Series S-008 - Women's Studies

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Women's Studies

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Series

Reference code

S-008

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • January 1972 - May 1982 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

31 cm of textual materials

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1971 - 1977)

Administrative history

Formally established in 1974, the Women's Studies Advisory Committee also existed under other names (the "Co-ordinating Committee on Education For Women" and the "Women's Studies Committee") as early as 1971. Initially it was made up of Women's Studies convenor Lillian Zimmerman and senior administrators from the Continuing Education, Liberal Arts, and Counselling divisions; however, the committee later expanded its membership to include representatives from the student body and the broader community.

Led by Zimmerman, the committee was responsible for overseeing Programs For Women at Douglas College. In 1977, the committee was changed to the Women's Studies Advisory Board, a change that coincided with the designation of Women's Studies as a Special Programs Unit.

Name of creator

(1977 -)

Administrative history

The Women's Studies Advisory Board was established when Women's Studies (also known as "Programs for Women") was designated a Special Programs Unit in 1977. The board's objective was to coordinate, promote, and protect Women's Studies and related services in the regions where Douglas College operated. It also advanced scholarships and raised money related to these goals. The Women's Studies Advisory Board was comprised of staff, students, and community representatives.

Name of creator

(ca. 1925 -)

Biographical history

Lillian Zimmerman joined Douglas College in 1971 as a programmer for the Liberal Arts Division with the expressed desire to develop credit-free courses in the area of continuing education for women. Beginning in 1972, she worked with staff from the Counselling department to offer workshops and inter-disciplinary evening courses, which proved popular. In 1974, she was elected to the position of "Convenor" of Women's Studies at Douglas College. Zimmerman held this role until 1978 when she took a leave from College in order to complete a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of British Columbia. Following her return to Douglas College, Zimmerman worked as a regular faculty member in Human Services and Community Programs. She became the Chair of Community Programs and Services in 1990 before retiring in 1991. Subsequent to her retirement from Douglas College, Zimmerman became a renowned advocate for the rights and dignity of middle-aged and older women. She was a Research Associate in Gender Issues at Simon Fraser University's Gerontology Research Centre, contributing significantly to the field and publishing multiple books on this topic including “Bag Lady or Powerhouse?: A Roadmap for Midlife (Boomer) Women” and “Did You Just Call Me Old Lady? A 90-Year-Old Tells Why Aging Is Positive.”

Name of creator

Biographical history

Margaretha Hoek first joined the College in 1975 as a sessional faculty member in the Counselling Department, where she taught a number of courses and workshops focused on the issues and experiences of women. In 1978, Hoek was hired as Coordinator of Programs for Women (at times the position was also referred to as Coordinator of Women's Studies). She held this position until 1985.

Custodial history

Records were held in their office of origin until July 1987 when they were transferred to the Archives.

Scope and content

Series consists of materials pertaining to Women's Studies programs and services at Douglas College. These textual records include documentation charting the history of Women's Studies at the College (also called "Programs for Women" during its early years), as well as materials related to curriculum development, campus and community events, gender in post-secondary contexts, and more. This series contains memoranda, correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, financial records, reports, and promotional materials such as flyers and program guides.

The predominant records creators contributing to this series are Lillian Zimmerman and Margaretha Hoek, the first coordinators of Women's Studies programming and services, and the early advisory bodies responsible for overseeing this area.

The scope of the series dates from the early inception of Programs for Women until the early 1980s.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Records largely retain their original order. However, some files were culled by Archives staff at an unspecified date. (A record of which files were destroyed is located on handwritten container lists in Box 118 and 119.) Files 119-22 to -28 were originally housed in Box 120; they were added to Box 119 in November 2021 to maximize space.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

None

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Finding aids

Some boxes include original container lists which indicate materials that were culled by earlier library staff.

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Further accruals anticipated

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Description created by James Goldie in November 2021

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Physical storage

  • Box: 118
  • Box: 119
  • Box: 551