A Guide to the Bexar County Women's Political Caucus Records, 1970-2002

Historical Note

The Bexar County Women's Political Caucus (BCWPC), a multi-partisan organization, is committed to electing greater numbers of women to public office. The Caucus endorses candidates and publicly addresses issues relevant to women in Bexar County and San Antonio. The Caucus networks and cooperates with other women's groups in an effort to improve the status and condition of women. One focus of the BCWPC is the legislative process as an important means for women to gain full participation and equality in society. The Caucus also works to recruit and train qualified women candidates, campaign managers, and workers to raise funds for candidates and encourage voter participation.

The BCWPC formed in 1971, shortly after the forming of the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) and the Texas Women's Political Caucus (TWPC). The BCWPC is affiliated with both groups. The BCWPC (and all levels of the Caucus) recruits a diversified membership and is open to all women and interested men.

In addition to supporting local female candidates, the BCWPC supports women's issues such as adequate and affordable healthcare; the right to reproductive freedom; political, legal and economic equality for women; and protection against spousal abuse or other crimes of violence. They also host conferences, organize political workshops, and hold fundraising events for candidates and for themselves.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection spans the years 1970 through 2002 and reflects the organization's work to educate local voters about women's issues and the candidacy of politicians who share their ideals. The records consist of bylaws, correspondence, financial documents, membership lists, meeting minutes, newsclippings, and scrapbooks related to their efforts to raise money for candidates and programs, educate local voters, and campaign for and promote particular candidates sympathetic to BCWPC's causes. The collection has been organized into five series: Administration, Committees, Events, History, and Officers.

bylaws, biographical information (for some members), correspondence, directories and standing rules can be found in the Administration series. The correspondence (1975-2001) reflects relationships and communication between the BCWPC and other branches of the Women's Political Caucus, local and state organizations, and local newspapers. The correspondence also provides insight into the day to day running of the group through letters between individual members, officers, and committees. Directories (1994-2001) include information about the hierarchy of officers and committees, as well as members and program information about the club year.

The Committees series provides information about the activities of a variety of interest groups committees including Affirmative Action, Equal Rights Amendment, Internal Communications, Political Action Committee, and Public Relations. The most intensely documented committee is the Internal Communications Committee with newsletters published between 1974 and 2002 (an incomplete run with the exception of 1988-1994). The Public Relations committee, is also fairly well documented through press releases (1978-1990) and newsclippings (1976-1996, undated) about BCWPC members, issues, and events.

The Events series provides information about the group's social, educational, and fundraising activities throughout the years. While many of the activities were sponsored by the BCWPC alone, they also participated in events that were co-sponsored with other groups and organizations. The most documented event is the annual Holiday Party and Auction (1978-1994), and includes invitations, financial reports, and silent auction lists. Other sponsored or co-sponsored events of note are a Gloria Steinem visit to San Antonio in the 1970s, the National Women's Political Caucus convention held in San Antonio in 1983, and the various workshops and programs related to local governance/government issues, how to campaign, and the Legislative Brunch. The brunch allows women interested in politics and running for office to network and share ideas.

The History series includes a folder with a several documents that provide information about the history of the BCWPC (1982, 1987, 1993, undated) and provides a bit of background information about its mother caucuses, the Texas Women's Political Caucus and the National Women's Political Caucus. Three scrapbooks (1978-1980, 1981-1982, 1983-1992) reveal the yearly activities of the organization through newsclippings, flyers, photographs, and other documents. These scrapbooks showcase the work, members, and interests of the group.

The Officers series details the responsibilities of the officers of the BCWPC through correspondence, financial information and meeting minutes, and is the richest resource for learning about BCWPC. The President's Books (1993-1999) are notebooks kept by the president that contain information related to their work and activities throughout their year in office. Within the President's Books are agendas and minutes for the Executive Committee, General Membership meetings, and other BCWPC committee meetings; fundraising efforts and event planning by the BCWPC; flyers and invitations for events of interest to the BCWPC at the local, state, and national level; and correspondence between the BCWPC and politicians, various organizations, and other Caucus groups. The many short but informative letters shared between the BCWPC and local, state, and federal politicians (1975-2001) represent political issues important to the BCWPC, their efforts to make politicians aware of their interests, and, in some cases, praise for (or censure of) the politicians' decisions in regard to lawmaking.

Also within the Officers series are materials related to the work of the Vice President for Membership including an extensive run of membership lists (1974-1994, 2001, undated), applications, correspondence, and participation questionnaires. Under the office of the Recorder are minutes and agendas for Executive Committee meetings (1976-2001) and General Membership meetings (1976-1999). Important materials created and kept by the office of Treasurer include Treasurer's reports (1976-1995, 2000-2001) and budgets (1978-1979, 1985-1989, and 1993-1995). This series also includes information about the Scholarship Committee (1st Vice President) and descriptions of yearly programs planned by the Vice President for Programs (1977-1980, 1984-1993, undated).

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Bexar County Women's Political Caucus Records must be obtained from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections or the appropriate copyright holder.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bexar County Women's Political Caucus Records, MS 150, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Received from the Bexar County Women's Political Caucus in 1998, 1999 and 2002 (Acc. 1998-032, 1999-023, 2002-066).

Processing Information

Processed by Traci Drummond, Archivist, January 2007.

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Note to Researchers

According to a letter sent to BCWPC members in 1993, many of the group's records were destroyed in a house fire (no date given), which may account for gaps of information in the collection.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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