Copies of numerous items from the Archive of Recorded Sound's Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Collection (ARS.0056) will shortly be on display at Rinconada Library in Palo Alto, CA as part of an exhibition entitled Women's Power to Stop War: Celebrating 100 years of Peacemaking. The exhibition with run November 12th - December 24th 2015 and is free to the public. 

There will also be a Exhibit Opening Event on Thursday this week (November 12, 2015) from 6:30-8:30pm in the Embarcadero Room at the Rinconada Library. At this event, WILPF members will speak about past and current local activities including inspiring oral histories by members. The infamous Raging Grannies will also lead attendees in song.

The donor of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Collection, Judy Adams, who also helped organize the exhibition provides the following announcement: 

"Celebrate WILPF’s 100th year!  Come to our opening event for a wonderful exhibit “Women’s Power to Stop War”, about WILPF’s history, challenges and accomplishments, and our Peninsula/Palo Alto branch’s history (founded in 1922).  WILPF stands for: equality of all people in a world free of racism, sexism, and homophobia; the building of a constructive peace through world disarmament; and the changing of government priorities to meet human needs.

The exhibit committee and helpers have prepared three colorful, photograph-heavy, fact-filled exhibit panels, a timeline of WILPF’s major accomplishments, and a world map showing the activities of international branches over the years.  The history of our Raging Grannies, with lively photos and the texts of some of their songs, occupies one large exhibit panel.

To be among the first to see the exhibit please join us for the OPENING EVENT CELEBRATION on Thursday, November 12th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Rinconada Library’s Embarcadero Room. The exhibit will run from Thursday November 12th to Thursday December 24th, in the front lobby of the Rinconada Library at 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, so you can visit it anytime the Library is open (Monday – Thursday 10am to 9pm and Friday – Sunday, 10am to 6pm).

At the opening on Nov. 12th we’ll have a few guest speakers, hear songs and satire from the Raging Grannies, and have the premiere of a video featuring the photos and words of Palo Alto branch members who were interviewed in the 1980’s by the Women’s Peace Oral History Project.  We hope their words and experiences working for peace will inspire you. 

The opening event is free and open to all, no registration required.  Light refreshments will be served.  Come early to view the exhibit before the opening event, or come again during the 6 weeks the exhibit will be at Rinconada Library.

Please invite your friends to join you at the opening event.  You can print and post the attached flyer with information about the exhibit at your church or meeting hall, or give to a friend.  If you have any questions contact us at our new e-mail address: wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com, or call Judy at 650-326-1235. 

The exhibit is a celebration of WILPF’s centennial and our branch's 93rd year, and an opportunity to meet WILPF members, and possibly join us in our work for peace and justice."