Access is granted in accordance with the
Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.
PROVENANCE
Transferred to the University Archives in 2000.
ARRANGEMENT
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.
AGENCY HISTORY
The Trustees Council of Penn Women (TCPW) was established in 1987
to strengthen the University's commitment to the advancement of women
throughout the Penn community. Alvin V. Shoemaker, then chairman of
the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, is generally credited
with providing the institutional support necessary to assure the early
success of the TCPW. In the years since its founding, the TCPW has enjoyed
steady growth and accomplishment. By 2000 the TCPW had become a national
network of Penn alumnae, numbering over 100 women, all of whom are distinguished in their chosen
fields and share a deep interest in the well being of the University.
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The University's Office of Alumni Relations has provided administrative
support for the TCPW from its inception. The TCPW was initially organized
into seven committees: membership, athletics, career planning, enriching
the student experience, fund raising, institutional advancement for
women, and sororities. The committee chairs, together with the TCPW
chair, made up the Steering Committee, which, in late 1993, was re-named
the Executive Committee. In the early 1990s, the committee structure
was re-organized under six headings: Communications, Fundraising, Institutional
Advancement, Leadership, Programming, and Student Life/Career Development.
The activities of the Council's committees mirror those of existing
offices within the University administration. This facilitates a broad
set of working relationships between member of the TCPW and the University.
General support and coordination has remained with the Office of Alumni
Relations.
When the TCPW was established, those members who were alumnae but
not University Trustees were designated Associate Trustees of the University.
Those who were not alumnae were invited to serve as honorary members
of the TCPW, but without Associate Trustees status. The Associate Trustees
status was dropped in 1995.
Throughout its history the TCPW has worked consistently to increase
the representation of women on University governing bodies, including
the Trustees, Boards of Overseers, and other senior leadership positions
at Penn. TCPW has also committed itself to funding faculty chairs for
women, making direct appeals to its own membership and cultivating the
interest of others. TCPW has also participated actively in the University's
general fund-raising programs. TCPW has assisted in the evaluation and
admission to Penn of promising high school students; has provided much-needed
financial aid to qualified women students; and offers career counseling
to students entering the work place. The TCPW has developed a series
of regularly-scheduled programs, which include the Career Dinner, annual
Spring and Fall Conferences, Faculty Tea, and sponsorship of events
on various topics related to the promotion of women's interest.
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SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection documents the activities and internal organization
of the Trustees Council of Penn Women from its creation in 1987 through
1998.
The collection includes files on Council membership and chair selection,
minutes and correspondence of both the Steering / Executive Committee
and the standing committees, meeting files and information packets related
to the Council's annual Spring and Fall Conferences, files of programs
such as Career Dinner, Faculty Tea, Alumni Weekend, Tenth Anniversary
celebration, etc., files concerning the publishing of the Council newsletter
Communique, files of fund-raising activities, files of grants and awards
sponsored by the Council, general administrative correspondence, and
financial records.
The collection also includes non-manuscript material - two floppy
disks, three videotapes, and a Wedgwood plate issued by the University
in commemoration of its 200th anniversary.
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