OXFORD, Miss. – A special event Thursday (Nov. 1) at the
University of Mississippi marks the opening of the Sarah
Isom Center for Women Collection in the John D. Williams
Library.
The announcement is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the library’s
Department of Archives and Special Collections on the third
floor. A sampling of material from the collection is to be
available for viewing and refreshments are to be served. A
reception follows in the Farrington Gallery of Bryant
Hall.
“We are delighted to announce the opening of the Sarah Isom
Center for Women Collection, archived by the award-winning
Jennifer Ford,” said Mary Carruth, Isom Center director.
“Our center is forward-thinking but not without honoring
our past, a retrospection that inspires our continued
momentum.
“On this occasion, we will especially remember the
contributions of our founding director Jan Hawks, whose
papers compose much of the archive.”
The collection contains administrative paperwork and
personal subject files gathered by the center, which was
established at the university in 1981 to address the
changing roles and expectations of women students, faculty
and staff.
“By Nov. 1, the collection will be processed and ready for
patron use,” said Jennifer Ford, director of archives and
special collections. “The material encompasses a wide
variety of topics relating to issues affecting women and
includes profiles of prominent women who have enlightened
and improved the lives of others.”
The Isom Center performs both academic and service
functions. It coordinates UM’s minor in gender studies and
promotes research and scholarship about women and gender by
developing a multidisciplinary program of study that helps
students appreciate the special concerns, contributions and
perspectives of women. It also is committed to reaching out
to the community through a variety of programs and
services.
The event and reception opening the collection are
co-sponsored by the Isom Center, Archives and Special
Collections, and Office of the Vice Chancellor for
University Relations.
For more information or assistance related to a disability,
call 662-915-5916. To learn more about the Isom Center,
visit