Center for Women's Studies and Services Records, 1947-1997 | Special Collections & University Archives: Finding Aid Database

Title: Center for Women's Studies and Services Records, 1947-1997

ID: MS-0036

Created by: Center for Women's Studies and Services (1969-1996)

Established in 1969, the Center for Women’s Studies and Services (CWSS) is a multi-dimensional and non-profit organization that maintains educational, cultural, political, and service programs. CWSS is dedicated to advancing the cause of women’s rights and has a nationwide membership open to men and women. It was the first women’s liberation group in San Diego and the first women’s center in Southern California.

CWSS is a committed to developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with other community-based and nationally-oriented organizations. The Center has actively participated in a variety of feminist, social service and inter-movement coalitions, and served as headquarters for the National Feminist Therapists' Association.

CWSS is comprised of four major components: academic; storefront and feminist counseling; publications, education and culture; and special projects. Each component of the Center provides services and opportunities (via workshops, apprenticeships, consultations, and direct experience) for women to obtain first-hand knowledge and training in the areas of management, creativity, and control. The academic component was formed on the San Diego State University campus and became the first official Women’s Studies Program in the nation.

The Women's Storefront and Feminist Counseling Component, located at 908 E Street in San Diego, is a drop-in resource center offering crisis assistance, housing, child care, legal and medical referrals, vocational counseling and job referrals. It also has a 24-hour hotline for battered women and rape victims, affirmative action assistance, and open rap groups.

The Educational, Cultural and Publications Component includes an annual Women’s Festival of the Arts, monthly Feminist Forum, community meetings, and publication of the feminist newspaper The Longest Revolution, a poetry anthology titled Rainbow Snake, and other materials by and about women. In 1972, the Feminist Free University was organized under the Special Projects Component. Three sessions are offered each year, with between 20 and 40 volunteer-taught classes in each session. CWSS maintains a feminist library and reading room. Governed by an all-women community Board of Directors, the Center is assisted by a broad-based, nationwide advisory board. The San Diego State University Foundation gave the initial funding for a "center concept" in 1969 and since then, has received funding from a variety of local and national foundations and public agencies.

CWSS became the Center for Community Solutions in 1996.

Arrangement: I. Office Files
II. Components
III. Vertical Files
IV. Periodicals
V. Reel to Reel Tapes
VI. Scrapbooks
VII. Administrative Files (2001 Accession)
VIII. Oversized Materials

Extent: 23.0 Linear Feet

Finding Aid/Inventory
Series 1: Office Files
Series 2: Components: Box 1a
Series 3: Vertical Files
Series 4: Periodicals
Series 5: Reel to Reel Tapes
Series 6: Scrapbooks
Series 7: Administrative Files (2001 Accession)
Series 8: Oversized Materials

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Scope and Contents: The collection contains the administrative and programmatic files of the Center for Women's Studies and Services (CWSS), later named the Center for Community Solutions. It includes reports, budget material, periodicals, meeting minutes, and publications that have to do with helping the community.