Ferguson, Ann

Temporarily stored offsite; contact SCUA to request materials from this collection.

Ann Ferguson began her tenure at UMass as an Instructor in 1964 as she completed the last year of her doctoral work at Brown under supervision of R.M. Chisolm. With academic interests in ethics, aesthetics, women’s studies, and social and political philosophy, Ferguson has been politically engaged in human rights and social justice initiatives since the 1960s, supporting organizations such as Feminist Aid to Central America, Marxist Activist Philosophers, and the Radical Philosopher’s Association. In 1995, Ferguson accepted a three-year term as Director of Women’s Studies, describing the program as one with the “roots in political activism to fight social injustice.” Despite her 2008 retirement, Ferguson continues to teach in both Philosophy and Women’s Studies.
The Ferguson Papers document Ann Ferguson’s academic career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as her commitment to political activism and social change. The papers include material relating to campus politics, the women’s movement and other social movements, Philosophy Department files (1971-1997) from Ferguson’s tenure as Head of the Philosophy Department, and course materials from both Women’s Studies and Philosophy. Also included among the papers are professional correspondence, feminist pamphlets (1970s-1980s), and several posters from Ferguson’s office.

Addition to the Collection, 2011
Box 1: Feminism, Lesbian Feminism, Left Feminism and Feminist Theory 1975-1985; see detailed folder list by Ferguson.
Box 2: Course notes for WOST 691, WOST 791B, PHIL 381, ca. 2004-2007. WOST program files
Box 3: WOST executive committee. Course notes 1993-1994 for PHIL 160, PHIL 591, WOST 691B, Opp. ATTs 93, Fem Ethics 94, Midwest APA conference 1994
Box 4: Course notes and readings for PHIL 281, WOST 791, ca. 2002; conferences; WOST trip to South Africa; Undergraduate Special Students
Box 5: Course notes, 1990s, including UC Irvine Feminist Ethics
Box 6 : Misc, including University; politics; Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala trips in connection with Feminist Aid to Central America; course notes on PHIL 391D (Race, Gender, and Class)
Box 7: Cuba trips: readings and notes; group trips in 1976, 1980, 2004
Box 8: WOST program files; WOST seminar notes 1996-2002; Clark Univ course
Box 9: University and political events
Box 10: Class notes for PHIL 161, PHIL 381/WOST 301, LA Feminisms WIST 392D; ca. 2001-2004
Box 11: Grad student papers from WOST, PHIL, and university