The Women's Studies Department Records (1966-2006) document the growth and development of the first women's studies department in the nation, including its formation, early relationship with the Center for Women's Studies and Services (CWSS), now named Center for Community Solutions, course development, student work, and interactions between students and faculty with local, national, and international women's groups. It includes annual reports, self studies, syllabi, correspondence, reports, budgets, minutes, newsletters, course development materials, files from various events and organizations, and photographic slides.  The collection consists of four major series: Administrative Files (1970-2002), Curricular Files (1972-2004), Organization and Event Files (1966-1996), and Multimedia Materials (1975-2000). The Administrative Files have two sub-series: Annual Reports and Self Studies and Department Office Files.  The Curricular Files are filed in three sub-series: Syllabi, Course Development Files, and New Views on Women Records.  The Organization and Event Files are divided in two sub-series: Special Events and Women's Organizations and Workshop for Careers for Women in Science and Engineering Files.

The Administrative Files (1970-2002) includes two subseries, Annual Reports and Self Studies (1974-1990) and Department Office Files (1970-2002).  These files document the department's growth, development, and change over four decades. The bulk of materials date from the mid- to late-1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Annual Reports and Self Studies (1974-1990) consist of internal progress reports and studies completed every few years for the Divisions of Undergraduate Studies and Graduate Affairs. The material is filed chronologically. The Department Office Files (1970-2002) document the department's early formation, internal administration, development of the Women's Studies Major, Minor, and Master's degrees, department chair actions, budget issues, and department committees.  It includes the original department proposal, notes from discussions about the department's formation, the Chair's correspondence, course records, grade reports, minutes, and budgets, and is filed alphabetically by file name.

The Curricular Files (1972-2004) include three subseries: Syllabi (1972-2004), Course Development Files (1975-1990), and New Views on Women Records (1977-2000). These files document the development of the women's studies curriculum and course content from the 1970s to the present time. The Syllabi (1972-2004) cover women's studies department courses, as well as a few courses relating to women's studies from other departments, and a few women's studies courses taught at other universities. Researchers should be advised that classes were sometimes offered under different course numbers in different semesters, while the same course numbers sometimes represent different course titles in different semesters. The sub-series is filed by course number. The Course Development Files (1975-1990), document changes to the curriculum and course offerings over the first twenty years of the department's existence.  It consists primarily of course proposals.  The New Views on Women Records (1977-2000) include correspondence, schedules, programs, and agendas from the New Views on Women lecture series. It is filed chronologically. Because New Views on Women was originally offered as a course (Women's Studies 101), the earliest New Views on Women materials are filed with the other syllabi in sub-series 1.

The Organization and Events Files (1966-1996) include two subseries, Special Event and Women's Organization Files (1966-1996), and the Workshop for Careers for Women in Science and Engineering Files (1968-1982).  These files document the Women's Studies Department's involvement with local, national, and international women's organizations, as well as its participation in women's-related events both on campus off. The Special Event and Women's Organization Files (1966-1996) include reports, correspondence, newsletters, and other records documenting the department's relationship with the Center for Research on Women, National Institute of Education, Older Women's League, the Women's Coalition of San Diego County, and several others, as well as various conferences and other events planned by the department in conjunction with many of those groups. The Workshop for Careers for Women in Science and Engineering Files (1968-1982) documents the growth and development of the Workshop, including the National Science Foundation's participation, and includes brochures, budget information, correspondence, reports, programs, speaker lists, and many other files.  Both subseries are filed alphabetically.

The Multimedia Materials (1975-2000) provides photographic and film documentation of the people, events, and scholarship which developed and grew in the Women's Studies Department throughout its existence.  It includes slides, photographs, and videotapes documenting lectures, conferences, colloquia, panel discussions, campus rallies, and guest speakers.