Rhode Island Women's Health Collective records (A.97.109)

This collection contains the records of the Rhode Island Women's Health Collective, a non-profit organization that operated from 1975 to 1999 with the mission of improving the health of women and their families through education, advocacy and mutual support. Topics in the collection include pregnancy and childbirth, birth control, maternal and child health, cancer and cancer screening, and women's mental health. Materials include administrative records, financial records, grant materials, event materials, photographs, research materials, and electronic records on removable carriers. The collection dates from 1973-1997 and is arranged into 9 series.

Series 1, ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 1975 - 1997, includes agreements, board meeting minutes and notes, bylaws, correspondence, mailing lists, newsletters, and tax forms. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1987 - 1997, includes budgets, check requests, donor lists, financial statements, payroll documents, and receipts. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 3, GRANT MATERIALS, 1979 - 1997, includes grant applications, attachments, correspondence, and handwritten notes. Granting organizations include Ben and Jerry's Foundation, Dexter Donation Commission, Fund for Community Progress, Minority Health Program of the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the Rhode Island Foundation. Grant funds were used for staff salaries, programming, and operating budgets, among other things. This series is arranged alphabetically by granting agency.

Series 4, SPECIAL PROJECTS, 1982 - 1997, includes correspondence, questionnaires, readings, reports, and proposals, for projects that were a particular focus of the Collective. Projects include the Health Hotline, maternal and child health advocacy, and the Women's Cancer Screening program. This series is arranged alphabetically by project then by record type.

Series 5, EVENTS, 1978 - 1997, includes planning materials, agreements, budgets, and correspondence, primarily related to the Collective's annual FIESTA! crafter and performance event. Other events include an anniversary celebration and a phonathon. This series is arranged alphabetically by event name, then date, then record type.

Series 6, PHOTOGRAPHS, 1990 - 1993, contains black and white and color photographs and negatives of various events. Photos are primarily from the Collective's annual FIESTA! crafter and performance event, but also capture a bill signing and a Latin American Student Organization event. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject then date.

Series 7, RESEARCH, 1973 - 1997, includes pamphlets, booklets, information sheets, readings, and clippings on various topics related to the work and interests of the Collective. Topics include cancer prevention, childcare, various forms of birth control, counseling and crisis intervention, menopause, midwifery, and "minority health issues." This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series 8, PRINT MATERIAL, 1973 - 1997, includes booklets, newsletters, and pamphlets. Titles include Feminist Yellow Pages: A Directory for Women, HIV/AIDS and Women, "Informed Homebirth/ Informed Birth and Parenting," "A Woman's Right to Choose: A Guide to Abortion Services in Rhode Island," and "Having a Pelvic Exam and Pap Test." This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by title.

Series 9, ELECTRONIC RECORDS ON REMOVABLE CARRIERS, 1992 - 1996, contains audio cassettes and VHS tapes. Recordings include board meetings, "The Danger of Anger," "Esther Zorn/ Mitch Levine lecture," "Birth as an American Rite of Passage," and "Nurturing Health: Creating Wealth and Health." This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by title written on removable carrier.