New Exhibit Celebrates Women of the UA

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications | February 22, 2011

To commemorate Women's History Month in March, the UA Libraries is hosting a lecture and exhibition honoring the contribution of women to the UA's growth and success.

Sally Stevens, who directs the UA's Southwest Institute for Research on Women, will present during the UA Libraries', "Women of the UA: Our History is Our Strength."
Sally Stevens, who directs the UA's Southwest Institute for Research on Women, will present during the UA Libraries', "Women of the UA: Our History is Our Strength."
Myra Dinnerstein, the founding director of the UA women's studies department, will co-present with Sally Stevens during a lecture being held March 1.
Myra Dinnerstein, the founding director of the UA women's studies department, will co-present with Sally Stevens during a lecture being held March 1.

Women who have contributed to the growth and success of the University of Arizona are being honored during a event commemorating Women's History Month. 

The UA Libraries is hosting a special exhibition, "Women of the UA: Our History is Our Strength," recognizing and honoring influential women in the University's history, including the first woman graduate, librarian and professor.

The exhibition, which will be open through March 17, features books, articles, journals and photographs and other items on women who have supported the UA from its inception to today.

Also in March, the UA BookStores will host "An Uncommon Heroine: Scarlett, Edna, Sula and More Than 20 Other of the Most Remarkable Women in Literature." The event, a discussion of the role of women in literature, will ble held March 24 at 4:30 p.m. at the bookstore. 

And as part of the UA Libraries' exhibition, the history of women in sports and the historical role of sororities are among those being highlighted.

The exhibition also looks at UA women in the music, art and science-related fields.

Also detailed are the history of female musicians allowed to join the Pride of Arizona Marching Band in 1951, the founding of the UA's women's studies department in 1975, and the work of Gamma Phi Sigma members dating back to 1905.

On March 1, Sally Stevens, who directs the Southwest Institute for Research on Women, will co-present with Myra Dinnerstein, founding director of the UA's women studies department. 

During the lecture, to be held at 5:30 in the Main Library, Stevens and Dinnerstein will discuss the evolution of women’s studies on and off the UA campus. 

The showcase and lecture both mark the UA Libraries' ongoing effort to showcase materials from the Special Collections while also recognizing the range of perspectives that have made the UA a 21st-century institution.  

Many of the pieces that will be on display are normally housed in the University Libraries' Special Collections and were selected specifically for the current exhibition.

The exhbition was curated by Rebecca Blakiston and Jill Newby, both instructional services librarians; Mary Feeney, a research support services librarian; and Stephan Przybylowicz, a graduate student volunteer working toward a master's degree in information resources and library science.