Papers of NOW officer Patricia Ireland, 1972-2005

The majority of the Patricia Ireland papers document her professional career within NOW, as well as the general work of the organization. The papers were not in any order when received and have been arranged by the processor. Where possible, the original folder titles have been maintained and appear in quotation marks. Remaining titles were created by the processor, who also added information in square brackets.

Series I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND PERSONAL, 1985-1997 (#1.1-1.6), includes correspondence and research material related to the writing and publishing of Ireland's memoir, What Women Want, in 1996, and other published media about her. Additional articles and clippings that mention Ireland may be found throughout the collection.

Series II, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, 1972-2005 (#1.7-60.16), includes correspondence, reports, legal case files, notes, and other research and printed materials regarding NOW's work with women's rights and other social and political issues. Subseries are organized by Ireland's positions within NOW, and many file topics overlap among subseries, including National NOW conference and board meeting files, and training/workshop materials.

Subseries A, Florida and early NOW involvement, 1972-1988 (#1.7-16.8), includes records that document Ireland's work with Dade County NOW, Florida NOW, and as a representative to the national board. Of note are Ireland's correspondence and notes regarding Ellie Smeal's campaign for NOW president (#13.10-14.3); files documenting the NOW Equal Rights Amendment Countdown Campaign in Florida, including publicity, lobbying materials, and clippings (#6.5-8.9); and Ireland's correspondence and notes regarding the organization of the Puerto Rico chapter of NOW and the development of a bilingual NOW newspaper (#15.2-15.4). Dates of included items in the national NOW conference files may be earlier or later than the listed conference date. Files are arranged alphabetically, except for national NOW conference files, which are arranged chronologically.

Subseries B, National treasurer and executive vice president (1987-1991), 1974-1992 (#16.9-34.5, F+D.1), contains records regarding Ireland's work as national treasurer and executive vice president, as well as general work of NOW. Executive committee files contain mostly memos and correspondence regarding both internal administrative issues, public work, and meetings. Of note are legal case files and correspondence with the Federal Election Commission, including regarding their investigation into NOW PAC in response to complaints of misconduct from the National Conservative Political Action Committee (#23.11-24.6). Other records of interest include Ireland's campaign for NOW's vice-presidency as part of the United Feminist Action Campaign team (#26.12-27.9); NOW's guidelines for Project Stand Up for Women, legal case files and notes regarding Operation Rescue's rallies and protests at abortion clinics, and materials regarding NOW's direct clinic defense (#30.3-31.5); agendas, notes, evaluations, handouts, and correspondence relating to various trainings and workshops for NOW activists and leaders, including non-violent civil disobedience training; and articles, notes, reports, Commission for Responsive Democracy meeting agendas, strategies, and press for the creation of a viable political New Party based on progressive ideals (#25.9-26.5). Dates of included items in the national NOW conference files may be earlier or later than the listed conference date. Files are arranged alphabetically, except for national NOW conference files, which are arranged chronologically.

Subseries C, President (1991-2001), 1974-2001 (#34.6-59.12, Vt-189.1), contains records created during Ireland's tenure as NOW's national president. Chronological correspondence (#38.1-39.6) includes personal requests for funding or assistance in legal or personal matters and response letters regarding feminist and political issues. Correspondence and related files (#39.7-42.3) include reports, press releases, notes, and clippings. Topics include administrative issues, personal requests, NOW events and conferences, publicity, chapter issues, politics, fundraising, press, and issues such as Title IX, sexual harassment and violence, and abortion. Speaking engagement files, which also include book signing engagements, consist mostly of general information about the event, and programs or flyers; dates of included items may be earlier or later than the listed engagement date. Of note are the World March of Women 2000 printed materials and agenda (#59.10-59.11), and Fight the Right March 1996 materials, including information on the "religious right" (#43.4-43.5). Also included is one videotape of various television segments possibly compiled by the Fund for the Feminist Majority and featuring Patricia Ireland and Helen Neuborne speaking on feminist issues, including violence against women, President Bill Clinton and women, and Supreme Court candidates. Television programs include Good Morning America, Sally Jesse Raphael, and Twenty/Twenty. Dates of included items in the national NOW conference files, speaking engagement files, and speeches, writings, and related files, may be earlier or later than the listed dates. Files are arranged alphabetically, except for speaking engagement and National NOW conference files, which are listed chronologically. See also Subseries D for additional speeches and writings.

Subseries D, Post-president, 2000-2005 (#59.13-60.16), includes files regarding Ireland's ongoing work on behalf of NOW. Included are speaking engagement files, as well as notes for speeches, and notes, correspondence, and meeting agendas of NOW's Structural Review Task Force; some speeches and writings are from 2000 and 2001. In addition, the subseries includes Young Women's Christian Association materials relating to Ireland's application for Chief Executive Officer. Files are arranged alphabetically, except for speaking engagement files, which are listed chronologically.

Series III, OVERSIZED, 1987-1992, n.d. (#F+D.1, OD.1), includes campaign and rally posters.

Photographs referred to as "uncataloged" are not of sufficient research interest to warrant cataloging and are simply treated as part of the documents they accompany; they are marked on the back with an asterisk in square brackets [*].