The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) was officially founded in 1977 with approximately 50 members in the Bay area of San Francisco. The first chapter formed in 1979 when a group in Denver became associated with the San Francisco group. The Bay area initially served as national headquarters for the organization as regional groups developed into recognized chapters. The Association, now headquartered at Menlo Park, California, has the following goals: 1) To encourage the participation of women in the geosciences, 2) To exchange technical, professional, and educational information, and 3) To enhance the professional growth and advancement of women in the geosciences.

This collection (1975-[ongoing]) contains records related to the administration of the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG). The records include administrative records, financial records, printed materials, photographs and oversize material that document AWG general operations, meetings, presentations, and chapter activities.

The administrative records include a constitution and by-laws, committee records, meeting minutes and programs, reports, agendas, chapter records and newsletters, correspondence, news clippings. These materials document AWG's projects, activities, and members. The financial records consist of account information, bank statements, grant proposals, invoices, receipts, reports, and tax records.

The printed materials consist mostly of publications which contain information on educational and career opportunities, resources for women in the geosciences, articles and clippings on feminism, discriminations, sexual harassment, and career profiles. Copies of the AWG's newsletter, Gaea, are also included along with materials from related organizations.

The collection also contains photographs and oversize materials related to AWG. The photographs include color slides, color prints (and Polaroids), black and white prints, and contact sheets. The slides are part of a 1978 presentation on careers while the prints document meetings, AWG officers, and award recipients. The oversize materials consist of posters, transparencies, photographs, and other documents.

The collection is organized into five series:

• Series 1, Administrative Records, 1975-2008, undated
• Series 2, Financial Records, 1977-2006, undated (chronological)
• Series 3, Printed Materials, 1976-2008, undated (alphabetical)
• Series 4, Photographs, 1978-1998, undated (chronological)
• Series 5, Oversize Materials, 1982-1994, undated (chronological)