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Indiana Women's History Association, Inc. |
The Indiana Women's History Archives, Inc. (IWHA) began in 1983 through the efforts of women involved with women's rights projects in the early 1970s in Indiana. They saw a need to preserve records of Indiana reform efforts and legislative accomplishments of that period. Funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., the ad hoc group initiated a survey to locate people who had irreplaceable records resting in basements, garages, attics and closets. IWHA became a non-profit organization on March 16, 1984, originally incorporating to establish a building, or other space, to house archives for preserving women's records.
The Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau were instrumental in helping IWHA become established. Potential collections identified by IWHA are now referred to the William Smith Library at the historical society (or other qualified repository) to be considered for inclusion in their extensive Women's Collection. The need for a separate "Women's Archives," then, no longer existed. The need to make people across the state aware of the importance of preserving women's history, however, remains.
In June 2000, IWHA became a membership organization, garnering ninety members in the first year and, in June 2001, the Board of Directors changed the name of the organization to "Indiana Women's History Association, Inc."
Jane Fribley - Past president and lobbyist for CWU
Frances Dodson Rhome - Professor Emeritus, IUPUI Department of English
Lois Philon - Retired, volunteer lobbyist for the League of Women Voters