Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) Records
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Abstract
Founded in 1929 as Theta Sigma Phi, Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) was a professional organization for female communications professionals. After becoming the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) in 1996, the New York chapter separated and became the New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI). WICI had members in a variety of communications disciplines, such as journalism, publishing, public relations, and many more; it aimed to support and empower women in the communications field. The Women in Communications, Inc. Records consist of materials created and collected by WICI and NYWICI from 1918-1985. Materials include membership files, board of directors and executive committee meeting minutes and agendas, Matrix Award programs and photographs, conference programs, event flyers, and event audio and video recordings. All of the materials reflect the organization's mission of supporting women at different career stages and providing professional development opportunities.
Historical Note
In 1929, Theta Sigma Phi, the first female branch of the journalism fraternity, was founded in order to obtain equal pay to the males in the profession. In 1972, the organization was renamed Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI); WICI then became the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) in 1996. In 1998, the New York chapter, which had been very active, separated from the national organization and became New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI). New York Women in Communications is a professional organization for female communications professionals with a mission of supporting women at every career stage, fighting for equal pay, and encouraging women to speak up. WICI had a similar mission, to "keep its members prepared to meet the challenges of the rapidly developing communications profession," as noted in a brochure from 1976. WICI had members in a variety of communications disciplines (which NYWICI continues to have) including journalism, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, integrated marketing, photography, public relations, graphic design, and more. Since 1971, first WICI and now NYWICI, has honored leaders in the industry with the Matrix Award, and each year, the organization awards scholarships and grants to high school seniors, college and graduate students, and women looking for career changes.
Source cited:
NYWICI. "Our History." Accessed July 5, 2023. https://nywici.org/about/history/.
Arrangement
The records have been arranged into six series; the series arrangement is as follows:
I. Administrative Materials
II. Events and Programs
III. Governing Bodies
IV. Matrix Awards
V. Membership
VI. Publications
All of the series are arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
The Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) Records consist of materials created and collected by WICI and NYWICI from 1918-1985. Materials cover the organization's inception as the New York chapter of Theta Sigma Phi and its evolution to the Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) in 1972. Materials in this collection encompass the national organization and the New York chapter prior to the formation of NYWICI as a discrete organization. A majority of the collection, however, focuses on the New York chapter of WICI. Materials include administrative matters (general correspondence and financial documents), events and programs (printed matter and correspondence for luncheons, workshops, and conferences), governing bodies (correspondence and memos, meeting agendas and minutes, and elections of members of the board of directors, executive committee, and other committees), the Matrix Awards (photographs, invitations and programs, correspondence, committee materials, and nominations), membership files (mailings and correspondence), and publications such as newsletters and membership directories. Other chapters, such as Boston and Philadelphia, are represented sparsely. All of the materials reflect the organization's mission of supporting women at different career stages and providing professional development opportunities.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) Records; MC.89; box number; folder number or item identifier; New York University Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials found in collection; provenance is unknown. A deed of gift for this collection was signed in November 2022, by Georgia Galanoudis, President-Elect of the New York Women in Communications Board of Directors.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact New York University Archives, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596, with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
About this Guide
Processing Information
At the time of processing, the collection was arranged and described into series based on the original order and the types of materials. Materials were rehoused in acid-free boxes and folders. Financial materials (bank statements and invoices), duplicate publications and documents, publications available online, and documents with sensitive personal information were removed. Two pins were rehoused.