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Box 1

 box — Box: 1
Identifier: Box 1

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Margaret "Peg" Anderson papers date from 1973 to 1978 and measure 12 linear inches. There is very little material in this collection which relates to Anderson herself. Most of the collection pertains to the organizations with which she was affiliated. The collection is arranged in 5 series: Biographical; Iowa Women's Political Caucus; International Women's Year; National Women's Political Caucus; and Topical files.

The Biographical series consists of two items, Anderson's resume, which was compiled at the time that she was seeking election as chair of the IWPC, and a publicity photograph.

The Iowa Women's Political Caucus series consists of materials relating to a variety of IWPC activities, primarily during the years 1975 to 1977, when Anderson was chair. This material is of a similar nature to that found in the Iowa Women's Political Caucus records held by the Iowa Women's Archives, though the latter records date for the most part from 1973 to 1975. The Peg Anderson series of IWPC materials, however, is less extensive than the IWPC records. Included in this series are general informational material, membership lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and position papers. Correspondence files contain (in addition to correspondence) minutes, pamphlets, planning materials for state conventions, information on legislative races and Anderson's acceptance speeches when she was named state chair of the IWPC.

Material on the Black Hawk County chapter of the IWPC covers the years 1973 to 1977. Newsletters from other county chapters are also found in this series. In June of 1977, the Iowa Women's Caucus Research and Education Center (the tax-exempt branch of the IWPC) held its first Girls Leadership Camp which was attended by eighty high school girls. Organizational and printed material related to the camp are included in this series. In 1976, the IWPC held an exhibition tennis match to support the Equal Rights Amendment. The exhibition featured tennis pros Billie Jean King and Mona Schallau Guerrant (an Iowa native) and State Senator Minnette Doderer. Materials related to this event include correspondence and publicity materials.

In 1975, at the International Women's Year conference in Mexico City, leaders called for each member of the United Nation to focus on its own country's problems and gains in women's rights. In response to this mandate, President Gerald Ford appropriated funds for the organization of the National Women's Conference in Houston in 1977. Peg Anderson was a delegate to both the State Coordination Committee and to the Houston conference.

Materials in the International Women's Year> series include those related to National Women's Agenda Day (December 2, 1977), to the Iowa Coordination Committee on IWY (the committee that organized the Iowa Women's Meeting at which delegates to the national conference were selected and the positions and priorities of Iowa women were negotiated) and to the National Women's Conference. This series also includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, national updates, a manual for planning the state women's meetings, and a copy of the official report (and dissenting opinions) from the Iowa Women's Meeting, held June 10-12, 1977.

The National Women's Political Caucus series includes newsletters, correspondence, and general printed material of this national organization with which the IWPC was affiliated. As chair of the IWPC, Anderson corresponded with NWPC leaders and attended national conventions. In 1975 former chair of the IWPC Roxanne Conlin ran for the position of national chair. She lost to Audrey Rowe Colom. Campaign materials from this election are filed with other materials related to the 1975 NWPC convention. This series also contains materials related to two steering committee meetings held in 1977 (one of which took place in Des Moines). The Topical files consist of two folders: information on spouse abuse legislation and materials related to women's centers.

Dates

  • Creation: 1973-1978

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 12.00 linear inches

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)