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
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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
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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.
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1978:
Triennial
conference in Tokyo
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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.
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1981 Jul:
Triennial
conference in Manila
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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
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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)
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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
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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)