Collection Guide
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Women's
AIDS Network (WAN) Records
MSS 95-04
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
University of California, San Francisco Archives & Special Collections
Title: Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN) records
Network (WAN) records
Creator:
Women's
AIDS
Network
AIDS
Network
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 95-04
Physical Description:
1 carton
1.25
Date (inclusive): 1985-1992
Abstract: This collection contains minutes, correspondence, drafts and published articles, bylaws, and other legal documents illustrating
the work of the Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN) from 1986-1992. WAN was the first women's organization among the community service organizations that sprung
up around the
AIDS
crisis.
AIDS
Network (WAN) from 1986-1992. WAN was the first women's organization among the community service organizations that sprung
up around the
AIDS
crisis.
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog:
http://www.library.ucsf.edu/ .
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English
- Finding
Aid
Written By:
- Julia Bazar
- Date Completed:
- April 2007
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Library & Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Archives & Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Library & Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
[Identification of item], Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN) Records, MSS 95-04, The UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives and Special Collections,
University of California, San Francisco.
AIDS
Network (WAN) Records, MSS 95-04, The UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives and Special Collections,
University of California, San Francisco.
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
MSS 2000-06 Nancy (Shaw) Stoller Papers
MSS 94-60 San Francisco
AIDS
Foundation Records
AIDS
Foundation Records
MSS 96-31 Angie Lewis Papers
The Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN) Records were donated to the library in 1995.
AIDS
Network (WAN) Records were donated to the library in 1995.
Arranged to the folder level.
Julia Bazar, June 2005
The Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN) was informally established in June of 1983 at the second National
AIDS
Forum in Denver. In March of 1984, women involved in
AIDS
services in the Bay Area began meeting as a support group. From this initial support group, WAN evolved into an advocacy
organization and informational resource, both for women affected by HIV and for the providers who serve them. WAN provided
a forum for information exchange among members who included women in the medical, mental health, and social services fields,
along with community activists and social and political advocates and women living with HIV. WAN held regular information
sharing meetings for Bay Area members and sent regular informational mailings to members.
AIDS
Network (WAN) was informally established in June of 1983 at the second National
AIDS
Forum in Denver. In March of 1984, women involved in
AIDS
services in the Bay Area began meeting as a support group. From this initial support group, WAN evolved into an advocacy
organization and informational resource, both for women affected by HIV and for the providers who serve them. WAN provided
a forum for information exchange among members who included women in the medical, mental health, and social services fields,
along with community activists and social and political advocates and women living with HIV. WAN held regular information
sharing meetings for Bay Area members and sent regular informational mailings to members.
WAN sponsored major educational forums and numerous speaking engagements; advocated and organized to support a legislative
climate responsive to HIV-affected women's needs; provided informal technical assistance and review to other agencies; distributed
information worldwide in response to hundreds of direct requests; developed a model policy on perinatal
AIDS
antibody testing; sponsored social events; and maintained a resource library and referral service. WAN advocated for public
policies, educational materials, and comprehensive services for all HIV-affected women, including women with children, women
of all ethnic and economic backgrounds and sexual preferences, women working in the sex industry, and incarcerated women.
A special Women's Fund provided small grants to women living with HIV/
AIDS
in San Francisco. Still, in their own words WAN was "foremost, ... a support network for our members." Members of note include:
Sue Williams, treasurer; Eileen Hansen, 1995 Board President; Susyn Almond, 1992 Board President; Angie Lewis (UCSF - Nursing
School); Gloria Lockett (CAL-PEP); Ruth Schwartz (
AIDS
Foundation); Nancy Stoller (UC Santa Cruz); Moher Downing (PHEDRA); Elise Parker (Consortium); Barbara Garcia (CPC Board);
and J. D. Bensen (AHP), some of whom are mentioned in the collection.
AIDS
antibody testing; sponsored social events; and maintained a resource library and referral service. WAN advocated for public
policies, educational materials, and comprehensive services for all HIV-affected women, including women with children, women
of all ethnic and economic backgrounds and sexual preferences, women working in the sex industry, and incarcerated women.
A special Women's Fund provided small grants to women living with HIV/
AIDS
in San Francisco. Still, in their own words WAN was "foremost, ... a support network for our members." Members of note include:
Sue Williams, treasurer; Eileen Hansen, 1995 Board President; Susyn Almond, 1992 Board President; Angie Lewis (UCSF - Nursing
School); Gloria Lockett (CAL-PEP); Ruth Schwartz (
AIDS
Foundation); Nancy Stoller (UC Santa Cruz); Moher Downing (PHEDRA); Elise Parker (Consortium); Barbara Garcia (CPC Board);
and J. D. Bensen (AHP), some of whom are mentioned in the collection.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains minutes, correspondence, bylaws, grant information, project files, and educational files of the San
Francisco chapter of the Women's
AIDS
Network (WAN). WAN started out meeting under the auspices of the San Francisco
AIDS
Foundation and then reorganized as its own non-profit agency. This collection documents the activities of this organization
from its founding in 1984 through 1991, with a few documents from 1992. Additional information on WAN, through 1998, can be
found in the Nancy Shaw Stoller Papers (MS 2000-06).
AIDS
Network (WAN). WAN started out meeting under the auspices of the San Francisco
AIDS
Foundation and then reorganized as its own non-profit agency. This collection documents the activities of this organization
from its founding in 1984 through 1991, with a few documents from 1992. Additional information on WAN, through 1998, can be
found in the Nancy Shaw Stoller Papers (MS 2000-06).
These records document early and continuing advocacy work for women with HIV infection. WAN activities represented in this
collection include: development and dissemination of educational materials, consulting, and advising other agencies and non-profits
on the needs of HIV positive women, including creating a model policy statement on perinatal
AIDS
antibody testing.
AIDS
antibody testing.
The first four folders contain bylaws and other structure documents, as well as the "Relationship with San Francisco
AIDS
Foundation" folder and correspondence. Minutes of the monthly meeting often include flyers for events, articles, and other
materials of interest. A membership list is included with the July 1986 minutes, and attendance sheets with names and organizations
can be found with many of the later minutes. The October 1986 minutes include an article, "Women and
AIDS
" by Julie Murphy. A program for the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference can be found with the September
1987 minutes.
AIDS
Foundation" folder and correspondence. Minutes of the monthly meeting often include flyers for events, articles, and other
materials of interest. A membership list is included with the July 1986 minutes, and attendance sheets with names and organizations
can be found with many of the later minutes. The October 1986 minutes include an article, "Women and
AIDS
" by Julie Murphy. A program for the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference can be found with the September
1987 minutes.
Testimony to the Democratic Party Platform Meeting can be found with both the December 1987 minutes and the "Testimony of
WAN Members" folder later in the collection. Other material in that folder includes testimony to the SF Human Rights Commission
[and an unidentified piece]. Two more folders document WAN's suggestions to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
WAN's Legislative activities are represented by the Legislative Summary with the February 1988 minutes, as well as the "Legislative
and Public Policy" folder with the correspondence.
Financial information includes a folder from the Finance Committee and grant requests. The first folder of RWJ Foundation
grant request includes the original Letters of Support; the copies that were attached to the actual application are found
in the second folder. WAN's own small grant program, the Special Women's Fund, is represented by a single page describing
the project. The articles and information files consist primarily of copies of journal and magazine articles, but some files
also include original information. There are also a few folders of information on other WAN chapters/WAN activities in other
cities and other related Women's and
AIDS
organizations. These organizations include Perinatal HIV Reduction and Education Demonstration Activity (PHREDA), a project
associated with WAN member Moher Downing, flyers for Project AWARE, and educational materials from the Women's Action Alliance.
AIDS
organizations. These organizations include Perinatal HIV Reduction and Education Demonstration Activity (PHREDA), a project
associated with WAN member Moher Downing, flyers for Project AWARE, and educational materials from the Women's Action Alliance.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS
(Disease) in women--United States
AIDS
(Disease)--Social aspects
AIDS
( Disease)--Political aspects
AIDS
(Disease)--Patients--Services for
AIDS
(Disease)--Law and legislation
Women's
AIDS
Network. San Francisco
AIDS
Network. San Francisco
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