Women’s History Month is the perfect time to highlight one of Reese Library’s largest holdings in Special Collections: the League of Women Voters of Augusta, 1940-1997. An international celebration, Women’s History Month is celebrated every March in the United States, Great Britain and Australia. The roots of this celebration extend to the first International Women’s Day in 1911, and highlight the contributions of women in history and contemporary society.
The National Women’s History Project chooses a theme for each year’s celebration. The theme is for 2014 is “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment.”
The National League of Women Voters is “rooted in the movement that secured the right to vote for women [and has fostered] civic engagement and [access to the vote since its founding in 1920].”As a testement to Augusta women who promoted voter education and encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote, the Special Collections at Reese Library preserves the collection of the Augusta chapter.
Donated to Special Collections in 2005 the collection holds material from the years 1940-1997 and consists of meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, correspondence, brochures, publications and 1 photograph. This collection will serve as a starting point for researchers wishing to document the history of women’s political activism in Augusta, Georgia.
Dr.Gwen Y. Wood, Georgia Regents University, Professor Emerita , was GeorgiaLeague of Women Voters Program Advocacy Chairman, 1994.
A record of her activity is preserved in League of Women Voters of Augusta, 1940-1997.
For more information on this collection or others, please go to the Reese Library Special Collections webpage http://guides.gru.edu/specialcollections , – or call Special Collections at 706-667-4904.
