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Greater Boston Chapter of the Older Women's League records

 Collection
Identifier: M196

Overview

Per its mission shared with the National Older Women's League (OWL), the Greater Boston OWL was “a voluntary membership organization that addresses social, economic, and political concerns of midlife and older women through advocacy, education and empowerment.” The Older Women's League began as a national organization in 1980 following the White House Mini Conference on Aging in Des Moines, Iowa. The Greater Boston OWL Chapter began with 15 women in the spring of 1982 as a part of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and became a regional chapter in September of that year. The Greater Boston OWL was active in local, state, and national campaigns supporting caregivers, medication issues, social security and healthcare. In 2001, the national organization changed its name to OWL- the Voice of Midlife and Older Women. In 2004, the Eastern Massachusetts OWL chapter split off from the Greater Boston OWL in order to reach a wider, urban population. In 2010, the chapters joined once again to become the Eastern Massachusetts OWL chapter.

Dates

  • circa 1983-2010, (bulk 2000-2008)

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials in the collection are entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.

Chronology

  • 1980 Older Women's League starts at the White House Mini Conference on Aging
  • 1982 Shelley Rubin calls formation meeting, 15 people attend; Greater Boston chapter becomes a provisional chapter of the Older Women's League
  • 1983 Greater Boston Chapter adopts its bylaws
  • 2001 General body elects Betty Soldz president
  • 2004 Votes to change Coordinating Committee to Board of Directors; Eastern Massachusetts OWL splits off from Greater Boston chapter
  • 2005 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Economic Security for Women event; member Ellen Bruce speaks before State Caucus on Older Citizens' Concerns
  • 2009 Betty Soldz resigns due to poor health
  • 2010 Merges with Eastern Massachusetts chapter
1980
Older Women's League starts at the White House Mini Conference on Aging
1982
Shelley Rubin calls formation meeting, 15 people attend; Greater Boston chapter becomes a provisional chapter of the Older Women's League
1983
Greater Boston Chapter adopts its bylaws
2001
General body elects Betty Soldz president
2004
Votes to change Coordinating Committee to Board of Directors; Eastern Massachusetts OWL splits off from Greater Boston chapter
2005
Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Economic Security for Women event; member Ellen Bruce speaks before State Caucus on Older Citizens' Concerns
2009
Betty Soldz resigns due to poor health
2010
Merges with Eastern Massachusetts chapter

Extent

.50 cubic feet (2 containers)

System of Arrangement:

Arranged in one alphabetical sequence.

Physical Location

55/4

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Received from Mary Leno, member of Greater Boston OWL, in October 2010.

Related Archival Materials:

For materials soliciting support from other Boston organizations in the 1980s, consult the Freedom House, Inc. papers (M016), Box 59.

Bibliography

  • Eastern Mass Owl. “Newsletter.” http://massowl.org/Newsletter.html.
  • OWL-The Voice of Women over 40. “History.” OWL National. http://www.owl-natinal.org/pages/history
Title
Finding aid for the Greater Boston Chapter of the Older Women's League Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by Martha Pearson
Date
March 17, 2014
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Snell Library
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115 US