As the 1960s drew to a close, a growing chorus of voices within the Barnard community began calling for an official College response to the changes wrought and challenges posed by the Women’s Liberation Movement. After months of impassioned, contentious discussion among students, faculty-members, administrators, and alums, the Barnard Women’s Center (later renamed The Barnard Center for Research on Women) was founded in the fall of 1971.
This collections includes a selection of public and internal papers from the Center’s first year documents the fledgling research institution’s attempts to solidify its place within Barnard, define its purpose outside the academy, and achieve full expression of its commitment to women’s “dignity, autonomy, and equality” (Charter, the Women’s Center, Barnard College). Also included are audio recordings, planning materials, programs, and other items related to the Scholar and Feminist, a conference held at BCRW annually since 1974.