Series of exhibits kick off AAUW State College’s centennial year
In honor of the State College AAUW’s centennial celebration, various exhibits throughout Centre County will be on display over the coming months to highlight the pivotal role the branch has played in bringing educational, economic, cultural enrichment and improved quality-of-life opportunities to the community.
“Archives Roadshow” exhibit locations include the Penn State main campus, the Centre Furnace Mansion and more.
Founded in 1881, the American Association of University Women is a nationwide grassroots organization of about 180,000 members, 1,500 branches and 500 college and university partners. The AAUW’s mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
The State College branch of AAUW was founded in 1916 and has approximately 155 members who continually seek ways to work toward improving the lives of all women.
AAUW State College members developed the exhibits as a way to bring the group’s history alive — especially for people who are not familiar with what AAUW does — and to show the impact that it has had on the community.
We found it ... really inspiring to see how these women found their voice.
AAUW State College Centennial co-chair
“In going through our 100-year archive, we found it not only very interesting but also really inspiring to see how these women found their voice and became advocates in advancing equity for women and girls — and we think that’s still relevant today,” said Connie Schroeder, co-chair of the AAUW State College Centennial.
The exhibits comprise primarily photos, several which date back to the organization’s very beginning.
“Until we had an opportunity to really explore the archive, we hadn’t realized the extent to which we worked with Penn State to bring advances for women students, like athletic fields for them, and restrooms for women in public buildings,” Schroeder said. “We also found the roots for our community grants program in ventures such as the nursery school we established in 1945 for working mothers. And there was much more!”
Schroeder believes the exhibits will bring the group and its message to countless new individuals, and especially to younger audiences, whose curiosity they hope to spark.
“Having exhibits on campus in the student union building and the library are really wonderful opportunities to do this,” she said. “We need the next generations to help move our agenda forward.”
In addition to the exhibits, AAUW State College will celebrate its centennnial anniversary with an Archives Roadshow program at the Nittany Lion Inn on Feb. 14.
Archives Roadshow exhibits
Through Jan. 29, Centre County Pennsylvania Room and Historical Society, 203 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte
Through March 31, Pattee-Paterno Library, University Park
Through Oct. 31, Centre Furnace Mansion, 1001 E. College Ave., State College
Jan. 16-March 2, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park
March 14-May 17, Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S. Allen St., State College
March 15-April 30, Happy Valley Optical, 208 S. Allen St., State College
This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Series of exhibits kick off AAUW State College’s centennial year."