Audiotape collection of the National Women's Conference, 1977
Overview
Audiotape collection of recordings from the National Women's Conference, held November 18-21, 1977, in Houston, Texas.
Dates
- Creation: 1977
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Unrestricted. An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. Copyright in the audiotapes created by the National Women's Conference is held by the National Women's Conference. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.
Copying. Audiotapes may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
42 audiotapesThe audiotape collection consists of speeches, plenary sessions, and Distinguished Women in Government lectures recorded live at the National Women's Conference, November 18-21, 1977, in Houston, Texas. For related audiotapes, see the Ann J. Lane, National Women's Conference in Houston interviews (T-66). For related papers, see National Women's Conference Committee Records, and National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year Records, among other materials.
Series I, OPENING CEREMONIES, RESOLUTIONS, AND DISARMAMENT DISCUSSION (#1-9), includes recordings of opening speeches, debates, and voting on resolutions; and a panel discussion on women's role in disarmament talks.
Series II, DISTINGUISHED WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT LECTURES (#10-42), contains recordings of lectures by women in executive positions within federal and state governments.
HISTORY
During November 18-21, 1977, twenty-thousand women gathered in Houston, Texas for the National Women's Conference, an outgrowth of International Women's Year, 1975. The conference aimed to address legal, economic, and social changes needed to ensure equality for women. Twenty-six resolutions on women's rights were proposed, voted upon by delegates, and presented to the Carter administration and Congress for adoption. The opening ceremony speakers included: First Ladies Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson, activists Coretta Scott King, Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, Barbara Jordan, Liz Carpenter, and Jean Stapleton. Maya Angelou read the declaration of intent.
Heated debates ensued over the Equal Rights Amendment, reproductive rights, child care funding, sexual orientation, and the rights of disabled, minority and aging women. There was also a lengthy discussion about disarmament, and a series of lectures by women in high-ranking government positions such as chair of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Assistant Secretary for the United States Department of Commerce, and head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
ARRANGEMENT
The collection is arranged in two series:
- Series I.OPENING CEREMONIES, RESOLUTIONS, AND DISARMAMENT DISCUSSION (#1-9)
- Series II. DISTINGUISHED WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT LECTURES (#10-42)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number: 78-M44
These audiotapes were purchased by the Schlesinger Library in 1978.
Processing Information
Processed: September 2009
By: Melissa Dollman
Genre / Form
Topical
- Civic leaders--United States
- Disarmament
- Equal pay for equal work--United States
- Equal rights amendments--United States
- Feminism--United States
- Feminists--United States
- International Women's Year, 1975
- Sex discrimination against women--United States
- Women government executives--United States.
- Women in the civil service--United States
- Women political activists--United States
- Women's rights--United States--Congresses
- Women--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States
- Women--Political activity--United States
Subject
- Friedan, Betty (Person)
- Title
- National Women's Conference. Audiotape collection of the National Women's Conference, 1977: A Finding Aid
- Author
- Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- sch01249
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.