Washington Area Women's Center records

The Washington Area Women’s Center developed naturally from the high level of activism in the Washington area related to feminism and women’s rights taking place. Specifically two parallel movements led directly to its formation. First, the Magic Quilt was a coalition of projects and discussion groups. Second, the Women’s Liberation Office, an activist group, rented space that it used for meetings, abortion counseling, a telephone hotline, and an information center. The Women’s Liberation Office held a retreat at which the idea was born to form a center for women. In 1972, the Washington Area Women’s Center formed as a non-profit. Over the years several different management models were attempted including a coordinating council of representatives from different project groups, followed by an elected five-member executive board and finally the group had a core group collective composed of WAWC members who volunteer their time either at the Center or on Center projects. During its time from 1972 through the late 1980s, the Washington Area Women’s Center served both as a space where women could explore aspects of feminism and work on projects dedicated to furthering feminist theory and also practical work to serve as a clearinghouse of advisors and information to help women in the Metropolitan Area explore all options related to changing their lives and asserting their rights.

In 1979 the Washington Area Women’s Center formed an archives with an understanding that this material would prove extremely useful for the community and protect its history. In 2015 this archives became part of the GW Special Collection Research Center.