Asian Women's Institute

The Asian Women's Institute was created in 1975 as a catalyst organization motivating Christian colleges for women in Asia to focus attention and resources on the major needs of women in their respective countries and to build a cooperative network among the thirteen member institutions. For many years the AWI had a New York office as well as an international office, but after the early 1990s, its activities were handled through the international office.

From the description of Asian Women's Institute records, 1967-1992 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702161318

• 1971 Apr: Representatives of the following schools agreed to plan for a joint organzation: Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, India St. Christopher's College of Education, Madras, India Madras Women's Christian College, Madras, India Tokyo Woman's Christian University; Tokyo, Japan Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, Korea Seoul Woman's University; Seoul, Korea Beirut University College, Beirut, Lebanon Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan Damavand College, Tehran, Iran Philippine Women's Institute (Harris Memorial College, Manila, Northern Christian College, Laoag City, and Silliman University, Dumaguete City) Hawabagh Women's College, Jabalpur, India Kobe College, Japan
• 1972 May: Presidents of the nine original colleges met in Seoul, beginning a pattern of presidential consultations every three years.
• 1974 Oct: Planning Committee for the Asian Women's Institute met prior to Church Women United Assembly in Memphis. Conference of Asian educators in the USA held following Assembly. Support group called the Committee of 75 was formed, with Phebe Gregorian as chairperson.
• 1975 May: Asian Women's Institute was founded during Administrators' Consultation in Beirut. Dr. Eva Shipstone, President of Isabella Thoburn College, was appointed as International Coordinator and Mira Phailbus, Principal of Kinnaird College, was appointed president. A group called the Association of North American Cooperating Agencies of Overseas Women's Christian Colleges was formed as the North American support agency for the AWI. The Program Agency of the Presbyterian Church in the USA contributed office space in New York and the services of Margaret Flory. The work of the Committee of 75 was carried on by Phebe Gregorian in Boston. There were also "clusters" created in various North American cities.
• 1978: Triennial conference in Tokyo
• 1979 - 1981 : Career services and continuing education emphasis for the triennium - Commission on Women and Work; activities in conjunction with Wellesley College women's career center.
• 1981 Jul: Triennial conference in Manila
• 1981 - 1984 : Peacemaking emphasis for the triennium
• 1981: Association changed its name to Association of Christians for Women's Education in Asia
• 1982: Santosh Singh was International Coordinator following the retirement of Eva Shipstone
• 1984 - 1986 : Margaret Flory transferred U. S. leadership to a series of others.
• 1985: Tenth Anniversary celebration and triennial meeting in Hong Kong (originally scheduled for New Delhi)
• 1985 - 1988 : Leadership development emphasis for triennium
• 1986: Association changed its name to Association of Christians for Women's Education and Development in Asia
• 1988: Triennial conference in Indonesia
• 1991: Triennial conference at Kobe College, Japan
• 1991 - 1994 : Leadership of North American association in flux (included Erika Harper, Jean Woo, Beverley Thompson-Travis, Betty Gray); North American contributions becoming sparse. New York office closed and records transferred to YDSL.

From the guide to the Archives of the Asian Women's Institute - North American office, 1960-1993, (Yale University Divinity School Library)