Preserving Women's History: An Introductory Guide to Preserving the Records of Women's Lives

Cynthia R. Comacchio is an associate professor of history at Wilfrid
Laurier University. She is the author of Nations Are Built of Babies:
Saving Ontario’s Mothers and Children.

Recognizing the simple truth that “[i]f those things that record our
history are not treasured and preserved today, our stories will not be
told tomorrow,” this concise yet comprehensive manual was commissioned
by the Alberta Women’s Archives Association, a community of volunteers
dedicated to preserving the often-obscure records of the history of
women in Canada. In detailing such critical matters as identification,
collection, and preservation of all manner of documents and artifacts,
historian Patricia Myers performs an admirable service for others
interested in pursuing such objectives. In her contextual introduction,
she outlines the development of interest in, and scholarly publications
about, women’s history during the past 30 years. Subsequent chapters,
clearly written and organized and wonderfully illustrated with
photographs from various Alberta archival collections, provide
directions for collecting and storing records ranging from the personal
(diaries and correspondence) through business, state, visual, audio and
digital sources, as well as oral history; donating records to pertinent
archives; and doing research—“finding the women”—in archival
collections. There is also a brief appendix, “Further Sources of
Information,” which lists a selection of Internet sites for archival,
academic, government, and museum associations and institutions;
historical organizations and university courses; and some relevant
published sources. All in all, this guide provides an effective and
encouraging starting point for those interested in understanding and
protecting the lives of ordinary women in Canada’s history.