National Organization for Women, Jacksonville, Florida, and Jacksonville Women's Movement Collection

Finding Aid

Collection Number:M09-5
Dates:1969-2002 [bulk 1970-1976]
Size:5.8 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Repository:Special Collections, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida
Arrangement:Arranged by series; chronological within folder.
Language:English
Container List:View Container List

Abstract

The collection contains subject files which chronicle the formative years and development of the Jacksonville, Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Jacksonville Women's Movement from 1969 to 2002. The bulk of the collection are printed materials and ephemera from 1970-1976, including correspondence, newspaper clippings, announcements and brochures, and publications. A unique scrapbook entitled "Jacksonville Women's Movement, 1970-1976," provides primary documentation of the initial founding and outreach activities of the early women's movement, including NOW questionnaires sent to local political candidates, and NOW organizational materials. Other collection resources illustrate the Jacksonville chapter's participation in state and national social and political issues.

The materials were collected and donated to the Library by Vicki L. Wengrow, the first Convenor of the NOW Jacksonville chapter and one of its founding Directors in 1970. Wengrow remained an activist in the women's movement and the NOW chapter in Jacksonville for many years, and the materials document her contributions and those of other activists to the steady evolution and development of feminism in northeast Florida.

Acquisition

Gift of Vicki L. Wengrow, 2009.

Access to the Collection

The collection is open for research. For additional information and to make an appointment to view the collection, contact (904) 620-1533 or e-mail alderman@unf.edu.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], National Organization for Women, Jacksonville, Florida, and Jacksonville Women's Movement Collection. Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.

Related Materials

NEWSLETTERS: 

 

  • NOW, Jacksonville call to action. Jacksonville, Fl.: Jacksonville NOW. Library holds: v. 1: no. 1-v.1:no. 16 (1970:Nov-1972:Nov. 1)
  • Jacksonville women's movement. Jacksonville, Fl.: Jacksonville NOW. Library holds: 1973:Jan.1-1976:Mar.
  • The Monthly pause. Jacksonville, Fl.: Jacksonville Women's Movement. Library holds: 1976:Apr.-1977:Aug.


WOMEN'S HISTORY COLLECTIONS: 

  • Papers of the Women's Public Leadership Consortium. The purpose of this group was to provide a forum for Jacksonville women in higher education to exchange ideas on subjects of current interest and concern, to sponsor innovative programs for political education, and to encourage women's political and public leadership. The collection provides an overview of the group’s activities from 1979-1994.
  • Women's History Month (Jacksonville, Fla.) Collection. This collection consists of twenty-five framed posters since their inception in 1986 to 2011, and other printed materials relating to Women's History Month activities in Jacksonville. The framed posters can be viewed on the third floor of the Library. The majority of the materials were donated to the Library by the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women in 2007-2011.

Historical / Biographical Note

The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded on June 30, 1966 in Washington D. C. during the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women. On October 26, 1966, the first national NOW conference attendees elected Betty Friedan as President, and adopted the following statement of purpose: The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men. 

 

The Jacksonville, Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women was founded on August 26, 1970. On January 3, 1971, Now Jacksonville was granted a national charter. Early functions of the organization included outreach and lobbying activities: forming consciousness raising groups; lobbying city officials to appoint more women to public boards and commissions; disseminating questionnaires to candidates running for local political office; producing a first newsletter (NOW, Jacksonville Call to Action); exploring day care services in Jacksonville; forming a speaker's bureau for lecture engagements and panels; sponsoring a symposium on abortion law; participating in national affirmative action projects; spearheading the local Alliance for Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment; helping to organize the Duval County Women's Political Caucus; and opening the women's self-help center, Options, Inc.

 

In 1974, Now Jacksonville started the Women's Rape Crisis Center, and in the next two years, helped to finance the opening of Hubbard House to provide counseling and aid to battered women. In October 1975, the NOW Jacksonville chapter officially separated from the Jacksonville Women's Movement, which incorporated as a separate organization.


Scope and Content Note

The collection contains subject files which chronicle the formative years and development of the Jacksonville, Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Jacksonville Women's Movement from 1969 to 2002. Resources include printed materials, such as correspondence, publications, newspaper clippings, newsletters, publicity announcements and flyers of local activities, event programs, and early telephone and membership lists. The subject contents are primarily local in scope with some Florida and national coverage of marches and other events. General feminist literature and national NOW publications provide additional background information on relevant social and political issues.

Of special interest is a scrapbook entitled "Jacksonville Women's Movement, 1970-1976," which provides documentation of the initial founding, and outreach efforts of the local women's movement, including NOW chapter organizational materials and questionaires sent to local political candidates. Other items in the scrapbook pertain to the Jacksonville Women's Political Caucus, Alliance for the Equal Rights Amendment, Options, Inc., the Rape Crisis Center, and Hubbard House.

The collection also contains printed materials from the three anniversary reunions of the NOW Jacksonville chapter and Women's Movement held on August 28-30, 1986, August 26, 1990, and March 9, 1991. A videorecording of the March 9, 1991 reunion provides unique visual highlights of the event.

Index Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection:

 

  • NOW Jacksonville -- History.

  • Jacksonville Women's Movement -- History.
  • Women -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- History.
  • Women's rights -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- History.
  • Feminism -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- History.
  • Women -- Political activity -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- History.
  • Women in community organization -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- History.
  • Hubbard House (Jacksonville, Fla.) -- History.
  • Women's Rape Crisis Center (Jacksonville, Fla.) -- History.
  • Jacksonville (Fla.) -- History.
  • Jacksonville (Fla.) -- Social conditions.
  • Wengrow, Vicki L.
  • Furman, Rosemary.