National Organization for Women, Ames Chapter records

Collection

Identifier: IWA0658

Staff Only
Please navigate to collection organization to place requests.

Scope and Contents

The Ames NOW records date from 1973 to 1986 and measure 7 linear inches. The records are arranged in three series: Administrative, Political activities, and NOW chapters. These records focus on the campaign for the ERA which culminated in defeat at the polls on November 4, 1980.

The Administrative series (1973-1986) contains chapter by-laws, chapter evaluation, minutes, membership and treasury records.

The Political activities series (1976-1986) contains chapter newsletters (through several title changes), materials from the ERA campaign, and educational projects. Projects included public meetings dealing with assertiveness training, equal employment opportunities, consciousness raising, women's health and reproductive rights, rape crisis and prevention, day care, pornography and censorship.

NOW chapters series (1977-1986) include records from Johnson County-Iowa City, Des Moines, and state of Iowa.

Dates

Creation: 1973-1986

Creator

National Organization for Women. Ames Chapter (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The records are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

On May 13, 1973 application for a charter for the Ames National Organization for Women (NOW) was submitted to NOW headquarters in Washington, D.C. A news release dated May 19, 1980 announced a "reorganized" Ames chapter. On September 13, 1980 the state coordinator of NOW granted formal chartering of the Ames chapter. The charter states as its purpose "to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men." Although working for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was its main activity, the chapter also promoted educational projects throughout Ames and worked closely with the state NOW organization.