Traveling Exhibit Information Packet
Petticoats and Slide Rules: SWE, A History of Women Engineers Exhibit Credits: Curated by Troy Eller Designed and fabricated by Kathryn Dowgiewicz Special thanks to Lauren Kata and Anne Perusek This exhibit is the custodial property of the Society of Women Engineers. It is administered by the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University. The information in this packet includes: Exhibit description Exhibit dimensions Rental Fees and Conditions Suggested Activities Exhibit Loan Agreement
Exhibit Description: Women engineers have participated in the engineering profession, and have shaped the development of American technology for over one hundred years. From a handful of women engineering graduates in the early 1900s, to thousands of working engineers in the 21st century, women have shown that petticoats and slide rules go hand-in-hand. Petticoats and Slide Rules highlights the history of women engineers evolving roles in American society and in the engineering profession. It also walks through the development of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the first American national engineering society dedicated to promoting women. This exhibit celebrates women in engineering, their struggles for equal rights, and their mission to introduce young women to a rewarding career. The display offers a wonderful visual opportunity to celebrate Women s History Month, National Engineers Week, a SWE section anniversary, or related event. The 18 panels in Petticoats and Slide Rules include images primarily from SWE s archival collections, which are preserved and maintained at the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. Using photographs, letters, clippings, and other artifacts this exhibit charts the struggles and progress of women engineers in a male-dominated profession.
Exhibit Panels: Title, Introduction, and Conclusion panels Pioneers and Trailblazers Early Efforts to Organize Wartime Women Engineers Organizing at Last SWE: A United Voice for Women Engineers Beauty & Brains: Women Engineers in the Media Engineering the Future: Career Guidance International Women Engineers Taking a Seat at the Table Blueprints for Success Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity Expanding Engineering Boundaries Reaching a Younger Audience A Stronger Voice in Public Policy Honoring Women Engineers Exhibit Dimensions: 18 framed panels Each panel is 29 x 41 Running linear feet: 40-50 Panels may be hung or grouped together on tables
Exhibit Rental Includes: Exhibit: 18 framed panels and necessary installation hardware DVD: 1-hour film with clips from the Profiles of SWE Pioneers Oral History Project Publicity Packet: sample press release, media advisory, exhibit opening invitation, and postcards Exhibit binder: packing and installation instructions, content checklist, and information on restrictions, security, and environmental control Activity suggestions: ideas for families, communities, and classrooms
Rental Fee: $500 for a 12-week exhibition period, plus shipping costs Exhibit ships in 4 art portfolio cases, weighing 35 pounds each and measuring 44 x 36 x 5 in size Standard shipping via common carrier ranges from $250 - $500 depending on zip code Rental Period: 3-6 months, excluding one week to unpack and install exhibit and one week to pack and ship exhibit Minimum rental period of 3 months (12 weeks) is required Rental fee for extended rental period will be prorated Cancellations: In the event of a cancellation, host institutions are obligated to pay the entire exhibition rental fee and any other costs (shipping, storing, etc.) arising out of the cancellation, unless a replacement booking is arranged for the reserved rental period.
Suggested activities: Grandma is an Engineer: invite retired women engineers to lead live discussions about their engineering experiences. Contact local sections of SWE to find participants. Engineering Show and Tell: invite women engineers to show an item they have helped produce and tell what part of it is produced through engineering Betty, Girl Engineer: locate a copy of the episode Betty, Girl Engineer from the television show Father Knows Best (Season 2, Episode 30, original airdate April 11, 1956). Host a viewing party and discuss society s view of women engineers in the 1950s. Invite local school counselors to discuss the role of adult influencers in girls career development Cheaper by the Dozen: host a screening of Cheaper by the Dozen. Following the movie, lead a discussion about how engineering improves everyday life Essay Contest: sponsor a student essay contest on the history of women in science and engineering Engineering Tour: sponsor a collaborative tour with a local engineering company or department Take Apart A Toaster Day: hold an engineering workshop for young girls to introduce them to engineering principles. Workshop activity ideas can be found online at http://aspire.swe.org
For additional information: SWE Archivist Walter P. Reuther Library Wayne State University 5401 Cass Ave. Detroit, MI 48202 313.577.2863 swearchives@wayne.edu About SWE: The Society of Women Engineers, founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders. For more information visit www.swe.org About the Reuther Library: The Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University is the largest labor archive in North America. It holds more than 2000 collections related to such topics as union history and working class organizations, African Americans and women in the labor movement, as well as radical, social and political reform movements. Collections also focus on the history of twentieth century Detroit, particularly regarding social welfare, health care, politics, civil rights, women s rights and social communities. For more information visit www.reuther.wayne.edu
Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs - University Archives 5401 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48202 (313) 577-4024 FAX: (313) 577-4300 EXHIBIT LOAN AGREEMENT The exhibit Petticoats and Slide Rules: SWE, A History of Women Engineers is the custodial property of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and is administered by and according to the policies and conditions of the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. All loans are subject to the attached conditions. Please sign and return the original of this agreement to the Walter P. Reuther Library. LENGTH OF LOAN First Day of Loan Last Day of Loan I agree, on behalf of the host institution, to accept this exhibit Petticoats and Slide Rules according to the terms attached to this agreement, and to return the exhibit to the Walter P. Reuther Library (or next host institution) on or before the specified date, as negotiated between the host institution and the Walter P. Reuther Library. Borrower: Borrower s signature Date Borrower s name (please print) Borrowing Institution: Name Street Address City State ZIP Loan Authorized By: Reuther Library representative Date Representative s name (please print) Rev. 8/30/2010 Page 1 of 2
Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs - University Archives 5401 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48202 (313) 577-4024 FAX: (313) 577-4300 CONDITIONS OF EXHIBIT LOAN Exhibit loans and/or rentals from the Walter P. Reuther Library are made subject to the borrower s agreement to the following conditions: 1. Borrower agrees to pay for shipping the exhibit to borrower s host institution. 2. The exhibit becomes the responsibility of the host institution. For the period of the loan, borrower agrees to store, use and display the loaned exhibit in a safe and proper manner, and to exercise reasonable care in so doing. 3. The borrower will maintain constant and adequate protection from the hazards of fire, insects, dirt, theft and mishandling by unauthorized or inexperienced persons or the public. 4. Borrower hereby agrees to be solely responsible and liable for the acts, omissions and/or negligence of its own agents, employees and assigns, and for any injury or damage to persons or property caused thereby, resulting from the transportation, storage, use or display of the loaned exhibit by the borrower. 5. It is agreed that the exhibit on loan will be identified as the property of the lender (i.e., credit panel must be displayed). 6. The host institution may photograph or reproduce portions of the exhibit on loan for educational, catalog and publicity purposes, but may not be used for sale. A copy of any brochure, catalogs or promotional material for the exhibit will be provided to the Reuther Library to verify proper crediting. 7. The exhibit and exhibit materials must be returned in the same condition they were received. They are not to be cleaned, repaired, retouched or altered in any way, unless a Reuther Library representative gives consent in writing. Any work so performed must be documented in writing. 8. If an item is damaged, the Reuther Library must be informed at once, followed by a written report. Arrangements will then be made for the repair or return of the item, as directed. 9. Packing and transportation methods shall be approved by the Library and are subject to special instructions. Special packing materials in which objects are sent to the borrowing institution such as shipping cases, foam, and containers must be retained and used when panels/objects are re-packed for return (or replaced with mutually agreed upon materials). 10. Borrower agrees to pay for shipping and return the exhibit in its entirety by the specified date. If the exhibit has been loaned to an institution immediately following the end of the host institution s loan period, the host institution is responsible for shipping the exhibit to the next destination, by common carrier, at the cost of the next host institution. 11. In the event of a cancellation, host institutions are obligated to pay the entire exhibition rental fee and any other costs (shipping, storing, etc.) arising out of the cancellation, unless a replacement booking is arranged for the reserved loan period. Rev. 8/30/2010 Page 2 of 2