Beatrice B. Ettinger papers, 1962-2015

 

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Ettinger, Beatrice B., 1917-2015
Abstract:
The Beatrice B. Ettinger papers contain correspondence, leaflets, posters, minutes and reports that show women's position in society in the 1970s and 1980s. Continuing Education is the focus of these papers since Ettinger accumulated many of the materials between 1970 and 1992 when she was President of the Council for Continuing Education for Women. This organization established a Center that was based first at Valencia Community College and later at the University of Central Florida. Ettinger also collected documents concerning other organizations in which she was interested that fostered women's intellectual and political growth, such as, the Central Florida Women's Resource Center Inc. and the League of Women Voters. Additional materials provide some personal information about Mrs. Ettinger.
Extent:
10.2 Linear Feet 17 boxes, 5 flat files
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

Series I: Council for Continuing Education for Women, 1964-1997 is the largest series and fully documents the Council's activities and that of the Center that it sponsored. Its programs included Displaced Homemaker, Florida Women in Agriculture and Women in Citrus. The Center received awards from Walt Disney World in 1975, 1979, 1981, 1984 and 1986 when it received the "Spirit of Epcot" Award. Financial Aid for Career Training Inc. worked with the Center and provided loans for women to improve their skills so that they could return to the work force.

Series II: Other Organizations, 1971-1988 holds materials concerning various other organizations in which Ettinger had an interest. Most of these organizations concern women and education, such as, the Central Florida Educational Consortium for Women. However, political and community organizations, such as, the League of Women Voters and the Jewish Community Center are also represented here.

Series III: Personal, 1969-1994 contains documents of a more personal nature and includes Ettinger's date book, certificates, the documents prepared for her nomination to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame and information about her relationship with Valencia Community College.

Series IV: Additional Materials, 1962-2015, contains additional papers and photographs relating to Ettinger's personal achievements and involvement in various Florida organizations.

Biographical / historical:

Beatrice "Bea" Bornstein Ettinger was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on June 21, 1917. In 1932, she moved to Orlando, Florida with her parents at age 15. She graduated from the University of Miami and the University of Miami Law School. Ettinger was active in a variety of organizations, serving as Vice President of the Florida League of Women Voters, Director of Region IV of the National Displaced Homemaker Network, and Secretary of Learning Institute for Elders. Ettinger was instrumental in establishing the Central Florida Educational Consortium for Women. Her achievements were honored by the local community as Orlando's Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1977, Woman of Achievement in 1979 and Community Leader of the Year in 1981. She was nominated for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1982 and 1984. In 1966, a group of women met to start the Council for Continuing Education for Women in Orlando, an organization that offered educational and career opportunities for women. It was run by volunteers until 1974, when it cooperated with the Valencia Community College to establish the Center for Continuing Education for Women. The Center created and sponsored programs on a variety of topics designed to assist women who wanted to further their education and possibly return to the workforce. Ettinger was president of the Council and directed the Center until 1986, when Connie Fisher became Director. In 1991, the Council moved from Valencia Community College and entered into a new agreement with the University of Central Florida, where it continued with its work in association with the Women's Studies Program. Ettinger passed away in 2015.

Acquisition information:
Beatrice B. Ettinger donated these materials to the University of Central Florida Libraries Special Collections Department in 2002 (CFM2002_02). Additional materials gifted by Marilyn Crotty, Bea's daughter, in 2026 (CFM2026_04).
Processing information:

Collection processed by Judith Beale; finding aid prepared by Judith Beale. Duplications were removed, news clippings were photocopied onto acid free paper and the materials were rehoused. Rehoused and additional materials processed by Ava Botwin in 2026.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series by topic, then arranged alphabetically within each series.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA