The Associated Women Students (AWS) began in 1917 as the Woman's League but reorganized in 1921 as the Associated Women Students. It was the official representative body for women students, and acted as the policy maker for them.

For many years the president was selected from officials of the various women's organizations that belonged to AWS. About 1949, this changed and the president was elected by women of the campus in a general election.

During its earlier years, each woman student was automatically assessed fees for AWS and became a member. In the 1960's, the AWS lost this funding and struggled to maintain itself; and about 1981 it was disbanded.

Among it's functions and responsibilities over the years, AWS instructed freshmen women about university tradition, set dorm hours and punishments for infractions, governed campus queen contests, established the Women's Night of Honor, the AWS Rose Garden, the child care facility, and sponsored fashion shows, scholarships for women, and lectures.

The records in this collection consists of correspondence, reports, minutes, and notes on and about AWS activities, 1948-1981. Included are announcements, brochures and books concerning women's issues at the national, state and university level (1960's-1970's). Three scrapbooks, 1957-1969, contain announcements, newspaper clippings, and photographs of events concerning AWS.

 

The material is arranged in chronological order.

Box 1

Folders:
1-6. Associated Women Students (AWS).
Agenda and Minutes.
Constitution and By-laws.
[1948-1982]

7-14. AWS President's Continuing Notebook. Contains plans and critiques of activities; correspondence.
1950-1951. Marnie Miller
1952-1953. Ruth Moore Eliades.
1957?-1958. Barbara Cavanaugh.
1959-1960. Pat Reynolds.
1966-1967. Marvis Cooper.
1970-1971. Charlotte Morse.
1971-1972. Lynne Hall.
1972-1973. Cindy Pyzel.

15. Roll book. 1965-1974.
16-17. General correspondence. [1968-1981].
18. AWS Constitution and By-laws. n.d.
19. The Focus Is On You: Occupational Handbook. By AWS, 1967.
20-21. Hours for women; rules and infractions. 1967-1970.
22. Commission on the Status of Women. [1967-1975].
23. Rose presentation; AWS elections breakfast. 1968, 1969, 1970.
24. Sadie Hawkins (Day) reports, 1968.
25. AWS Rose Garden. [1968-1975].
26. Morse, Charlotte. AWS President, 1970-1971. Term papers on ethnic relations, female college students, freedom.
27. Naimada. Special issue on women's liberation, 1971.
28. ASUN Child Care Center. 1972-73. [Photographs #1444 in Archives photo collection]
29. Equal Rights Amendment, 1973. Cindy Pyzel, AWS President. [Photograph of Pyzel, #1445, in Archives photo collection]
30. Centennial Cookbook, by AWS, 1974.
31-32. Women's Night of Honor, 1975; 1981. Includes applications.
33. Women's Career Day, 1981.
34. Student Survival Kit, 1981.
35. Frankie Sue Del Papa, Regent. Talk on Education and the Status of Women, Nov. 19, 1981. Advertisements and newspaper clippings.
36. Blank stationary with AWS letterhead.
35. Surveys and petitions. [1966-c. 1974?]

Box 2

Announcements, brochures, flyers, books concerning women's issues, 1960's-1970's.
AWS Scrapbooks
1956-57
1965-66
1968-69
 

University Archives

Please direct questions to James Bantin
Updated August 13, 2008