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SERIES Identifier: MC 575: T-97: T-125: Vt-1: Phon-7

Series VI: ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMISSIONS, 1943-1980 (#1378-1386, 1388-1655, 1657-1780, 2045)

Scope and Contents

Series VI, ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMISSIONS, 1943-1980 (#1378-1386, 1388-1655, 1657-1780, 2045), includes minutes, reports, membership cards, correspondence, and program and printed material from groups with which Friedan was involved, in both large and small ways. Large sections of the series involve women's organizations of which she was a founding member: the First Women's Bank in New York City, the National Association to Repeal Abortion Laws (NARAL), the National Organization for Women (NOW), NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (NOW LDEF), and the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC). Several of these organizations experienced name changes; after 1973, NARAL changed its name to the National Abortion Rights Action League, keeping its acronym. A significant amount of material is related to an Economic Think Tank for Women, which Friedan was involved in trying to establish in the early 1970s. It was affiliated with the Center for Policy Reseach, an organization associated with Friedan's friend, sociologist Amitai Etzioni. Some of the records from NOW and NWPC are restricted in accordance with the Library's respective agreements with each organization. The series is arranged alphabetically by organization.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933-1985

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions:

Access. During the lifetimes of the Friedan children (Daniel, Emily, and Jonathan), all readers must sign a special permission form.

Some folders in Series III (#415-425, 427-429, 431-434, 457, 571-576, 623a-625, 736-738b, 741-752) are unavailable for research while being digitized.

Series I. #63a-65, 113-218, 221at-236, and 246 are closed until January 1, 2029; 219a-220 and 237-245 are closed until January 1, 2040.

Series II. #297a-298c are closed until January 1, 2029.

Series III. Researchers must sign a special form for access to #411, 425, 437, 445, 455, 457, 460, 741-752, 758-765, 787-800, 933, 951-953, 958, 968, 977, 979, and 988 until 80 years from the date of the most recent document in the respective folder. #716-735 are closed for 80 years from the date of the most recent document in the respective folder.

Series IV. Researchers must sign a special form for access to #1106 and 1295 until 80 years from the date of the most recent document in the respective folder.

Series VI. #1611-1614, 1617-1620, and 1622-1626 (membership records) are closed for 50 years in accordance with the Library's agreement with the National Organization for Women (NOW); #1674b is closed until January 1, 2035; #1710-1719, 1721-1722, 1724-1728 and 1730 are restricted in accordance with the Library's agreement with the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC); researchers must sign a special form for access to #1730 until 80 years from the date of the most recent document in the respective folder.

As of 2014, NARAL-related folders in Series VI are no longer restricted.

As of November 2015, access to folders #1473-1546, 1548-1571, 1573-1587, 1589-1605, 1607-1631, 1633, 1635-1637, 1650-1655, 1657-1660, and 1669 no longer requires written permission from the National Organization for Women.

As of June 2017, access to folders #1638-1642, 1644-1646, and 1649 no longer requires written permission from NOW-NYC.

Series VII. Researchers must sign a special form for access to #1787 until 80 years from the date of the most recent document in the respective folder.

Series VIII. #2123f is closed until January 1, 2029.

An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.

Extent

78.35 linear feet (167 file boxes, 3 folio boxes, 3 folio+ boxes, 1 oversize box) plus 4 folio+ folders, 2 supersize folders, 52 photograph folders, 4 folio photograph folders, 2 folio+ photograph folders, 2 negative folders, 2 slide folders, 68 audiotapes, 6 videotapes, 2 phonograph records, 2 objects, 1 reel of microfilm (M-62)

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository

The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.

Contact:
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