National Coalition for Research on Women's Education and Development

The Coalition was organized in 1970 to help provide an effective national response to women's educational, occupational and related developmental needs. It was intended to be a link between the general public and institutions and individuals researching women's education. Initial members were colleges and universities. It was disbanded in 1975 due to inadequate funding and the lack of a permanent home.

The NCRWED was organized in July 1970, and incorporated in 1971, to help provide a more effective national response to the educational, occupational, and related developmental needs of young and adult women. Its basic premise was that research was a means to this end. The Coalition hoped to serve as a link among institutions and individuals carrying on research pertaining to women's education and the general public.

During a pilot period of five years the Coalition was to seek support both from member institutions and from public and private granting agencies. Membership would be open to colleges and universities, and eventually to other groups and individuals. The organizational structure was to consist of a Board of Directors, a Professional Advisory Council, Representatives of Member Institutions and Agencies, and a Center staff, under two co-directors. It was to be housed in a National Center and its work carried out at the Center and at member institutions. While the Coalition sought a permanent home the Center was first housed at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Long Island under the co-directorship of Joseph Katz and Esther M. Westervelt.

With the support of the Johnson Foundation the Coalition sponsored a conference at Wingspread (Racine, Wisconsin) on March 13, 1972. The published report, Women's Higher Education: Some Unanswered Questions, helped to publicize the work of the Coalition and resulted in a tremendous increase in interest through 1974. However, funding remained inadequate and the Coalition was unable to find a permanent home at a suitable institution of higher learning; these factors contributed to the disbanding of the NCRWED at the end of the pilot period in 1975. Series I of the records includes a description of the Coalition, its organization, purposes, activities, and the development of its original goals.