Guide to the Society for Women in Philosophy collection, 1971-2020

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
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

Published in 2024

Collection Overview

Title:	Society for Women in Philosophy collection
Date range:	1971-2020
Creator:	Society for Women in Philosophy (U.S.)
Extent:	7.5 Linear Feet (7 record center cartons and 2 half file boxes)
Abstract:	This collection consists of the records of the Society for Women in Philosophy, an organization established in 1972 to support and promote women in philosophy. The collection includes newsletters, correspondence, and conference materials, dating from 1971 to 2020 and documents the organization on international, national, and regional levels.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	Ms.2015.014

Scope & content

This collection consists of the records of the Society for Women in Philosophy, an organization established in 1972 to support and promote women in philosophy. The collection includes newsletters, correspondence, and conference materials, dating from 1971 to 2013 and documents the organization on international, national, and regional levels.

The collection is arranged into 10 series.

Series 1, NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1971-2010, includes correspondence, conference and business meeting materials, newsletters, and files related to Hypatia: a Journal of Feminist Philosophy. Of particular note are the national newsletters, which document the organization to its founding and subjects of interest to SWIP members. Topics include employment, child care at meetings and conferences, sexist language, and surnames after marriage. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.

Series 2, EASTERN SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1972-2007, includes the regional bylaws and constitution, conference materials, correspondence, and writings. Topics include finances, employment, and philosophical discussion of nuclear war. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.

Series 3, MIDWEST SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1971-2013, includes conference materials, correspondence, and files of Ladelle McWhorter, University of Richmond Stephanie Bennett-Smith Chair in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Topics include philosophical discussion of white privilege and street walking as well as discussion of the Feminist Philosophy Reader. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.

Series 4, NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1993-2020, includes conference materials, correspondence, newsletters, and writings by Marcella Tarozzi Goldsmith. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.

Series 5, PACIFIC SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1973-2003, is comprised of five folders of conference materials, correspondence, mailing lists, and newsletters. Topics include Hypatia: a Journal of Feminist Philosophy, and membership. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, SOUTHEASTERN SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1982-1983, contains one folder of correspondence regarding the establishment of the division.

Series 7, SOUTHERN SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1973-1983, contains one conference agenda.

Series 8, SOUTHWESTERN SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1978-1982, contains one folder of newsletters.

Series 9, CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY, 1978-1979, contains a conference packet, correspondence regarding the state of the division and its plan for the future, and a flyer. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 10, RESTRICTED MATERIALS, 1977-1999, contains membership information for the national Society for Women in Philosophy and eastern and pacific divisions. This series is arranged alphabetically by division then chronologically. This series is closed until January 1, 2037 at which point the documents will be available without restriction.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.
• Feminist Theory Archive.
• Society for Women in Philosophy (U.S.)

Subject Topics

• Women -- Employment
• Feminist philosophy
• Feminist theory
• Feminism
• Feminism and science
• Autonomy (Philosophy)
• Affirmative action programs
• Equality
• Sex discrimination in employment

Occupations

• Women philosophers

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 10 series.

• Series 1. National Society for Women in Philosophy, 1971-2010, arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.
• Series 2. Eastern Society for Women in Philosophy, 1972-2007, arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.
• Series 3. Midwest Society for Women in Philosophy, 1971-2013, arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.
• Series 4. New York Society for Women in Philosophy, 1993-2020, arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.
• Series 5. Pacific Society for Women in Philosophy, 1973-2003, arranged alphabetically by record type.
• Series 6. Southeastern Society for Women in Philosophy, 1982-1983, contains one folder.
• Series 7. Southern Society for Women in Philosophy, 1973-1973, contains one folder.
• Series 8. Southwestern Society for Women in Philosophy, 1978-1982, contains one folder.
• Series 9. Canadian Society for Women in Philosophy, 1978-1979, arranged alphabetically by record type.
• Series 10. Restricted Materials, 1977-1999, arranged alphabetically by division then chronologically. This series is closed until January 1, 2037 at which point the documents will be available without restriction.

Biographical / Historical

The Society for Women in Philosophy was created in 1972 to "support and promote women in philosophy." Since that time, the Society for Women in Philosophy or "SWIP" has expanded to include many branches around the world. SWIP chapters can be found in the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Flanders, and Germany. To fulfill its mission to promote and support women in philosophy, SWIP holds lectures, divisional meetings, meetings in conjunction with the American Philosophical Association, and publishes national and chapter newsletters.

In 2013, the Feminist Philosophy Archive Project began when the Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory (FEAST) and the Society for Women in Philosophy (SWIP) wanted a way to handle SWIP archives, dating to 1971. While the SWIP archive is the immediate goal, the ultimate goal is an inclusive and international Feminist Philosophy Archive (FPA). In 2014, the Feminist Theory Archive at Brown University entered into a joint relationship with the Society for Women in Philosophy to collect and make available the Society's organizational records. The American Philosophical Association generously donated $5,000 to support a temporary assistant archivist for 2015-2016. During that time, twenty scholars donated their materials that document the founding, operations, and activities of the Society.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access for analog materials, except on Series 10, Restricted Materials, which is closed until January 1, 2037 at which point the documents will be available without restriction. The collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view any audiovisual media or born-digital records that may exist in this collection. Audiovisual media and born-digital records in this collection may not have been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical audiovisual or born-digital media is restricted.
Use of the materials:	All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the John Hay Library are requested to complete a Notice of Intent to Publish, available on the John Hay Library website or by request, prior to reproducing, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Society for Women in Philosophy collection, MS.2015.014, Box [#], Folder [#], Pembroke Center Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts 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

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Materials gifted in batches between 2014-2015 and 2020 from 20 separate members of the Society for Women in Philosophy. Donors are: Kathryn Pyne Addelson, Amy Baehr, Alison Bailey, Clare Bright, Claudia Card, Lisa Cassidy, Amy Ferrer, Marilyn Frye, Nanette Funk, Ann Garry, Sara Goering, Marcella Tarozzi Goldsmith, Sandra G. Harding, Virginia Held, Amanda Huminski, Carolyn Korsmeyer, Ledelle McWhorter, Christine Pierce, Gaile M. Pohlhaus, Margaret A. Simons, and Jo Trigilio.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Amanda Knox, Halley McArn, and Mary Murphy, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library. Original processing completed by Catherine Stebbins in 2015. Collection reprocessed in 2017.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-04-16.
Descriptive rules:	Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sponsor:	Curatorial work and processing provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library. Processing funded by a grant from the American Philosophical Association.

Additional Information

Inventory

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