Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Detroit Branch Records 16.5 linear feet (14 SB, 2 OS) 1910s-2000s, bulk 1960-2003 Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Finding aid written by Gavin Strassel on August 14, 2014. Accession Number: UR001870 Creator: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Detroit Branch Acquisition: The collection was donated to the Reuther Library by Terry Futvoye- Micus on July 27, 2004 and February 2, 2007. Language: Material entirely in English. Access: Collection is open for research. Use: Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials. Restrictions: Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor. Notes: Citation style: “Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Detroit Branch Records, Box [#], Folder [#], Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University” Related Material: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom: Meta Riseman Records Audiovisual materials such as audio and video and cassettes were transferred to the Reuther’s Audiovisual Department (see box 16 in the inventory). Two folders of photographic negatives were also transferred to the Audiovisual Department. PLEASE NOTE: Folders in this collection are not necessarily arranged in any particular order. The box folder listing provides an inventory based on their original order. Subjects may be dispersed throughout the collection. Abstract The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a non-profit, non- governmental organization dedicated to ending war and bringing about world peace. Formed in 1919 along with the Michigan branch, Detroit’s WILPF branch has been active in pushing for peace and equality throughout the region and nationally. These actions reflected in the collection include lobbying politicians (notably Michigan governors, Representative John Dingell, and Detroit mayor Coleman Young), writing publications advocating their positions on various issues, holding public demonstrations for numerous causes, and more. WILPF has continually operated since its formation, but activity and membership spiked in the 1960s in response to the Vietnam War. Noteworthy past members include Meta Riseman (who would go on to serve as the head of WILPF’s US branch), former president Agnes Bryant, and Alice Herz (the first American to commit self-immolation in protest of the war in Vietnam). The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Detroit Branch Records contains the records of WILPF’s Detroit chapter with some materials from the Michigan state branch. Much of the collection is comprised of records from meetings for the two chapters and their various subgroups. These reports and meeting minutes reflect the goals and activities of the local WILPF chapters. Other notable sections are the records for WILPF’s Peace Day Camp, compiled materials on prominent local WILPF members, numerous subject files, WILPF publications and pamphlets advocating various issues, planning materials for special events, legislative activities with local and federal politicians, newsletters, and scrapbooks documenting the organization’s history. Important Subjects: Anti-war demonstrations Detroit (Mich.) Nuclear disarmament Peace movements Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--United States Women’s Organizations Women’s rights Women’s rights--United States--History--20th Century Important Names: Addams, Jane, 1860-1935 Herz, Helga, 1912-2010 Riseman, Meta Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Arrangement Folders are listed by their location within each box. They are not necessarily arranged, so any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entire collection. 2 Box 1 1 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom activists, news articles, 1990s (1 of 2) 2 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom activists, news articles, 1990s (2 of 2) 3 Activities, 1970s-1990s (1 of 2) 4 Activities, 1970s-1990s (2 of 2) 5 Event programs, 1970s-1990s (1 of 3) 6 Event programs, 1970s-1990s (2 of 3) 7 Event programs, 1970s-1990s (3 of 3) 8 Solidarity House dinner event, 1975 May 13 9 Activities and events, 1960s-1990s 10 Women's Vote Project, 1984 11 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom events, 1970s-2000s (1 of 3) 12 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom events, 1970s-2000s (2 of 3) 13 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom events, 1970s-2000s (3 of 3) 14 Peace Run, 1999 15 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Human Rights Action, 1968-1969 16 Challenging Corporate Power, event packet, undated 17 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Detroit's global activities, undated 18 Cities of Peace Project, event packet, [2000s] 19 Women's Views on Global Security, booklet, 1989 20 Common $ense, poster, [1992] 21 Events and programs, promotional materials and correspondence, 1990s-2000s (1 of 3) 22 Events and programs, promotional materials and correspondence, 1990s-2000s (2 of 3) 23 Events and programs, promotional materials and correspondence, 1990s-2000s (3 of 3) 24 Metropolitan Coalition of Women, 1968-1970 25 Star program, 1982 26 Events, programs and correspondence, 1980s-2000s 27 Human Rights reports, 1980s 28 Human Rights Day, 1960s (1 of 2) 29 Human Rights Day, 1960s (2 of 2) 30 Michigan branch minutes, 1940-1946 31 UNICEF certificates of appreciation, 1966-1980 32 Literature Chairman reports, 1970s 33 WILPF Members in the News vol. III, scrapbook, undated 34 WILPF Members in the News vol. II, scrapbook, undated (1 of 2) 35 WILPF Members in the News vol. II, scrapbook, undated (2 of 2) 36 WILPF newsletters, 1980s-2000s 37 Detroit branch membership meetings, 1978 38 Political leaders, correspondence, 1960s-2000s (1 of 2) 39 Political leaders, correspondence, 1960s-2000s (2 of 2) 40 Corresponding Secretary, 1969 41 Corresponding Secretary, 1967 42 Correspondence, 1980-1985 43 Correspondence, 1990s 44 Corresponding Secretary, 1960-1970s 45 White House, correspondence, 1979 46 Letters of congratulations for diamond jubilee from Detroit leaders, 1979 Box 2 1 Helga Herz, 1990s-2000s 2 Terry Futvage, 1997 3 Meta Riseman, 1950s-1960s 3 4 Jeannette Cleary, 1960s 5 Activists. 1980s-1990s 6 WILPF leadership forms, 1990s-2000s 7 WILPF activities, 1980s-2000s 8 Agnes Bryant, 1990s 9 Treasurer's Reports, 1961-1974 10 Treasurer's Reports, 1988-1994 11 Treasurer's Reports, 1981-1991 12 Treasurer's reports, 1987-1988 13 Financial reports, 1996-2001 14 Newsletters, 1965-1980 15 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1990s (1 of 4) 16 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1990s (2 of 4) 17 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1990s (3 of 4) 18 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1990s (4 of 4) 19 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1980s (1 of 4) 20 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1980s (2 of 4) 21 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1980s (3 of 4) 22 WILPF Newsletter, newsletter and production materials, 1980s (4 of 4) 23 WILPF Newsletter, 1970s (1 of 4) 24 WILPF Newsletter, 1970s (2 of 4) 25 WILPF Newsletter, 1970s (3 of 4) 26 WILPF Newsletter, 1970s (4 of 4) 27 WILPF Newsletter, 1960s (1 of 2) 28 WILPF Newsletter, 1960s (2 of 2) 29 WIL and WILPF newsletters, 1940s 30 Articles about WILPF, 1990s 31 WILPF annual meetings, 1970s-1990s 32 Events and activities, 1993 33 Meetings and reports, 1992-2002 34 WILPF Detroit activists, 1999-2002 35 Legislative Conference, 1979 36 Legislative activities, 1980 37 Legislative conference, 1980 38 Legislative activities, 1961 39 Legislative activities, 1963-1965 (1 of 2) 40 Legislative activities, 1963-1965 (2 of 2) 41 Report of legislative committee, 1962-1963 42 Legislative workshop, 1963 43 Legislative secretary, correspondence, 1965-1967 (1 of 3) 44 Legislative secretary, correspondence, 1965-1967 (2 of 3) 45 Legislative secretary, correspondence, 1965-1967 (3 of 3) 46 Legislative meeting, 1966 March 47 Michigan Committee on Immigration, 1965 48 January program materials, 1965 49 Office correspondence, 1963 50 Legislative correspondence, 1964 51 Incoming correspondence from legislators, 1968-1969 (1 of 2) 52 Incoming correspondence from legislators, 1968-1969 (2 of 2) 53 Legislative Conference,1966 54 Vietnam War opposition, 1965 55 Correspondence with legislators 1969-1970 4 56 Legislation, 1969-1970 57 Legislative conference, 1971 58 Legislative conference, 1978 Box 3 1 Legislative kit, 1976 April 2 Legislative conference, 1977 3 Legislative conference, 1975 4 Legislative kit, 1975 5 Correspondence between Meta Riseman and legislators, 1973-1974 6 Legislative kit, 1974 7 Legislative conference, 1973 8 Legislative conference, 1972 9 Legislative conference kit, 1972 10 Incoming correspondence from legislators, 1972 11 Legislative conference kit, 1971 12 Legislative conference, 1970 (1 of 2) 13 Legislative conference, 1970 (2 of 2) 14 Fundraising events, 1990s-2000s (1 of 2) 15 Fundraising events, 1990s-2000s (2 of 2) 16 Fundraising notes, 1990s 17 Treasurer's reports, 1946-1952 (1 of 2) 18 Treasurer's reports, 1946-1952 (2 of 2) 19 Treasurer's reports and annual