The University of Hawai‘i Commission on the Status of Women Collection has been organized into seven series: The Commission on the Status of Women Administrative Records, General Correspondence, Legislative Information on Legal Rights, General Research on Women in Specific Academic Disciplines, Universities within the US - Sex Bias in Education, Questionnaires, and Statistical Data - Computer Printout. The the inclusive date range is 1960-1973 but the bulk dates are 1970-1973.

The “Commission on the Status of Women Administrative Records” series documents the administrative functions of the commission. The series is comprised of annual reports, memos from people within the committee, records on establishment of group and membership, documents specific to the Mānoa campus, Mānoa faculty senate, minutes and the state commission. The bulk dates are 1970-1973.

The series “General Correspondence” contains communication between the U.H. Commission on the Status of Women and strategic people in their endeavors towards equal rights for women. There is correspondence with Joan Abramson, an English instructor at U.H.. She had filed a complaint against the heads of her department for their inability to grant her a higher position. There are other materials within the series such as the American Association of University Professors, Policy Documents and Reports that was prepared for Joan Abramson.

The “Legislative Information on Legal Rights” series illustrates the legal framework in which the Commission on the Status of Women implemented research in regards to women’s equal rights within the university system and places of employment. There are issues such as supported childcare, sex discrimination cases, U.H. Equal Employment Opportunity Program, and counseling of women. There is also statistics and surveys on women at U.H. Mānoa. The bulk dates are 1970-1973.

The “Universities within the US - Sex Bias in Education” series has diverse material on the subject of sex bias practices and procedures taken by other universities throughout the United States to combat discrimination felt in higher education. There are reports, newspaper clippings, statistical information, correspondence, bulletins, and conference schedules that comprise the changes taking place in major universities during this time period. The bulk dates are 1970-1973

The series “General Research on Women in Specific Academic Disciplines” has material on women in Academic Disciplines. There are newsletters, memos, pamphlets, correspondence produced by women within specific disciplines. It is organized by alphabetical order by field of study. There are instances where statistical information collected from 1960-1969 is evident, although the bulk dates is consistent with majority of the collection, ranging from 1970-1973.

The two series “Questionnaires” and “Statistical Data - Computer Printout” are statistical information that is derived from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The “Questionnaires” series is comprised of a survey based on women and men’s positions within units and departments on campus. While the “Statistical Data - Computer Printout” series is a report, produced on November 9th, 1972, of data relating to salary and degree in a side by side comparison using gender for employees in the U.H. System.

The material is largely in good condition. Letters were removed from their envelopes. Old paper clips, staples, and non preservation material were removed and replaced with archival quality paper clips and or acid-free paper. Newspaper clippings were highly acidic; many were photocopied for retention and the originals discarded.