Women and Leadership Archives facts for kids
Piper Hall, Loyola University of Chicago
|
|
| Type | Archive |
|---|---|
| Established | 1994 |
| Address |
970 W. Sheridan Rd. Loyola University Chicago. Piper Hall, Third Floor
,
,
,
U.S.
41°59′55″N 87°39′20″W / 41.998676°N 87.655514°W |
 |
|
The Women and Leadership Archives (WLA) is a special place in Chicago, Illinois. It's located at Loyola University Chicago. Since 1994, the WLA has collected important records about women and groups led by women. These records help us learn about women's lives, their roles, and what they have achieved. The WLA is part of the Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, Center for Women and Leadership. It is also part of Loyola University Chicago's library system.
Contents
Piper Hall: Home of the Archives
The Women and Leadership Archives is located in a historic building called Piper Hall. The archives keep their collections in the basement. There is also a special reading room on the third floor for visitors.
Piper Hall is one of the last old mansions left along the lakefront in Chicago. It was built in 1909 by Cassie and Albert Wheeler. Mundelein College bought the building in 1934. When Mundelein College joined Loyola University Chicago in 1991, Piper Hall became part of Loyola. The building was carefully restored in 2005. Today, it is home to the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership and the Women and Leadership Archives.
History of the Archives
The Women and Leadership Archives started because of Mundelein College. This college was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). It provided education for women from 1930 until 1991. In 1991, Mundelein College joined Loyola University Chicago.
The Gannon Center for Women and Leadership was created to continue Mundelein's goal of helping women become leaders. This center is named after Sister Ann Ida Gannon, who was Mundelein College's longest-serving president. The WLA grew from the need to save Mundelein College's own records. It then began collecting papers from other women leaders. Many of these leaders were graduates of Mundelein College. The Women and Leadership Archives helps many different people. This includes students, researchers, and anyone interested in learning about women's history.
What the Archives Collects
Types of Collections
The archives have many different types of records. They focus on topics like women's issues and activism. They also collect materials from authors, educators, and people involved in environmental issues. Other important areas include public service, social justice, and women who are religious sisters. The archives also have collections related to fine arts, performing arts, and visual arts.
Where Collections Come From
The WLA mainly collects records from the Chicago area and its suburbs. They also look for collections from Illinois. After that, they collect from the Great Lakes region. This includes states like Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Finally, they collect from other parts of the United States.
Important Collections
The Women and Leadership Archives keeps records from many different people and groups. Most of these are from the Chicago area.
- Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, is a famous chaplain for the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team. She taught at Mundelein College before working at Loyola. Her personal collection is kept at the WLA.
- Jean Fritz was one of the twelve jurors in the famous Chicago Seven Trial. This trial happened after events at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. She donated her papers to the Women and Leadership Archives.
- The WLA also holds the collection for a Chicago-based feminist art group called Sister Serpents. This group created art to raise awareness about women's rights.
- Mercedes McCambridge was an Academy Award-winning actress. She was also a graduate of Mundelein College. Her records are part of the archives.
- Sister Therese Langerbeck earned her Ph.D. in astrophysics in 1948. She became a well-known physics teacher at Mundelein College. She received many awards for her work. Her records are part of the Mundelein College collection at the WLA.
