Donating Records to the WLA
Preserving the material of women's history prevents individuals and groups from becoming invisible to future generations. Without the documents, words, and images of women's lives, there is little left for the creation and study of women's history.
What do we collect? For our particular archives, women in positions of leadership in areas such as politics, the arts, sciences, education, and business are especially encouraged to think about donating their own or their organization's records to the WLA. In addition, we strongly welcome the donation records related to second and third wave feminism, women's social justice activism and community building as well as collections related to Catholic women, both lay and religious, Catholic theology, and feminist theology. Mundelein College Alumnae are strongly encouraged to think of adding their own papers to the Mundelein College Records Collection.
For more information including a basic facts, an informational brochure, and/or a meeting with WLA staff please contact the Director, Women & Leadership Archives.
Donating Materials: An Overview
Donating personal or organizational records is often a deeply personal process which can take from a few hours to a few years to complete depending on the concerns and materials involved. It is simply different for everyone. But, how to start the process? For most people, that is with a general conversation with a professional archivist about what materials they have and what it means to donate materials. Very often the donation process is shrouded in mystery which leads to the perception that it is exceptionally complex. This is not true. Typically, an archivist will be able to help you along the way, including identifying your rights as a donor, evaluating the material, arranging the pick up or shipment of the material, and the legal transfer.
But what to donate? Each archival repository is different and are limited by space and resources. Within these limitations, however, there is usually a great deal of diversity in the types of records that can be accepted in a collection. The following are not exclusive lists, but are typical of some of the materials that can be found in an archives. Also listed are some of the typical (and not-so-typical) formats of material found in archives.
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Typical Personal Papers |
Typical Organization Records |
Diaries |
Staff Related/Rosters |
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Formats of Material Accepted at the WLA Paper (any kind including Regular, Newspaper, Fax, tissue, laminated) |