCI in the fall of 1972 as an Assistant Professor in Comparative Culture. Leonard formed the group, Women at Irvine, in 1973 after realizing how few women were on the UCI faculty. The group started meeting informally then developed into a broad and public organization. Women at Irvine had a diverse membership, including faculty, graduate students, staff, and women from the Irvine community. Members were dissatisfied with UCI's Affirmative Action plan and took action by collecting annual statistics, setting hiring goals, and interviewing department chairs about their lack of progress in hiring women and people from underrepresented backgrounds.

4 Linear Feet (4 records cartons)

Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the University Archivist.

The collection is open for research.