President's Commission on the Status of Women Records

President's Commission on the Status of Women Records, 1971-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Oregon State University. President's Commission on the Status of Women.
Title: President's Commission on the Status of Women Records
Dates: 1971-2010 (inclusive)
19712010

1973-1996 (bulk)
19731996
Quantity: 2.30 cubic feet, (7 boxes)
Collection Number: RG 159
Summary: These records were generated and collected by the President's Commission on the Status of Women, an independent commission established in 1972 responsible for advising the President and other administrators on issues of concern to women on campus. The records in the collection document the activities of the commission in its research and advisory role.
Repository: Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The President's Commission on the Status of Women (PCOSW) was established in 1972 as an independent commission responsible to the President. Composed of both men and women from the student body, faculty, and university staff, PCOSW advises the President and other administrators on issues of concern to women at the University, such as the availability of child care, lighting on campus and other safety issues, institutionalized sexism in the hiring process, and the retention and tenure of women faculty.

In its role as advocate for women at OSU, PCOSW often responds publicly to developments and traditions on campus that are seen as sexist and demeaning to women. In the past, such controversies have included the continuation of the Ms. OSU Pageant, and the portrayal of a rape on a T-shirt produced by an OSU fraternity for the annual Civil War game.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The President's Commission on the Status of Women Records document the organization, administration, and functioning of the Commission since its establishment in 1972, as well as the issues pertaining to women faculty, students, and staff at Oregon State University. The collection includes organizational records; correspondence; records generated by the work of the Commission's committees, sub-committees, and task forces; reports and studies; and ephemera and news clippings. Of particular note are studies regarding faculty salary (1979), campus climate (2005), staff morale (1990), and the work of PCOSW (1997).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

President's Commission on the Status of Women Records (RG 159), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records are organized into 5 series: 1. Organizational Records, 1972-2010; 2. Correspondence, 1971-2010; 3. Committees and Task Forces, 1973-2007; 4. Reports and Studies, 1971-2007; 5. Ephemera and Newspaper Clippings, 1988-2010.

Acquisition Information

The records were transferred to the University Archives in numerous accessions from 1992 through 2011.

Future Additions

Additions to the collection are expected.

Related Materials

The Special Collections and Archives Research Center has other records that address and examine the climate for women students, faculty, and staff at OSU, particularly with regard to the recruitment and tenure of women faculty. These holdings include the Faculty Senate Records (RG 044), the Affirmative Action Office Records (RG 172), the Student Affairs Records (RG 102), and the Women's Center Records (RG 243). There are also PCOSW records in the record group for the President's Office Records (RG 013), and the Oregon State University Child Care Records (RG 280).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Organizational Records, 1972-2010Return to Top

Series 1 is comprised of records documenting the structure and mission of the President's Commission on the Status of Women, including by-laws, constitutions, membership lists, and meeting minutes and agendas.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1.1	By-laws and constitutions	2005-2008
1.2	Membership lists	1972-2010
1.3	Membership packets	2006-2008
1.4	Mission statements	1972-1998
1.5	Organizational histories	2003-2008
1.6	Strategic action plan	2007
	Meeting Minutes and Agendas	1973-2010
Box/Folder
1.7	1973 - 1988
1.8	1988 - 1991
1.9	1991 - 1992
1.10	1992 - 1993
2.1	1994 - 1995
2.2	1995 - 1996
2.3	1997 - 1998
2.4	2004 - 2007
2.5	2008 - 2010

Series 2: Correspondence, 1971-2010Return to Top

Comprised of correspondence, this series also includes reports sent as attachments to correspondence. In addition to documenting the day-to-day administration of the Commission in areas such as membership selection and the organization of events and workshops, this series also reflects PCOSW's interaction with other OSU departments and programs.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2.6	General	1971-1977
2.7	General	1981-1985
3.1	General	1985-1987
3.2	General	1988-1989
3.3	General	1990-1991
3.4	General	1991-1992
3.5	General	1992-1993
4.1	General	1993-1994
4.2	General	1994-1995
4.3	General	1995-1996
4.4	General	1996-1998
4.5	General	2000-2010
4.6	Intercollegiate Athletics Department controversy	1996
4.7	Membership	1995-1996
4.8	Survey on the President's Commission on the Status of Women	1997
4.9	Workshop: Barriers to Mobility for Women	1995-1996

Series 3: Committees and Task Forces, 1973-2007Return to Top

Series 3 contains documentation of the activities and meetings of PCOSW committees and subcommittees. The issues addressed by these committees include: faculty child care needs, lack of women faculty, the prevalence of sexual harassment on campus, campus lighting and other safety issues, and gender disparities among the graduate student population. The committees for promotion and tenure, and recruitment, comprise a large portion of this series.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4.10	Campus Life sub-committee	1991
4.11	Education committee	1973-1974
4.12	Employment committee	1973-1974
4.13	Faculty Concerns sub-committee	1990-1991
4.14	Faculty Recruitment and Retention sub-committee	1992-1994
4.15	Family and Parental Concerns sub-committee	1993-1996
5.1	Graduate Student sub-committee	1993-1996
5.2	Institutional Services and Practices committee	1993
5.3	Long-range Planning Commission, Women's Task Force	1985-1986
5.4	President's Commission on the Prevention of Hate-related Activities	1994-1997
5.5	Professional Development and Climate Issues sub-committee	1997
5.6	Promotion and Tenure committee	2004-2007
5.7	Recruitment and Retention of Women Faculty sub-committee	1989-1990
5.8	Research Assistant (unclassified) committee	1980-1981
5.9	Salary Equity Planning committee	1995
5.10	Safety committee	1979-1988
5.11	Sexual Harassment Task Force	1985
5.12	Staff Development committee	1988-1991
5.13	Staff Development Award sub-committee	1992-1993
5.14	Staff Development Award sub-committee	1994-1996
5.15	Student Issues sub-committee	1990-1991
5.16	Task Force for Classified Female Employees	circa 1984
5.17	Women's Advancement and Gender Equity (WAGE)	2009
5.18	Women in Science Task Force	1985-1986
6.1	Women's Issues Task Force	1986-1987
6.2	Women on Committees Task Force	undated
6.3	Women's Studies Program Review sub-committee	1988-1991

Series 4: Reports and Studies, 1971-2007Return to Top

The reports and studies included in this series primarily document the work of various PCOSW standing and ad hoc committees and task forces. Subjects covered in these reports include: the status of women in the Oregon System of Higher Education, availability of child care, women and philanthropy, the salary gap between men and women in academia, OSU graduate assistantships, OSU staff morale, and the OSU Women's Center.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
6.4	Achieving Parity for Women at OSU	1994
6.5	Annual Reports	1990-1991
6.6	Campus Climate	2005
6.7	Child Care Task Force Final Report	1985
6.8	Concept paper: Women and Philanthropy	1993
6.9	Faculty Salary Study, preliminary report	1979
6.10	Graduate Assistantships at OSU	1989
6.11	Head-count Study (Subcommittee on Faculty Women)	1986
6.12	Institutional Procedures and Criteria for Program Redirection, Reorganization, Reduction, and Termination	1992
6.13	Institutional Self-study on Sex Equity	1986
6.14	Office of Women's Studies, Interim reports	1973-1974
6.15	OSSHE Equity / Fairness Workshop report	1985
6.16	OSU Staff Morale Survey	1990
6.17	Parent Needs Assessment	2007
6.18	Parity Research and Reports (other universities)	1995-1999
6.19	Path to Parity: Progress report	2004
7.1	Promoting Women's Participation in Higher Education: The Status of Women in OSSHE	1992
7.2	Promotion and Tenure Summary Reports	1995-1996
7.3	The Status of Women Academic Staff at OSU	1971
7.4	Women's Center Benton Annex Strategic Plan	1993-1994

Series 5: Ephemera and Newspaper Clippings, 1988-2010Return to Top

The ephemera in this series includes brochures for PCOSW and the Women's Center, and flyers and announcement for PCOSW events and open staff and faculty positions. Subjects addressed in the news clippings include: the Ms. OSU Pageant, Playboy Magazine's recruitment of OSU students for its annual PAC-10 pictorial, fraternity t-shirt controversy, and the neglect of date rape cases.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
7.5	Brochures and announcements	1988-1995
7.6	Brochures	2007-2010
7.7	News clippings: General	1992-1995
7.8	News clippings: Intercollegiate Athletics Department controversy	1995-1996
7.9	News clippings: Playboy magazine recruitment on campus	1993
7.10	News clippings: Ms. OSU Pageant	1991-1992

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Sexual harassment in universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis.
Women employees--United States--History.
Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
Women--Social conditions.

Corporate Names

Ms. OSU Pageant.
Oregon State University--Faculty.
Oregon State University. Faculty Senate.
Oregon State University. President's Commission on the Status of Women.
Oregon State University. Women's Center.

Other Creators

Corporate Names
- Oregon State University. Women's Center. (creator)

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