13.5 cu. ft. (13 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Newspapers
Newsletters
Serials (publications)
Date:
1960-2014
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."
This accession consists of an addition to the papers of historian Wilcomb E. Washburn. All of the material concerns Volume 4 of the Handbook of North American Indians,
(HNAI) for which Washburn served as volume editor.
