Audiovisual collection of the Women's Research & Education Institute, 1986-1998

In 1977, the Women's Research & Education Institute was created as the non-partisan data and research arm of the Congresswomen's Caucus Corporation (Washington, D.C.). The bipartisan Congresswomen's Caucus joined together the 20 women serving in the U.S. Congress in 1977 to become an effective advocate for women's issues and equity. As the research arm of the Congresswomen's Caucus, the Institute gathers and distributes information on the lives of women and provides data that guides impending legislation on the status of women. The Institute facilitates and strengthens the link between legislators, women's research and policy centers, and women's advocacy groups across the country and is a leading source of information on the lives, health, family, workplace, etc., of American women. In 1980, the Institute became an independent nonprofit organization, which continues to provide information, research, and policy analysis to the Congresswomen's Caucus (renamed the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues in 1982) and members of Congress. The Institute also provides information to state and local officials, the media, the public, and other women's advocacy organizations. Among the Institute's continuing projects are the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy, the American Woman book series, Women and the Military, Connecting the Dots...Women, Religion, and Public Policy, Crossing Boarders, Women Writing Africa, Women's Health, and the American Woman Award. In addition, the Institute continues to provide ongoing research reports and briefing sheets and sponsors conferences, discussion groups, and other research projects that help inform and shape the public policy debate on women's issues.