Great news for all researchers and teachers working on topics of gender, identity, and social change from the 18th century until today: We licensed the “Gender: Identity and Social Change” database, provided by Adam Matthew, for you. Since it is a national license for Germany, you will be able to access it from your university’s network or via the database information system (DBIS) provided by your library. Independent scholars or scholarly-minded people without an affiliation can register for access to nation-wide licenses with the DFG (German Research Council) when they permanently reside in Germany.
The “Gender: Identity and Social Change” database is an excellent collection of primary sources for the study of women and their life realities starting in the 18th century and throughout the 19th and 20th century. Clustered according to thematic areas such as Women’s Suffrage, understandings of the body, historical views on leisure and entertainment, or the men’s movement, the database provides excellent primary resources from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Thus, it will serve all members of our diverse research community.
Search the collections now!
Highlights from the collections include
The Munby Papers, which consist of writings both by Arthur Munby and his wife Hannah Cullwick
Letters of readers of The Feminine Mystique to the author Betty Friedan
Materials on the Suffrage Movement in New Zealand
Papers of the evolution of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs in Canada
Materials about the status and treatment of African American women in the US (1968-2004); including the pamphlet of the Combahee River Collective
Issues of the periodical The British Workwoman (1864-1987)
A very helpful function of the database is its Chronology tool with which yoou can trace and visualize historical developments and events. It is a timeline that lists historical events, court decisions, and publication dates according to thematic areas, thus enabling you to gain a cohesive or comparative overview of your research interests. You can also create your own list of materials and make it fit your specific analytical needs.
The database, so far, has sourced materials from the following institutions:
- The Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Trinity College, Cambridge
- Michigan State University Libraries
- Hagley Museum and Library
- Bryn Mawr College
- The John Rylands Library, University of Manchester
- Mary Evans Picture Library
- Glenbow
- The University of Melbourne
Enjoy exploring!
If you would like to make a request for future databases, fill out this form and let us know.
