IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
BARBARA FASSBINDER
(1951-1994)
PAPERS, 1958-1998
6 linear inches
|
ACQUISITION: |
The papers (donor nos. 590 and 667, respectively)
were donated by James and Ethel Herring and David Fassbinder in 1999. |
|
ACCESS: |
The papers are open for research. |
|
COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright
has been retained by the donors. |
|
PHOTOGRAPHS: |
Box 2. |
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AUDIOVISUAL: |
In videocassette
collection. |
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PROCESSED
BY: |
Your name, year»Doris MDDDoris Malkmus, 2000. Fassbinder.doc. |
Biography
Barbara Herring Fassbinder was born September 29, 1953, the daughter
of James and Ethel Herring of Marion, Iowa.
She attended Catholic grade school and graduated from Cedar Rapids High
School in 1971 and the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 1975. In 1974, she married David Fassbinder and
after her graduation, they moved to a farm near Monona, Iowa. There, they raised three children while
David Fassbinder ran an apiary and after 1979 Barbara worked as a nurse at
Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
While working
in the emergency room in 1986, she contracted the HIV virus. At that time, her children were ages 3, 6,
and 9. Fearing the prejudice against
AIDS victims, she did not disclose her diagnosis until 1990, when she decided
to announce her infection to encourage other health care professionals take the
necessary precautions against HIV infection on the job.
Once publicly identified as a health care worker who contracted AIDS on the job, Fassbinder became a popular presenter at conferences and nationally televised interview programs. She gave testimony before the House Sub-Committee on Health and the Environment in 1991 as a spokeswoman against mandatory disclosure legislation for persons infected with AIDS. Her efforts contributed to the widespread adoption of universal health precautions in health care settings and the humane treatment of persons with AIDS. Fassbinder died of the complications of AIDS in 1994.
Scope and Content Note
The
Barbara Fassbinder
papers date from 1958 to 1998 and
measure 6 linear inches. The collection
is arranged into six series, Biographical
and family, Correspondence, Published material, Political activities, Conferences, and Photographs and videocassettes.
The collection contains a few papers and photographs
relating to Fassbinder and her family; however, the bulk of the collection
consists of letters of support and newpaper and magazine articles concerning
Fassbinder, her family, and her political activities. The collection also
includes material relating to conferences at which Fassbinder spoke or
attended. There are also videocassette
recordings of televised interviews and newscasts about her and her support for
the rights of AIDS patients in the 1990s.
Box 1 Biographical
and family
Resumes, undated
Calendar
made for aunt, 1973
Certificates
and honors, 1966-1995 and undated
Nomination
to National Commission on AIDS, 1991
Account
book, 1991-1992
Memorial
service, 1994-1997
Newspaper
profile of Joel Fassbinder, 1998
Correspondence
Incoming
January to September 1990
October
1990
November
to December 1990
January
to July 1991
August
to December 1991
1992
1993-1995
Undated
Outgoing,
1991-1998
Published articles
1974-1975
1987,
1990
1991-1992
Box 2
1993-1995
Undated
Manuscript, 1991-1992
Political activities
Testimony
before Congress, 1991-1992
Correspondence, 1991
Nomination
to National Commission on AIDS
Legal
brief on confidentiality and AIDS, 1993
Conferences
Arrangements
and programs
1991
1992-1993
Evaluations,
1991-1994
Notes, undated
Photographs and videocassettes
Photographs,
1958-1990s
Videocassettes
“NBC News,” “McNeill-Lehrer Report,” “CNN Crossfire,”
“CNN Live with Larry King,” “Sunday Morning with
Charles Kuralt,” (undated), “ANA Nurse Awards,” 1992.
(V220)
Unedited news conference and network news coverage,
26 September 1990; “Personalities,” 21 November 1990; Fassbinder Family (KWWL), undated; Funeral service, 1994. (V221)