S0175 (Sa0539, Sa0658, Sa2232, Sa2366, Sa2401, Sa2521, Sa2635, Sa3337, Sa3504, Sa3675, Sa3756, Sa3807, Sa3895) National Organization for Women, Metro St
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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