Schlesinger Library / Collections

Women's Educational and Industrial Union Records

The Women's Educational and Industrial Union (Boston, Massachusetts) was founded in 1877 "to increase fellowship among women and to promote the best practical methods for securing their educational, industrial, and social advancement."

Interior view of the WEIU lunch room
Interior view of the lunch room with a server standing against partition doors. Women's Educational and Industrial Union Additional records. Hollis #: 8001526297
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A nonprofit social and educational agency, the WEIU was founded in 1877 by Harriet Clisby, a doctor, and incorporated in 1880. To accomplish this mission, the organization was arranged in committees or departments that throughout its history provided education and job placement services for women, social services for the needy, social programs for members, and operated a number of retail shops. These departments continued to evolve as different needs arose.

In 2002, the union changed its name to the Women’s Union, and in 2004 sold its buildings, dedicating the income from their sales to future programs. In July 2006, the union merged with the nonprofit organization Crittenton to become the Crittenton Women's Union, dedicated to transforming "the course of low-income women's lives so that they can attain economic independence and create better futures for themselves and their families."

Interior view of the WEIU lunch room
View of four women (two in front, two in back) standing, decorating cakes
View of three girls (two seated, one standing) reading inside a library or bookshop
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Collections

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Betty Friedan at Second Women's March Betty Friedan at Second Women's March Betty Friedan at podium Betty Friedan, seated with copies of her book Portrait of Betty Friedan working at a desk with a typewriter Portrait of Betty Friedan in Junior High School

Betty Friedan

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Portrait of Florynce Kennedy speaking at California State University

Florynce Kennedy

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Portrait of Murray seated in front of a Magnolia tree Portrait of Murray Portrait of Murray seated in front of a Magnolia tree Portrait of Pauli Murray Pauli Murray standing in front of a microphone, reading from Dark Testament and Other Poems Portrait of Murray wearing her clerical collar

Pauli Murray

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Group of women attending NOW conference in Houston Group of women attending NOW conference in Houston Group portrait of NOW founders at NOW's organizing conference in Washington, DC Women at National ERA March Women holding NOW and "Lesbian Rights" signs at Lake Worth Gay/Lesbian Pride event People attending the NOW demonstration

Records of the National Organization for Women

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Portrait of Susan B. Anthony Portrait of Susan B. Anthony Portraits of Stanton and Anthony together Susan B. Anthony seated, and reading a book Susan B. Anthony and others, possibly members of the Anthony family, on porch Side profile portrait of Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

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Portrait of Maud Wood Park Portrait of Maud Wood Park Gathering in front of the National American Woman Suffrage Association headquarters on the arrival of Jeannette Rankin in Washington as the first U. S. Congresswoman Portrait of Maud Wood Park wearing cap and gown Maud Wood laying on rock, outdoors Group portrait of eight women holding a sign listing the planks to be presented by the NLWV to the Democratic Platform Committee. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs (left) and Maud Wood Park (right) are holding the sign

Maud Wood Park Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection

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Alice Paul Papers Schlesinger Olvwork20002619 Portrait of Paul, holding a book Alice Paul Papers Schlesinger Olvwork20002619 Portrait of Alice Paul Anna Wiley telephoning Doris Stevens accompanied by other women Photograph of Alice Paul sewing stars on the suffrage flag as others look on

Alice Paul

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Group portrait of Black Women Oral History Project Advisory Board Portrait of Rosa Parks Group portrait of Black Women Oral History Project Advisory Board Portrait of Ozeline Wise Portrait of Dorothy Height Portrait of Eva B. Dykes

Black Women Oral History Project

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June Jordan seated in front of bookcase June Jordan seated outdoors in grass June Jordan seated in front of bookcase June Jordan, on far right, with Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Nana Maynard, Ntzoke Shange, Vertamae Grosvenor and others

June Jordan

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Portrait of Dorothy West, seated in chair on a deck Dorothy West autographs a book at the book party held at Reckling Studio in her honor Dorothy West in her New York City apartment. West is seated on a couch, holding a pad of paper on her lap Dorothy West standing in front of a pier at Oak Bluffs beach on Martha's Vineyard Portrait of Dorothy West seated at her writing desk

Dorothy West

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Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger Olvwork402250 Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger Olvwork402250 Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger Olvwork402242 Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger Olvwork402258 Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger Olvwork402235 Shirley Graham Du Bois Papers Schlesinger 16237435 9

Shirley Graham Du Bois

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