About the Saskatoon Women's Calendar Collective (SWCC)
Herstory: The Canadian Women's Calendar has been published by the Saskatoon Women's Calendar Collective (SWCC) since its first year in 1974. The first edition of Herstory: The Canadian Women’s Calendar appeared in 1974 and, except for the years 1983 and 1984, has been published every year since.
Formed in 1972 by five Saskatoon women—June Bantjes, Beth Foster, Gwen Gray, Colleen Pollreis and Erin Shoemaker—the SWCC sought to make history, as defined by traditional academics, more reflective of the lives and achievements of the women who helped shape Canada. At the time the SWCC was formed, Canadian history offered little analysis of women’s contributions and experiences and little official documentation of women’s influences. Although Collective members had no experience doing historical research and there was little published material on women’s history, the SWCC diligently pursued women’s stories, turning to letters, diaries, drawings, memories of pioneers, local history rooms, archives and books written by female authors to describe the lives of women.
The SWCC began as a community-based cooperative with an evolving membership, a philosophy and process that continues to this day. More than 50 women have been involved with Herstory since 1972. Members have spanned retired women to young women in their 20s.
When Herstory first appeared, it struck a chord with Canadian women. Since then, it has built an increasingly loyal audience, at times reaching bestseller status in Canada (5,000 or more books). Herstory has also become a staple of research library bookshelves. Some readers think of it primarily as a calendar. Others consider it an anthology: one good read per week.
Members of the SWCC have used the knowledge they have gained not only to write about women’s lives and achievements for the pages of Herstory but also to promote history through other venues such as talks to community groups and educators, radio and TV interviews, and exhibitions.
Formed in 1972 by five Saskatoon women—June Bantjes, Beth Foster, Gwen Gray, Colleen Pollreis and Erin Shoemaker—the SWCC sought to make history, as defined by traditional academics, more reflective of the lives and achievements of the women who helped shape Canada. At the time the SWCC was formed, Canadian history offered little analysis of women’s contributions and experiences and little official documentation of women’s influences. Although Collective members had no experience doing historical research and there was little published material on women’s history, the SWCC diligently pursued women’s stories, turning to letters, diaries, drawings, memories of pioneers, local history rooms, archives and books written by female authors to describe the lives of women.
The SWCC began as a community-based cooperative with an evolving membership, a philosophy and process that continues to this day. More than 50 women have been involved with Herstory since 1972. Members have spanned retired women to young women in their 20s.
When Herstory first appeared, it struck a chord with Canadian women. Since then, it has built an increasingly loyal audience, at times reaching bestseller status in Canada (5,000 or more books). Herstory has also become a staple of research library bookshelves. Some readers think of it primarily as a calendar. Others consider it an anthology: one good read per week.
Members of the SWCC have used the knowledge they have gained not only to write about women’s lives and achievements for the pages of Herstory but also to promote history through other venues such as talks to community groups and educators, radio and TV interviews, and exhibitions.
