Lisa Diehl, Advocate, Papers
Collection
Collection Number: A&M 4510
This collection includes materials collected and created by Lisa Deihl throughout her career in advocacy and the trades. Prominent topics include women’s economic independence, women in the trades, and women’s equality. Materials include calendars, correspondence, magazines, newsletters, newspaper clippings, notes, pamphlets, photographs, programs, and publications.
Folder 3b in box 1 is restricted until 2074 due to the presence of personnel records.
Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.
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.
Lisa Diehl is best known for her advocacy for women in the trades and for women’s financial independence. Starting out as a carpenter apprentice for the United Brother of Carpenters and Joiners of America in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1977, Diehl was an active organizer for Kansas City Tradeswomen, before moving on to work with West Virginia Citizen Action, a non-profit policy advocacy group based in Charleston, in 1983. By 1985, Diehl began working for Women and Employment, also based in Charleston, West Virginia. During this time, she co-chaired the Second National Tradeswomen Conference held in Chicago, Illinois in 1989. Sometime between 1990 and 1995, Women and Employment was renamed to the Center for Economic Options.
In 2000, Diehl founded West Virginia Women Work (WVWW), a nonprofit organization aimed to help West Virginian women find employment in the trades. Between 2010 and her retirement in 2021, she worked as a regional coordinator for West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. As of 2025, Diehl remains on the board of WVWW.
Throughout her career, Diehl has been a board member of a variety of organizations, including the National Network of Forest Practitioners and Good News Mountaineer Garage.
0.92 Linear Feet (2 document cases, 5 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 1 in. )
English
Lisa Diehl is best known for her advocacy for women in the trades and for women’s financial independence. This collection includes materials collected and created by Lisa Diehl throughout her career in advocacy and the trades, particularly through her work with Women and Employment, Center for Economic Options, and West Virginia Women Work.
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/
Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository