OUR MARSHALL MOMENT
On April 30th, 1976, amid the second-wave feminist movement, the Women’s Center at Marshall University was established by Dr. Elaine Baker, Carolyn Karr, and Frances Hensley. Like many centers, ours began humbly, tucked away on the ground floor of the oldest building on campus
in Old Main B-16. Yet it was quickly met with overwhelming campus and community support, including none other than feminist icons Florynce “Flo” Kennedy and Gloria Steinem, who dedicated the Center at its opening ceremony.
Just one year later, the Center hosted the first International Women’s Year Conference, advocating for state and federal policy changes for women’s rights. The contrast between strides made in more urban areas and the challenges facing women in rural Appalachia was striking. Organizers focused on the unique social and economic barriers, emphasizing the need for access to information and resources for women in these geographically isolated communities.
This work was far from easy. Dr. Elaine Baker, while maintaining her university tenure, also took on the demanding role of director. Her unwavering commitment to gender equity laid the foundation for the thriving center our campus knows today.
Fifty years later, we are located just one floor above our original space, in Old Main 115. While much has changed over the decades, our mission persists: we empower all women to excel both personally and professionally.
(Images from University Archives, Chief Justice 1976, pp. 200–201)