American Association of University Women Pequannock Township Branch Records

The records of the AAUW Pequannock Township Branch date from 1967 (the year preceding the branch's founding) to 1983. The documentation is spread rather evenly throughout this time period, though there appears to be a slight concentration of material from 1976.

The types of records included are minutes, by-laws and policies, correspondence and general materials relating to specific committees and study-groups. There is also one example of a yearbook (1975/76) which lists members, officers and committees and study groups. While there is mention in the minutes each year of branch newsletters, there are no examples of them in the records.

The collection represents the Pequannock Township Branch's involvement in issues of education and women's role in society. The records from this period show that the association and branch lobbied hard for amendments requiring tougher standards in New Jersey schools, and that they were active supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment. The branch also dealt with community issues such as pollution, welfare and the penal system. The primary goal of the organization is to promote higher education, especially for women: this includes providing funds for scholarship awards and loans for women of any age. There are two types of scholarships provided: one is used to pay for a student's books, the other for a student's tuition.

There is no separate constitution for the AAUW local branch; instead, the branch's constitution is adopted directly from the state division's constitution. Correspondence between the state division and branch relating to the election of state AAUW officers, the raising of dues by the state division and the involvement of branches in state programs and activities is also in the collection.