PRELIMINARY INVENTORY S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center- St. Louis. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected].

Introduction Approximately 11 cubic feet

The records of the National Organization for Women, Metro St. Louis Chapter contain meeting minutes correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and videotapes relating to the organization’s mission to end prejudice and discrimination against women. Subjects of interest include abortion rights, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and International Women’s Year. Included in the records is a vigil log containing members reports on their experiences in Jefferson City during the ERA vigil watch in 1978, as well as photographs of ERA rallies in St. Louis and Jefferson City.

Betty Friedan, the author of Feminist Mystique, founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966 and served as the first national president. The organization's goal is to end all forms of prejudice and discrimination against women. The group continues to support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, enforcement of federal legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, social innovations to enable women to work while rearing a family, and a re-examination of laws and mores governing marriages and divorce. NOW promotes its views through research, litigation, and political action.

The Metro St. Louis NOW Chapter received its charter in February 1971. Mary Ann Sedey was the first president. By October 1972, there were 50 paid members, with many more people regularly attending the chapter's programs. By October 1972, eleven task forces and a speakers' bureau had been established. In addition, chapter members developed temporary alliances with one-issue oriented groups. Metro NOW supported its activities by selling posters, buttons, and publications, as well as holding fundraising dinners.

Metro NOW worked hard to secure state ratification of the ERA and to protect abortion rights. The group held yearly rallies for ERA on August 25, the anniversary of women's suffrage, and in 1978 conducted a 77-day vigil at the state capitol to obtain an extension of the ratification deadline. The abortion task force joined with other St. Louis organizations in pro-abortion rallies and in picketing on behalf of the issue.

Members of Metro NOW organized several committees aimed towards furthering the equal rights for all men. The Media Committee, for example, monitored television news programs, wrote letters to offensive advertisers, and urged a boycott of their products. The Education Committee, on the other hand, reviewed public school textbooks for sex stereotyping. At the same time, the Marriage and Family Committee worked towards the successful passage of the no-fault divorce law. The Compliance in Business and Industry

THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 4/23/2020 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Committee supported women who felt discriminated against in employment and counseled them on sex-decision laws, how and where to file a complaint, and how to deal with an employer personally. They worked to eliminate the segregation of job want ads. This committee monitored business and industry affirmative action plans and assisted in finding jobs for women that were usually held by men.

Metro St. Louis NOW was interested in a wide range of issues: childcare, consciousness- raising, early childhood development, economic justice, education discrimination, homemakers' rights, labor unions, lesbian rights, the problems of disabled and minority women, physical and mental health, violence against women, and women and religion.

Donor Information The records were donated to the University of Missouri by an unknown donor on January 29, 1975 (Accession No. SA0539). An addition was made on July 22, 1975 by Chris Guerrero (Accession No. SA0658). An addition was made on October 4, 1979 by Barbara Bennet (Accession No. SA2232). An addition was made on January 29, 1981 by Miriam Burge (Accession No. SA2366). An addition was made on May 6, 1981 by Tony Bell (Accession No. SA2401). An addition was made on March 24, 1983 by Tony Bell (Accession No. SA2521). An addition was made on July 14, 1984 by Eva Moseley (Accession No. SA2635). An addition was made on May 19, 1999 by Barbara McGough (Accession No. SA3337). An addition was made on October 28, 2002 by Anne Englehardt (Accession No. SA3504). An addition was made on June 13, 2006 by James F. Mason (Accession No. SA3675). An addition was made on August 9, 2007 by Judy Sweeney (Accession No. SA3756). An addition was made on August 18, 2008 by Judy Sweeney (Accession No. SA3807). An addition was made on May 20, 2010 by Cathy Williams (Accession No. SA3895).

Copyright and Restrictions The Donor has given and assigned to the State Historical Society of Missouri all rights of copyright which the Donor has in the Materials and in such of the Donor’s works as may be found among any collections of Materials received by the Society from others.

Box List

Box 1 Abortion, no date Ad book, no date Ad book prospects, no date Ad book sales instruction, no date Affirmative action, no date Answering service, no date American Telegraph and Telephone, no date August 25 committee, 1971-1973 (4 folders) Heath Booth Midwest Academy, no date

Page 2 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Budget information, no date Childcare, no date Committee for School Reform, no date Consciousness raising, no date Convener’s kit, no date Credit, no date Displaced homemakers, no date Education, no date Employment, no date Employment discrimination, no date National Organization for Women vs. Want Ads, employment, no date Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) coalition, no date Equal Rights Amendment Flyers and pamphlets, no date Support material, no date (3 folders)

Box 2 Support material, no date (2 folders) Election work, no date Rally for the Equal Rights Amendment, no date Information sheets, no date Extension resolution, no date (3 folders) Federal Communications Commission, no date File index, no date Finances and fund raising, no date Edna F. Gellhorn, no date General Mills, no date Grants, no date Grievances and conflicts, no date Hospital Workers Strike, Local 50, 1973-1974 Women and housing, no date International Women’s Year, 1976-1977 Labor, no date Legal Defense and Education Fund, no date Legislation, no date Lesbianism, no date Liberation Fair, no date Manpower, no date Marriage, divorce, and family, no date Media, no date Minority women, no date Missouri, Human Rights Commission, no date Missouri Commission on the Status of Women, no date Newsletter, no date

Page 3 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

National Committee on Household Employment (NCHE), no date National Organization for Women, agendas, general and Board of Directors, May 1974-May 1975 (2 folders) Board administration, 1971-1975 Columbia, Missouri, 1971-1972 National Organization for Women, St. Louis Metro, 1973-1975 National Organization for Women, general, 1971-1979 National Organization for Women, board and general meetings, 1973-1974 Meeting minutes, 1974-1975 Newsletters, June 1971-June 1975 Variety Show, 1978 Vigil log, 1978 Correspondence 1974-1976 (2 folders) National, 1971-1974 Regional Coordinator, 1973-1974 Regional Director, 1975 Wilma Scott Heide, 1971-1974 National Organization for Women, Missouri, 1974-1978 National Ad Campaign, 1973 Board meeting and agendas, 1973-1978 (3 folders)

Box 3 National Board, 1975 Board meetings, 1976 Conferences, no date Phone bank, no date Purpose and goals, no date State National Organization for Women, no date Older women, no date Person abuse, no date Political districts, no date Political districts, no date Politics, no date Posters, no date Poster ads, no date Poverty, no date Procurement Committee, no date Rape, no date Religion, no date Resources, no date Sears, no date Self-Help Clinic, no date

Page 4 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Speakers’ Bureau, no date Sports, no date Stationary and note cards, no date Susan B. Anthony Campaign, no date Task force information, no date Telephone directory listing action, no date T-shirts, no date Television monitoring, no date United Fund, no date Volunteerism, no date Women and the arts, no date Women’s Coalition, no date Photographs, no date Newspaper clippings regarding the Equal Rights Amendment, no date Newsletters for North County National Organization for Women, banner, sash, and a proclamation, no date “NOW Reaches Out to End Discrimination,” paper by Connie Sexauer, 1994 Copy of color film of the parade in Downtown St. Louis celebrating the Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage on August 25, 1973. Filmed by Marty Macke (1 ¾ tape).

Box 4 Administrative files Midwest regional conferences 1971 Report, 1972 Questionnaire, 1972 Circular and conference materials, 1972 Financial materials, 1972 Correspondence, 1973 Questionnaires, 1973 Report, 1973 Agendas and circular, 1973 Correspondence, 1974 Candidates for Midwest Regional Director, 1974 Report, 1974 Resolutions, 1974 Workshop invitations and replies, 1974 Questionnaires, 1974 Arrangements and circular, 1974 General correspondence, 1970-1971 Midwest Region, report, 1972 General correspondence, 1972-1976 (2 folders) Training session for chapter presidents and state coordinators, April 1975 Meeting of Midwest state coordinators, January 1976

Page 5 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Midwest Regional Director, finances, no date Midwest Region, chapter status reports and lists, no date Chapter charters, no date National bylaws and guidelines for state structure, no date Leadership lists, no date Chapter convener kit, no date Brochures, no date Organizations that will not hold conventions in unratified states, July 1979 Missouri statewide newsletters, 1974-1980 (2 folders) Tapes Radio advertisements supporting the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment sponsored by the National Organization for Women, Metro St. Louis Chapter, no date (2 tapes) National meeting declaring a state of emergency concerning the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, no date

Box 5 Correspondence, 1977-1981 (2 folders) Booklets, 1975-1981 Bylaws, 1970-1980 Flyers, 1970 Metro St. Louis Women’s Federal Credit Union, no date Newsletters, 1970 Newspaper clippings, 1970, 1980 (2 folders) Newsletters, 1980 Women’s Choir, 1970-1980

Box 6 Craft lawsuit, 1980 Correspondence, 1982-1989 Board meeting minutes, 1983-1988 Membership rosters, 1981-1989 (10 folders)

Box 7 Newsletters, 1970-1983 (2 folders) Newspaper clippings, 1983-1988 Newsletters, 1974-1989 Pamphlets, no date People’s Manual for Lobbying in Missouri, 1981

Box 8 Political and legislative efforts Citizens Advisory Council on Women, 1970, 1972, 1974 Missouri Equal Rights Amendment, legislative history and intent, 1977

Page 6 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Missouri Senate hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment, 1980 Missouri Democratic Party, affirmative action and delegate selection plan, 1980 Reproductive rights and anti HLA campaign, 1980-1981 Pay equity bill and campaign, 1980-1984 Congressional Record, 1981 Women’s Rights Day in Congress, 1981 Hearing on Economic Concerns of Older Women, 1981 Women’s Equity Action League, fact sheets and newspaper clippings, 1983-1984 Equal Rights Amendment Political Action Committee, no date Women voters article booklet, 1981 Organizing a Political Campaign, notes and guidebook, no date Public opinion messages to legislators, 1982 National Organization for Women voter registration campaign, 1984 Presidential and Missouri state elections, campaign materials, 1984 Political issue letters, no date Ellie Smeal, correspondence and events, 1980-1983 National Organization for Women Organization and Chapters Proposed resolutions, National Organization for Women conference, 1980 Chapter directors, 1979, 1981 Policy manual, administration and issues, 1982 (2 folders) Guidelines for Feminist Consciousness Raising, 1983 Legal Defense and Education Fund, New Leadership in the Public Interest, 1981 National conference 1981 Paula Geiss notes, 1981 1982 National officers campaigns, 1982 Message Brigade, 1982 Pamphlets and postcards, no date Chapter development materials, no date Membership drive and activity cards, 1983 Chapter press releases, Maryland and Missouri, 1981 Flyers, rallies, marches, and conferences, 1980-1982 Pennsylvania leadership directory, 1980 Southwestern Pennsylvania Council of National Organization for Women Chapters, agenda, 1981 Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania chapter, documents and events, 1980 Pennsylvania conference, 1980 National Women’s History Week, Pennsylvania chapter project, 1981 Paula Geiss notebook, Pennsylvania chapter notes, no date

Box 9 St. Louis Metro Chapter, 1978-1981 Missouri NOW Conference and leadership list, 1982-1984 (2 folders)

Page 7 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

NOW Countdown Campaign, Missouri, articles and reports, 1981 Message Brigades, St. Louis, articles, templates, meeting, and planning notes, 1982 (2 folders) Missouri chapter fundraisers and planning, 1984 Missouri chapter benefit, phone bank, 1984 Paul Geiss notebook, Missouri chapter, notes, no date Movie and music benefit programs, Missouri and Pennsylvania, 1981-1982 Childcare and education, National, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, 1980-1982 Lesbian rights and education work session, no date Illinois NOW letter, no date The Equal Rights Handbook, chapters 2-3, 1978 Equal Rights Amendment Impact on State booklets, Federal, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, 1981 Equal Rights Amendment related to science and religion, articles, 1980-1982 Equal Rights Amendment, facts, newspaper clippings, articles, and handouts, 1975-1981 Publications and Newspaper Clippings NOW National Times, 1979-1983 (5 folders) Pennsylvania NOW Times, 1980 Pittsburgh Area Joint NOW, newsletters, 1980-1981 (2 folders) Missouri NOW chapters’ newsletters, 1979-1982, 1984 Eagle Forum, newsletter, 1981 ERAmerica advertisement, no date New Directions for Women, 1982 Newspaper clippings Equal Rights Amendment fasters, 1982 Equal Rights Amendment supporters protest, 1982 Equal Rights Amendment in the news, no date General Equal Rights Amendment topics, 1977-1983 Elections, 1982 Personal Equal Rights Amendment songs, feminist greeting card catalogue, feminist cartoons, and bibliography, no date “Equal Writes” calendar, 1984 Harriett Woods newsletters, 1979 The Gryphon House News, 1981 Meeting notes, no date Notes and a letter, Paula Geiss, no date Why and How Women Will Elect the Next President, Eleanor Smeal, 1984 Political buttons and stickers, no date Photographs and negatives, no date

Box 10 Photographic negatives of International Women’s Year conference in Houston, 1977

Page 8 of 9 S0175 (SA0539, SA0658, SA2232, SA2366, SA2401, SA2521, SA2635, SA3337, SA3504, SA3675, SA3756, SA3807, SA3895) NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, METRO ST. LOUIS CHAPTER RECORDS

Photographic negatives of an Equal Rights Amendment rally at Christ Church Cathedral, 1975 Bumper stickers promoting the Equal Rights Amendment and other issues, no date National Organization for Women newsletters, January 1972-June 1977 Feminist publications, 1970-1979 Newspaper clippings and notes, 1970-1979 National Organization for Women conference materials, 1977-1978 National Women’s Conference, November 1977 Brochures, pamphlets, and background reports on women’s issues, no date

Box 11 National Organization for Women, 1975-1976 Springfield National Organization for Women chapter, banner used on bus from St. Louis to Springfield, Illinois for an Equal Rights Amendment March, May 1975 Newspaper clippings, 1973 Notes, no date News releases, 1973 Missouri National Organization for Women, state bylaws, December 1, 1977 Agenda, July 16, 1972 Worker ethics pamphlet, no date Abortion Rights Alliance literature, no date Stalled at the Start, School Sex Bias, no date Rape Crisis Center, January 16, 1975 Images of Women in the Mass Media, public service announcements, October 12, 1977 NOW Missouri ACTS conference report, May 21-22, 1977 Issues of Do it Now!, 1976-1977 Issues of Majority Report, 1976-1977 National Organization for Women, internal conflict, 1974-1975 International Women’s Day literature, 1975 Roles and Rights of Women, no date Newspaper clippings, 1972, 1983 Journal articles, no date Equal Rights Amendment, 1977-1979 Reel tapes of Equal Rights Amendment advertisements, no date Photographs, 1975-1987 Newspaper clippings, 1975-1980

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