Women’s studies, gender, and sexuality

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Taxonomy

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Scope note(s)

  • SCA was founded in 1976 with a significant collection of materials related to women’s history and women’s studies as the cornerstone of the department. Acquired in 1967 by university librarian Doris Lewis from the National Council of Women of Canada, the donation included the Council’s library on the history of women in Canada. Present in these collections are the papers of individual women and women’s organizations, and reference files that support the study of women’s history in Canada from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century. In general, the collections fall into the following broad categories: birth control and eugenics, broadcasting and journalism, domestic arts, education, medicine and science, organizations, politics, women’s rights and suffrage, and writers.

    SCA's ever-growing book and periodical collections have a wide historical and geographical focus, including works on the role and place of women in society from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. Of note is the British Women's Periodicals Collection, which consists of some 35,000 issues of British women's magazines published from 1893 to 1977 that cover topics such as cooking, crafts, advice, fashion, and health, along with advertisements illustrating contemporary attitudes and concerns.

    In addition, SCA actively collects materials that support the study of gender diversity, sexuality, and social justice, including collections that document intersectional and/or racialized identities. Current collections include poems, plays, essays, and other works by John Herbert, a Canadian playwright and theatre director, best-known for his play, Fortune and Men’s Eyes, and the records of the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity at the University of Waterloo, the longest-running queer and trans student organization in Canada. Additional collections include zines authored by and focused on queer, trans and Two-Spirit people, and a wide selection of paperback books featuring lesbian themes by authors such as Ann Bannon, Artemis Smith, and Randy Salem.

Source note(s)

    Display note(s)

      Hierarchical terms

      Women’s studies, gender, and sexuality

        Equivalent terms

        Women’s studies, gender, and sexuality

          Associated terms

          Women’s studies, gender, and sexuality

            139 Archival description results for Women’s studies, gender, and sexuality

            139 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            Mary Roe fonds.
            SCA166-GA140 · Fonds · 1987-2001

            Fonds consists of material relating to Mary Roe's work on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Includes clippings, committee minutes and agenda, correspondence, ephemera, notes, publications and working papers.

            Roe, Mary
            Mauritana Smith fonds.
            SCA17-WA9 · Fonds · [18--]

            Fonds consists of two scrapbooks compiled by Mauritana Smith containing material written by leading 19th century American writers and articles written by her mother, Damaris Isabella Smith.

            Smith, Mauritana
            SCA446-GA520 · Collection · 1911-1915

            A group of correspondence from Minnie Roberts, to her friend Eda Fuhrman. Minnie sent the letters to Eda who was still living in Kitchener, while she was living and working as a nurse in New York City. The letters detail her experiences as a nurse, her private life, and her thoughts on friends and family.

            NAPSAC NEWS
            SCA428-GA498 · Fonds · 1980-1981

            4 issues of the NAPSAC newsletter spanning 1980-1981.

            NAPSAC
            Neyle family fonds.
            SCA235-GA234 · Fonds · 1854-1880

            Fonds consists of two manuscript recipe books belonging to the Neyle family.

            Neyle Family
            Olive Ruth Russell fonds.
            SCA6-WA37 · Fonds · 1939-1979

            Fonds consists of materials created and accumulated by Dr. Olive Ruth Russell during the course of her personal and professional life. Includes biographical information, publications and transcripts of speeches.

            Russell, Olive Ruth
            SCA401-GA467 · Collection · [1971?]

            Anonymous open letter created by a group of feminists from Québec outlining the outcomes from the October Crisis (Québec, October 1970) and the relationship between Québécois feminist movements and the Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ).

            Letter begins by explaining the relationship between the FLQ struggle and women’s struggle. It then moves to an overview of the events that lead to the October Crisis and the invocation of the War Measures Act, while calling for an independent Québec. Later, it covers the effects of the October Crisis for the citizens of Québec in general, and for women in particular (retelling raids, questionings, jailing, and overall police activities and attitudes). It continues with an exposition on women's inequality in government and society. The letter finishes by appealing for support to the FLQ and the women’s movement.

            Letter seems to have been written shortly after the invocation of the War Measures Act in October 1970, and a year after the Women’s Movement in Québec began (possibly refers to the Québec Women’s Liberation Front (FLF) created on December 1, 1969).

            SCA158-GA131 · Fonds · 1907-1959

            The fonds consists mostly of files relating to some of Percy R. Hilborn's areas of service to the community, including Freeport Sanitarium, Preston War Service Association and Waterloo College and Associate Faculties fundraising. Several Havergal College notebooks belonging to Gertrude R. Wells, who became P.R. Hilborn's wife, are also present.

            Hilborn, Percy R.
            SCA440-GA514 · Fonds · 1912

            One photograph album capturing moments of gender expression in the early 20th Century. The album contains family and school photographs, and the images of gender expression centre around a group of students on what appears to be a school trip in Pennsylvania. People who appear to be assigned female at birth are shown wearing typical male clothing of the time, or dressed en homme, and people who appear to be assigned male at birth are shown wearing typical female clothing of the time, or dressed en femme.

            Recipe binder.
            SCA277-GA298 · Collection · 1932-1981

            Collection consists of a binder of recipes collected from newspapers, accumulated by an unknown person. Recipes were collected from the Toronto Star, the Guelph Daily Mercury, The Guelph Shopper, and others. Many of the recipes from the Toronto Star are from Jean Brodie. Also includes a candy recipe card from the Guelph city gas department. The binder that the recipes were stored in is a directory of Guelph businesses, ca. 1960s.

            Reconstruction.
            SCA415-GA483 · Collection · 1866

            Broadside of a poem delivered by Lizzie Doten on September 23, 1866 at Library Hall, Chelsea, titled "Reconstruction." The poem addresses then President Andrew Johnson and criticizes his approach to the South at the end of the American Civil War. She believed that Johnson was too lenient on the South and allowed too much wealth and influence to remain with Southern Confederate politicians. She also criticizes Johnson for being unconcerned with Black suffrage or the rights of Black soldiers who fought for the Union. She ends her poem with the rallying cry "...let the ballot finish what the bayonet has begun."

            Doten, Lizzie
            Rota Lister collection.
            SCA69-WA39 · Collection · 1983

            Typed draft of "The Anthology of Canadian Women Writers" edited by Rota Herzberg Lister. Includes one typescript which is primarily photocopies, with some originals draft of the work composed of notes written by Rota on the various authors and excerpts from the authors' writings.

            The women included in the anthology wrote between 1760-1980 and include Margaret Atwood, L.M. Montgomery, Pauline Johnson, Susanna Moodie, Mary Quayle Innis, Luella Crieghton, and others.

            It does not appear that the work was ever published.

            Lister, Rota Herzberg
            SCA118-GA91 · Accession · [18--]-[19--]
            Part of Schantz Russell family fonds.

            Material created or accumulated by members of the Schantz Russell family including correspondence, photographs, ephemera, maps, artifacts and more.

            The records document the education, interests and activities of members of the Schantz Russell family. In particular, the correspondence files notably detail the lives of the Schantz women who were well-educated, and travelled. Their letters record details of domestic activities, local and national affairs. The photographs add to the known body of work of local photographers, most notably Denton, and include some images of important local events, such as the visit of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The many very early local maps and plans provide significant insight for area research.

            The records, originally stored in the attic of the Schantz Russell family home at 43 Schneider Avenue in Kitchener, were kept in trunks, boxes and desks, some belonging to individuals, and some containing general family papers. The arrangement of the fonds has been determined largely by the way the material was stored.

            Schantz Russell Family
            Seduction board game.
            SCA384-GA449-1 · Collection · 1972

            One "Seduction" board game, a board game designed for two "swinging" couples. The game is complete with board, pieces and cards.

            Dynamic Games
            Senior wand work.
            SCA341-GA386 · Collection · 1906

            One photograph album with 67 black and white photographs showing various callisthenic movements using a "wand." Each photograph includes a caption with the movement and position of the wand indicated. 5 photographs are missing from the album. The album is titled "Senior Wand Work" and dated 1906 by M. [Lucile] Adams.

            Adams, M. Lucile
            Sex facts.
            SCA4543-GA545 · Fonds · 1922

            A collection of seven "sex facts" publications, written by Dr. S. Dana Hubbard of New York. The publications were sold together, and the advertised objective was to "preserve the health and prevent disease" by providing medical information on venereal disease, medical quackery, white slavery, and more in a way that was objective and easy to understand. The publications weer intended to be accessible to any audience, regardless or sex or age, and could also be used by nurses, educators, and welfare workers. A note in the back of the publication states that they are looking for others to sell the books on their behalf, on commission.

            Dr. Hubbard also produced a movie titled "some wild oats" which is advertised in the publications and seems to give similar information to Dr. Hubbard's published works. The film was released in 1919 and the showings would include a lecture.

            On the publications, Dr. Hubbard is identified as "attending dermatologist to the New York City Children's Hospital, dermatologist Letchworth Village, Director Bureau Public Health Education, New York City Department of Health".

            Hubbard, S. Dana
            SCA323-GA364 · Collection · 1889-1890

            Two sets of minutes from the St. Jacob's Literary and Debating Society. The minutes include lists of members, as well as debate topics and outcomes. Debate topics include work life, the railway, social services, roles of men and women, annexing Canada to the United States, and more.

            SCA48-WA26 · Collection · [ca. 1900-1910]

            Collection consists of 13 unused postcards concerning suffragettes and women's rights. Included are photographs of Christobel Pankhurst with Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence at a demonstration in Hyde Park, one of a suffragette in prison, a portrait of Emmeline Pankhurst, and Flora Drummond protesting opposite the English House of Common. The remainder are cartoons.

            SCA455-GA547 · Fonds · 1976

            This kit, The Marriage Game, is designed to provide female students in high school an opportunity to think about their futures, specifically as they relate to choices around marriage and vocational training. There are three parts to the kit: the guidelines, the workbook and make-it-yourself. The kit was designed for educators to work with groups of teenage women to discuss their thoughts on marriage and careers. The "game" runs for five days and students are asked to consider biographies of real women, to imagine how their lives may have panned out, and how they can apply those biographies to their own interests.

            The kit was original designed in 1970 by the Rosenburg Foundation to provide vocational information to teenage women. It was then adapted by the YWCA, that California Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, and the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labour. The kit continued to be iteratively updated based on feedback from participants. The kit was then introduced into the Los Angeles school system, and was eventually brought to Ontario by Jeanne Scott at a conference for guidance councillors. The kit was then adapted for Canadian students by high school teacher Julie Hamilton.

            The Woman's Bible.
            SCA380-GA442 · Collection · [ca. 1920]

            Broadside condemning Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "The Woman's Bible" and the fight for women's suffrage. Published in 1895, Woman's Bible discusses Stanton's views that Christianity and masculine theology were some of the leading factors in keeping women from gaining rights. Although highly criticized both before and during its publication, Woman's Bible was a bestseller and was reprinted twice in the year after its publication. The broadside here was printed approximately 25 years after the publication of Woman's Bible, likely during the time that the debate on the ratification of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution was underway.

            The broadside excerpts passages from Stanton's work in an attempt to prove that fears around women's suffrage leaders are founded. The unknown author also implicates suffrage leaders Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Stone Blackwell, even though neither had a hand in the publication of The Woman's Bible.

            The Women's Kit.
            SCA452-GA544 · Collection · 1850-1974

            The Women's Kit is an educational multimedia kit covering a range of influential women and women's issues. The Women's Kit was created by Pamela Harris, Becky Kane, and Donna James for the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Includes a collection of copies of historical materials about the suffragette movement, family life, social and political movements, the arts, law, education and culture, with a focus on Canadian women.

            Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
            Va-Jel pamphlet.
            SCA389-GA454-1 · Collection · ca. 1925

            One single folded page pamphlet advertising Va-Jel germicidal jelly. Recto also has an advertisement for Va'antiseptic douche. The products claim to offer a new freedom for women and a happier life through voluntary motherhood.

            SCA64-WA36 · Collection · 1944

            Fonds consists of one holograph letter dated March 9, 1944 from Sackville-West to Mrs. Leslie Hotson discussing the effects of war on South-West England.

            Sackville-West, Victoria
            SCA353-GA405 · Collection · ca. 1900

            One photograph album kept by an unknown woman with pictures of famous women. The album is made with wooden boards which feature paintings of a sunset over water and a song sparrow with calligraphic poetry. Each page includes a photograph of a different woman surrounded by a hand drawn frame that speaks to her life and work. Women in the album include Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Lady Florence Baker, Mary Somerville, Emily Davies, Johanna Maria Lind, and Rosa Bonheur.

            Voices.
            BC20-UWA-1037 · File · 1995-
            Part of University of Waterloo publications collection.

            Voices is an annual anthology published by the University of Waterloo Women's Centre each year in recognition of International Women's Day featuring work submitted by University of Waterloo students.

            WAVES scrapbook.
            SCA418-GA487 · Collection · 1944-1953

            One scrapbook kept by Ruth Beardsley, a member of the United States Naval Reserve, known as WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). The album includes 86 photographs showing Ruth and classmates at training at Hunter College in New York a well as Oklahoma A&M College; Ruth with family and friends; the USS Woodworth; and a trip to Washington. Also included in the scrapbook are three wartime ration books from members of the Peterson family, two postcards to Edwin Peterson, a Petty Officer training manual for John Peterson from 1950, a clipping regarding Ruth visiting the factory where her father worked, an invitation to a party on the USS Kearsarge (CV-33) issued only to women, an Easter card, a certificate for Beardsley from the Maryland College of Engineering in Engineering Drawing, and a transcript of a broadcast given on CBS by Eric Sevareid on the day of the truce in the Korean War. The scrapbook itself features a drawing of WAVES on the cover.

            Beardsley, Ruth
            SCA419-GA486 · Collection · 1892-1901

            Materials created by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and collected by member Elizabeth P. Nichols. Includes materials from their activities in America as well as from the World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union Conventions in London, England in 1895 and to the British Women's Temperance Association.

            Woman's Christian Temperance Union
            SCA46-WA25 · Collection · 1887-1925

            Collection consists of 26 items of correspondence written by women writers, primarily of the 1920's. Many of the letters are addressed to Edward Marsh and St. John Ervine and concern a tribute to Thomas Hardy for his 81st birthday.

            SCA339-GA384 · Collection · [ca. 1870]-[ca. 1950]

            Collection of advertisement trade cards, primarily from the Victorian era, that show the role of women in the household and the defining of gender roles in the period. There are also 4 items from the mid 20th century that speak to the changing and expanding role of women at the time.

            SCA326-GA370 · Collection · 1972

            Collection consists of an envelope of materials from the Women's Health and Abortion Project of New York that was sent to Pat Larson of Boston. Included in the envelope are:

            • Health-Pac Bulletin March 1970;
            • Protocol and Responsibilities - Obstetrical Service;
            • Abortions in New York City 1970-1971;
            • Women and Health Care;
            • Know your hospital;
            • Women and Contraceptives;
            • Family planning and gyn patients;
            • A short reading list for women who want to talk to each other about their bodies and their health;
            • Are you on the pill.
            Women's Health and Abortion Project
            SCA121-GA375 · Accession · 1976-1981
            Part of Women's Press Club of Toronto fonds

            Fonds consists of materials created and accumulate by the Women's Press Club of Toronto for the years 1976-1981 that document their organizational operations and activities. Comprised of three binders kept by members of the executive committee which include business meeting minutes, executive meeting minutes, correspondence, newsletters, and more.

            Women's Press Club of Toronto
            SCA121-GA94 · Accession · 1909-1995, predominant 1950-1985
            Part of Women's Press Club of Toronto fonds

            Fonds contains materials collected by and sent to Kay Rex for the purpose of writing a history of the Canadian Women's Press Club, as well as records of the Toronto Branch given into her keeping when the Club ceased operation. These were intended for eventual deposit at the University of Waterloo to join the book collection of the C.W.P.C. which was donated to the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room in 1977.

            The fonds consists of records documenting Toronto Branch operation during the period of the 1960's to 1980's, including constitution and by-laws, correspondence 1965-1991, minutes of regular and executive meetings, 1968-1989, a file on the closing of the Club's premises at 44 York St., Toronto, and scrapbooks of club activities and personalities. Historical materials include textual records, photographs, publications and scrapbooks. The earliest scrapbook is dated 1921 and contains biographies and photographs of members. Trips taken by C.W.P.C members in 1950 and 1955 to the United Kingdom, Europe and Russia are documented through members' files, photographs, and scrapbooks.

            Women's Press Club of Toronto
            Book Collection · 1894-1968
            Part of Women's Press Club of Toronto fonds

            The library of the Toronto Branch of the Canadian Women's Press Club is made up of presentation copies of books written by and donated by the club's members in addition to books published by significant Canadian women writers. There are over 200 books in the collection.

            Included are works by such well-known figures as Mabel Dunham, Emily Murphy, Marjorie Freeman Campbell, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Katherine Hale. Also present are a number of books presented to the club by notable Canadian figures. Included are a copy of John Buchan's The Three Hostages, which he presented on October 23, 1924 "in memory of a delightful visit", Igor Gouzenko's The Fall of a Titan, which contains not only a lengthy presentation inscription but also a sketch done by him, and a signed copy of the first Canadian edition of Mazo de la Roche's Jalna.

            Also included are a number of scarce children's stories in a Canadian setting, a copy of The National Ballet autographed by Margot Fonteyn, and an early biographical directory, Morgan's Types of Canadian Women, published in 1903.

            Women's Suffrage Scrapbook.
            SCA41-WA22 · Collection · [ca. 1912]

            One scrapbook including photographs, newspaper clippings and other items related to the women's suffrage movement. Also includes several newsletters of the Women's Social and Political Union, which was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst. Of note are clippings regarding white slavery.

            SCA103-GA75 · Accession · 1905-1995
            Part of Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo fonds.

            Fonds consists of records of the Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo relating to its incorporation, activities, programs, operations and history in the Community from 1905 to 1995. Includes minutes of the Board of Directors, standing and other committees, correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, ephemera, reports, financial statements, etc.

            Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo
            SCA103-GA223 · Accession · 1864-2009
            Part of Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo fonds.

            Accrual consists of records of the Kitchener-Waterloo Young Women's Christian Association relating to its staff and board, programs, operations, residences, and history. Includes minutes, correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, reports, ephemera, financial information, etc. with a focus on records from the 1970's-2000's.

            Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo
            SCA420-GA488 · Collection · 1930-1955

            Photograph album containing photographs and other materials related to the Zagar family with an emphasis on their youngest daughter Margaret Ann.

            Photographs and ephemera in album cover the lives of the Zagar family from the early 1930s to the early 1950s. First sheets include photographs of the grandmothers, parents (Stephan and Wilma), twin oldest daughters (Rosalyn and Marilyn Ann), and youngest daughter as a baby (Margaret Ann). Rest of sheets focus on Margaret Ann and her development from early childhood to adulthood after having contracted Polio as an infant. Photographs include family pictures and celebrations, class photographs at the Gompers School for the Handicapped (located at South State St. and 123rd, Chicago), photographs of Margaret Ann's development at different stages, and photographs of family friends. Album also contains religious ephemera, school ephemera related to Gompers School events, and a newspaper clipping related to a function at Gompers School.

            Zagar family