American Association of University Women

According to the The American Association of University Women's website, the AAUW is a nationwide network for the advancement of equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

From the guide to the The American Association of University Women, 1937-1994, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

Based in Washington, D.C.

From the description of American Association of University Women records, 1935-1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502386

American Association of University Women was founded in 1882 as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. The name was changed in 1921 when the organization absorbed the Southern Association of College Women.

From the description of Collection, 1921-[ongoing] (Swarthmore College, Peace Collection). WorldCat record id: 26726321

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1881. The Ellensburg branch of the AAUW is believed to have been established in May of 1936 and was an active organization on the Central Washington University campus until the late 1960s. AAUW promotes equality for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change.

From the guide to the American Association of University Women, Ellensburg Branch, Annual Programs, 1936-1963, (Central Washington University Archives and Special Collections)

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was founded in 1921 through the merger of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae and the Southern Association of College Women, with the goal of furthering women's educational and career opportunities.

From the description of Audiotape collection of American Association of University Women ca. 1960-1971 [sound recording]. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 631084629

Nationwide network founded in 1881 as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae by Ellen H. Richards and Marion Talbot to promote gender equity for women through programs of advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. In 1921, the Southern Association of College Women merged with the Association of Collegiate Alumnae to form the American Association of University Women.

From the description of American Association of University Women records, 1937-1946 (bulk 1937-1938). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71131898

The American Association of University Women was founded in 1882. The website states that the "AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research." This collection primarily covers the Harrisonburg branches actions and inner workings of the organization.

From the guide to the American Association of University Women, 1929-2011, (Special Collections, James Madison University)

Founded in 1882, the AAUW is an organization open to all women holding a baccalaureate degree from an AAUW-accredited university. Its purpose is to work for the advancement of women, as well as for the solution of social, economic, and political problems.

From the description of Collection, 1952-1977, 1969-1974. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 24617644

In the late 1870's, such institutional higher education as there was for women focused on domestic skills and the social graces and usually stopped at the finishing school level. Boston University's School of Liberal Arts, in the middle of its 1876-77 term, reluctantly admitted Miss Marion Talbot to its freshman class. In spite of beginning her work one term late, Marion completed her A.B. degree with her class in 1880. Finding then that the only types of work she was interested in were closed to her, she embarked on a Master's degree program. Meanwhile, her mother, wife of Dr. I. Tisdale Talbot, Dean of Medical School of Boston University, noting other young women in the same situation, encouraged them to organize themselves for mutual support and perhaps some positive achievements in the areas of education and post-degree employment. Consequently, on January 14, 1882, seventeen young women representing Oberlin, Vassar, University of Michigan, Cornell, University of Wisconsin, Boston University, Smith, and Wellesley, organized the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. Marion Talbot was elected secretary, a position she held for fourteen years. Programs were usually a paper presented by a member, with discussion following. In less than two years a Chicago branch was formed, followed by branches in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Also, a plan was devised for evaluating the various academic institutions from which applicants might come. One particularly important criterion was that 'every opportunity, intellectual and personal, should be open to women equally with men.' In time, a Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae and a Southern Association of College Women came into being. The latter merged with the original Association of Collegiate Alumnae in 1921, forming an organization which took the new name of American Association of University Women. It had a greatly expanded organizational structure and membership, but, as still prevails, the same objectives of educational equity for women and positive societal change. On January 8, 1925, a group of young Savannah women met at the home of Mrs. Mills B. Lane to examine the feasibility of organizing a Branch of American Association of University Women. This activity resulted in the official recognition of the local Branch by the national Association on December 9, 1925, with twelve charter members. The first officers were Miss Jane Wright, President, Mrs. Kingman White, Vice-President, Miss Virginia Hitch, Secretary, and Miss Isabelle Harrison, Treasurer. Although the prevailing type of program in the early years was the invited speaker, the Branch in 1934 initiated a form of self-education through the organization of study groups whose subjects ranged over a wide area of academic disciplines. Among the Branch's earliest projects were 'the formation of a scholarship fund to lend to worthy girls, ' and a gift to the national Fellowship Fund (now the Educational Foundation). Probably the all-time most spectacular achievement of the branch was hosting the 1937 National Convention of AAUW in Savannah.

From the description of American Association of University Women records, 1925-1996. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 157010758

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was the first organization of university women in the United States. It was founded as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA) on January 14, 1882 by sixty-five women from Boston University, the universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, Cornell, Oberlin, Smith, Vassar, and Wellesley. In 1921, the name was changed to the American Association of University Women after the ACA merged with the Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae (founded 1883 in Chicago) and the Southern Association of College Women (founded in 1903). The AAUW led the movement to improve conditions and facilities for women in many colleges and universities. Early administrators used AAUW institutional admission as leverage to obtain funding for women's dormitories, to improve the salaries of women instructors, and to encourage the hiring of women in positions beyond the instructor level, as well as to promote a cordial attitude toward women students. Today the Association promotes the advancement of women's education and women in society by funding projects of branch and state divisions and individual members through research and project grants and fellowship programs. The AAUW maintains a library and an archival collection on women, supports a lobbying team on women's issues, and produces numerous publications. There are branches in every state and a membership of nearly two hundred thousand.

From the guide to the American Association of University Women Records MS 330., 1921-1983 (ongoing), (Sophia Smith Collection)

Women's association in Provo, Utah.

From the description of American Association of University Women records, 1944-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122606337

From the guide to the American Association of University Women records, 1944-1974, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

The American Association of University Women advocates education and equity. Since its founding in 1881, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day-educational, social, economic, and political. Their commitment to their mission is reflected in all aspects of their work.

From the description of Minutes, 1944-1963. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79418163

Women's collegiate association.

The first organization of university women in the United States, founded as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA), 1882 by sixty-five women from Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, Boston University, Cornell, Oberlin, Smith, Vassar, and Wellesley. In 1921, name changed to American Association of University Women after the ACA merged with the Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae (founded 1883) and the Southern Association of College Women (founded 1903). The AAUW led movement to improve conditions and facilities for women in colleges and universities, to obtain funding for women's dormitories, to improve the salaries of women instructors, and to encourage the hiring of women in positions beyond the instructor level, as well as to promote a cordial attitude toward women students. Today the Association promotes the advancement of women's education and women in society by funding projects of branch and state divisions and individual members through research and project grants and fellowship programs.

From the description of Records, 1921-1983 (ongoing). (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 50118154

Organizational History

The American Association of University Women is a nationwide network founded in 1881 as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae by Ellen H. Richards and Marion Talbot to promote gender equity for women through programs of advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. In 1921, the Southern Association of College Women merged with the Association of Collegiate Alumnae to form the American Association of University Women. Under its leadership the association has formed a wide range of committees throughout the years to promote its mission including the Educational Foundation, established in 1958, to provide a source of funding exclusively for graduate women, and in 1981 the Legal Advisory Fund, a legal defense fund focused on sex discrimination against women in higher education.

From the guide to the American Association of University Women Records, 1937-1946, (bulk 1937-1938), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was founded in 1921 through the merger of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae and the Southern Association of College Women, with the goal of furthering women's educational and career opportunities.

From the guide to the Audiotape collection of American Association of University Women, ca., 1960-1971, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)