Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records, Ms1988-080, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
4 Cubic Feet 8 boxes
Creator:
Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals
Abstract:
The Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals (OWA) is an organization for women architects and designers in the San Francisco bay area. It officially became incorporated in 1973. The collection contains documents, reports, agendas, membership directories, photos, slides, and publications concerning the history and activities of the OWA.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records, Ms1988-080, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains documents, reports, agendas, membership directories, photos, slides, and publications concerning the history and activities of the Organization of Women Architects and Design Professional dating from 1965-2005.

Biographical / historical:

The Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals (OWA), an organization for women architects and designers in the San Francisco bay area, officially became incorporated in 1973. Originally titled, The Organization of Women Architects, it evolved from the informal gatherings of twelve women architects looking for a supportive forum to exchange their experiences in a traditionally male-dominated profession to a valuable networking resource and a mechanism to promote the professional and personal lives of its members.

The organization is run by a volunteer Steering Committee staffed by members and the programs and focus of the OWA vary with the interests and talents of the current members. Previous meetings and seminars have focused on job-sharing, flexible work schedules, childcare, portfolio review, public speaking skills, financial seminars, health care, and occupational hazards.

Over its lifetime the OWA has undertaken many important programs and actions for the benefit of architects and design professionals in general, not only women. It developed a Mock Exam to prepare and train young architects for the California State licensing exam, and it set up a health insurance plan (1976) for uninsured architects and designers. The Mock Exam was so successful that the OWA eventually sold it to the American Institute of Architects.

The OWA is also very in active in collaborating with other like minded institutions and helped to establish a new umbrella organization called California Women in Environmental Design (CWED). CWED's purpose was to lobby governmental agencies and provide designing women with public exposure through statewide conferences and exhibitions of their work.

- from Horton, Inge, "Presentation on the History of OWA at The Colegio de Arquitectos in Quito, Ecuador," 26 June 2003

Acquisition information:
The Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records were donated to Special Collections in 1988, 2003, and 2006.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records was completed in March 2011.

Arrangement:

The Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals Records is divided into the following series: I. Administrative, 1972-2005; II. Committees and Initiatives, 1974-1986; III. Newsletters, 1972-1991; IV. Financial Records, 1975-1991; V. Alternate Media, 1971-1991; and VI. Professional Women's Organizations, Documents, Pamphlets, and Clippings, (non-OWA), 1965-1995. Each series is arranged in chronological order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard