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Newsletters: File 4, 1981 - 1986

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0271/GCIP CWLA 0/6/4

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

The CWLG newsletters include reports of group meetings and extracts from minutes of meetings from 1973-76; more formal minutes of meetings from 1977 onwards; and monthly programmes of group meetings. There are also some transcripts of taped discussions. The newsletters also contain reports from various other local groups in which members were involved, including: Cambridge Claimants Union, Housewives Register, Gay Women's Group, Cambridge Pregnancy Advisory Group, Women's Aid Refuge, Nursery Action Group, Romsey Women's Group, (East Anglian) Working Women's Charter Group, Education Group and socialist women's groups (the latter appear increasingly from the mid-1970s onwards). [The May 1982 issue includes a full page history and report on Cambridge Women's Aid, operating 2 crisis refuges in Cambridge, the first having opened in October 1977, the second in March 1981.] There are also reports from conferences etc held further afield; on visits to other Women's Liberation centres; and on the women's movement and issues in other countries.
The earlier newsletters in particular are relatively informal and yet very full and candid in nature, including letters from individual members and covering issues such as self-examination, abortion, wages for housework, sex discrimination and equal pay, family allowances etc.
From about 1976, the future of the Eden Street premises is discussed regularly, including rent, ownership, furnishing, rotas etc. By 1981 plans for the new Women's Centre were going ahead: it opened at 49a Burleigh Street in 1982 and provided a base for many other women's groups as well as the CWLG.
The April 1983 issue was the last CWLG newsletter: from October 1983 it becomes the Cambridge Women's Centre Newsletter. Oct / Nov 1986 is the last extant issue. It includes 'Minutes of the meeting held 1.10.86. in the Bathhouse, Gwydir Street, to discuss the future of the Women's Centre'. The various groups which used the centre wanted different things including: a social centre 'to nurture small groups - a small safe place (a feminist cave?!)'; 'a place to campaign for political issues, independently of the Council'; and a centre for information. But 'it was strongly felt that the Women's Centre should not close even temporarily, It should stagger on while alternatives are being worked out - '. The meeting tried to 'analyse the reasons for the present failings of the Centre'.


Dates

  • Creation: 1981 - 1986

Creator

Extent

1 file(s) : Paper

Language of Materials

English

Originator(s)

Cambridge Women's Liberation Group

Finding aid date

2009-06-23 11:57:25+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Girton College Archive Repository

Contact:
The Archivist
Girton College Archive
Huntingdon Road
Cambridge CB3 0JG United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 338897