Sub-Group I: Program Administration

Series 1: Program Committees (1975-1991)

This series consists of materials related to the following committees of the Women’s Studies Program of Brooklyn College:
-Committee on Academic Structure
-Grants Committee
-Committee on the Whole
-Conference Planning Committee
-Anti-Bigotry Committee
-Anti-Discrimination Committee
-Committee on Curriculum and Degree Requirements
-Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Degree Requirements
-Steering Committee

The material within this series consists of agendas, minutes and reports of the various committees as well as some memos and correspondence. The bulk of this material relates to the Steering Committee and contains this committee's activities and reports. The Committee on Academic Structure is of importance because it contains materials describing the development, structure and organization of the Women's Studies Program. This series is of importance because these records pertain to the program's organization, administration and reflect various concerns of the program. The Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Bigotry committee folders contains newspaper clippings.

Series 2: Annual Reports (1980-1989)

This series contains the annual reports for the Women’s Study Program. The collection is straightforward and is arranged chronologically. The reports contained within this series contain information pertaining to studies, surveys and accomplishments of the overall department.

Series 3: General Correspondence (1973-1997)

Arrangement is Chronological

This series contains the correspondence of the Women' s Studies Program with various programs and individuals as indicated by folder. The letters reflects various programs, structuring, meetings, issues, needs and goals of the Women's Studies Program.

Series 4: Affirmative Action (1972-1985)

This series contains various policies and regulations regarding Affirmative Action. It contains the case of Lilia Melani, et al., against the Board of Higher Education of the City University of New York, which alleged sex discrimination in the Board of Education employment practices. This series also contains the correspondence of Edward C. Paolella and others. Edward C. Paolella fought for the inclusion of the phrase "sexual orientation" to be included in the CUNY "Equal Opportunity" statement.

Series 5: Governance (1972-1993)

This series contains information regarding the organization and functioning of the Women's Studies Program. It includes by-laws of the program, petitions, reports, questionnaires and surveys, future plans and roles of the Women Studies Program, cases of sexual harassment, retrenchment and budget plans.

Series 6: Personnel Records (1975-1994)

Arrangement is Alphabetical

Contained within this series are the papers and materials of Catherine Silver and Patricia Quercia; resumes submitted to the Women's Programs; curriculum vitae information of numerous faculty members including professors and adjuncts as well as those who applied for the position of Acting Director in 1985. Some folders contain the syllabi of classes including bibliographies and in some cases published articles written by the individual.

Sub-Group II: Program Course Offerings / Proposals & Restructuring

Series 7: Course Offerings (1971-1988)

Arrangement is Chronological

The level of description contained within this series varies. The majority of these folders have not been described at the item level. Contained within these folders are the course offerings for the period indicated by each folder label. This series contains lists of course offerings for specified time periods and usually includes a course description as well. In some cases, the professor of the class is indicated.

Series 8: Course Materials (1972-1989)

Arrangement is Chronological

The materials contained within these folders pertain to courses offered by the Women’s Studies Programs and of co-listed electives in various departments. This series is comprised of the actual course materials. In almost all cases the folder contains the following information: syllabus for the class (provides an overview of the class), selected bibliography, course outline. Certain folders contain Xeroxed materials that were required readings for the course; final examinations, midterm examinations, paper assignments or special project assignments. The information provided within these folders is pertinent to future professors preparing course material for similar course offerings. Many of the folders contain course justifications as well as the flyer used to advertise the course. The amount of information and materials within each folder varies.

Series 9: Course and Curriculum Proposals and Restructuring (1974-1990)

The course proposal series contains memos and professional correspondence relating to the creation of a Women’s Studies Program and the actual 1974 Proposal for the Interdisciplinary Program in Women’s Studies. There are also extensive proposals for various courses including course descriptions and justifications as well as syllabi. This series also includes memos from the various committees approving or disapproving of certain proposed courses.

Series 10: Course-Related Correspondence (1974-1993)

This series contains correspondence regarding clearance for course proposals. Some folders also include the course proposals and justifications of classes being submitted and, in some cases, syllabi as well. The correspondence of Erika Polakoff to the Program Committee regarding various matters can also be found within this series.

Series 11: Enrollment, Statistics and Evaluations (1974-1986)

Contained in this series are the evaluation and observation forms of the students and faculty as well as enrollment statistics of the Women's Studies Program from 1974-1986.

Sub-Group III: Women's Studies Programs and Special Events

Series 12: Eureka Project

The Eureka Program, a summer session program or camp, was initiated to provide disadvantaged teenaged girls with exposure to “mathematics-based careers and leadership development.” Its purpose was to help young women to develop confidence in mathematics while having an equal emphasis on sports. Conceptualization for the program began in 1988 as stated in the program proposal. The program was sponsored by The Brooklyn College Women's Center, in collaboration with the School of Education, the Departments of Mathematics, Economics, Computer and Information Science, Physical Education and the Office of Career Services as well as the Women's Studies Program. The program received a grant from the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company. The program later grew to become a federally funded three-year program designed to encourage female college students to study and pursue careers in mathematics, science and related fields. Each year, during the spring, sixty students were chosen to be interns. Eureka interns received tuition waivers for full-time study in pre-calculus or calculus, career development and body conditioning; in subsequent years, peer and faculty mentor workshops, study groups, informal social gatherings with successful career women, faculty luncheons, and summer internships in math and science as well as related fields.

This series has not yet been processed and has been temporarily moved to the Women's Study office. It does include a scrapbook containing photographs and pamphlets of the project.

Series 13: Project Impact (1989-1991)

Project Impact was a college internship program for women who are juniors and seniors to enter fields of human service with an emphasis on advocacy, policy planning and program development. The project, conceptualized in Fall 1989, began with limited funding ($20,000). Within this portion of collection, the years range from 1989 through 1991. The concentration of materials focuses on applicants and the companies where the students served as interns. Includes budget book, letters to Host Organization regarding student interns, memos and correspondence, cover letters and resumes of applicants, letter of recruitment and a binder containing information of organizations offering internships.

Series 14: Feminist Theory Study Group (1991-1992)

Arrangement is Chronological

The Feminist Theory Study Group was initiated to study new directions in feminist theory. Female faculties from all disciplines were invited to attend. This series contains the topics of discussion, articles assigned for each study group and notices regarding the schedule of meetings.

Series 15: Women's Center (1973-1992)

Arrangement is Chronological

There has been a Women's Center at the college since 1974. The papers within this series regard the New Women's Center under the new leadership of Alice Muller, representing a revitalization of the center as of June of 1985. The Women's Center serves as a resource to all Brooklyn College Women. The Center deals with women's issues and provides extensive files on social services as well as career resources for women. It offers diverse programs mean to improve the quality of life for women on the campus. Emphasis is placed on career and life-planning workshops. The Women's Center is also a forum for women doing research on women's issues. It provides support groups led by professional therapists. The Horizon's Project is a part of the Women's Center and is designed to assist women re-entering college. The program was initiated to provide personal, academic and professional counseling. The program features workshops in planning careers, referrals to legal counseling, therapy, daycare and support groups that meet regularly under the direction of trained professionals. The Women's Health Awareness Program, co-sponsored with the Health Science Department, presents important information on health issues pertinent to women; and a special festival, which is held in celebration of women's achievements in the arts. The newsletter, Women Focus produced by the center provides students with the opportunity to write articles on issues that directly affect women both on campus and in the community. This series contains newspaper articles, announcements and flyers of events, and issues of Women Focus.

This series contains information regarding the Women's Center's including information regarding the Women's Center Advisory Board. This series is composed of correspondence, memo's, proposals, flyers, and announcements. The flyers and announcements document the various conferences and seminars occurring on campus. This series also contains articles regarding the Women's Center.

Series 16: Project Chance (1974-1978)

Program Chance was created to encourage and assist older returning women students in the difficult adjustment to being a student. The Program included re-entry courses offered without credit at community sites, combining counseling with basic skills, and credit courses at the community sites that provided a transition for women from their communities to the campus. In its second year the project enrolled over one hundred women in full-time programs at Brooklyn College providing additional counseling on campus. At the end of the grant, June 1978 the School of Continuing Higher Education incorporated Project Chance into its special programs, recognizing its ability to funnel returning women students into the programs of the college.

This series contains correspondence, minutes, names and addresses of faculty and students involved in Project Chance. Project Chance was a program started at Brooklyn College for underprivileged women seeking higher education. Also within this series are memos, calendars of events, names and addresses for Project Second Start a program for women re-entering college requesting support groups along with Brooklyn College Women’s History Month Program which includes calendar of events for March 1982 and examples of flyers for events.

Series 17: Small Programs and Projects (1971-1973)

This series contains information of various small programs and projects as well as the activities of the Women's Studies Program. This includes Project Second Start, the Women's Studies Club, Small College Program, Women's Studies Project: Women's History Month as well as information regarding the Women's Studies Program activities, development and committees.

Series 18: Conferences, Workshops, and Special Events (1943-1994)

This series is of importance because it documents the special programs, conferences and events held at Brooklyn College and outside organizations regarding women’s issues. It is a reflection of scholarship and activities of contemporary importance. This series includes information regarding conferences, symposia, and lecture series, club events and festivals. It further reflects the programs and events provided by the Women's Studies Program to its students, faculty and academia. It is composed of correspondence, memos, minutes, brochures, news and press releases, pamphlets, articles and flyers.

Series 19: Special Events: International Year of the Woman (1975-1977)

This series contains detailed information concerning the United Nations plan to recognize women in society by naming 1975 as the Year of the Woman. Also included within this series is information regarding events sponsored by Brooklyn College concerning the year of the woman as well as other programs and events at Brooklyn College regarding women. Included is information of the Student Liberation Action Committee, information relating to the 10th anniversary of the Brooklyn College Women's Program, the NYS Women's Studies Association, Brown Bag Seminar, Anti-Bigotry
Teach-Ins, the exhibit Fifty Years of Women at Brooklyn College as well as Women’s History Month.

Sub-Group IV: Publications and Newsletters

Series 20: Publications and Newsletters (1969-1988)

This series is composed of various publications and newsletters relating to women's groups and organizations. Many contain women's studies programs of colleges and universities elsewhere in the country. Some address issues such as women's health. Each folder indicates the issue or volume and date of the publication contained within.

Series 21: Programs / Women's Studies-Outside Organizations & Schools (1995-97)

This series is composed of official publications and pamphlets describing various academic programs and offerings. This series contains the pamphlet of the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center, A Report of Progress (1996) of Vanderbilt University.

Series 22: Book Publication Catalogues/Announcements/Newsletters (1994-1998)

This series is composed of the catalogues and announcements of academic and specialty presses offering women's studies books and videos as well as publicity issued by individuals and organizations.

Sub-Group V: Ephemeral Materials

Series 23: Clipping Files (1954-1995)

Arrangement is chronological

This series contains various articles about the Women’s Studies Program, events, and women faculty at Brooklyn College. Additional articles relate to women in general, such as famous women, women’s issues, and women’s studies programs elsewhere.

Series 24: Program Press Releases (1961-1980's)

This series includes newspaper clippings from the Kingsman, a press release, correspondence relating to symposia and articles as well as flyers, pamphlets, announcements and advertisements of various events, activities and programs of outside organizations, foundations and educational institutes.

Series 25: Photographs - Exhibition (1930's-1981)

Arrangement is chronological

Due to information revealed within Subgroup II, Series 7, Box 7, Folder 11 Course Offerings 1971-1986, it has come to be known that many of the photographs contained within this series were part of the exhibition Though The Camera's Eye: Fifty Years of Women at Brooklyn College. In order to see the captions which accompany these photographs see the folder mentioned above. These photos are a reflection of the women of Brooklyn College and their activities on campus from 1937 through 1981. For example these photographs document the role of women during the war. Two of the photographs within this series are of the Farm Labor Project During World War II in which students of Brooklyn College, the majority of which were women, aided in the war by working on a farm in Morrisville, upstate New York. A third photograph from the 1940's shows women receiving pointers on the use of emergency equipment units in preparation against a possible air raid. George Bing, college photographer, took many of these photographs. Further information pertaining to the exhibition and the photographs is located in Subgroup III, Series 18, Box 17, folders 1 and 2 as well as Subgroup III, Series 19, Box 18, folder 12.

Series 26: Photographs - Programs and Activities (1991-1993)

The majority of the photographs within this series were removed from their original photo albums. These are visual documentation of programs and special events and reflect the activities of the Women's Studies department. The photographs include Graduations, Outward Bound and the Delaware Spring Trip.