CBA Record January-February 2025

not for DEI’s sake, but as a way of recog nizing individuals who have contributed to the Chicago legal profession over the years. The existing and expanded collec tion we create will be offered to the Illi nois State Library collection, which is part of the Smithsonian’s bloc of affiliates, and the Chicago History Museum. At the inaugural Women’s Archives Committee meeting, Dr. Christopher Horak, Professor Emeritus, University of California Los Angeles, and co-founder of the UCLA Film and Television Archives, spoke on the process of creating and maintaining archival information. Women professionals and others who have been marginalized in their work and contributions should carry forward the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Fight for what you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Remember, that after the 150th CBA anniversary celebrations and the confetti are swept away, that history will judge us not on how fabulous the party was but by how we honor our history, especially women and other historically excluded groups who came before.

HISTORY WILL JUDGE

BY NINA FAIN

Preserving Our Past: The Women’s History Archives Project

I have always been fascinated with his tory. For me, history captures the essence of the human experience—its events and legacies, glories and adversities, progress and pitfalls. All of this enriches our understanding of ourselves and our place in the continuum we call life. In 2022, as a CBA Board of Manag ers member, I initiated an archives project to preserve the history of women lawyers in Chicago. Entitled The Women’s His tory Archives Project, it involves women members recording video interviews with noted local women in the law, document ing their unique experiences and stories. Each account offers valuable lessons in leadership, advocacy, and resilience. Collaborating with CBA staffers Jenni fer Byrne and Ricardo Islas, the interviews were a part of the CBA’s recognition for Women’s History Month and Black His tory Month. I encourage you to watch the videos posted on the CBA’s You

Tube Channel at www.youtube.com/ chicagobar. I believe you will agree that the interviews provide not just historical insights, but also inspiration and guid ance for our future endeavors. My enthusiasm for preserving and conserving works and artifacts was ignited when I served as a trustee of the Field Museum. I learned from world-class curators and academics about the process of exhibition planning and execution. I learned about the technical challenges and tremendous effort needed to pre serve history. Beyond galas and glamour, there must be a true commitment to both saving the past and securing the funding to sustain it. To that end, in 2025, understanding the difference between a historic cel ebration and history preservation, the CBA Record Editorial Board has begun to implement a permanent initiative to record women and minority members,

Nina Fain is counsel to the JS Schirn Family Trust, a 2024 CBA Justice John Paul Stevens honoree, and a CBA Record Editorial Board member.

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