Bureau of Vocational Information (New York, N.Y. : 1911-1926)

Variant names

Hide Profile

The Bureau of Vocational Information of New York City was the successor to the Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations (IBO). Founded in 1911-1912 by the New York alumnae associations of the Seven Sister colleges, plus those of Wells and Cornell, the IBO listed the following as its purposes in its constitution:

(1) to secure employment for college women or other specially equipped persons; (2) to investigate and to do all in its power to develop opportunities for women and to increase their efficiency in occupations; (3) to establish close connections with the colleges, especially in advising and informing undergraduates; (4) to ensure in every way a free and wise choice of occupation.

IBO published studies on wartime training, and on employment opportunities in a number of fields, including the civil service and scientific work. It provided employment information and advice, as well as a placement service for women. After World War I, in 1919, IBO was dissolved and BVI took over its research, information, and education functions. According to a letter (May 7, 1953) from Beatrice Doerschuk (BD) to the Radcliffe Women's Archives, "Its purpose was research in women's occupations with service and counsel both to individual women and to colleges through publication, institutes, and personal consultation of which there was a steady flow."

Emma P. Hirth, director of BVI, wrote on December 11, 1919 (#336): "The purpose of this organization...is to gather and distribute information concerning vocational opportunities for trained women. We are engaged at the present time on three intensive studies including: a study of the opportunities for women in statistical work; a study of the law as a vocation for women; and a study of opportunities for the woman chemist."

BVI subsequently published the three studies referred to by Emma Hirth and many others, including Positions of Responsibility in Department Stores and Other Retail Selling Organizations and Training For the Professions and Allied Occupations. Many BVI publications (also gifts of BD), including the News-Bulletin, are available at the Schlesinger Library.

The financial support BVI received from individuals and foundations was not sufficient to maintain it. Despite attempts to affiliate with other organizations and to reorganize, BVI was forced to close its doors in 1926. Research on secretarial work had begun in 1924 but was never completed. BD continued to work on the subject after BVI was dissolved in 1926; she wrote a draft of "The Woman Secretary" (#503-509), but it was never published.

From the guide to the Records, 1908-1932, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Bureau of Vocational Information (New York, N.Y.). Records of the Bureau of Vocational Information, 1908-1932. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Bureau of Vocational Information. Records, 1908-1932 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Bureau of Vocational Information (New York, N.Y.). Records, 1908-1932 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alice Barrows Fernandez person
correspondedWith American Association of University Women Committee corporateBody
associatedWith Andrews, Irene (Osgood), 1877- person
associatedWith Andrews, Irene Osgood, 1877- person
associatedWith Antonia Sawyer person
associatedWith Baker, George Pierce, 1866-1935 person
associatedWith Baker, George Pierce, 1866-1935. person
associatedWith Beard, Mary (Ritter), 1876-1958 person
associatedWith Beard, Mary Ritter, 1876-1958. person
associatedWith Bonstelle, Jessie, 1871-1932 person
associatedWith Bonstelle, Jessie, 1871-1932. person
associatedWith Breckinridge, Sophonisba Preston, 1866-1948 person
associatedWith Breckinridge, Sophonisba Preston, 1866-1948. person
associatedWith Bureau for Part Time Work, New York City corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau for Part Time Work (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Occupations for Trained Women, Cleveland corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Occupations for Trained Women (Cleveland, Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Occupations for Trained Women, Philadelphia corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Occupations for Trained Women (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Vocational Occupations (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Vocational Service, Los Angeles corporateBody
associatedWith Bureau of Vocational Service (Los Angeles, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Butcher, Theodora S. person
associatedWith Butcher, Theodora S. person
correspondedWith Central Employment Bureau corporateBody
correspondedWith Chautauquas, summer camps) corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Bureau of Occupations, Chicago corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Bureau of Occupations (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Bureau of Occupations, Denver corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Bureau of Occupations (Denver, Colo.) corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Vocational Bureau, Pittsburgh corporateBody
associatedWith Collegiate Vocational Bureau (Pittsburgh, Penn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Cooperative Bureau for Women Teachers corporateBody
associatedWith Cooperative Bureau for Women Teachers. corporateBody
associatedWith Corre, Mary P. person
associatedWith Corre, Mary P. person
correspondedWith Cox, Cordelia person
associatedWith Cummings, Frances person
associatedWith Cummings, Frances. person
associatedWith Davis, Katharine Bement, 1860-1935 person
associatedWith Davis, Katharine Bement, 1860-1935. person
associatedWith De Forest, Nora Stanton Blatch. person
associatedWith DeForest, Nora Stanton (Blatch) person
associatedWith Dobrosky, Nanette, 1956- person
associatedWith Doerschuk, Anna Beatrice, 1879-1974 person
associatedWith Doerschuk, Anna Beatrice, 1879-1974. person
associatedWith Dr. Anne Allebach person
associatedWith Dreier, Mary E. 1875-1963. person
associatedWith Dreier, Mary Elisabeth, 1875-1963 person
associatedWith Dr. Eleanor Keller person
associatedWith Edna Lewis person
associatedWith Elizabeth E. Cook person
associatedWith Emma Gunther person
associatedWith Frederick, Christine Isobel McGaffey, 1883-1970. person
associatedWith Frederick, Christine (MacGaffey), 1883-1970 person
associatedWith Gachet, Rochelle Rodd person
associatedWith Gachet, Rochelle Rodd. person
associatedWith Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935. person
associatedWith Gilman, Charlotte (Perkins) Stetson, 1860-1935 person
associatedWith Gowin, Enoch Burton, 1883- person
associatedWith Gowin, Enoch Burton, 1883- person
associatedWith Hansl, Eva Elise (vom Baur), 1889-1978 person
associatedWith Hansl, Eva Elise vom Baur, 1889-1978. person
associatedWith Hasse, Adelaide Rosalia, 1868-1953 person
associatedWith Hasse, Adelaide Rosalia, 1868-1953. person
associatedWith Hausam, Winifred M. person
associatedWith Hausam, Winifred M. person
associatedWith Hirth, Emma P. person
associatedWith Hirth, Emma P. person
correspondedWith Howard Odum person
associatedWith Industrial Information Service, New York City corporateBody
associatedWith Industrial Information Service (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations corporateBody
associatedWith Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations. corporateBody
associatedWith Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952 person
associatedWith Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952. person
associatedWith Juliet Stuart Poyntz person
associatedWith Kennon, Anne Byrd person
associatedWith Kennon, Anne Byrd. person
associatedWith Lathrop, Julia Clifford, 1858-1932 person
associatedWith Lathrop, Julia Clifford, 1858-1932. person
associatedWith Laura Cauble person
associatedWith League for Business Opportunities for Women, New York. corporateBody
associatedWith Mary van Kleeck person
associatedWith Maud Miner person
associatedWith Miss St. Clair Ransford Gay person
associatedWith Morton, Rosalie S. 1876-1968. person
associatedWith Morton, Rosalie (Slaughter), 1876- person
associatedWith Moskowitz, Belle (Lindner) Israels, 1877-1933 person
associatedWith Moskowitz, Belle Lindner Israels, 1877-1933. person
correspondedWith National Committee of Bureaus of Occupations corporateBody
associatedWith National Committee of Bureaus of Occupations. corporateBody
associatedWith National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs corporateBody
associatedWith National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. corporateBody
associatedWith New York University School of Commerce corporateBody
associatedWith Odencrantz, Louise, 1884-1969 person
associatedWith Odencrantz, Louise C., 1884- person
associatedWith Porritt, Marjory W. person
associatedWith Porritt, Marjory W. person
associatedWith Rembaugh, Bertha, 1876-1940 person
associatedWith Rembaugh, Bertha, 1876-1940. person
associatedWith Richmond, Mary Ellen, 1861-1928 person
associatedWith Richmond, Mary Ellen, 1861-1928. person
associatedWith Roberts, Mary (Fanton), 1861-1956 person
associatedWith Roberts, Mary Fanton, 1861-1956. person
associatedWith Rosenstiel, Mildred person
associatedWith Rosenstiel, Mildred. person
associatedWith Schauffler, Mary person
associatedWith Schauffler, Mary. person
associatedWith Southern Women's Educational Alliance corporateBody
associatedWith Southern Women's Educational Alliance. corporateBody
correspondedWith Tillett, Kate S. person
correspondedWith United States Foreign Service corporateBody
associatedWith Van Kleeck, Mary, 1883- person
associatedWith van Kleeck, Mary Abby, 1883-1972 person
associatedWith Vermilye, Kate (Jordan), 1871-1926 person
associatedWith Vermilye, Kate Jordan, 1871-1926. person
associatedWith Vocational Adjustment Bureau, Inc., New York. corporateBody
associatedWith Vocational Adjustment Bureau, New York City corporateBody
associatedWith Vocation Bureau, Cincinnati corporateBody
associatedWith Vocation Bureau (Cincinnati, Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith Vocation Bureau, Pasadena corporateBody
associatedWith Vocation Bureau (Pasadena, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith vom Baur, Eva Elise, see Hansl, Eva Elise (vom Baur) person
associatedWith Wald, Lillian D., 1867-1940 person
associatedWith Wald, Lillian D., 1867-1940. person
associatedWith Whartes Hitchcock person
associatedWith Williams, Anna Wessels, 1863-1954 person
associatedWith Williams, Anna Wessels, 1863-1954. person
associatedWith Woman's Occupational Bureau, Minneapolis corporateBody
associatedWith Woman's Occupational Bureau (Minneapolis, Minn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Educational and Industrial Union corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Educational and Industrial Union (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Educational and Industrial Union (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Employment Service, Pittsburgh corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Employment Service (Pittsburgh, Penn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's University Club, Los Angeles person
associatedWith Women's University Club (Los Angeles, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Vocational Alliance, Los Angeles person
associatedWith Women's Vocational Alliance (Los Angeles, Calif.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Young Men's Christian Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association person
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
United States 00 US
Subject
Art
Businesswomen
Clerical occupations
College graduates
Counseling
Department stores
Educational counseling
Home economics
Industrial welfare
Labor supply
Occupational training for women
Occupations
Professions
Scientists
Secretaries
Self-employed women
Social service
Statistics
Vocational guidance for women
Vocational guidance for women
Wages
Women
Women
Women
Women
Women artists
Women clergy
Women college graduates
Women college graduates
Women in agriculture
Women in engineering
Women in industry
Women in medicine
Women in science
Women in the professions
Women lawyers
Women scientists
Women's exchanges
Women social workers
Women statisticians
Occupation
Activity
Chemists
Engineer
Lawyer
Scientists

Corporate Body

Establishment 1911

Disestablishment 1926

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6747gkf

Ark ID: w6747gkf

SNAC ID: 85748420