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Houston Area NOW and Other Feminist Activities Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 2002-003

This collection is comprised of the files maintained by the members of the Houston Area (National Organization for Women) NOW. Not all of the files pertain specifically to Houston NOW activities and organizations because several of the members were active in other NOW affiliated organizations. The collection is organized into 11 series: Houston area NOW; Texas NOW organization(s) ; Other state, regional and/or local NOW organizations; National NOW; NOW task forces and committees; NOW social and political activism; NOW and other feminist conferences; Houston area NOW affiliates; Publications; Newspaper clippings; NOW Memorabilia. The collection contains correspondence, financial records, promotional materials and an extensive series of publications and newspaper clippings relating to women’s rights and the NOW organization. Additionally the collection contains a variety of ephemera used to promote women’s rights, and the NOW organization including t-shirts, buttons, posters and other artifacts. Many of the long runs of newsletters and publications in this collection have been removed and catalogued separately. It has been noted in the finding aid when this has occurred.

Dates

  • 1970-1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian. Reproduction decisions will be made by Special Collections staff on a case-by-case basis.

Extent

13.5 linear feet

Historical Information

Founded in 1970 by Sally and Bart Hacker the Houston chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) organized to help further the goals of the National Organization for Women. The national NOW website states that “Since its founding in 1966, NOW’s goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society.” Houston Area NOW has been very active in education reform and media reform, having successfully formed task forces that helped eliminate sexist language in textbooks, and radio and television programs in the Houston and greater Texas areas. Houston Area NOW members also played instrumental roles in forming related groups such as the Texas Women’s Political Caucus and the Harris County Women’s Political Caucus which contributed to the elimination of sexist hiring practices by many major Houston area employers. The National and Houston Area NOW organizations, in particular, have been working towards passage of the Equal Rights Amendment after it narrowly missed ratification in 1972 and the organization continues to be active in efforts for reproductive freedom, women’s health and anti-discrimination initiatives for women and GLBT individuals.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Houston Area NOW collection is a combination of several collections and additional items from anonymous donors.

Collections combined: Peggy Hall NOW collection (2006-004), Janet Pierce NOW collection (2003-006), Betty Barnes NOW collection (2002-003), Donna Medley NOW and Feminism Collection 1970-1982 (1998-013), Marjorie Randal National Women's Conference Collection (1996-007)

Contributing material: Nancy Kuykendall NOW Donation, Frances Hicks NOW document donation, Ann Robinson Feminist materials.

Related Materials

Harris County Women’s Political Caucus Records

https://findingaids.lib.uh.edu/repositories/2/resources/294

Title
Guide to the Houston Area NOW and Other Feminist Activities Collection
Author
Kristen Nicole McAlear, Timothy Wyatt
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of Houston Libraries Special Collections
MD Anderson Library
4333 University Drive
Houston TX 77204-2000 USA
713-743-9750