Women’s History
The history of women in Cleveland and the Western Reserve is documented through over 300 manuscripts and photograph collections that illustrate the contributions of women in the early settlement of the Western Reserve, the roles they played in the development of the region, and their influences on public life. The collections document the lives of professional women, workers, and volunteers in fields as diverse as the law, education, the military, education, philanthropy, religion, and social work. The collections show the contributions of female judges, attorneys, teachers, physicians, nurses, social workers, and homemakers in the Civil Rights Movement, the Equal Rights Movement, and reproductive rights. The collections also document changes in women’s lives as they started their own businesses, were elected to public office, joined professions, and became active in the labor movement. The collections also shed light on changes in home life, marriage, and gender roles in the Western Reserve.