Summary Information
Pennsylvania Commission for Women Records
AIS.2006.10
Pennsylvania. Commission for Women.
Bulk, 1983-1987
1979-1988
2.25 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language: English
Abstract: The Pennsylvania Commission for Women (PACW) was established in 1975 by Executive Order 1975-3 to insure that women had full and equal opportunities as citizens of the Commonwealth and to be a strong advocate for the rights of women in the state. Their records highlight efforts to eradicate sex discrimination, raise awareness and educate the public on issues concerning women in Pennsylvania.
ULS Archives Service Center
University of Pittsburgh Library System
7500 Thomas Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
412-648-3232
archives-ref@mail.pitt.edu
2009
Finding aid prepared by Wendy Pflug
History
The Pennsylvania Commission for Women (PACW) was created by Executive Order 1975-3 and signed by Governor Milton J. Shapp on February 27, 1975. The Commission's objective was to develop and carry out policies "to help insure that women had full and equal opportunities as citizens of the Commonwealth and to increase State government's effort to eradicate sex discrimination against women in Pennsylvania." The Commission was also tasked with being a strong advocate for the rights of women, to raise awareness, and to educate the public on issues concerning women.
The PACW was comprised of "at least fifteen but not more than twenty-one members appointed by the Governor and shall function in an advisory capacity to the Director." Members served one or two year terms and served without salary. The commission director was appointed by the Governor and reported directly to him, advising on matters affecting women.
To raise awareness for and to educate the public on issues concerning women, the Commission would regularly give speeches to groups such as the League of Women Voters, local chambers of commerce, and college audiences in Pennsylvania. Members of the Commission also made media appearances and contributed opinion editorials to newspapers, prepared news releases and provided background information to the media. The Commission compiled complete research data on women by collecting statistics on women in the family, labor force, education, and other categories. The PACW published a quarterly newsletter
Women's News, which provided information on legislation and other data and events of particular concern to women. They also published pamphlets and brochures on topics such as sexual harassment, day care options, and divorce. Each brochure and pamphlet advised women of their legal rights and provided a list of state services, programs, and agencies to assist them.
The Commission participated in and worked closely with associations and coalitions of women's groups throughout Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. In this capacity, they provided information and training for local organizations in a statewide conference for local commissions for women.
The PACW also founded More Women Candidates, a non-partisan organization which developed educational programs to increase the number of women candidates for public office. In this capacity, the Commission also committed to a ten-year project from 1981 to 1991 in order to track the number of women in elected office. The project collected, reported, and publicized the number of women elected to public office at all levels of government.
The Pennsylvania Commission for Women continues its mission as an agent of change and empowerment for the Commonwealth's women. It has also expanded its scope and is an ardent advocate for health care, business, and human rights legislation concerning women. Governor Edward G. Rendell signed the most recent Executive Order to continue the PACW's work on June 22, 2003. Governor Rendell appointed twenty-six members to the Commission and named Leslie Stiles as Executive Director.
Cited: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor's Office, Executive Order 1975-3. Establishment of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, February 27, 1975.
Pennsylvania Commission for Women Web site
Collection Scope and Content Notes
The Pennsylvania Commission for Women Records date from 1979 to 1988 and document the activities of the organization to help insure women had full and equal rights as citizens of Pennsylvania and to advocate for the rights of women in the Commonwealth. Most of the documents in this collection were created during the tenure of PACW Director, Christine Myers Crist (1983-1987). Included in the records are meeting minutes, budget information, activities reports, publications, and workshop materials that illustrate the ways the PACW sought to accomplish their objective.
Arrangement
Series I. Administrative, 1980-1988
Series II. Education and Outreach, 1980-1987
Series III. Commission Publications, 1979-1987
Subject Terms
- Divorce -- Pennsylvania
- Insurance -- Pennsylvania
- Sex discrimination against women -- Pennsylvania
- Sexual harassment of women -- Pennsylvania
- Women -- Pennsylvania
- Women's rights -- Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania. Commission for Women.
- Government
- Social action
- Women
Access and Use
Pennsylvania Commission for Women Records, 1979-1988, AIS.2006.06, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
This collection was processed by Wendy Pflug in December 2009.
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Collection Inventory
Series I. Administrative 1980-1988
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Scope and Content Notes: This series contains documents relating to the administration of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women (PACW) from 1980 to 1988. The majority of these files are meeting minutes, agendas, notes, and related information. These meetings set the tone for goals the commission sought to achieve. Information on such issues as child care and credit equality can be found in the files related to meetings. Most meetings were held quarterly in Harrisburg, unless noted. Included in this series are bi-weekly activities reports, research files on various women's issues, and budget reports submitted to the legislature, which provide a detailed summary of activities, progress made, and goals achieved. The Administrative series also contains files from More Women Candidates, a non-partisan organization founded by the commission to create educational programs to increase the number of women candidates for public office. This series is arranged chronologically.
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Box 1
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1 |
PACW Meeting, December 17, 1980
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2 |
PACW Meeting, April 29, 1981
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3 |
PACW Director, Helen Seager Correspondence, 1982
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4 |
More Women Candidates Project, March 1982
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5 |
PACW Joint Meeting with Local Commissions for Women in Philadelphia, May 6, 1982
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6 |
PACW Meeting, December 9, 1982
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7 |
Correspondence received by Christine Myers Crist, 1982-1987
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8 |
PACW Bi-Weekly Reports, 1983
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9 |
Women in Government Research Files, 1983-1985
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10 |
PACW Bi-Weekly Reports, January-June, 1984
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11 |
PACW Bi-Weekly Reports, July-December, 1984
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12 |
PACW Executive Board Meeting, September 11, 1984
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13 |
PACW Meeting, October 3, 1984
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14 |
PACW Meeting on Day Care Needs in Pennsylvania, October 19, 1984
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15 |
More Women Candidates, Project History and Meeting, 1984
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16 |
PACW with Governor Dick Thornburgh Photograph, January 1985
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17 |
PACW Meeting in Allentown, January 29, 1985
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18 |
PACW Meeting, March 25, 1985
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19 |
PACW Meeting in State College, June 5, 1985
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20 |
PACW Meeting, October 28, 1985
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21 |
Senate Appropriation Committee regarding PACW Budget, 1985
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22 |
Auto Insurance Rates for Women Research, 1985
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23 |
Correspondence and Memos sent by Christine Myers Crist, 1985-1987
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24 |
National Women's Political Caucus ranking of Pennsylvania Appointed Cabinet Officers, 1986
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25 |
State Government Transition Document regarding PACW, 1986
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26 |
Budget Review Meeting and Remarks given by Christine Myers Crist, January 10, 1986
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27 |
PACW Meeting, January 29, 1986
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28 |
PACW Meeting in Pittsburgh, June 11, 1986
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29 |
PACW Meeting, September 10, 1986
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30 |
PACW Meeting, November 14, 1986
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31 |
PACW Orientation Meeting, November 14-15, 1986
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32 |
First Pennsylvania Conference of Local Commissions for Women, November 15, 1986
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33 |
Correspondence Regarding New PACW Design, 1986
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34 |
More Women Candidate Executive Board Meeting, December 5, 1986, January 7, 1987
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35 |
More Women Candidates Meeting, March 10, 1987
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36 |
More Women Candidates Meeting, March 10, 1987
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37 |
More Women Candidates Information 1987
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39 |
Budget Appropriation Justification, 1987-1988
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38 |
PACW Fact Sheet, Meeting Agenda, and Legislation of Interest, 1987
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40 |
PACW Director, Christine Myers Crist Photographs undated
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41 |
Christine Myers Crist Biography undated
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42 |
Credit Rights of Women Research, undated
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Series II. Education and Outreach 1980-1987
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Scope and Content Notes: The Education and Outreach series chronicles efforts to raise awareness and educate the public on various issues concerning women. The PACW was active in arranging programs, conferences, and workshops that dealt with a variety of issues relevant to women such as, re-entering the workforce, sexual discrimination and harassment, mental health, divorce, women in the workplace, and day care. Included in this series are files that were maintained by commission Director Christine Myers Crist on speaking engagements, and opinion-editorial pieces (Op-Eds) she wrote and newspaper clippings that cite PACW and the topics they worked to address. The material in the Education and Outreach series dates from 1980 to 1987 and is arranged chronologically.
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43 |
PACW Events Newspaper clippings, 1980-1982, 1984-1985
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44 |
Region III Conference of Commission for Women, November 19, 1982
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45 |
Families and Work Panel, 1982
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46 |
More Women Candidates Caucus, January 1983
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47 |
Women, Poverty, and Public Policy Conference, October 28-29, 1983
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48 |
Region III Conference of Commission for Women November 11-12, 1983
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49 |
"Equality of the Sexes Still Evolving." Op-Ed by Christine Myers Crist for
The Patriot (Harrisburg), June 5, 1984
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50 |
Pay Equity Newspaper clippings, 1984
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51 |
Women's Mental Health Steering Committee Report, 1984-1985
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52 |
Christine Myers Crist's Pittsburgh Speaking Engagements, March 1985
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53 |
Women's History Week Speaker and Brownbag Lunch, March 5, 1985
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54 |
Christine Myers Crist's Johnstown Speaking Engagements March 20, 1985
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55 |
Project Impact Workshop, March 27, 1985
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56 |
Daycare Interview and talking points, April 23, 1985
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57 |
Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business Conference, April 28- May 1, 1985
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58 |
Region III Conference of Commissions for Women, may 10-11, 1985
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59 |
We The Women 200 Women for Greater Philadelphia speaking engagement, May 28, 1985
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60 |
National Association of Commissions for Women Conference, June 18-22, 1985
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61 |
Future of Women in the Workplace Workshop, 1985
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62 |
Symposium on Women's Issues, February 15-19, 1986
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63 |
Women's History Month Billboard Art Contest, March 1986
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64 |
Women's History Month materials and remarks by Christine Myers Crist, March 26, 1986
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64 |
Women's History Month Poster, March 26, 1986
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65 |
Region III Conference of Commissions for Women, May 30-31, 1986
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66 |
Annual National Association of Commissions for Women Conference, June 18-21, 1986
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67 |
Partners for Pennsylvania Workshop June 28, 1986
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68 |
PACW Meeting with Ginny Thornburgh, August 26, 1986
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69 |
"State Women Still Equality." Op-Ed by Christine Myers Crist for
The Evening News (Harrisburg), August 26, 1986
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Box 2
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League of Women Voters of the New Castle Area Speaking Engagement, September 1986
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2 |
Tri-County Women's Conference, October 11, 1986
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3 |
Almech Luncheon Speaking Engagement, October 27, 1986
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4 |
Pennsylvania Conference of Local Commissions for Women, November 15, 1986
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5 |
Women's Legislative Exchange Conference, March 10, 1987
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6 |
Sexual Harassment in Housing and the Workplace, April 23, 1987
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7 |
Region III Conference of Commissions for Women, May 1-2, 1987
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8 |
Future of Women in the Workplace Conference Panel, 1987
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9 |
PACW Issues Fact Sheets, 1987
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Series III. Commission Publications 1979-1987
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Scope and Content Notes: The Commission Publications series dates from 1979 to 1987 and is arranged chronologically by publication title. This series contains the
Women's News, a statewide quarterly publication created by the PACW with information on topics that affected opportunities for women. The commission also created brochures and pamphlets detailing state services and programs available to women.
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10 |
The Women's Report: A Commentary, 1979-1983
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11 |
Women's News, September- October, 1979
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12 |
Women's News, May-August, November-December, 1980
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13 |
Women's News, January-February, May-June, November-December, 1981
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14 |
Women's News, January-December, 1982
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15 |
Women's News, January-December, 1983
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16 |
Women's News, January-December, 1984
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17 |
Women's News, January-October, 1985
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Box 3
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1 |
Women's News, January-December, 1986
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2 |
Women's News, Spring, Summer, 1987
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3 |
PACW Annual Reports, 1980-1981, 1983
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4 |
CETA Services to Women: A Program of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, 1980
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5 |
How it Works: The Pennsylvania Commission for Women, 1983
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6 |
Miscellaneous PACW Pamphlets, 1982-1983
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7 |
Citizen's Guide to Block Grants, 1984
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8 |
A Day Care Checklist, 1985
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9 |
Pennsylvania Divorce Law, 1986
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10 |
Sexual Harassment on the Job, 1986
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11 |
Pennsylvania Commission for Women: Keeping Equality Alive, undated
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12 |
PACW Letterhead Folder and Christine Myers Crist Business Card, undated
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