Papers of Leeann Irwin, 1976-2014 (inclusive), 1978-1992 (bulk)
Overview
Peace and anti-nuclear materials including of the Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice from peace activist and feminist Leeann Irwin.
Dates
- Creation: 1976-2014
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1978-1992
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. Copyright in the papers created by Leeann Irwin as well as copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.
Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
.63 linear feet ((1 1/2 file boxes) plus 2 folio+ folders, 1 supersize folder)The papers of Leeann Irwin document peace and anti-nuclear activities and protests. Included are printed materials, such as handbooks, articles, publications, posters, and flyers; notes; and correspondence. The bulk of the collection relates to the Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice (1983-1987). Women's Encampment materials include minutes from regional meetings; printed materials, such as flyers regarding upcoming events and activities; correspondence; notes; draft by-laws; and other writings. Some of the materials provide critical assessments of the camp and members' actions. The collection also contains women's peace posters, including Women's Pentagon Action.
Irwin had loosely sorted some of the Women's Encampment papers in groups by year. The archivist re-sorted this material into titled folders. Additional materials received in 2020 (accession number 2020-M29) were added to the collection in March 2021. These materials are housed in #2.1-2.13, F+D.2). All other files remain in the same order. Folders are listed in intellectual, not numerical, order. Folder titles in quotes were provided by Irwin; other titles were created by the archivist. The collection is arranged alphabetically.
BIOGRAPHY
Peace activist, feminist, and Washington, DC, resident, Leeann Irwin helped organize the Women's Pentagon Action, a peace demonstration in November 1980 where 2,000 women surrounded the Pentagon demanding peace and justice. Irwin was also an early and active participant in the Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice, held outside the Seneca Army Depot at Romulus, New York. The Women's Encampment opened on July 4, 1983 and thrived through the 1980s as a place for women to gather to protest the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe, specifically the Cruise and Pershing II missiles. Irwin had committed to live at the Women's Encampment for a year before it opened and organized a nine-month speaking tour through Europe in 1984 to share the peace work happening in the United States and at the Camp.
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers: 92-M147, 2019-M215. Accession number: 2020-M29 was added in March 2021.
The papers of Leeann Irwin were given to the Schlesinger Library by Leeann Irwin between August 1992 and March 2020.
Processing Information
Processed: February 2020
Updated and additional materials added: March 2021
By: Laura Peimer
The Schlesinger Library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit. Finding aids may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Subject
- Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace & Justice (Organization)
- Author
- Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Language of description
- eng
- Sponsor
- Processing of this collection was made possible by Radcliffe Class of 1956 and the Mary Mitchell Wood Manuscript Processing Fund.
- EAD ID
- sch01718
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.