You are here: American University University Library Archives Finding Aids Irene Tinker Papers

VOLUME: 36.5 linear feet

ACCESS: This collection is open to the public upon request.

COPYRIGHT: Please consult the archivist for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.

RELATED COLLECTIONS: Ellen S. Overton Papers

Biographical Note

Irene Tinker was born in 1927 and received her B.A. from Radcliff College in political philosophy and comparative government and her PhD. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in comparative government and development. She married Millidge Walker in 1952, with whom she had three children. Irene Tinker became a leading academic and activist in field of women in international development specifically the gender impact of development. She served on the faculties of the University of Maryland, Howard University, American University, and University of California-Berkeley, where she spent the majority of her teaching years. She taught courses covering women studies, city and regional planning and development, among other topics. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Nepal and Sri Lanka (1987-1989) and a fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy (March-April 1994).  

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of biographical materials; correspondence; conference materials; government, NGO, and organizational reports and newsletters, including many from the World Bank and the United Nations; interview notes and transcripts; manuscripts; newspaper, magazine and journal articles; research notes; teaching materials; and working papers. The collection includes chapter notes, drafts and correspondence from the book she edited and published in 2004, Developing Power: How Women Transformed International Development.

The bulk of this collection is comprised of materials relating to international development and especially the role of women and non-governmental organizations. Much of which relates to the informal economy and her work on Street Foods, a 15 year research project investigating ways to improve vendor income and food safety. Other major topics include Indonesia and the passage and implementation of the 1973 Percy Amendment, which required U.S. bilateral aid programs to explicitly address the role of women in developing countries’ economies.

The collection also includes a few three-dimensional objects, including pins, buttons, t-shirts and tote bags from conferences and events Tinker attended.

Provenance

Irene Tinker donated her papers to American University Library in four installments (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010).

Processing Note

As this collection came in multiple installments, the archivist had to identify and combine related documents. The materials for Irene Tinker’s book, Developing Power: How Women Transformed International Development, were arranged alphabetically by the name of the author of each chapter and include drafts, comments and correspondence.

In organizing the subject files within this collection, the archivist used the categories assigned by Irene Tinker whenever possible. Additional categories were created as needed. The archivist placed material in the category “Gender” when it related to the relationship between men and women in development, or the material focused on men. The term “Women” was used when materials related specifically to the role of women. In the cases where there was not enough “gender” material to warrant its own folder, these materials were categorized with “women” and vice versa.


Box and Folder Listing

Box 1
Biographical Materials
Certificate, 1957
Curriculum Vitae, n.d.
Correspondence [2 folders], 1960-2007
Expense/Travel Reports, 2003-2004
Clippings
 1957-1963, n.d.
 AFL-CIO, 1962, n.d.
 Civil Rights Movement, 1963-1964, n.d.
 Tjibantjet, 1957-1958
Magazines
 Radditudes, 1946-1947
 Signature, 1947-1949
Millidge Walker, 1970-1983, n.d.
 Shanghai American School [3 folders], 1940-1999, n.d.
 Newsletters [2 folders], 1989-1999
Notes, 1960-1961, n.d.  
Photographs, 1961, n.d.
Travel Permits, 1961, n.d.
Teaching Materials
University of Maryland- Women and World Development, Summer 1981
American University
 Comparative Urbanization Project, 1972-1990, n.d.
 International Development Courses, 1986-1989
Berkeley
 CP115: Urbanization in Developing Countries, Spring 1995
 CP117: Gender & Planning, Fall 1995
 CP270
 Regional and Urban Development in Third World Countries
 Fall 1989
 Fall 1990
 Regional and Urban Development Strategies, 1992
 Global Trends and Local Actions, Spring 1993
 Regional and Urban Development Strategies
 Fall 1994
 1996
 Regional and Urban Development Strategies in Low Income Countries
 Spring 1998
 CRP284B
 Topics in City and Metropolitan Planning- Informal Sector, Spring 1990
 Economic Development and the Informal Economy, Spring 1991
 Semester at Sea, Spring 1997
 WS14: Contemporary Global Issues for Women
 Spring 1991
 1992-1994
 Spring 1995
 Spring 1996
 WS24: Woman Organizing, Fall 1992
 WS141/241: Women and World Development
 1990-1992
 Fall 1995
 Fall 1996
 Fall 1997

Box 2
Developing Power: How Women Transformed International Development
 Intro
 Antrobus
 Bruce
 Chaney
 Cloud
 Colombo
 Derryck
 Flora
 Fraser
 Gachukia
 Gulhati
 Haslegrave
 Hoskins
 Hussein
 Jain
 Jaquette
 Knowles
 Lewis
 Lycklama
 Pitanguy
 Portugal
 Rowan-Campbell
 Scott
 Shahani
 Smith
 Snyder
 Staudt
 Timothy
 Walker
 Walsh
Subject Files
Archival Project, 1992-2003, n.d.
Abortion, 1991-1996, n.d.
Affirmative Action, 1989=1998, n.d.
Aging, 1990-1995
Agriculture [2 folders], 1973-1993

Box 3
Subject Files (continued)
Agriculture [2 folders], 1994-2009
Women, 1984-1995
Child Welfare, 1991-2000, n.d.
Development [5 folders], 1978-2003, n.d.
 Democratization, 1986-1997, n.d.
 Asia, 1990-1991

Box 4
Subject Files (continued)
Development (continued)
 Democratization (continued)
 Asia (continued) [2 folders], 1992-1994, n.d.
 Latin America, 1991-2000
 Economics, 1956, 1992-1996
 Foreign Aid, 1979-2008
Gender [3 folders], 1989-2009, n.d.
 Asia, 1990-2009
 Grassroots Development [2 folders], 1988-1996, n.d.
 Grassroots Development [3 folders], 1977-1998
 Millennium Development Goals, 2002-2004

Box 5
Subject Files (continued)

Development (continued)
 Regional
 Africa, 1989-1992, n.d.
 Asia, 1988-1995, n.d.
 Indonesia [6 folders], 1968-1996, n.d.
 Rural Development [2 folders], 1976-1997, n.d.
 Women, 1982-1996
 Sustainable Development [3 folders], 1984-2006, n.d.
 Resource Management, 1996-1998

Box 6
Subject Files (continued)
Development (continued)
 Women [4 folders], 1975-2008, n.d.
 Association for Women’s Rights in Development, 1995-2004
 Coalition for Women in International Development, 1978-1979
 International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) - Promoting Women in Development (PROWID) [2 folders], 1996-1999
 International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) [2 folders], 1989-1997
 Percy Amendment [2 folders], 1973-1984, n.d.
 Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), 1977-1985
 Theory, 1982-1998, n.d.
 USAID, 1977-1996, n.d.
 World Bank, 1975-1989

Box 7
Subject Files (continued)
Economics [2 folders], 1970-2001, n.d.
 “Doing Business” {re: comparative regulatory measures}, 2008
 Equal Means: Women Organizing Economic Solutions, 1992-1995
 Gender [2 folders], 1987-2006
 Globalization, 1994-2002
 Homeworking [2 folders], 1982-2008, n.d.
 Home Net, 1998-2001

Box 8
Subject Files (continued)
Economics (continued)
 Informal Economy, 2003-2004
 Informal Sector [2 folders], 1978-2001, n.d.
 Africa, 1984-2000, n.d.
 Asia, 1987-2002, n.d,
 Latin America, 1983-1998
 Street Vendors, 1995
 Women [2 folders], 1981-2002, n.d.
 International Monetary Fund, 1990-2002
 Labor, 1984-2000, n.d
 Gender, 1991-2000, n.d.
 Local Government Financing, 1987, n.d.
 Microfinance [4 folders], 1990-2003, n.d.
 Accion International, 1989-1998, n.d.
 Aspen Institute [2 folders], 1993-2004
 Portland Microenterprise Summit, 1999
 Microfinance, Risk Management and Poverty, 2000-2001, n.d.
 Regional
 Africa, 1984-2007, n.d.
 Africa- 1997 Trip

Box 9
Subject Files (continued)
Economics (continued)
 Microfinance (continued)
 Regional (continued)
 Asia, 1984-2001, n.d.
 Bangladesh, 1978-2002, n.d.
 India, 1993-2001, n.d.
 Vietnam, 1996-1998
 Latin America, 1990-2002, n.d.
 United Nations, 1990-2002
 Women [2 folders], 1980-2003, n.d.
 Self Employed Women’s Association, 1987-2001, n.d.
 Social Capital, 1996-2002
 Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa, 2000
 Structural Adjustment [3 folders], 1979-2006, n.d.
 Trade [2 folders], 1990-2002, n.d.
 Women, 1971-2002
 Africa, 1988-2002, n.d.
 Asia, 1987-1999

Box 10
Subject Files (continued)
Economics (continued)
 Women (continued)
 Asia, 2000-2007, n.d.
 Latin America, 1985-1998, n.d.
 World Bank, 1994-2007, n.d.
 World Bank Papers, 2001-2004
Education, 1987-2000, n.d.
 Women [2 folders], 1971-2005, n.d.
Elites, 1973-1979
Environment [3 folders], 1988-2008, n.d.
 Climate Change, 1983-1995, n.d.
 Energy, 1976-2009, n.d.
 Energia News [2 folders], 1998-2010
 Forestry [2 folders], 1988-1999, n.d.  
 Women, 1984-2001

Box 11
Subject Files (continued)

Environment (continued)
 Regional
 Asia, 1990-1997, n.d.
 Mexico, 1990-1996
 Sustainability [2 folders], 1988-2000
 Water Resources, 1986-2002
 Women [2 folders], 1987-1998, n.d.
Food [4 folders], 1978-2003
 Cook Stove Technology, 1993-1998
 Food Aid, 1990-1998
 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1995-2003, n.d.
 Food Chain: A Journal about Small-Scale Food Processing, 1992 -2002
 Food Security, 1990-2000, n.d.
 Gender, 1985-1996
 Hunger Notes (Publication of World Hunger Education Services) [2 folders],1979-2000

Box 12
Subject Files (continued)
Food (continued)
 International Food Policy Research Institute, 1992-2009
 20/20 Vision, 1995-2007, n.d.
 Regional
 Africa, 1992-2004, n.d.
 Asia, 1989-1995
 Latin America, 1996-2008, n.d.
 Street Food [2 folders], 1980-2004, n.d.
 Bangladesh, 1984, n.d.
 Indonesia [2 folders], 1983-1992
 Philippines, 1983-1999, n.d.
 Senegal, 1982-1983
 Vietnam, 1998
 Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs, and Sustainable Cities, 1996
 Urban Food Production [5 folders], 1976-2003, n.d.
 Urban Issues, 1991-2000, n.d.

Box 13
Subject Files (continued)
Housing [3 folders], 1972-2005, n.d.
 Asia [2 folders], 1990-2007, n.d.
 Gender Perspectives, 1992-2001  
 Habitat Debate, 1996-2000
 Habitat International Coalition Women and Shelter Network, 1989-1993
 Self-made Housing, 1980-1996
 Women [3 folders], 1984-2002, n.d.
 World Habitat Day, 1992-1997
Human Rights, 1983-2000
Human Security, 2002-2003
Land [2 folders], 1986-2003, n.d.
 Gender Perspectives, 1996-2008, n.d.
 Women’s Property Rights, 1992-1997

Box 14
Subject Files (continued)
Land (continued)
 Women’s Property Rights (continued) [2 folders], 1998-2007, n.d.
Law, 1990-2006
Men’s Movement, 1991-2008, n.d.
Migration, 1989-2005, n.d.
Non-Alignment n.d.
Non-Governmental Organizations [3 folders], 1987-2007, n.d.
 Aspen Institute Project [3 folders] 1994-1999, n.d.
 Bellagio Conference, 1994, n.d.
 Development [3 folders], 1982-1998, n.d.
 India 1994-2001, n.d.
 Funding, 1992-2001

Box 15
Subject Files (continued)
Non-Governmental Organizations (continued)
 NGO Networker, 1988-1995
 NGO & State Relations [2 folders], 1985-2002
 NGO & UN Relations, 1990-1996
 NGO & World Bank Relations, 1987-1996, n.d.
 Public Participation, 1987-1994, n.d.
 Regional
 Africa, 1982-2002
 Asia, 1989-1996, n.d.
 Indonesia [3 folders], 1982-1997, n.d.
 Nepal, 1987
 Philippines [2 folders], 1986-1996
 Thailand, 1993-1997
 Vietnam [3 folders], 1992-1998, n.d.
 Australia, 1991

Box 16
Subject Files (continued)
Non-Governmental Organizations (continued)
 Regional (continued)
 Central America, 1989-1998
 Europe, 1992-1998, n.d.
 Latin America [2 folders], 1987-1997
 Middle East, 2000
 Women, 1989-2002
Non-Profit Organizations [2 folders], 1992-2002, n.d.
Politics [3 folders], 1970-2005, n.d.
 Civil Society [3 folders], 1987-2001, n.d.
 Civil Society & Democracy, 1988-1994
 Decentralization, 1988-1989, n.d.
 Democratization [4 folders], 1963-2008, n.d.

Box 17
Subject Files (continued)
Politics (continued)
 Elections, 1997-2005, n.d.
 Indonesia, 1948
 Independence, 1963-1971
 Local Governance, 1973-1998, n.d.
 Regional
 Africa, 1955-2006, n.d.
 Asia, 1967-1999
 Latin America, 2005-2008

Box 17 (continued)
Subject Files (continued)
Politics (continued)
 Women [2 folders], 1970-2007, n.d.
 Civil Society, 1993-2007
 Democratization [2 folders], 1990-2004, n.d.
 Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 2000-2002
 Leadership and Representation [2 folders], 1993-2008, n.d.
 Peace-building, 1999-2003, n.d.
 Political Participation [4 folders], 1975-2008, n.d.
 Africa, 1996-2007, n.d.

Box 18
Subject Files (continued)
Politics (continued)
 Women (continued)
 Political Participation (continued)
 Asia [2 folders], 2000-2003, n.d.
 India, 1992-2000, n.d.
 Pakistan, 1999
 Europe, 1992-2003, n.d.
 Latin America, 1995-2003
 Regional
 Africa, 2006-2008, n.d.
 Asia, 2005, n.d.
 Latin America [2 folders], 1996-2010, n.d.
Population [2 folders], 1959- 2007, n.d.
 Birth Control, 1963-1996, n.d.
 Family Planning and Reproductive Health [2 folders], 1984-2004
 Population Briefs, 1998-2003
Poverty [2 folders], 1962-2007, n.d.
 Africa, 1998-2003, n.d.
 Asia, 1978-2001
 United States, 1964-1999, n.d.
 Women, 1977-2008
Prostitution, 1990-2008
Publications
 Connexions, 1993-1994
 Field Forum, 2001-2002

Box 19
Subject Files (continued)
Publications (continued)
 Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) Letters, 1995-2007
 Inter-American Foundation, 1995-1996
 The New Internationalist, 1990-1996
 Snapshots, 2001-2003
 World Watch, 1991-1996
Race, 1976-1991, n.d.
Refugees, 1991-2001, n.d.
Regional
 Africa, 1989-1999
 Asia [3 folders], 1954-2005, n.d
 Indonesia [4 folders], 1967-2003, n.d.
 Papua New Guinea, 1990
 Latin America [2 folders], 1991-2000, n.d.
 Middle East, 2000, n.d.
Religion, 1983-2009, n.d.
Science, 1976-1993
Social Capital, 1996-2003, n.d.
Sports, 1990-1995

Box 20
Subject Files (continued)
Transportation, 1982-1991
United Nations [2 folders], 1973-1996, n.d.
 Interviews, 1983, n.d.
 UNRISD News, 1999-2001
 Women, 1972-1999, n.d.
Urbanization, [5 folders], 1969-2006, n.d.
 Africa, 1986-1995
 Environmental Management, 1995, n.d.
 Gender [2 folders] 1991-2001, n.d.
 Mega-Cities, 1989-1992
 Urban Age, 1998-2000
 Urban Agriculture, 2000-2002
 The Urban Governance Initiative Urban Links [2 folders], 2001-2004
 Urban Poor [2 folders], 1969-1993, n.d.

Box 21
Subject Files (continued)
Urbanization (continued)
 Urban Poor (continued) [2 folders], 1993-2000, n.d.
Welfare, 1995-1999, n.d.
Women [3 folders], 1974-2006, n.d.
 AIDS, 2000, n.d.
 Conferences, 1975-1981
 Cairo Conference, 1995-1999
 Nairobi Conference, 1986-1991
 United Nations 4th World Conference on Women (Beijing) [3 folders],1995-2007, n.d.
 Empowerment [3 folders], 1995-2006, n.d.
 Equality, 1989-2002
 Gender Equality [2 folders]1996-2007, n.d.
 50-50 Gender Balance, 2009
 Family, 1971-1989

Box 22
Subject Files (continued)
Women (continued)
 Family (continued) [3 folders], 1989-2003, n.d.
 Economics [3 folders], 1987-2007
 Female Headed Households [2 folders], 1978-1997, n.d.
 Feminism [3 folders], 1977-2004, n.d.
 Health, 1977-1998, n.d.
 History , 1998-2001, n.d.
 Human Rights [3 folders]1989-2007, n.d.
 International Women’s Year, 1973-1976
 Mainstreaming [2 folders], 1993-2005 n.d.
 Marriage, 1979-1989, n.d.

Box 23
Subject Files (continued)
Women (continued)
 Notes, 1974-1975, n.d.
 Organizations, 1960-1979 n.d.
 International Women’s Rights Action Watch, 1986-2000
 Maryland Commission for Women, 1976-1978
 Women’s Environment & Development Organization, 1995
 Regional
 Africa, 1987-2002 n.d.
 East Africa, 1975-1999, n.d.
 North Africa, 1981-2002, n.d.
 South Africa, 1993-2005, n.d.
 West Africa/Sahel, 1988-1996, n.d.
 Asia, 1982-2006, n.d.
 Bangladesh, 1989-1996, n.d.
 China, 1987-1997, n.d.
 India [2 folders], 1979-2002, n.d.
 Indonesia [2 folders], 1973-1999, n.d.
 Nepal, 1981-2002, n.d.
 Pakistan, 1998-1999, n.d.
 Singapore, 1990-1993, n.d.
 Sri Lanka, 1988-1994
 Turkey, 1989-2007
 Vietnam, 1994-2000, n.d.
 Europe
 Eastern Europe, 1990-1999, n.d.
 Russia, 1992-1995, n.d.
 Western Europe, 1988-1996, n.d.
 Latin America [2 folders], 1985-1997

Box 24
Subject Files (continued)
Women (continued)
 Regional (continued)
 Latin America (continued), 1999, n.d.
 Middle East, 1997-2007
 United States, 1984-2002, n.d.
 Reproductive Health [2 folders], 1975-2001, n.d.
 Technology, 1982-1997
 Violence, 1979-2001, n.d.
 Female Genital Mutilation, 1992-2001, n.d.
 Voices of Women: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally (VHS)
 Work [3 folders], 1977-2005, n.d.
 Asia, 1985-1999, n.d.
 “The World’s Women: Trends and Statistics” 1970-1995
 Women’s Studies, 1987-1996, n.d.
 World Bank 1988-1995, n.d.
 Participatory Development Workshop [3 folders] 1987-1995
 World Bank Policy Research Bulletin, 1994
 Youth, 2006

Box 25
Hillary Clinton Campaign disk
International Women’s Year t-shirt
Political buttons
Scarf
Tote Bags (2)
Women in Development pins
Women in Development t-shirt