Guide to the Women and Men of Brown University records, 1923-2010

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Women and Men of Brown University records
Date range:	1923-2010
Creator:	Women and Men of Brown University.
Extent:	5.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The Women and Men of Brown records contain meeting minutes, agendas, financial records, correspondence, reports, bylaws and photographs related to the Brown University campus society and its various committees and interest groups. The material dates from 1924 through 2010.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	MS.1LS.1

Scope & content

Women and Men of Brown University records contain the administrative records of the Brown University society (first called Ladies of the Faculty and then Women of Brown, before assuming the current name in 2006) from 1924 through 2010. Begun as a social group for faculty wives, it has expanded to include all members of the Brown Community and the collection reflects its growth.

The records are arranged in two series. Series I, Women of Brown, contains general meeting minutes for 1924-1969; minutes of the Brunonia Garden Club for 1933-1983; records of the Post-Sepia Club for 1951-1961. Also in this series are officers' records and documents for various time periods between 1924 and 2005.

Series II, Women and Men of Brown, contains board and committee records and financial documents, as well as bylaws, historical accounts, photographs, interest group documents, newsletters, correspondence and event accounts that date from 2006 to 2010.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Brown University.

Subject Organizations

• Brown University--Faculty.
• Brown University--Societies, etc.

Subject Topics

• Gardening--Societies, etc.
• Social Life and Customs
• Universities and colleges--Societies, etc

Document Types

• Bylaws (administrative records)
• Correspondence
• Financial records
• Minutes
• Newsletters
• Photographs
• Reports

Subject Topics

• Social Life and Customs

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series:

• I. Women of Brown, 1923-1983
• II. Women and Men of Brown, 1953-2010

Administrative history

The Women and Men of Brown University was founded as a social organization for wives of Brown University faculty. Originally intended to "promote acquaintance and fellowship and to afford opportunities for its members to meet each other socially," the social function of the organization evolved to include an emphasis on service to the University Community, newcomers, and visitors. Since its inception as Ladies of the Faculty (1924), the organization has gone through numerous name changes: Sepia Club, Post Sepia Club, the Margaret Manning Club (in honor of the wife of the first president of Brown), the Women of Brown (WOB). Eligibility for membership was historically determined by the Men's Faculty Club where early meetings were held and members were generally listed by their husbands' names. In 1935 the Ladies of the Faculty were invited by the Pembroke College Dean to meet at Alumnae Hall and thereafter rolls were determined by University Department rosters. At the annual meeting in 2005, the organization voted to include men, and at the spring 2006 meeting the membership formally changed the name to Women and Men of Brown University (WMB).

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Women and Men of Brown University records, MS-1LS-1, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013 January 23
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Inventory

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