Guide to the Women of Brown United collection, 1972
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: | Women of Brown United collection |
| Date range: | 1972 |
| Creator: | Women of Brown United |
| Extent: | 0.25 linear feet (1 half-file box) |
| Abstract: | This collection contains evidence of the work and interests of Women of Brown United, a women's liberation group founded at Brown University, Providence, RI, in September 1970. WBU advocated for equal representation of women in faculty positions, laid the groundwork for a women's studies concentration and a women's center, and called for the addition of medical practitioners dedicated to women's reproductive healthcare on campus, among many other successful efforts. Women of Brown United endured as a Brown organization until the early 1990s. Materials date from 1972 and include a clipping, a journal, and writings by organization members. |
| Repository: | John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts |
| Collection number: | OF.1Q.2024.001 |
Scope & content
This collection contains evidence of the work and interests of Women of Brown United, a women's liberation group founded at Brown University, Providence, RI, in September 1970. During its existence, WBU helped transform Brown to achieve many of the initial goals it set out in its first year, and many more that later emerged. WBU advocated for equal representation of women in faculty positions, laid the groundwork for a women's studies concentration and a women's center, and called for the addition of medical practitioners dedicated to women's reproductive healthcare on campus, among many other successful efforts. Women of Brown United endured as a Brown organization until the early 1990s. Materials include a clipping regarding the organization's effort to establish a feminist studies program, Women: A Journal of Liberation, a poem by member Jessica Murray titled "There Was a Young Woman Who Swallowed a Lie," and a paper by member Rachel Wyon titled "Day Care: A Woman's Right, A Child's Right." Materials date from 1972 and are arranged alphabetically by record type.Access Points
Subject Organizations Subject Topics- Brown University--Alumni and alumnae
- Pembroke College (Brown University) -- Alumni and alumnae
- Feminism
- Second-wave feminism--United States.
- Student Organizations
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 1 series alphabetically by record type.
Biographical/Historical Note
Women of Brown United (WBU), a women's liberation group at Brown University, was founded in September 1970 and endured for over twenty years. Its members campaigned for many issues directly related to women on campus, including accessing reproductive healthcare, advocating for equal admissions, increasing female faculty, establishing a women's studies program, and addressing violence against women.In the Providence community, WBU established a Rhode Island coalition to fight for the legalization of abortion, helped set up the Brown/Fox Point Early Childcare Education Center, and created the Rhode Island Feminist Theatre. In later years, WBU members were active as safety escorts at Rhode Island abortion clinics, and WBU's Socialist Feminist Caucus founded Sojourner House, a domestic violence shelter.
See also: A History of Women of Brown United (1970-1991) by Mimi Pichey
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, except that 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. |
| 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, 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: | Women of Brown United collection, OF.1Q.2024.001, 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 were gifted in batches from multiple members of Women of Brown United beginning in 2022. Donors are Jessica Murray and Rachel Wyon. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Amanda Knox, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library. |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-20. |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
| Sponsor: | Curatorial work and processing provided by Amanda Knox, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library. |
Additional Information
Inventory
| Box [31236104064459] 1, Folder 1 | Clipping from The Brown Daily Herald re: Women of Brown United efforts to establish a feminist studies program at Brown University |
October 4, 1972 |
| Box [31236104064459] 1, Folder 2 | Journal: Women: A Journal of Liberation volume 3 number 2 |
1972 |
| Box [31236104064459] 1, Folder 3 | Poem: "There Was a Young Woman Who Swallowed a Lie" by Jessica Murray |
n.d. |
| Box [31236104064459] 1, Folder 4 | Student paper: "Day Care: A Woman's Right, A Child's Right" by Rachey Wyon with annotations by Professor Nancy Williamson |
May 1972 |