Women's Archives: Historical Perspectives & Research Resources for Scholars, Feminists & Educators | Explore Gender Studies & Women's History

Women's archives hold a significant place in the historical record, illuminating stories of individuals who had an impact on our past in both powerful and quiet ways. The history of the archives themselvesand the struggle to achieve equal representation within the historical recordalso tell a valuable story, one that deftly examines American culture and society over the past few centuries.In Perspectives on Women's Archives, eighteen essays written by noted archivists and historians illustrate the origins of a women-centered history, the urgent need to locate records that highlight the diverse experiences of women, and the effort to document womens experiences. The essays also expose the need for renewed collaboration between archivists and historians, the challenges related to the accessibility of womens collections, and the development of community archives.Ultimately, archival relevancy is reinforced, not diminished, by sharing resources and exposing absences. This book inspires new thinking about the value of womens archives and how to fill the gaps in our recordkeeping to move toward a more diverse and inclusive future.