IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES

IOWA CITY, IOWA

TITLE:»

SUBTITLE:»ERA IOWA 1992

»RECORDS, 1980-1993 DATES:»

»(bulk 1991-1992)

7.5 linear inches and audiovisual materialsQUANTITY:»

ACQUISITION:	The »records were donated by Betty Durden (donor no. 419) in 1997 and Loren Shultz (donor no. 891) in 2002».
ACCESS:	The »records are open for research.
ARTIFACTS:	»In Boxes 3 and 4.
AUDIOVISUAL:	One audiocassette (AC475) is shelved with the audiocassette collection.
COPYRIGHT:	»Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.
PROCESSED BY:	Angelisa Rowland, 1997.
REVISION:	Robert Jett, February 18, 1999; Sharon M. Lake, 2004. [ERAIowa.doc]Your name, year»Robert Jet, R

»History

ERA Iowa 1992 was a grassroots campaign initiated in 1991 in Des Moines, Iowa, to promote the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Iowa constitution in the November 1992 election. The campaign staff’s primary goal was to provide the citizens of Iowa with information to help them make an informed decision on election day. ERA Iowa 1992 attempted to achieve this goal through promotional meetings; rallies; television and radio advertisements; and the distribution of flyers, newsletters, and action kits. In September 1991, a fifteen-member steering committee was elected to direct this effort. The committee met monthly to plan campaign strategies, and to discuss finances and programs that might contribute to the amendment’s passing. In addition to the steering committee, ERA Iowa was staffed by a group of volunteers from throughout the state. ERA Iowa 1992 disbanded after the November election when the amendment was defeated by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.

Scope and Content Note

Begin text here:The ERA Iowa 1992 records date from 1980 to 1993 and measure 7.5 linear inches. The »records »are arranged in six» series: Administrative material, Media coverage, Ecumenical correspondence, Research files, ERA national campaign, and Artifacts. The bulk of the ERA Iowa 1992 collection documents the Equal Rights Amendment campaign in Iowa from 1991 to 1992; however, there are related materials dating from 1980 to 1986.

The Administrative material series (1991-1993) contains membership lists, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and meeting minutes of committees and coalitions created for the ERA Iowa 1992 campaign. The series also includes a letter written by the Iowa director of elections that discusses the wording of the new amendment to be used on the ballot, a teaching packet used to educate local residents at a volunteer-based “campaign school,” and material pertaining to financial procedures in the organization.

The Media coverage series (1980-1993, scattered) includes promotional literature such as flyers and newsletters, speeches delivered at various ERA programs, television and radio advertisement scripts, and letters of endorsement from influential community members. The bulk of this series consists of clippings of newspaper editorials for and against the ERA and news articles that describe events that took place during the campaign.

The Ecumenical correspondence series (1992) includes letters written by members of the Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa stating their support of the amendment as well as a letter written by a Des Moines community member to the Catholic bishops of Iowa describing his feelings about their political stance. The Research files series (1992) contains data from surveys and studies conducted within the state about the ERA. The ERA national campaign series (1972-1992, scattered) consists of informational packets, articles, and case studies, conducted both locally and nationally on the ERA.

Related Collections

Ames NOW

Iowa NOW

Iowa Women Against the ERA

Johnson County ERA Coalition

Johnson County-Iowa City NOW

League of Women Voters of Johnson County

NOW Des Moines

NOW Dubuque

Begin text here:»

Box no. Description

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Box 1

Administrative material

Steering committee information, 1991-1992

Coalitions, 1992-1993

Financial disclosure material, 1992

Fundraising information

Correspondence and related materials, 1992

Donations, 1992

Ballot-language material, 1992

Campaign-school literature, 1992

Informational packet, 1992

Media coverage

E.R.A. Iowa 1992-3 ; Bob Ray [AC475 shelved in the audiocassette collection]

Pro-ERA literature, 1992

Anti-ERA literature, 1980-1992 (scattered)

Television and radio advertisement scripts, 1992

Programs, 1992

Newspaper clippings

News articles, 1991-1993 and undated (two folders)

Editorials, 1990-1993 and undated (two folders)

Box 2

Community endorsements and member list, 1992

Speeches, 1992

Ecumenical correspondence

Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, 1992

Catholic dioceses, 1992

Research files

Statewide survey data, 1992

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Action Kit, 1992

ERA national campaign, 1972-1992 (scattered)

Box 3

Artifacts

ERA promotional pins (4 items)

Box 4

ERA banner