International
Federation For Research in Women's History
Federation Internationale Pour La Recherche En Histoire Des Femmes
Berkshire conference, Rochester, New York, 5 June 1999
Present: Patricia Grimshaw (president), Nancy Hewitt (vice-president), Lynn Abrams (secretary-treasurer), Francisca de Haan, Franca Iacovetta (board members),
Representatives of national committees of: USA (June Hahner), Canada (Ruth Pierson), New Zealand (Charlotte Macdonald), Japan (Noriyo Hayakawa), Switzerland (Catherine Bosshart), Sweden (Christina Florin).
Attending: Karen Offen, Nupur Chaudhuri, Sylvia van Kirk, Alison Mackinnon, Christina Spaeti
1. Federation Business
Pat Grimshaw reported on the work of the IFRWH and she was congratulated for organising such a successful conference in Melbourne in 1998.
2. Finance
Lynn Abrams reported on the current financial situation. The IFRWH account contains £2111.12 @ end May 1999. It was reported that expenditure (on affiliation to the CISH and the cost of producing and mailing newsletters) exceeded annual income (at present consisting only of national committee dues). Few National Committees contribute and only one had contributed more than the minimum. It was suggested that we might organise an 'Adopt a Sister' system whereby the richer National Committees would pay the dues of the smaller National Committees. Board members noted that they would like to be able to have the finances to promote international women's history, for example, by helping with travel costs of keynote speakers at IFRWH conferences or by supporting a book prize.
3. Oslo: 2000
Nancy Hewitt reported that she had received 200 enquiries, 125 paper proposals. Owing to the limited time and space available at the Oslo venue (one and a half days - 11-12 August, one room) 25 papers had so far been selected representing 16 countries. A provisional programme was circulated.
4. Report of the Search Committee
A committee consisting of Franca Iacovetta, Christina Florin and Charlotte Macdonald had been working to solicit nominations for the new IFRWH board and committee commencing 2000. They have identified a number of candidates and will report in a forthcoming Newsletter. It was agreed that the post of Secretary-treasurer and Newsletter producer might be split to allow the secretary to focus on membership matters. It was noted that the incoming president was responsible for ensuring that an interim conference takes place.
5. Future Developments
Those present discussed possible locations for the next interim conference - Britain/Ireland was raised as a desirable location for 2002/3.
It was agreed that a sub-committee would be established to look into the feasibility of establishing an IFRWH Book Prize.