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Women and Leadership Archives

About Us

Last updated August 21, 2026

The Women and Leadership Archives (WLA) is part of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership and Loyola University Chicago Libraries. The WLA grew out of the need to care for the records of Mundelein College and expanded to collect papers of women leaders and women’s organizations.

Mission

Ignited by Loyola's Jesuit mission, and the legacy of the BVMs, the Women and Leadership Archives believes past is prologue and leads to a hope-filled future. The WLA expands knowledge in the service of humanity by collecting, preserving, and making available the past and present stories of the women and women's organizations in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond.

Vision

To inspire the Loyola community and beyond through engaging with the powerful histories of the lives and contributions of women collected and preserved at the Women and Leadership Archives.

Values

We believe that:

  • The history of women and women's organizations is worth preserving and sharing
  • The stories of women and women's organizations are for everyone
  • Our collections uniquely support Loyola's Jesuit mission
  • Archives are uniquely positioned to support excellence in research, teaching and learning and provide essential skills for navigating civic engagement in an increasingly globalized society

Who We Serve

  • Loyola community (current students, faculty, and staff)
  • Loyola University Chicago and Mundelein College alumni
  • External scholars and independent researchers
  • Our colleagues in GLAM memory institutions (galleries, libraries, archives, museums)
  • General public and learners of all ages

Examples of Use

  • Class projects, posters, and presentations
  • Career readiness
  • Donors, family, and members of organizations whose records we hold
  • Family history and genealogical research
  • Built environment of Rogers Park, including former Mundelein buildings
  • Personal, professional, or research interest

Collecting Subject Areas

  • Activism and Women's Issues
  • Athletics
  • Civic, Community, and Cultural Engagement
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Fine, Performance, and Visual Arts
  • Mundelein College
  • Public Service and Politics
  • Science, Technology, and Engineering
  • Social Justice
  • Women Religious

Learn more about our collecting scope.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

The Loyola University Chicago community acknowledges its location on the ancestral homelands of the Council of the Three Fires (the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes) and a place of trade with other tribes, including the Ho-Chunk, Miami, Menominee, Sauk, and Meskwaki. We recognize that descendants of these and other North American tribes continue to live and work on this land with us. We recognize the tragic legacy of colonization, genocide, and oppression that still impacts Native American lives today. As a Jesuit university, we affirm our commitment to issues of social responsibility and justice. We further recognize our responsibility to understand, teach, and respect the past and present realities of local Native Americans and their continued connection to this land. (Learn more.)