Descriptive Summary
Ellen Rosser Smith papers
1972-1978
1972-1975
MSS 1986/03
Smith, Ellen Rosser
2.5 linear feet
(2 record cartons)
California State University, Sacramento. Library. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.
Ellen Rosser Smith served on the faculty at California State University, Sacramento in the English Department, College of Arts and Letters. She was involved in developing the Women's Studies Program at California State university, Sacramento. She also was active in the Women's Caucus, the United Professors of California, and both California State University, Sacramento and California State University Affirmative Action Committees.
Some of the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Preferred Citation
Ellen Rosser Smith papers, MSS 1986/03. Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.
Acquisition Information
The Ellen Rosser Smith papers were given to the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives by Ellen Rosser Smith in 1987.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Alternative Forms of Material Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Appraisal
There is no current criteria for records retention.
Custodial History
Ellen Rosser Smith assembled these papers over many years as part of her effort to address discrimination against women and minorities, and to further advance women's studies.
Biography / Administrative History
Ellen Rosser Smith was born in 1936. She received her B.A. and her M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin. She received her PH D from the University of Michigan. Her thesis topic was titled
Yeat's Cultural Touchstone: the period from Dante to Shakespeare. She was an English professor at California State University, Sacramento and was also involved in the women's movement. She published volumes of collected poetry, printing the material of her own press. Random Collective, printed in 1974 and Hard Pressed, published in 1975 are two such collections. She called her press Ellen's Old Alchemical Press.
After retirement in 1986, she has been active in the antiwar movement against involvement in the Middle East. She has also taught at the Pierian Springs Academy, a senior learning facility, located in Sarasota, Florida. Her most recent course listing is
Islam and The History of the Middle East in the 20th Century.
Scope and Content of Collection
Ellen Rosser Smith was an English professor at California State University, Sacramento. She was also involved in developing the Women's Studies Program at the University as well as being active in the Women's Caucus, the United Professors of California, and both the University's and UPC's Affirmative Action Committee. The collection includes material used in teaching and material that relates to her activities in the women's movement. Of special interest are the papers that disucss discrimination against women and minorities in the California University system.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Affirmative action programs--California.
California State University, Sacramento. College of Arts and Letters
California State University, Sacramento. English Dept.
Women's studies.
Series I: Teaching Materials
Arrangement note
Included are class handouts and several folders of mimeographed pages of women's poetry divided by country. Also included are class syllabus from fellow professors Joan Moon, Judy Rosenthal, and Mary Mackey. Folder 1:7 includes poems written by Mary Mackey. Folder 1:22 - 1:26 contain papers that appear to be class papers on women in science. Folder 1:1 has a Women's Studies Newsletter that contains a history of the early years of the Women's Studies Program at California State University, Sacramento.
Women's Studies Program - Position Paper,
1
1
Fall 92 to start program
Women's Caucus - Women's Studies,
1
2
1974
Course Syllabus and Exams - Women's Studies classes,
1
3
n.d.
Course Handouts,
1
4
n.d.
Mary Mackey English 158,
1
5
n.d.
Student Papers Mary Mackey English 30,
1
6
n.d.
Poems by Mary Mackey English 30,
1
7
n.d.
Joan Moon Syllabus - History 132,
1
8
1977
Dr. Judy Rosenthal - Syllabus - Eng. 169T and 150T,
1
9
1972
Anti-War Poems by Women,
1
10
n.d.
Black Women Poets,
1
11
n.d.
British Women Poets,
1
12
n.d.
Chinese Women Poets,
1
13
n.d.
French Women Poets,
1
14
n.d.
Japanese Women Poets,
1
15
n.d.
Russian Women Poets,
1
16
n.d.
Spanish American Women Poets,
1
17
n.d.
Women Poets (asst.),
1
18
n.d.
Nellie Sachs (Poets),
1
19
n.d.
Sappho,
1
20
n.d.
Mona VanDuyn,
1
21
n.d.
Course Material,
1
22
n.d.
Women In Science - Part I,
1
23
Fall 1972
Women In Science - Part II,
1
24
Fall 1972
Women In Science - Part III,
1
25
Fall 1972
Women In Science - Part IV,
1
26
Fall 1972
Bibliographies,
1
27
n.d.
Papers, Essays, Articles, Various Authors,
1
28
n.d.
Women Trade Unions,
1
29
1973
OPEU General Strike,
1
30
1977
Material on Women/Tutorial Program,
1
31
1972
Essay: "Feminism and Literature" by Florence Howe,
1
32
1972
Essay: "The Status of Women in the Historical Profession in the Western States" by Dorothy A. Sexter,
1
33
n.d.
Survey UC Berkeley,
1
34
UPC Women's Caucus,
1
35
n.d.
Status of Women at CSU San Diego,
1
36
n.d.
Hearing - Joint Committee on Legal Equality,
1
37
1973
Grievance Procedures,
1
38
1973
Affirmative Action Report,
1
39
1974
California State University and Colleges - Affirmative Action Plans,
1
40
1974
University Affirmative Action Committee,
1
41
n.d.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
1
42
n.d.
UPC Advocate,
1
43
1974-1975
Poetry Collection Photocopies,
1
44
n.d.
Authors and Publishing,
1
45
n.d.
Miscellaneous Notes,
1
46
n.d.
Union documents,
1
47
n.d.
Public Law 92-318,
1972
Series II: Women's Studies, Discrimination, and Affirmative Action
Arrangement note
This series contains material demonstrating Ellen Rosser Smith's involvement with the United Professors of California, the Women Caucus, and the California State University Affirmative Action Committee. Included are questionnaires filed out by many professors, statistics gathered from several campuses in the California college system, and copies of grievances and lawsuits, many alleging that women and minorities were refused tenure on the basis of sex and ethnic discrimination.
UPC Questionnaire on Discrimination,
2
1
n.d.
Discrimination / Grievances,
2
2
n.d.
Conditions Governing Access note
Restriction.
Affirmative Action Committee / Minutes,
2
3
Jan - May 1972
Affirmative Action Committee / Minutes,
2
4
1972-1978
University Affirmative Action Committee / Memos,
2
5
1973-1979
Conditions Governing Access note
Restriction.
Memo to James Meyer (Chancellor) UC Davis,
2
6
1974
Class Action / UPC Affirmative Action Committee,
2
7
1975
Affirmative Action Committee,
2
8
n.d.
UPC / Memos Bud Hutchinson,
2
9
1973-1974
Affirmative Action / Lloyd Johnson,
2
10
May - July 1978
CSUC Statement on Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action,
2
11
1973-1974
UPC Women's Caucus,
2
12
1973
UPC Women's Caucus / Survey,
2
13
n.d.
Report on Affirmative Action CSUC,
2
14
1975
Articles for agreement CFA,
2
15
1973
UPC Affirmative Action Workshop,
2
16
circa 1974
UPC - Officers,
2
17
1974-1975
UPC Affirmative Action,
2
18
n.d.
Complaints / Fair Employee Practices,
2
19
1975
EEO Higher Education Staff Information,
2
20
1976
Status of Faculty in CSUC,
2
21
n.d.
Faculty Affairs Subcommittee on Grievance Procedures,
2
22
1971-1972
UPC / AFC Grievance Workshop,
2
23
1973
Liberal Studies Major,
2
24
1974
Apprise / newsletter,
2
25
1974-1975
UPC Women in Education - A Resource Notebook,
2
26
1972
Academic Senate Report / Women in CSUC,
2
27
1972
Affirmative Action Program / Stanislaus,
2
28
1972-1973
Employment Survey CSUC,
2
29
1973
Women in the Curriculum Project,
2
30
1973-1974
Preliminary Analysis Class Action,
2
31
1974
Report on Discrimination CSUS,
2
32
n.d.
Affirmative Action Plans / CSUS Departments,
2
33
1972-1973
CFT Standards - Update,
2
34
1975
Faculty Statistics Rank and Tenure CSUS,
2
35
1972
Affirmative Action Program - Other CSUs,
2
36
1972-1974
Class Action Lawsuit
2
37
1972-1974
Discrimination Lawsuit / Berkeley,
2
38
1972
Grievance / Merit Pay,
2
39
1972-1974
Conditions Governing Access note
Restriction.
UPC Meetings / Workshops,
2
40
1972-1975
EEO Report - California State College Sonoma,
2
41
1975