Loyola University Chicago

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.

Typical Personal Papers

Typical Organization Records

Diaries Journals Memoirs/Reminiscences Clubs and/or Associations Personal Correspondence (email, paper, cards, notes) Yearbooks School Course Schedules Report Cards, Performances, Assignments Curriculum Vitae or Resume Materials related to Family History (partner, spouse, children) Scrapbooks and/or Photo Albums Loose Photos Lectures and/or Speeches Unpublished & Published Research Subject Files (relevant to research) Interviews (tapes and transcriptions) Awards and/or Certificates Newsletters, Fliers, Brochures Committee Work (agendas, meeting minutes) Conferences Community Activity and/or Public Service Major Projects/Positions/Employment Professional Affiliations Proposals and/or Grants Reports

Staff Related/Rosters Conferences Community Activity and/or Public Service Major Projects Affiliations Proposals and/or Grants Reports Photos Ephemera (posters, banners, editorials, buttons) Speeches, Press Releases Subject Files (relevant to interest) Tapes (audio or video) public events Articles of Incorporation Budgets Bylaws and Revisions Clippings Constitution/Directories/Handbooks Legal Documents Membership Lists Planning Documents Scrapbooks Newsletters/ Brochures, Pamphlets, Fliers Advertisements Committee work (agenda, meeting minutes) Correspondence

Formats of Material Accepted at the WLA Paper (any kind including Regular, Newspaper, Fax, tissue, laminated) Digital (flashdrive/pendrive, cd, cd-rom, CD-RW, dvd, zip, floppy) Audio-Visual (vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, reel-to-reel, slides, VHS, BETA) Photographs (almost any condition, size, age, framed or unframed, slides) Ephemera (Banners, signs, posters, awards,  pins, pens, busts, trophies, clothes)