Joan Acker faculty papers

Collection

Identifier: UA 236

Abstract

Joan Acker was an American sociologist, researcher, writer, and educator. Acker is considered one of the leading analysts regarding gender and class within the second wave of feminism. Her papers contain work files, conference material, diaries, undergraduate and graduate work, press, honors and awards, and books.

Dates

1943-2010

Creator

Acker, Joan (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Joan Acker was an American sociologist, researcher, writer, and educator. She was a part of the University of Oregon faculty from 1967 until her death in 2016. Acker is considered one of the leading analysts regarding gender and class within the second wave of feminism Acker was born in Illinois in 1924. She received a bachelor’s degree from Hunters University before obtaining her Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago. Acker continued her education with a PhD in sociology at the University of Oregon before joining the UO as a faculty member in 1967 in the department of sociology. Acker is best known for her work in “transforming women’s studies on campus, her pioneering scholastic work on gender and class, and her ardent activism to change the political, economic and academic landscape for her gender.” Acker also developed numerous courses that looked closely at gender and also worked to “establish UO’s Center for the Study of Women in Society, which she directed from 1973 until 1986.” Throughout her career Acker also wrote and published many notable works which include Doing Comparable Worth: Gender, Class, and Pay Equity (1988); Class Questions: Feminist Answers (2006); and Stretched Thin: Poor Families, Welfare Work, and Welfare Reform (2010), which she coauthored with Sandra Morgen and Jill Weigt.

Sources

Halnon, Emily. “Memorial Set for Revolutionary UO Sociology Professor Joan Acker.” Around the O, 19 July 2016, around.uoregon.edu/content/memorial-set-revolutionary-uo-sociology-professor-joan-acker.

“In Memory of Joan Acker: 1924 – 2016.” Center for the Study of Women in Society (CSWS), 17 Aug. 2016, csws.uoregon.edu/memory-joan-acker-1924-2016/.

Extent

12.5 linear feet (9 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series:

Series I: Work files, 1962-2008 Series II: Conference materials, 1986-2009 Series III:Diaries, 1980-2002 Series IV:Undergraduate and graduate work, 1943-1967 Series V: Press,1981-2006 Series VI: Honors and awards,1989-2009 Series VII: Books, 1989-2010

Physical Description

7 record storage boxes and 2 small flat boxes.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Anna Fleming, 2017.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.