RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Louise Lamphere papers (Ms.2016.011)

Brown University Library

Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Scope & content

This collection contains the papers of Louise Lamphere from approximately 1960 to 2022, documenting her career through publications, correspondence, research, and personal files. Subjects of the papers include anthropology, sex discrimination, women and work, Navajo culture, and Lamphere's career at various universities. Throughout the collection, folders are arranged alphabetically unless otherwise specified, and make up 11 complete series, one of which is restricted. The collection arrived with original folder titles using acronyms, which have been expanded by the processor. However, when searching for organizations such as the American Anthropological Association, researchers should also keyword search for the related acronym, "AAA."

Series 1, Biographical, contains biographical information about Lamphere, including many of her curriculum vitae's, interviews conducted about her life and career, and letters of recommendation.

Series 2, Career Development, documents the development of Lamphere's academic career. The Series is arranged into four sub-series: Contracts; Grants and fellowships; Job applications; and Administrative Materials. This series contains full applications with written components, and a timeline of her career recorded through contracts with universities and institutes. The folders within each sub-series are arranged alphabetically.

Series 3, Correspondence, contains correspondence between Lamphere and university faculty and administration, feminist scholars, and students. Emails and letters may contain details about book reviews, invitations to lectures and functions, Lamphere's research and publications, as well as personal correspondence. Series 3 is arranged alphabetically by the subject of correspondence, although the series begins with general correspondence without specified subjects. These folders are listed chronologically and then by topic.

Series 4, Professional Associations, is arranged into four sub-series: Advisory and editorial boards; American Anthropological Association material; Other associations; and Committees. Folders contained in each sub-series are listed alphabetically according to the subject discussed in each folder. Series 4 documents Lamphere's work for various committees, advisory and editorial boards, as well as an extensive record of her involvement with the American Anthropological Association. These papers include meeting preparations, speeches given or witnessed by Lamphere, and correspondence concerning the committees and groups. There are also several folders concerning the American Anthropological Association that cover its history, media, policies, and finances.

Series 5, Conference Files, documents the conferences that Lamphere attended, participated in, or followed as an academic. The series is arranged into two sub-series, beginning with "General files" and then "Lectures." The general files are arranged alphabetically by the name of the conference, and then the subject. The Lectures sub-series contains talks that Lamphere gave at various conferences, arranged alphabetically by location. If no location was specified, the folder is organized by the title of the talk.

Series 6, Writings and related material, is arranged into five sub-series: Publishing contracts and related material; Drafts of published chapters and articles; Published reviews by Lamphere; Reviews of Lamphere publications by others; and Reprints. Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject within each subseries. Note that in "Published reviews by Lamphere" subseries, folders are arranged alphabetically by the title of the journal where Lamphere's review appeared or by the author of the orginial article. Series 4 documents Lamphere's writing and published scholarship covering the span of her career, as well as collaborative projects with other academics and researchers. The folders thus contain early and late drafts of some of her major works, including Situated Lives: Gender and Culture in Everyday Life; Newcomers in the Workplace: Immigrants and the Restructuring of the U.S. Economy; Sunbelt Working Mothers: Reconciling Family and Factory; Structuring Diversity: Ethnographic Perspectives on the New Immigration; From Working Daughters to Working Mothers: Immigrant Women in a New England Industrial Community; To Run After Them: The Social and Cultural Bases of Cooperation in a Navajo, Community; and Woman, Culture, and Society.

Series 7, Teaching files, contains Lamphere's course files, including research material specific to each course, as well as syllabi and weekly schedules. Classes include American Indian Ethnography; Class, Work, Gender; Cultures of the World; Feminist Theory; and many others. Series VII is arranged alphabetically by the title of the course.

Series 8, Personal Files, contains files about people that are arranged into two sub-series, "Feminist scholars" and "Men." These are original categories that Lamphere used to organize her personal files. Folders within each sub-series are arranged alphabetically by last name. Folders may contain recommendations, papers, and letters between Lamphere and the name on the folder. The sub-series, "Men," contains similar content as the "Feminist Scholars" sub-series, but for male colleagues and academics.

Series 9, Research Materials, is arranged into three subseries: General research files, Research in Brazil, and Working Women research. Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject therin and document Lamphere's research spanning her career. The "General research files" covers research for various projects, including the Daughters of the Desert publication for the Wenner-Gren Foundation. Materials in the "General research files" subseries include articles and conference papers by other scholars, notes, and newletters. The following, smaller series catalogue Lamphere's research in Brazil and London, with complete research notes, interviews, newspaper clippings, and articles.

Series 10, Central Fall Project, contains research and related materials created by Lamphere for her book "From Working Daughters to Working Mothers: Immigrant Women in a New England Industrial Community." This series is noteworthy for its thorough documentation of the Central Falls and surrounding communities in Rhode Island. Materials include interviews with community members and social and industrial history on the area. Lamphere was assisted by several graduate students whose work also appears in this series. Note that original folder titles are written in quotations. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 11, Restricted Materials, contains files related to the Louise Lamphere v. Brown University case and other restricted material removed from throughout the collection. In 1975, Lamphere filed a class action lawsuit against Brown charging the University with systematic discrimination against women. Brown ultimately settled the suit by means of a consent decree, with specific procedures for hiring and promoting faculty. As a result, tenured female professors increased from 12 in 1977 to 67 in 1992. In 2008, Lamphere donated $1 million to Brown to establish a visiting professorship in gender studies. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type. The Lamphere v Brown University legal files are closed until January 1, 2025, after which date they will open without restriction. Student files and personell recorda are closed for 80 years after the creation date after which point they will open without restriction.