Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical Note
This organization was started in 1912 as the Women's League but changed its name to the Associated Women Students (AWS) in 1928. All undergraduate women automatically became members upon their enrollment at W.S.U. A member of the Intercolleciate Association of Women Students, the purpose of AWS is to promote interest in student activities and encourage participation in various aspects of campus life. One of the early goals of the AWS was to raise money for a Women's Building. Funds for this project were raised by sponsoring an annual drama production, "The College Revue." Other major activities which AWS sponsored and organized were Women's Day and Mother's Weekend.
The structure of AWS was reorganized in 1958 to parallel that of the Associated Students of W.S.U. The Women's President's Council, composed of presidents of all women's living groups on campus, was incorporated into AWS as the House of Representatives at this time. The AWS governing body was made up of an Executive Board, the House of Representatives and a Senate which included elected women representative of each class. In 1981, AWS merged with ASWSU.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
The Collection is open for research use.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
The inclusive dates of the collection are from 1910 to 1974 but the bulk of the material dates from the 1940's to the early 1960's. The minutes of the AWS, arranged chronologically, comprise the largest quantity of material. Included with the minutes are correspondence, memoranda, agendas, attendance records and programs relating to retreats and other AWS activities. Since AWS committees are responsible for carrying out the goals of the AWS, committee reports comprise a large part of the collection. They are arranged alphabetically by committee. Often included with these reports are correspondence and programs. Other material in the collection includes scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and financial records.
Processing Note :
The records of the Associated Women Students were reprocessed from their original location (WSU 3) by Anne Frantilla in June 1983.
