Purdue University. Council on the Status of Women

Organization

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1988 - 2011
Usage: 1988 - 2011

Historical Information

The Council on the Status of Women was founded at Purdue in 1988 to provide a space for women faculty and staff to network and advocate for women’s rights at the university. The Council was also instrumental in the founding of the Women’s Resource Center at Purdue.

During the Council’s tenure, they worked for the equal status and rights of women and other minorities at Purdue. They provided input for job searches for positions related to these goals and for the development of the Women’s Resource Center and Office for Diversity. In addition to the many programs and presentations they sponsored, the Council also sponsored a mentorship program for junior faculty and several important studies and reports. These studies included several reports on the overall status of women at Purdue, work and family reports, and flexible scheduling and work-life balance studies. They also advocated on behalf of Myra Mason and her Lilly Report on Diversity. In addition, the Council played an important role in facilitating the change of university policies on birth control, same sex partnerships and benefits, child and elder care, and work-life balance related benefits.

The group is perhaps best known, however, for its institution of and sponsorship of the Violet Haas Award, which honors an individual (usually a woman) affiliated with the university who has worked for women’s rights. The Violet Haas Award continues as a legacy of the Council in spite of the group’s dissolution in 2011.

Citation:

MSP 49 Council on the Status of Women records

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Council on the Status of Women records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 49

Scope and Contents The Council on the Status of Women records document the activities and impact of the Council on the Status of Women at Purdue University. The collection provides a comprehensive picture of the various activities and causes that Council was involved in during its tenure. Also included are some news clippings about notable members and relevant stories about women’s rights in the news. The collection would likely be useful for researchers interested in women’s rights, affirmative action,...

Dates: 1988 - 2012

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Linda Levy Peck papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSF 529

Scope and Contents The Linda Levy Peck papers document Peck's career (particularly her tenure at Purdue) and many publications. Of particular note in the collection is the sub-series on Women at Purdue. During her tenure at Purdue, Peck was highly involved with various women's rights organizations on campus as well as the landmark TIAA-CREF pension lawsuit. The collection includes correspondence, personal records, awards, drafts, revisions, and manuscripts. This collection would be of interest for researchers...

Dates: 1949 - 2006; Majority of material found within 1975 - 1992

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University, 1966 - 1991

Sub-Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSF 529, Series 1, Sub-series 5

Scope and Contents This sub-series contains materials relating to Peck's involvement with the development of a new curriculum in the CLA, her service to the university senate, and the "Purdue Manuscript."It also contains materials pertaining to Dr. Peck's involvement in women's organizations and women's rights at Purdue. It includes papers relating to the Purdue Women's Caucus, the Council on the Status of Women, the Women's Studies Program, proposed Women's Center, women in the Grad School, the...

Dates: 1966 - 1991

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections / Linda Levy Peck papers / Career