| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Cleveland Women Working |
| Title: | Cleveland Women Working Records |
| Dates: | 1975-1981 |
| Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) |
| Abstract: | Cleveland Women Working (f. 1975), founded largely by Helen Williams, was an organization of working women concerned about equal opportunity rights for office workers in the United States and especially in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. They addressed problems faced by working women by using documented research and active strategy. They counseled and educated women about legal rights and job problems, publicized unfair working situations, monitored government agencies which enforced anti-discrimination laws; monitored specific employers for compliance with the law; advocated for women with discrimination problems; and published special reports and a bi-monthly newsletter. In 1977 Cleveland Women Working merged with a group formed out of the Boston, Massachusetts, organization 9to5 News that became the Working Women Organizing Project. After another name change it became 9to5, National Association of Working Women in 1983 and maintained its national headquarters in Cleveland until 1993 when the national organization moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The officers and staff of 9to5 have been active in many different ways to further its mission, ranging from testifying before Congress to educating women through publications regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and other related issues. It ran a job problem hotline, helped to organize a division of the Service Employees International Union, and has been involved with various federal investigations and government hearings regarding employment practices and discrimination. 9to5 National Association of Working Women is still an active organization with chapters in Atlanta, Georgia, California, Colorado, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but is no longer active in the Cleveland area. The collection consists of agendas, annual reports, lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, reports, speech texts, statutes, and surveys. |
| MS Number | MS 5097 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Cleveland Women Working (f. 1975), founded largely by Helen Williams, was an organization of working women concerned about equal opportunity rights for office workers in the United States and especially in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. They addressed problems faced by working women by using documented research and active strategy. They counseled and educated women about legal rights and job problems, publicized unfair working situations, monitored government agencies which enforced anti-discrimination laws; monitored specific employers for compliance with the law; advocated for women with discrimination problems; and published special reports and a bi-monthly newsletter. In 1977 Cleveland Women Working merged with a group formed out of the Boston, Massachusetts, organization 9to5 News that became the Working Women Organizing Project. After another name change it became 9to5, National Association of Working Women in 1983 and maintained its national headquarters in Cleveland until 1993 when the national organization moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The officers and staff of 9to5 have been active in many different ways to further its mission, ranging from testifying before Congress to educating women through publications regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and other related issues. It ran a job problem hotline, helped to organize a division of the Service Employees International Union, and has been involved with various federal investigations and government hearings regarding employment practices and discrimination. 9to5 National Association of Working Women is still an active organization with chapters in Atlanta, Georgia, California, Colorado, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but is no longer active in the Cleveland area.
The Cleveland Women Working Records, 1975-1981 and undated, consist of agendas, annual reports, lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, reports, speech texts, statutes, and surveys.
This collection is of value to researchers interested in the Women's Movement in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. It is also of value to researchers studying women's working conditions in the United States in general and Cleveland, Ohio, more specifically during the 1970s and 1980s. Those interested in issues regarding women including gender issues, crime prevention and safety in the workplace, pay equity, sexual harassment, and career development will find this collection useful. The organization was involved in publicizing and assisting in the enforcement of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. It also was active in class action suits against employers, federal hearings on women's working conditions, and seminars to educate women on their legal rights. This collection is also useful for studying women's non-profit organizations and their funding and operations.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 5074 WomenSpace Records and MS 4101 Business and Professional Women's Club of East Cleveland Records.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5097 Cleveland Women Working Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Nancy Erdey in 1989.
Processed by Rosemary Miller in 2011.
Cleveland Women Working Records 1975-1981 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Affirmative Action 1975 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Agendas 1979 1981 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Annual meeting 1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 1978-1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Job descriptions undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Newsletters and resource guides 1978-1981 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Newspaper clippings 1978-1981 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Press releases and publicity 1977-1980 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Reports 1980 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Speeches 1980 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Summer school 1979 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Surveys undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Workshops 1981 | |||||||||