The Ward M. Canaday Center

for Special Collections

The University of Toledo

Finding Aid

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN

TOLEDO, OHIO, CHAPTER Records, 1956-1995

MSS-035

Size: 3 lin. ft

Provenance: The Toledo chapter of the National Organization for Women donated its records to the Ward M. Canaday Center in 1986, 1989, and 1995.

Access: open

Related Collections: 

Copyright: As copies of Federal records, copyright probably does not apply to entries in this volume. The original application files are part of Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration, in the National Archives.  Researchers bear full legal responsiblity for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

 

Completed by:  Denise D. Green, February 1987. Additions by Barbara A. Shirk, August 1989 and July 1995

 

Reformatted by: Arjun Sabharwal, September 2009

 

 

Introduction

Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest women's rights organization in the U.S.  NOW reported 260,000 members in nine regional chapters, 50 state chapters and over 800 local chapters in 1986.  (Encyclopedia of Associations 1987, v.1, p. 1456).  NOW seeks full equality for women in all areas of American society; especially in politics, education and business. 

 

            The Greater Toledo Chapter of NOW has been a vocal, effective force in Northwest Ohio politics, industry and culture since 1972.  The Toledo NOW records provide extensive evidence of chapter achievements, interests and activities.

 

            There are no restrictions on the use of, or access to, this collection.

 

Organizational History

1972, July.  Toledo, Ohio, Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) founded.

 

1973.  Toledo NOW Participated in campaign for Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratification in Ohio.

 

1974.  Continued campaigning for National ERA ratification; hosted Ohio NOW annual convention in Toledo, Ohio.

 

1976.  Participated in Southwyck Charity Bazaar and Old West End Festival; continued campaigning for ERA and reproductive rights of women.

 

1977.  Sponsored Toledo ERA "walkathon" and abortion "speakout;" participated in Toledo Public Schools Title IX Advisory Committee.

 

1978.  Joined with other NOW chapters at rally against Akron, Ohio ordinance regulating abortion clinics and in ERA rallies and ratification extension campaign.  Toledo NOW hosted Ohio NOW annual convention.

 

1979.  Led campaign against Toledo city Maternal Health ordinance; sponsored ERA "walkathon" and series of consciousness-raising groups.

 

1980.  Labor Task Force formed to coordinate Toledo NOW helping with job discrimination complaints; continued anti-Maternal Health Ordinance and pro-ERA campaigns.

 

1981.  Joined nationwide "Stop Human Life Amendment Campaign;" held final Toledo ERA rally and walkathon; continued consciousness-raising groups.

 

1982.  Supported candidacies of Marcy Kaptur and Richard Celeste.

 

1983.  Supported Linda Furney's campaign for city council.

 

Scope and Content Note

The collection is arranged in three series.  Series one is Toledo NOW records of monthly meetings, rallies, task forces, a University of Toledo student NOW group, social events, annual political activities, the chapter newsletter and relations with Toledo area women's organizations. A substantial part of the records document Toledo NOW campaigns for the Equal Rights Amendment(ERA); for Title IX compliance; and Toledo NOW's association with American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees,  Local 544.

 

            Series two consists of Ohio and regional NOW materials, including minutes, annual conference programs, newsletters, legislative lobbying, pro-choice and pro-ERA materials. Series three is national NOW materials, including nationwide bylaws; national conference programs; task force activities; boycotts; lobbying and extensive abortion rights; job discrimination; affirmative action; and ERA campaign literature.

 

            The Toledo NOW records date from 1956 to 1995.  They should prove to be a valuable resource for research into women's rights and politics in Northwestern Ohio.

 

Box-Folder Inventory

 

Box      Folder 

1                      Toledo Chapter

             1                     Bylaws

             2                     Organizational charts

             3                     New members meeting, 1978-86 (includes

                                                overview of Toledo NOW history)

                                    Minutes (both general and board meeting

                                                minutes)

             4                                             1973

             5                                             1974

             6                                             1975

             7                                             1976

             8                                             1978-1979

             9                                             1980

            10                                            1981-1982

            11                                            1983-1984

                                    Correspondence

            12                                1973

            13                                1974

            14                                1975

            15                                1976-1977

            16                                1978

            17                                1979

            18                                1982-1989

            19                                1993-1995

            20                    Treasurer's reports, chapter finances

and insurance, 1973-1984

Box      Folder

            21                    New members and membership lists, 1975-1983

            22                    Old membership lists, 1972-1982

            23                    University of Toledo Chapter -

                                                membership lists, 1982 Charter

                                    Task forces

                                                Sexuality, Lesbianism and Gay Rights

            24                                            General

            25                                            1975 controversy

            26                                Rape

            27                                Women and Religion

            28                                Media

            29                                Toledo Area Battered Women

            30                                Employment Compliance

            31                    Membership survey, 1980

            32                    Survey results

            33                    Women '74 conference

                                    Candidates Night

            34                                1973

            35                                1974

            36                                1975

            37                                1977

            38                    City Council candidates survey, 1983

                                    Women's Equality Day

            39                                August 26, 1973

            40                                August 26, 1974

            41                                August 26, 1976

            42                    Protest against violence against women, 1975-1994

            43                    Tenth anniversary celebration, 1972-1982

            44                    Pro-choice activities, 1975-1986

            45                    National and local press releases, 1974-1984

                                    Newsletter

            46                                1974

            47                                1975

            48                                1976

            49                                1977

            50                                1978

            51                                1979

            52                                1980

            53                                1981

            54                                1982

            55                                1983

            56                                1984

            57                                1985-1989

            58                                n.d.

            59                    Women Against Violence - Take Back the Night Rally

            60                    Speaker's Bureau

            61                    League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County

Box      Folder

 

            62                    How to run a meeting or conference

            63                    Male Chauvinist Pig Award

            64                    Pattern for NOW letters and logo

            65                    Sex discrimination lawsuits and motions

            66                    Sexual harassment, 1980-1994

            67                    Sex discrimination in the workplace, 1975-1983

            68                    Divorce Equity, Inc., Cleveland Heights, Ohio

            69                    Toledo Coalition against Government Interference;

                                                chapter pro-choice activities, 1981-1984

            70                    Toledo Area Women's Organizations Coalition, 1978

            71                    Toledo Area Women's Organizational Network (W.O.N.), 1982

            72                    Toledo Area Coalition for a More Effective

                                                Ohio Civil Rights Commission

            73                    Toledo Area Coalition for Affirmative Action

            74                    Toledo Issue 6:  Maternal Health/Abortion

                                                Regulation Ordinance, 1979-1980

            75                    Organization for Rehabilitation through Training

            76                    Essay Contest, 1990-1993

 

2                                  Campaign in support of ERA

                                                General

             1                                             1972-1977

             2                                             1978-1980

                                                Marches and rallies

             3                                             Toledo walkathon for ERA, Sept. 24, 1977

             4                                             National ERA march, July 9, 1978

             5                                             National NOW-ERA walk, Aug. 23, 1980

             6                                             Toledo walkathon for ERA, Sept. 26, 1981

             7                                             National March for Women's Equality/

                                                                        Women's Lives, March 9, 1986; April 9, 1989

             8                                             Countdown rally for ERA ratification,

                                                                        June 30, 1981

             9                                 Petition campaign

            10                                ERA Awareness Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 1981

            11                                Statement on failure of ERA, June 30, 1982

                                    Title IX

            12                                Toledo Public Schools Compliance

            13                                Toledo City Advisory Committee on Sex

                                                            Equality in Education

            14                                Ohio NOW materials, 1975-1976

            15                                Dayton, Ohio, schools

            16                                National NOW Task Force on Title IX

            17                                Complaints, How to file

            18                                Explanatory materials,

                                                            clippings, background papers, 1971-1976

            19                                Title IX Update 1984, 1979

Box      Folder

 

            20                                Sexism and Education

                                    American Federation of State, County, and

                                                Municipal Employees (A.F.S.C.M.E.), Local 544

            21                                                        Constitution

            22                                                        Annual Reports, 1976-1977

            23                                                        Membership meeting and Steward's

                                                                                    Council minutes, 1973-1977

            24                                                        Executive Board minutes, 1973-1978

                                                                        Correspondence, 1976-1977

            25                                                                    Outgoing

            26                                                                    Incoming

            27                                Newsletter, 1976-1977

            28                    A.F.S.C.M.E., A.F.L.-C.I.O., Ohio

                                                P.E.O.P.L.E. Convention, 1975

                        Ohio NOW

            29                    Bylaws, 1974-1984

            30                    Chapter directories, 1979, 1984, 1994

                                    Board minutes

            31                                1972-1973

            32                                1974

            33                                1975-1976

            34                                1982-1983

            35                                1984-1995

 

2                                  Conferences

            36                                Toledo, Ohio, June 24, 1972; Nov. 16-17, 1974

            37                                Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 19-21, 1976

            38                                Toledo, Ohio, Nov. 17-19, 1978

            39                                Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 16-18, 1979

            40                                Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1980

            41                                Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 12-13, 1981

            42                                Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 11-12, 1982; Oct. 23-24, 1993

            43                    Newsletter, 1976-1977

            44                    President's newsletter, 1982-1984

            45                    Sample newsletters of Ohio NOW chapters

            46                    Columbus chapter action report, 1984

            47                    Ohio State Labor and Employment Task Force

            48                    Unfinished agenda of 1975 Governor's Task

                                                Force Report for the Implementation

                                                            of the ERA

            49                    Campaign to pass ERA, 1973-1974

            50                    Survey of Ohio banking industry and state bank

                                                action

            51                    Ohio politics, 1982

            52                    Child Support Bill, 1985

            53                    Ohio Gay Rights Parade

Box      Folder

 

            54                    Legislative alerts, 1984

            55                    PAC state regulations and operating manual

            56                    Ohio General Assembly Bills 1983-1984 - squeal

                                                rule and pro-ERA

            57                    Pro-choice, reproductive rights, human life

                                                amendment

            58                    Freedom of Choice, Ohio (coalition of

                                                pro-choice groups)

            59                    Protest against Akron abortion ordinance,

                                                1978

            60                    Midwest NOW chapters, regional conferences,

                                                newsletter, announcements, 1972-1977

            61                    Midwest Regional NOW Conference, Milwaukee,

                                                Wisconsin, May 1-2, 1976

                                    Great Lakes Regional NOW

            62                                Conference, Chicago, Illinois, Nov. 16-18, 1984

            63                                Board Meeting minutes

            64                    Ohio AFL-CIO

            65                    Ohio Civil Rights Commission

            66                    Feminist readings - bibliography and catalog

 

3                      National NOW

             1                     Bylaws, 1976

             2                     Proposed Bylaws changes, 1973-1978

             3                     Chapter convening/chartering guidelines

                                                and services to chapters, model bylaws

             4                     National NOW chapter phone banks guidelines

                                                and chapter directory, 1980

 

                                    Board Minutes

             5                                 1973-1978

             6                                 1982-1984

             7                                 1993-1994

             8                     Membership recruitment forms, ads,

                                                pamphlets, press releases

                                    Conferences

             9                                 Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 3-6, 1971

            10                                Houston, Texas, May 24-27, 1974

            11                                Philadelphia, A, Oct. 24-27, 1975

            12                                Detroit, MI, Apr. 22-24, 1977

            13                                Washington, DC, Oct. 6-9, 1978

            14                                Washington, DC, Oct. 10-12, 1981

            15                                Miami Beach, Florida, 1984

            16                                New Orleans, Louisiana, July 19-21, 1985

            17                                Denver, Colorado, June 13-15, 1986

                                    Task forces

Box      Folder

 

            18                                Prostitution

            19                                Minority Women and Women's Rights

            20                                Volunteerism

            21                                Women and the Arts

            22                                Labor Unions

            23                                Women and Poverty

            24                                Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations

            25                                Women and Religion

            26                                National Politics, 1975

            27                    Legal Defense and Education Fund

            28                    Committee to Combat Racism

            29                    NOW materials order form and list

            30                    Archives

            31                    Civil Rights Act of 1984

            32                    Insurance legislative action

            33                    Stop Human Life Amendment campaign, 1982

            34                    Lesbian rights resource kit, 1982

            35                    Lesbian/gay rights 1984 project

            36                    1984 Presidential campaign

            37                    Political Action Committee, 1984

            38                    National political activity and 1984 national political conventions

            39                    Abortion and clinic violence campaign, 1983-1989

            40                    First Women's State of the Union Address -

                                                Jan. 13, 1977 (Karen DeCrow, President)

                                    Walkathons

            41                                Aug. 27, 1977

            42                                1983

                                    Equal Rights Amendment

            43                                Pro-ERA materials, 1972-1979

            44                                National campaigns, 1980-1983

            45                                National outreach campaign kit

            46                    “Women Can Make the Difference,” January 1982

            47                    Women's Truth Squad on Reagan, 1982-1984

            48                    Women's employment groups

            49                    Women and employment

            50                    Why women work

            51                    Pay equity cases

            52                    Women and Social Security

            53                    J.P. Stevens boycott campaign, 1977-1980

            54                    Karen Silkwood case

            55                    Sears, Roebuck & Co. vs. NOW, 1974-1975

            56                    Pregnancy Disability Bill, 1978

            57                    Women and business

            58                    How to influence legislators and legislation

            59                    Legal aid and labor law material

            60                    National Commission on the Observance of

Box      Folder

 

                                                International Women's Year

            61                    Bogus Abortion Clinics, 1985-1987

                        Clippings

            62                    Toledo

            63                    Ohio

            64                    National

            65        Miscellaneous, 1977-1994

 

 

 

Last Updated: 1/3/12