Skip to content
print page header

The University of Iowa Libraries

Guide to the Rainbow Project Task Force records

Print this Collection Guide | Email this Collection Guide
Collection Overview
Date Span: 1990-1999
Creator: Rainbow Project Task Force
Extent: 2.00 linear feet.
Collection Number: IWA0789
Repository: Iowa Women's Archives
Summary: 1996 University of Iowa task force with the goal of reviewing university policies and the campus climate and making recommendations for a more welcoming climate for LGBT individuals.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright is held by The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 1224) were donated by Patricia Cain in 2007.

Preferred Citation: Rainbow Project Task Force records, Iowa Women´s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository: Iowa Women's Archives
Address: 100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-335-5068
Curator: Kären Mason
Email: lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

The Rainbow Project Task Force (RPTF) was appointed by University of Iowa president Mary Sue Coleman in 1996 with the goal of reviewing university policies and the campus climate and making recommendations for a more "welcoming climate" for LGBT individuals. Faculty, staff and students from many different departments served on RPTF. The task force submitted its observations and recommendations in a final report in 1997. Many of these recommendations included offering services explicitly to LGBT students and enforcing the University´s nondiscrimination and human rights policies. In addition, the Rainbow Project supported a proposal for a Sexuality Studies certificate program at the University of Iowa, which started in the fall of 1998. (In 2010, the Sexuality Studies program merged with the Women´s Studies program to form the Women´s and Sexuality Studies department).

Scope and Content: The Rainbow Project Task Force (RPTF) records date from 1990 to 1999 and measure 2 linear feet. The records are arranged in four series: Administrative (1996-1997), RPTF Report (1996-1997), Sexuality Studies (1995-1999) and Resource Files (1990-1997).

The Administrative series includes correspondence and memoranda from task force members, many of them addressed to College of Law professor and co-chair of RPTF Jean Love. Drafts, revisions and comments on the task force report make up the bulk of the collection. The final report and appendices are in Box 4. Appendix A is a copy of "Out at Iowa: Information Regarding the History of and Issues Concerning the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Members of the University of Iowa Community," written by the University of Iowa Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Staff and Faculty Association in 1996. Included in Jacki Williams' files on Sexuality Studies is an undated survey of faculty about how much of their courses dealt with sexuality and LGBT issues. The Resource files include documents and statistics used by the task force when writing its final report. The Rainbow Project used the University of Wisconsin's LGBT resources guide as a model for what they were trying to accomplish at the University of Iowa.

Browse by Series:
Series 1: ADMINISTRATIVE
Series 2: RPTF REPORT
Series 3: SEXUALITY STUDIES
Series 4: RESOURCE FILES

  • Series 1: ADMINISTRATIVE
  • Box 1:
  • General, Jacki Williams (folder 1) - 1996-1997
  • General, Jacki Williams (folder 2) - 1996-1997
  • General, Jacki Williams (folder 3) - 1996-1997
  • Members - 1996
  • Memoranda (folder 1) - 1996-1997
  • Memoranda (folder 2) - 1996-1997
  • Minutes - 1996-1997
  • Box 2:
  • Press clippings - 1996-1997
  • Summer group - 1996-1997
  • Series 2: RPTF REPORT
  • Box 2:
  • Final copy - 1997
  • Chapters I-III, draft, undated
  • Chapters I-IX, draft, November 15 - 1996
  • Comments on draft, November 15 - 1996
  • Chapters X-XI, draft, undated
  • Chapters I-IX, draft, December 6 - 1996
  • Comments on draft, December 6 - 1996
  • Revisions to draft, December 6 - 1996
  • December 23 - 1996
  • January 29 - 1997
  • Revisions, February - 1997
  • Box 3:
  • Comments on February version - 1997
  • March 4 - 1997
  • Ombudsperson, Affirmative Action comments - 1996
  • Human Rights Policy - 1996
  • Implementation of Human Rights Policy - 1996
  • External application of Human Rights Policy - 1996-1997
  • Box 4:
  • Final report and appendices - 1997
  • Series 3: SEXUALITY STUDIES
  • Box 3:
  • Proposal - 1997
  • Proposal, Jacki Williams (folder 1) - 1997
  • Proposal, Jacki Williams (folder 2) - 1997
  • University of Iowa - 1995-1999
  • Other schools - 1996
  • Series 4: RESOURCE FILES
  • Box 3:
  • Alumni - 1993, 1996
  • Students - 1995-1996
  • Blue Ribbon Task Force - 1996
  • Box 4:
  • Human Rights Committee Report - 1993
  • Campus homophobia survey - 1993
  • LGBT month, undated
  • Gay Latinos - 1996
  • Rusty Barceló´s documents - 1990-1994
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Staff and Faculty Association, guidelines - 1992
  • Domestic partners (folder 1) - 1991-1996
  • Domestic partners (folder 2) - 1991-1996
  • Domestic partners, other schools - 1993
  • Domestic partners, American Association of University Professors - 1990-1992
  • University of Iowa web page listings - 1997
  • University of Wisconsin - 1996

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.


Personal Names:
Love, Jean

Corporate Names:
University of Iowa Rainbow Project Task Force
University of Iowa

Dates:
1990-1999

Topics:
Sex
Lesbians
Gays
Bisexuals
Transgender people
Human rights
College environment
Women

Occupations:
College students
College teachers

Genre/Form of Materials:
Administrative records
Archives

Browse:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender