University of Arizona Business and Professional Women’s Club records

The University of Arizona Business and Professional Women’s Club (UA/BPW) was organized in 1964 becoming a chapter of the Arizona Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (BPW/AZ) and the National Federation of Business Women’s Clubs (BPW/USA). At the club’s founding meeting at the University, President Richard Harvill officially recognized UA/BPW at the University of Arizona campus. The University of Arizona Business and Professional Women’s Club became the first BPW club charted at a college campus by the BPW/USA.

UA/BPW members during the 1960’s and 1970’s were a mix of classified staff and faculty but later were mainly women who worked on campus as classified staff employees ranging from business managers, administrative assistants, etc.. The goals of the organization was to provide networking and support for the women on campus, address legislative and social issues affecting women, and provide scholarships for women. In addition to the commitment of their activities on campus, many members were also active members of other clubs and organizations that supported women issues in society.

Over the years, the club brought many successful events, projects and programs to the campus to help reach their goals. Some of their most notable achievements were sponsoring the Bring Your Boss to Lunch fundraiser (1964-1986); sponsoring approximately 6 annual Women in Management Conferences on campus (1960’s-1970’s); sponsoring yearly film shows on women’s issues on campus for faculty, staff, and students (1990); sponsoring a brown bag lunch series on career related topics (1994-1997); lobbying for Senate Bills 1168 and 1291 (1998-1999); and co-sponsoring pay equity events with NOW and Tucson’s Women’s Commission (1994-2004).