Women's Information Center Records
Collection
Collection Number: A&M 3635
This collection contains the records of the Women’s Information Center (WIC), which was in operation from 1970 to 2002. It mostly contains operational records beginning from their time as an incorporated organization in 1977 and extends to 1993. There are also reference materials used by the WIC. Prominent topics include abortion, displaced homemakers, and reproductive rights. Materials include agendas, correspondence, flyers, minutes, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and notes.
Materials in box 2, folders 7-9 are restricted for 75 years after the latest date of creation due to the presence of student works. Materials may begin to be accessed in 2035.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
The Women’s Information Service (WIC) was born out of a group of West Virginia University (WVU) campus and community women who organized an abortion referral agency called the “Abortion Referral and Women’s Information Center” in 1970. By 1971, the group was brought under the sponsorship of the Bennett House, WVU’s ecumenical campus ministry center located in the Walters House at 221 Wiley Street, and shortened its name to the “Women’s Information Center.” Under the advisory of United Methodist campus minister Reba Thurmond, and with a loose affiliation with the University Christian Council (UCC), who loaned them space in the Walters House, the WIC focused on pregnancy counseling, pregnancy testing, sex education, and the implementation of programs related to women’s concerns and women’s movements.
One of the earliest projects of the group was the creation of the Rape Information Service (now the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center) in collaboration with other women’s groups in the area. In 1976, tensions arose between the UCC and the Trinity Episcopal Church of Morgantown, which owned the Walters House, leading to a non-renewal of the lease to the UCC in 1980. The Bennett House, including the WIC, relocated to the P.E.E.C.H. Building at 305 Willey Street. In 1977, the WIC was officially incorporated as a non-profit. The UCC, Bennett, House, and WIC relocated once again, this time to the Rogers House at 193 Willey Street in 1984. The organization was active until at least 1993 and voluntarily dissolved in 2002.
0.51 Linear Feet (1 document case, 5 in.; 2 document cases, 2.5 in. each; 1 oversized folder, 0.1 in. )
English
Records of the Women's Information Center of Morgantown, West Virginia. Includes correspondence, minutes, reports, newsletters, clippings, and other material.
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Gift of Thurmond, Reba, 2008 August 01
Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository