Iowa Commission on the Status of Women records
Scope and Contents
The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women records date from 1977 to 2013 and measure 12.75 linear inches. The records are arranged in three series: Publications, Legislative correspondence, and "Write Women Back into History" contest.
The Publications series includes brochures published by the ICSW about its history and mission, and on topics of interest to women such as sexual harassment in the workplace. In 1984, the ICSW conducted public hearings on the feminization of poverty in Iowa and produced a report of their findings, which is included in this series. It also includes a 1997 report summarizing the results of town meetings held across the state on the status of Iowa women. A comprehensive directory of women's organizations and a calendar featuring women who have made important contributions to Iowa complete the series.
The Legislative correspondence series includes memos, testimony, and letters written by ICSW staff members to various state and national legislators conveying their views on pending bills and issues.
The essays in the Write Women Back into History contest series are organized by year of submission. Within each year, they are organized alphabetically by the last name of the subject of each paper. The winning essays are in a separate folder at the beginning of each year. A subject analysis of all essays submitted is located in the Collections Analysis notebook in the IWA reading room.
Dates
- 1977-2013
Creator
- Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The records are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by the donor has been retained by the donor.
However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/
Biographical / Historical
The Iowa legislature created the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (ICSW) in 1972. The ICSW succeeded the earlier governors' commissions on the status of women appointed by Governor Harold Hughes (1964-1968) and Governor Robert Ray (1969-1971). The purpose of the ICSW is to advocate the interests of women in Iowa. To that end, the ICSW conducts studies, develops educational programs, recommends legislation, and provides information to the public on issues involving women in Iowa. The commission submits an annual report to the legislature and governor.
The ICSW sponsors an annual writing contest to promote women's history. Students in the sixth through ninth grades research and write about women who have made significant historical contributions. Teachers choose the best essay in their class for submission, and the ICSW chooses the statewide winners each year.
Extent
12.75 linear inches
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The records include publications, legislative correspondence and the Write Women Back into History essays of middle and high school students in Iowa.
Method of Acquisition
The records (donor no. 254) were donated by the Iowa Commission on the Status of women in 1995 and succeeding years.
- 1971-1980
- 1981-1990
- 1991-2000
- Administrative records
- Archives (groupings)
- Iowa
- Iowa Commission on the Status of Women
- Poor women
- Sexual harassment
- Women
- Women -- Political activity
- Women -- Societies and clubs
- Women lawyers
- Women's rights
- Womens International League for Peace and Freedom
- Working class women
- Write Women Back Into History Essay Contest
Creator
- Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (Organization)
- Author
- Nickol Himschoot, 2003; Sharon M. Lake 2007.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Repository Details
Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)
lib-women@uiowa.edu