This collection includes small amounts of material by and about women dating from the early 19th century to the present. The myriad of organizations represented include women's professional, social, political, charitable, and patriotic organizations, as well as women's rights groups and organizations for consumer advocacy, ethnic and racial equality, community service, civic improvement, social welfare, labor advocacy, war relief, and animal rights. The collection is arranged in two series: NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS and INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. The National Organizations are arranged by country or region, the United States constituting the largest section. Other countries that are prominently represented include Canada, England, Germany, India, Japan, and South Africa. The organizations are primarily national in scope although there are some local organizations documented as well. Types of materials include articles, pamphlets, periodicals, newsletters, reports, minutes, conference proceedings, brochures, leaflets, newspaper clippings, histories, memorabilia, books, fliers, directories, and small amounts of original correspondence, memoranda, unpublished writings, photographs, and six film reels. Some materials are in languages other than English.

U.S. organizations include the American Women's Association, Association for the Advancement of Women, National Consumers League, National Council of Negro Women, Girl Scouts, National Woman's Party, Sigma Delta Epsilon (Graduate Women in Science), and the Women's Educational and Industrial Union. Individuals represented in the collection include Ethel Andrus (American Association of Retired Persons) and Susan Paul Vashon (Missouri Federation of Colored Women). Some of the more obscure organizations found in the collection include the Temporary Asylum for Discharged Female Prisoners (1875); Massachusetts Home for Intemperate Women (1892); and the Women's Patriotic Association for Diminishing The Use of Imported Luxuries (1864).

Some of the organizations that are well-represented under other countries include Black Sash (South Africa), the Young Women's Christian Association (in various countries), Women's Culture Club (Thailand), Lanka Mahila Samiti (Ceylon), Buro fur Frauenfragen (Germany), All Pakistan Women's Association, and the Fawcett Society (England). There is also a series of reports entitled "Derechos Civiles y Politicos de la Mujer" related to women in several South American countries (in Spanish).

SERIES II. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS includes women's organizations and congresses that are international in scope and purpose. Topics include women's rights, peace, professional women networks, economic development, international law, and international cooperation. Organizations include the Associated Country Women of the World, International Federation of University Women, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and the World YWCA. A large section documents the United Nations' activities relating to women, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, International Women's Year, the Decade for Women, and various reports on the status of women around the world.

This collection is organized into two series:

• SERIES I. NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• SERIES II. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS