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Permanent Commission on the Status of Women records

 Collection
Identifier: RG176

Scope and Content

This record group consist primarily of records from the Commission's permanent support staff. Series 1. Executive Director, 1976-1990, subject files includes legislative summaries, legislation, correspondence, task force records, speeches, articles and refernce files on a variety of topics concerning women's issues. Series 2. Public Information Officer, 1973-1992, consists of news clipping files and subject files. The news clippings covering topics such as abuse, adoption, aging, birth control, child support and custody, disabilities, divorce, equal rights amendment, insurance, legislation, pay equity, social security, widow, unions and welfare, among others. Series 3. Legistlative Coordinator, 1973-1989 subject files consists primarily of materials relating to legislation either supported or opposed by the Commission. There are also workshop and task force files on a variety of subjects such as family law, maternity leave, family violence, sex equity in education and other proposed and passed legislation. Series 4. Office Manager, 1982-1986, subject files include correspondence, requests for information, conference materials, workshops and newslaetters as well as the commission meeting records and complaint files. Series 5. Special Project Director, 1986-1993, subject files include correspondence, Institutionalizing Equity Committee materials and a survey of boardm councils and commissions. Series 6. General Subject, 1972-1986, files consists of task force records, program guidelines, legislation, corresopndence, reports, speeches, publications, project files, and associate organization and committee files. Topics include drug abuse, child support, day care, object job evaluation, pay equity, displaced homemakers, women and children in the criminal justice system, insurance, rape shield laws, nontraditional occupations, minority women, sexual harassment, talent banks, aging, affirmative actions, pensions, women veterans, pregnancy/maternity, harrassment, hazardous waste, Title IX, vocational education, apprenticeships, and police and firefighter recruitment Series 7. Intake Officer, 1974-1991, complaint files consists of intake docuiments, affidavits, as correspondence regarding discrimination complaints. Series 8. Policy and Procedure Files, 1973-1986, consists of commissioner's testimony at public hearings, commission and committee minutes, commission proecedures, and the commission's affirmative action plans. Series 9. Photographs, undated, consist of ten 9x10 in. framed photographs.

Dates

  • 1972-1993

Language of Materials

The records are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Records dealing with individual complaints of discrimination and referrals to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) are confidential and the boxes are restricted. Researchers must obtain written permission from the CHRO Legal Department before submitting a request to examine the records.

Restricted boxes:

Accession 1992-047: 9, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 22B

Accession 1993-018: 26, 31, 36, 43, 44, 51, 64A, 64B, 71, 79, 80, 81

Accession 1995-008: 4

Accession 1995-009: 4, 5

Accession 1995-011: 2


These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Historical Note

The General Assembly created the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) in 1973. Title 46(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides for a seventeen member commission and a support staff to work to eliminate sex discrimination within the state. The Governor appoints five members. The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore appoint four members each. The co-chairs of the Judiciary Committee and its ranking minority members also serve as commissioners. Initially, these representatives came from the Joint Standing Committee on Human Rights and Opportunities, but the legislature changed the composition to reflect a broader legal perspective.

The Commission's first task was to review existing statutes to ensure conformity with the 1974 state equal rights amendment. Working with the legislature and private organizations interested in gender equality, the PCSW succeeded in making many state laws gender neutral. It continues its efforts to ensure equal employment, housing, credit and educational opportunities for the state's women.

In addition to its legislative efforts, the PCSW assists individuals who believe they have suffered sex discrimination in employment and other areas. The PCSW offers advice on legal rights and assists with filing formal complaints with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the state's enforcement agency on discrimination. The PCSW provides speakers and workshop leaders to organizations interested in issues affecting women and also maintains a talent bank listing qualified women available to serve in unpaid positions on various boards, councils and commissions in state government. In addition, the Commission's staff produces publications on topics ranging from job rights and non-traditional job resources to pregnancy and maternity leave.

From time to time, the Commission undertakes special projects. These have included surveying Connecticut industry to estimate the potential for industry-based child care as well as working with state government to increase the number of female troopers. Special Act 87-91 mandated that the PCSW study conditions of women and children in the criminal justice system including educational and occupational opportunities for female prisoners. Other projects have examined disabled women's needs, researched women's contributions to Connecticut history, assisted in improving equal educational opportunities, and studied the economic impact of divorce in Connecticut.

Extent

124 cubic feet

Abstract

The General Assembly created the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in 1973. The Commission was charged to work to eliminate sex discrimination within the state.

Arrangement

Series 1. Executive Director, 1976-1990, 21.5 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1992-047 (part), 1979-1989, 3 cubic feet.

Subject files, Accession 1993-017 (part), 1976-1987, 9.5 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1995-008, 1976-1990, 9 c.f.

Series 2. Public Information Officer, 1973-1992, 29 cubic feet

News clipping files, Accession 1992-047 (part), 1976-1987, 3 cubic foot

Subject files, Accession 1992-047 (part), 1976-1987, 1 cubic foot

Subject files, Accession 1993-017 (part), 1973-1987, 21 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1995-010, 1973-1992, 4 cubic feet

Series 3. Legislative Coordinator, 1973-1989, 13 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1993-017 (part), 1975-1983, 6 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1995-011, 1973-1989, 7 cubic feet

Series 4. Office Manager, 1982-1986, 7 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1993-017 (part), 1985-1986, 2 cubic feet

Subject files, Accession 1995-009, 1982-1991, 5 cubic feet

Series 5. Special Projects Director, 1986-1993, 1 cubic foot.

Administrative files, Accession 1995-012, 1986-1993, 1 cubic foot



Series 6, General Subject Files, 1972-1987, 38 cubic feet

Accession 1992-047 (part), 1975-1987, 14 cubic feet

Accession 1993-017 (part), 1972-1986, 24 cubic feet

Series 7. Intake Officer, 1974-1985, 9 cubic feet

Complaint files, Accession 1992-047 (part), 1975-1991, 4 cubic feet

Complaint files, Accession 1993-017 (part), 1974-1985, 5 cubic feet

Series 8. Policy and Procedure Files, 1973-1986, 3.5 cubic feet

Accession 1993-017 (part), 1973-1986, 3.5 cubic feet

Series 9. Photographs, undated, 1 cubic foot

Accession 1992-047 (part), undated, 14 cubic foot

Provenance

The Commission's Executive Director and staff created and maintained these records for the Commission until their transfer to the State Archives as noted below. The staff transferred the bulk of the records in 1992 with two small accessions in 1992 and 1994.

Related Material

None.

Processing Information

All of the matieral in this record group is currently unprocessed. The various accessions overlap each other for dates and topics. Researchers should consult the entire finding aid to ensure finding all the appropriate records.

Title
RG 176, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
Subtitle
Inventory of Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.
Date
2008
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Connecticut State Library Repository

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