Women in the Mainstream

WOMEN IN THE MAINSTREAM (C. 1982-1984)
Collection: c. 1982-1986
Size: 30 Linear Ft.
Location: Newcomb Archives: NAC-146 – 171, NAB-041

SOURCE OF ACQUISITION:
There is some confusion as to the precise donors of material represented in this collection. While several individuals were recorded as "presenting" files, not all of these individuals apparently have material represented in this collection. Also, within the original file is a note recording the removal of several boxes of material from this collection, which at that time was in storage at the NCCROW. It is not noted if these items were returned. However, it is known that the bulk of this material comes from two sources: Ernestine Thurman-Swartzwelder and Dorothy Furlong-Gardner. Other sources are Linda Perret and Martha Owens.

RESTRICTIONS:
None

ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT:
The material has been arranged within individual collections.

GENERAL NOTE:
A chronology of events has been constructed in an effort to assist research and retrieval.

FINDING AIDS:
Inventory available.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY:
This collection contains the papers of several individuals who worked within an organization formed for a specific goal: to produce the Women's Pavilion for the Louisiana World Exposition of 1984. The Exposition featured many pavilions constructed by several countries, focusing on special topics, etc. WITM was organized to raise funds, design, and coordinate a pavilion in the last world's fair. The 1984 women's pavilion was planned to have several sections, including a celebration of specific women of achievement in the world and in Louisiana, an art exhibit, and a changing exhibit/multipurpose room. The art exhibit was expanded to be both invitational and juried exhibits, managed by another organization, Women's Caucus for Art (WCA).
The organization's final efforts were substantially reduced from their initial plans. Well documented internal quarreling within every area of the organization led to much fractioning and resentment. Ultimately, WCA withdrew all support of the art exhibit and not all the work was shown.

SCOPE AND CONTENT:
Spanning the years 1970-1985, with the bulk of the material dating after 1982, this collection offers several first-hand perspectives of events. Two of the participants kept detailed journals concerning their thoughts and feelings about the organization, the other individuals involved, and specific interactions.
One of the individuals whose papers are collected here is Dorothy Furlong-Gardner, who acted as the liaison between WCA and WITM. After handling the agreement between the two groups, she then was placed on the Executive Board, and was WITM's Exhibit Committee chair. However, as time passed, Furlong-Gardner grew more upset with WITM's handling of the Art Exhibit, the lack of promised fund-raising success, and the amount of time and stress her massive job required. She requested WITM to pay her a retainer, which they apparently agreed to do, but evidently did not pay. She also expressed her discontent with WITM's handling of artist's work and change of plans without consulting WCA. Ultimately, Furlong-Gardner and WCA withdrew all support of the WITM art exhibit.
Another donor of files is Ernestine Thurman-Swartzwelder, who coordinated the Women of Achievement project, which entailed many people nominating individual women throughout history for the title, reviewing biographical data, and organizing the voting. Much of the original nominating and reviewing material is here, along with some personal files. Importantly, Thurman leaves us another personal journal, her notes on the daily arguments and happenings within the WITM office.
Linda Perret and Marthat Owens, donors of small quantities of files, acted as the Chair of the Committee of the Multipurpose Room for WITM. This section featured changing exhibits throughout the Exposition. However, the files contain little personal or non-duplicate material.
The importance of this collection lies in its documentation of an organization entirely of women, formed to celebrate women, and how that organization functioned. It also details the interaction between two entirely different organizations, WITM and WCA, which maintain entirely different foci and goals. Unfortunately, not all records of the production of the Women's Pavilion are here. Significantly missing are architectural details and other information concerning the final dispensation of the Women's Pavilion.

WITM COLLECTION SERIES DESCRIPTION

I. Office files general files, including a date book which appears to have been added to by many different people (NAC-146-148)

II. Dorothy Furlong-Gardner Papers These papers document Furlong-Gardner's interaction with WITM and WCA. Much of the material was brought to the archives placed in colored folders by topic (NAC-149-154)
A. Personal journals: frequent notes concerning Gardner's feelings and activities concerning the WCA/WITM project
B. Project notebooks: notebooks devoted particular tasks and subjects (i.e. "finances"); also includes correspondence with artists and others [create file headings]

III. Martha Owens general files, mostly material regarding general management of the office, including membership lists, financial information, etc. (NAC-155)

IV. Linda Perret general files, mostly general WITM/LWE information, as well as some correspondence and advertising packets gathered in regard to the changing exhibits room. (NAC-156)

V. Ernestine Thurman-Swarzwelder Papers
These papers, produced by a noted etymologist ca. 1970-1986, contain materials accumulated during the WITM, as well as many clippings, organized topically, constructed from ca. 1970-1979, and ca. 1980-1986.

A. Women of Achievement files
1. General/Miscellaneous Women of Achievement files (NAC-157-161) includes files created on WITM/LWE general topics of biographical packets prepared for voting on Women of Achievement, nomination forms, miscellaneous clippings on LWE
2. Review of candidates: biographical information about Women of Achievement "losers"
a. Women of Louisiana (NAC-162)
b. Women of the World (NAC-163)
3. Material for the opening ceremony; letters and certificates to the recipients of the award (NAC-164)
4. Geographic files: clippings and articles concerning women, divided by region, used to organize nomination material (NAC-165)
a. United States
b. Other
5. Occupational files: contains clippings, articles and other information concerning women as a group and individual women within professions, used to organize nomination material (NAC-166)
a. General
b. Science, medical professions
c. Arts
d. Public figures
6. Final descriptions of Women of Achievement "winners": includes nomination form(s), biographical information, etc.
a. Women of Louisiana – file headings listed (NAC-167)
b. Women of the World – file headings listed (NAC-168)
1.) Nobel Prize Winners
2.) National Women's Hall of Fame
3.) Astronauts
4.) Sports

B. Personal journal of the WITM experience (NAB-041)
C. Subject files
1. ca. 1970-1979 – file headings listed (NAC-169-170)
2. ca. 1980-1986 – (NAC-171)
D. General personal files: includes files on Zonta, a videotape of the Mother/Daughter beauty pageant, etc. (NAC-172)

WITM: THURMAN-SWARTZWELDER PAPERS

Women of Louisiana – Women's Pavilion
Folder headings

Box 1 of 1 NAC-167
Thurman-Swartzwelder, Ernestine, Ph. D.
Armstrong, Eileen Ratterree, M.A.
Barrett, Patsy Porter, B.S.
Benerito, Ruth Rogan, Ph.D. (Newcomb graduate)
Benton, Emma Chaffe Cockerham, B.S. (1 file, 8 folders)
Blakeman, Mamie "Pete" Ada
Boggs, Corrine Claiborne "Lindy", B.A. (N'35)
Boutte, Thelma Coffey, M.D.
Browder, Margaret Darden, B.A
Cahn, Gladys Freeman
Cambell, Marie McDowell Pilkington, B.A. (N'25)
Carter, Betty Werlein, B.A, LLD (N'31)
Chargois, Louise Judice
Cohen, Elizabeth D.A., M.D
Correjolles, Coralie Marie Philomeme
Dickmann, Mary Ethel, Ph.D. (N'35)
Day, Eudora Slaughter
Dixon, Margaret Richardson, B.A.
Drexel, (Mary) Katherine, Mother
Durieux, Caroline Wogan, M.A. (Newcomb graduate)
Emery, Lin
Foster, Sarah Dennis
Francis, Muriel Bultman
Goldsmith, Grace Arabell, M.D.
Gordon, Helen Bridger, Ed.D.
Gordon, Jean Margaret & Kate Mary (two sisters)
Grimaldi, Alice Heine
Gregory, Angela, M.A. (N'25)

Herbery, Madeline Sophie Wielmina, Sister, M.A, M.A.Ed.
Hood, Marian, Ph.D.
Hunt, Elaya, J.D.
Kohlmeyer, Ida Rittenberg, M,F.A. (N'33)
Lane, Pinkie Gordon, Ph.D.
Lastrapes, Blanca Judy, M.A.
Lutcher, Nellie
McBurney, Elizabeth Innes, M.D.
McMain, Eleanor Laura
Miller, Ruth Lloys, B.A.
Moore, Ellen Bryan, M.A. (The Honorable)
Moss, Emma Sadler, M.D.
Richardson, Rupert Florence, M.Ed.
Prestage, Jewel Limar, Ph.D.
Proctoer, Bernadine Brothers, B.A.
Seebold, Nettie Kinney
Shaw, Phyllis L.T, B.S.
Shepard, Nancy B.M, Ed.
Sheridan, Genevieve W., R.N.
Smith, Margaret H.D., M.D.
Spencer, Rowena, M.D.
Stern, Edith Rosenwald
Sternberg, Lea Knurr
Sytz, Florence
Treuting, Edna Gannon, Dr.P.H., B.S.N.
Walsh, Laurentia, R.N., B.S, C.N.A., Sister
Werlein, Elizabeth Marie Thomas
Wilson, Mercedes, Arzu, L.L.D. (Hon.)
Wisner, Elizabeth, Ph.D, L.L.D. (N.'14)
Wright, Sophie Bell