Biography

The Des Moines branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was officially formed April 18, 1962. Men were admitted from the beginning. Concerned about war and nuclear testing, the Des Moines members studied government policy on nuclear testing and fallout, the war in Vietnam, the universal draft, the national defense budget, and the arms race. Taking its cue from the original WILPF founded in 1915 by Jane Addams, the group stressed active participation in the form of letter writing, informational rallies, study groups and demonstrations. Eventually its concerns expanded to issues regarding the population explosion, apartheid in South Africa, United States-Cuba relations, and civil liberties.

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