English
The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 in Washington D. C. to help achieve equality for women in all areas of life. In January of 1968, two women active in the national organization founded the Philadelphia Chapter. These records of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women, include newsletters of N. O. W. chapters, circulars, publications from the National, Pennsylvania and Chapter offices. Annual files concern subjects such as child care, employment, abortion legislation, and media.
National Organization for Women. Philadelphia Chapter Records, 1968-1977
Collection 2054
8 boxes, 3 lin. feet
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
In October of 1966, several prominent feminist men and women gathered in Washington D. C. to organize and develop the ideas behind a new group, the National Organization for Women. Among the group were Rev. Pauli Murray, an African-American women who was also an Episcopal minister, Aileen Hernandez, who became the second president of N. O. W. in 1971, and Betty Friedan, famed for her book, The Feminine Mystique. At this conference, the founding members of N. O. W. put together their Statement of Purpose. "The purpose of N. O. W. is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men.... N. O. W. is dedicated to the proposition that women, first and foremost, are human beings, who, like all other people in our society must have the chance to develop their fullest human potential." Later on, the focus of N. O. W. expanded to include "winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U. S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women's health issues; opposing racism and fighting bigotry against lesbians and gays; and ending violence against women."
As the national organization gained momentum, several Philadelphia women began work to organize their own chapter in 1968. On famed women's rights activist Alice Paul's birthday, January 11, 1968, the Philadelphia chapter was officially organized by Ernesta Ballard and Wilma Scott Heide. Ballard, a national board member, and Heide, a former
national president, brought together feminist women from the Philadelphia area to take up the goals of the national organization on a more local level. The goals of the Philadelphia chapter included: social, legal, and economic equality for women; an Equal Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution; the support of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that combats sex discrimination; the end of sex discrimination in all branches of municipal government in Philadelphia; the dissolution of Pennsylvania's ban on abortion; an end to educational stereotypes of women; support of female political candidates; government-funded child care; community outreach; and an improvement in the image of women in the media and greater society. Some of the chapter's initial programs included encouraging three Philadelphia newspapers to eliminate separate employment ads for men and women in 1973, and launching the 1st all-female produced and directed TV shows on the Philadelphia ABC affiliate, Channel 6, in 1974.
Faced with falling numbers, interest, and attendance at meetings, the Philadelphia Chapter of N. O. W. came dangerously close to dissolving in December of 1977. With the help of several members, who were also active in the Socialist Worker's Party, the Philadelphia chapter was revived. By 1980, the membership had nearly doubled to 425. However, by the early 1980s, the possibility of a national constitutional Equal Rights Amendment had vanished, so the local and state chapters were forced to refocus their energies. In association with the state chapter, Pennsylvania N. O. W., and other local chapters across the state, the Philadelphia chapter helped to create a political action committee (PA NOW PAC) to help raise money for feminist candidates. N. O. W., both nationally and locally, continues to work for reproductive rights, lesbian and gay rights, more legislation to combat violence against women, social and economic equality, and increasing the number of female political candidates. In fact most of the issues that N. O. W. championed in the 1960s and 1970s continue to be contentious in 2001, and will continue to do so for many years to come.
The records of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women are comprised mostly of printed material such as pamphlets, handouts, articles, and reports. The collection also includes smaller clutches of membership applications, photographs, incoming and outgoing correspondence, memorandum from the national organization, newsletters of the Philadelphia chapter, other local chapters, state and national organizations, legal documents, and minutes of the national board. It appears that these records were originally the office files of the chapter, and are arranged chronologically and alphabetically by subject within each year. One oversized box was added to accommodate larger posters and broadsides. These records, though limited, provide an interesting view into the issues and causes of the women's liberation movement of the 1970s. The collection covers a period of time in American history that is considered by many to be a radical and revolutionary era. Particularly for women's and minority rights, the 1960s and 1970s were a time riddled with upheaval and change. The women's liberation movement and the National Organization for Women are no exception. The 1975 National N. O. W. conference, held here in Philadelphia, is the best example of how that radicalism affected the movement. For the first time in N. O. W.'s history, a
radical slate of officers overtook the old guard of feminism and took control of the national organization as well as many local chapters. This moment, covered only marginally in the collection, caused a rift in the organization that lasted for years to come.
This collection contains materials that cover many of the crucial issues of the women's liberation movement. Most prominent among those issues is sex discrimination in the workplace, schools, and government. Several legal cases battling this issue are documented in this collection. One case that particularly stands out is that of the 1974 class-action suit of Penelope Brace v. Joseph F. O'Neill, Hillel S. Levinson, Foster B. Roser, Frank L. Rizzo, and the City of Philadelphia, which was tried in conjunction with the United States of America v. the City of Philadelphia. Brace was a female police officer in Philadelphia who charged the Police Department with sex discrimination in their hiring and promotion practices. Along with the materials on this case, various other issues of sex discrimination, particularly in the Philadelphia Police Department and city government, are addressed in the records of the Philadelphia Chapter of N. O. W. The Barefoot and Pregnant Award, issued annually by the chapter, is given "to persons in the community who have done the most to perpetuate outmoded images of women and who have refused to recognize that women are, in fact, human beings." In 1974, that award was bestowed upon Joseph O'Neill, the Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, and Charles Gallagher, the president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.
The collection also includes materials illuminating the organization's work to bring change in legislation that they felt discriminated against or impinged upon the rights of women. Throughout the 1970s, the local, state, and national branches of the organization fought for abortion rights, more protection for victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence, more economic rights for women seeking divorce, and of course, the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. While the amendment was never passed, the documentation in this collection helps to elucidate the battles that this organization and others did win in the fight for women's rights. One interesting aspect of this struggle is the fight for equal funding and support for girls' athletics in the Philadelphia Public School District. The efforts of N. O. W., and of the Philadelphia Chapter, to get more women involved in sports and more support for women athletes and coaches was the beginning of a larger movement that continues today.
Through the materials in this collection, a researcher could determine an accurate picture of how feminist women effected the social and political climate of Philadelphia through grass-roots activism, legal battles, education and community outreach.
Series I
1968-1972 Files
Box 1
Series II
1973 Files
Boxes 2-3
Series III
1974 Files
Boxes 4-5
Series IV
1975 Files
Boxes 6-7
Series V
1976-1977
Box 7
Series VI
Posters and Broadsides
Box 8
Abortion--Law and legislation
Daycare centers
Women--Employment
Women in mass media
Women--Political activity -- 20th century
Women--Societies and clubs--20th century
Reprocessed by: Mindy Steinberg
Processing Completed: January 2001
None.
The collection is open for research.
Gift of the National Organization for Women. Philadelphia Chapter, 1977.
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], National Organization for Women. Philadelphia Chapter Records (Collection 2054), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
The papers of several founding members of N. O. W., including Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray, are located at the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Toll, Jean Barth and Mildred S. Gillam, ed. Invisible Philadelphia: Community through Voluntary Organizations. Philadelphia: Atwater Kent Museum, 1995.
"1966 Charter of the National Organization for Women," (http://members.aol.com/profcunnea/1966now.htm).
"History and Structure of PA NOW," (http://www.libertynet.org/~panow/history.html).
"The History of the National Organization for Women," (http://209.27.163.32/history/history.html).
Series 1—1968-1972 Files
Barefoot and Pregnant Award
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
1
Counseling
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
2
Credit
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
3
Employment
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
4
Equal Rights Amendment
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
5
Fund Raising
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
6
Herstory
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
7
Legislation—Abortion
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
8
Legislation—Districts
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
9
Legislation—Lobbying
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
10
Legislation—Outreach
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
11
Legislation—Rape
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
12
Media
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
13
Membership
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
14
National Organization for Women
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
15
Neighborhood Chapters
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
16
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Magazine Advertisement Forms
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
17
Pennsylvania Treasurer's Guide
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
18
Photographs
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
19
Women's Studies
n. d. (1968-1977)
1
20
Employment—Department of Labor Pamphlets
1968-1969
1
21
Employment
1970
1
22
Child Care
1971
1
23
Employment
1971
1
24
Fund Raising
1971
1
25
Myths about Women
1971
1
26
National Organization for Women—Correspondence
1971
1
27
Child Care
1972
1
28
Employment
1972
1
29
Employment—Delaware Valley Career Opportunities
1972
1
30
Marriage and Divorce
1972
1
31
Media—F. C. C. Regulations Report
1972
1
32
National N. O. W.-Newsletter
1972
1
33
Pennsylvania N. O. W. -Directory
1972
1
34
Philadelphia Chapter
1972
1
35
Sexuality
1972
1
36
Series 2—1973 Files
1973 Files: A-N
2
Barefoot and Pregnant Award
1973
2
1
Bicentennial
1973
2
2
Cable T. V.
1973
2
3
Chapters—Newsletters
1973
2
4
Clippings
1973
2
5
Eastern Regional Conference
1973
2
6
Education
1973
2
7
Employment
1973
2
8
Employment—Compliance
1973
2
9
Employment—Workshop
1973
2
10
Fund Raising
1973
2
11
Health and Reproduction
1973
2
12
Image of Women
1973
2
13
Legislation—Dead Legislation
1973
2
14
Marriage and Divorce
1973
2
15
Media
1973
2
16
Myths about Women
1973
2
17
National Organization for Women—Minutes of the National Board
1973
2
18
National Organization for Women—National Conference
1973
2
19
National Organization for Women—Newsletter
1973
2
20
National Organization for Women—Task Forces
1973
2
21
1973 Files: P-Z
3
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
1973
3
1
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-State Convention Steering Committee
1973
3
2
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-State Convention
1973
3
3
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Minutes of the Board
1973
3
4
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Newsletters
1973
3
5
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Treasurer's Reports
1973
3
6
Philadelphia Urban League
1973
3
7
Rape
1973
3
8
Sexuality
1973
3
9
Sports
1973
3
10
Status of Women
1973
3
11
Super Sunday
1973
3
12
Tell-A-Woman
1973
3
13
Women in Military
1973
3
14
Women's Coalition for the Third Century
1973
3
15
Women's Studies
1973
3
16
Series 3—1974 Files
1974 Files: A-M
4
Advertisements
1974
4
1
Barefoot and Pregnant Award
1974
4
2
Brace, Penelope
1974
4
3
Chapter Newsletters
1974
4
4
Child Care
1974
4
5
Clippings
1974
4
6
Credit Union
1974
4
7
Cummings, Joan
1974
4
8
Eastern Regional Convention
1974
4
9
Education
1974
4
10
Employment
1974
4
11
Employment—Conference
1974
4
12
Employment—A Guide to Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination
1974
4
13
Fund Raising
1974
4
14
Health and Reproduction
1974
4
15
Image of Women
1974
4
16
Legislative—Abortion
1974
4
17
Legislative—Abortion—Poll-Raw Data
1974
4
18
Legislation—Dead Legislation
1974
4
19
Legislation—Outreach
1974
4
20
Marriage and Divorce
1974
4
21
Media
1974
4
22
Minority Women and Women's Rights
1974
4
23
1974 Files: N-W
5
National Organization for Women—Correspondence
1974
5
1
National Organization for Women—Minutes of the Board
1974
5
2
National Organization for Women—National Conference
1974
5
3
National Organization for Women—Newsletter
1974
5
4
National Organization for Women—Task Forces
1974
5
5
Pennsylvanians for Women's Rights
1974
5
6
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
1974
5
7
Pennsylvania N. O. W.
1974
5
8
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Magazine
1974
5
9
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-NOWsletter
1974
5
10
Sears
1974
5
11
Speakers Bureau
1974
5
12
Sexuality
1974
5
13
Sports
1974
5
14
Tell-A-Woman
1974
5
15
Women's Bank
1974
5
16
Women's Equality Day
1974
5
17
Women's Studies
1974
5
18
Women Strike for Peace
1974
5
19
Working Class Women
1974
5
20
Series 4—1975 Files
1975 Files: A-N
6
Advertisements
1975
6
1
Barefoot and Pregnant Award
1975
6
2
Blue Cross
1975
6
3
Chapter Newsletters
1975
6
4
Child Abuse
1975
6
5
Child Care
1975
6
6
Credit
1975
6
7
Eastern Regional Conference
1975
6
8
Education
1975
6
9
Elections
1975
6
10
Employment
1975
6
11
Federal Bureau of Investigation
1975
6
12
Health and Reproduction
1975
6
13
Image of Women
1975
6
14
International Women's Year
1975
6
15
Legislation—Abortion
1975
6
16
Legislation—Abuse
1975
6
17
Legislation—Dead Legislation
1975
6
18
Legislation—Outreach
1975
6
19
Legislation—Rape
1975
6
20
Marriage and Divorce
1975
6
21
Media
1975
6
22
National Organization for Women—Correspondence
1975
6
23
National Organization for Women—National Conference
1975
6
24
1975 Files: P-W
7
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Letters
1975
7
1
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Magazine
1975
7
2
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Minutes of the Board
1975
7
3
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Board Reports
1975
7
4
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-NOWsletter
1975
7
5
Police
1975
7
6
Potential Fund Raiser
1975
7
7
Rape
1975
7
8
Revenue Sharing
1975
7
9
Sexuality
1975
7
10
Sports
1975
7
11
Status of Women
1975
7
12
Women and Criminal Justice
1975
7
13
Women and Criminal Justice—Resource File
1975
7
14
Women in Military
1975
7
15
Women's Bank
1975
7
16
WPVI
1975
7
17
Series 5—1976-1977 Files
Elections
1976
7
18
Barefoot and Pregnant Award
1976
7
19
National Organization for Women—Correspondence
1976
7
20
National Organization for Women—Minutes of the Board
1976
7
21
Pennsylvania N. O. W.-Magazine
1976
7
22
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Action Meeting Minutes
1977
7
23
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Executive Meeting Minutes
1977
7
24
Philadelphia Chapter N. O. W.-Minutes of the Board
1977
7
25
Series 6—Posters and Broadsides
10 Miscellaneous Posters and Broadsides
(oversized)
8