Smithsonian Institution Archives

Joanna Cohan Scherer Papers, 1960-2014

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FA19-190
Creators:
Scherer, Joanna Cohan
Dates:
1960-2014
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
13.5 cu. ft. (13 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Joanna Cohan Scherer was employed by the Smithsonian Institution from 1966-2006. She worked at the Smithsonian Office of Anthropology Archives (later known as the National Anthropological Archives) as a museum technician until 1970 when she was asked to become illustrations researcher of the Handbook of North American Indians, a 20-volume encyclopedia. She served as the Handbook's illustrations researcher for 36 years until May 2006 when she retired, becoming an emeritus anthropologist. During her tenure at the Handbook she was responsible for illustrations relating to people and activities (non-artifact illustrations) and did the original research and writing of captions for the pictures she selected. The Handbook was officially closed December 8, 2007, having published 15 of 20 volumes.
Scherer initiated three legal actions during her employment. The first, February 6, 1974, was a class action and employment discrimination suit on the basis of gender against the Department of Anthropology. After a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hearing, the discrimination complaint was found in her favor on March 12, 1975; it was shown that there had been a climate of discrimination against women in the Department of Anthropology in both hiring and promotion. No woman had ever been hired as a Curator in the Department of Anthropology despite the large number of professional women in anthropology. As a result of her settlement her employment title was changed from Museum Specialist to Anthropologist. Also, as a result of her case the first woman curator in anthropology was hired within the year (Adrienne Kaeppler).
In 1976, she filed a reprisal complaint that was heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Scherer vs. Ripley, CA 77-1856). The U.S. District Court determined that Handbook management had engaged in numerous incidents of reprisal against her and found in her favor on February 11, 1982.
Scherer sued the Smithsonian for reprisal for the third and final time in 2000. This suit was dropped by Scherer as a result of the serious illness and death (in 2002) of Carolyn Rose who in 2000 had been the supervisor who initiated reprisals against her.
Scherer's papers show that various supervisors harassed her, unfairly critiqued her work, and passed her up for deserved promotions. The contents of her files consist of performance evaluations, depositions, correspondence with the Handbook staff, witness statements, Scherer's diary notes and daily calendars, general information on the federal employment of women, and supporting documents such as brochures, booklets, newspapers, clippings, newsletters, and serial publications. These papers also create a detailed production history of the Handbook of North American Indians. An abbreviated production history written by Scherer is due to be published in Handbook volume 1, Introduction (edited by Igor Krupnik) scheduled for publication in 2020. The two chapters written or co-authored by Scherer are titled "The Production:1970-2008" and "The Handbook: A Retrospective."

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 19-190, Joanna Cohan Scherer Papers

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Scherer, Joanna Cohan Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kaeppler, Adrienne Lois Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rose, Carolyn L. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Krupnik, Igor Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Anthropology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Anthropological Archives Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Joanna Cohan Scherer v. S. Dillon Ripley Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handbook of North American Indians (Monograph) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Natural history museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Employees Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Supervision of employees Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Personnel management Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sexism in science Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Labor disputes Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anthropology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Litigation Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Law Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anthropologists Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brochures Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newspapers Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Serials (publications) Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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