The Canadian Women’s Movement Archives is a collection of personal papers, buttons, flyers, and other materials representing the second-wave feminist movement that began in the 1960s. It brings together a registry of over 282 descriptions of artifacts held by 59 archival institutions across Canada. Thanks to support from generous donors, the University of Ottawa Library has hired a storyteller to offer a glimpse into the stories hidden within.
Michelle Lalonde, a uOttawa alumna and Montreal Gazette journalist, was delighted to take on the role.
“This history hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves,” says Lalonde.
Lalonde has written three stories, including one on grassroots nature of the Women’s Movement. She spent a lot of time reading and consulting the database, which she says is accessible and well-designed.
“What struck me the most is that we have these ideas about feminism in the last century […] We think of prominent white middle-class women, but the movement was so much more diverse than that. And there were so many struggles within the struggle, women who were trying to focus on intersectional issues.”
While writing her stories, Lalonde spoke to several women who devoted their lives to the feminist cause. “They were all working on so many fronts, towards progress. It’s so impressive […] What also struck me was the incredible networking abilities of these women. In an age where there wasn’t the networking technology that we have now […] To see the work and labour involved, they were writing letters and putting up pamphlets, organizing marches, all those labour-intensive ways to bring people together. They were so connected! These women really knew how to create networks and to make them work together towards change. It’s so inspiring!”
Working on her second story, about women in non-traditional career paths, Lalonde had the opportunity to speak with Monique Frize, the first woman to graduate with an engineering degree from the University of Ottawa. Frize shared a lot of wisdom that is applicable to young women now. “It’s so important to hear what these women, who were pioneers, have to say. Although the context is different, there are still obstacles for women in science and tech.”
Her third story is about motherhood.
Sarah Simpkin, who heads research support for the arts and special collections at the Library, said that Lalonde’s stories evoke an inter-generational dialogue.
“They weave together narratives of the movement from the past to the present day.”
In 2019, uOttawa Library received a $1 million donation from the Honourable Nancy Ruth and an anonymous donor.
“This important donation allowed us to hire an archivist and a digital archivist to process materials related to the collection, develop our digital preservation workflows, and extend the outreach of the Women’s Archives collection,” said Simpkin.
October is the 30th anniversary of Women’s History Month in Canada and this year’s theme is She Did, So Now I Can. What an ideal time to uncover stories from this remarkable Women’s Archives collection!