Women's Archive and Research Center (WARC)
The Women's Archive and Research Center at the University of Houston's MD Anderson Library has two main objectives: collection and research. The WARC collects the papers of individual women who've made history in Houston and of Houston area women's organizations, a milieu in which women have operated for over a century. Organizations include cultural development and social action groups, philanthropic and professional associations, sports and garden clubs, and others. Their records document how women have come together to achieve their goals, the range of their concerns, and the impact they have had on the world around them. The WARC also creates and preserves Texas women's oral histories.
The research center supports significant scholarly work on women's issues by students, faculty and visiting professors, and promotes awareness of women's contributions to culture through speakers, conferences, and other activities.
What WARC Does
- We hire archival interns each semester, to work with the archivist.
- Three $2500 Shuart Fellowships and the $500 Eichhorn Endowed Scholarship provide support to both graduate and undergraduate students.
- Our $20,000 dissertation-year fellowship frees a graduate student working on a women’s studies topic to do sustained work without teaching responsibilities.
- We fund two summer fellowships for UH faculty doing research on women or gender.
- We sponsor a yearlong postdoctoral fellowship in women’s studies, which brings to campus a scholar doing research on women, to teach and to continue her ongoing work.
- Our Living Archives series features interviews with Houston women of note,
including individual interviews and panels on: 70s feminists, women and
religion, women and sports, etc. These interviews are videotaped. We welcome
suggestions for interview subjects. - We fund an annual travel grant for women’s studies faculty presenting research at conferences, and two student essay prizes for essays on a women’s studies topic.
- Our thirteen annual Table Talk luncheons have been outstanding successes. Guests join local women of note who lead conversations at each table. Please join us next year!
- Our oral history program augments the written archive with in-depth interviews on video.
- Long range plans include a conference on Houston women’s history and endowment of a chair.
WARC in the News
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The WARC was the recent subject of a news feature by Houston's ABC 13. View the news clip here.
- The WARC was recently featured in the Winter, 2009 edition of UH Alumni Quarterly.
- Read the article online here.
- Or download the article here.
- The WARC has also been featured in The Houston Review of History and Culture (now Houston History)
WARC Collections Since 1996
Fifty-three collections of papers are now open to readers:
- Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC)
- Houston Area Women's Center Ephemera Collection
- Marjorie Randal National Women's Year Collection
- Nikki Van Hightower (HAWC founder)
- Debby Tucker and Toby Myers Texas Council on Family Violence Records
- National Women’s Conference 1977
- Hazelwitch, a women’s production group
- Greater Houston Women's Foundation Records
- Top Ladies of Distinction, an African-American philanthropic group
- Federation of Houston Professional Women
- Houston Women’s Caucus for Art
- Women in the Visual and Literary Arts
- Texas Council on Family Violence
- Hispanic Women in Leadership
- River Oaks Blossom Club
- Greater Houston Women’s Foundation
- Brigid’s Place at Christ Church Cathedral
- Church Women United
- Women’s Fund for Health Education and Research
- Carolyn Farb Papers
- UH Women’s Studies Program
- River Oaks Business Women’s Exchange Club
- Josephine Stewart Papers
- National Organization for Women (Houston branch)
- Women in Action
- Betty Barnes NOW Collection
- Janet Pierce NOW Collection
- Peggy Hall NOW Collection
- Association for Women In Science Records
- Minnie Fisher Cunningham Papers
- Feminist Credit Union
- Houston Council of Texas Garden Clubs
- The Bridge
- Debra Danburg Papers
- Association of Women in Science
- Kathryn J. Whitmire Papers
- Professor Bette Ann Stead Papers
- Laura Oren Papers
- Carey Chenoweth Shuart Papers
- Mary Elinor Ewing and Family Scrapbook Collection
- Blanche Espy Chenoweth Papers
- Houston Heights Woman's Club Records
- River Oaks Business Women's Exchange Club Records
- Womynspace Records
- Lynn Randolph Papers
- Interfaith Workshop Records
- Women for Justice
- Annise Parker Papers
- Harriett Joan Ehrlich Papers
- Ann Robinson Feminist Collection
- Komen Foundation Houston
- Houston Assembly of Delphian Chapters Records
- Altrusa International Inc. Records
Related Links
- Women's Archives (Finding Aids) at the UH MD Anderson Library
- WARC materials are also avaliable through the UH Digital Library.
Support the WARC
The Women's Archive and Research Center is supported by the Friends of Women's Studies and by grants from generous donors. If you would like to help and continue the work of the Women's ARC, please become a Friend of Women's Studies.
