VCU James Branch Cabell Library
Elizabeth Smith collection of Virginia ERA Ratification Council records
Smith, Elizabeth
Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council
M 425
/repositories/5/resources/567
8.42 Linear Feet
17 document cases, 1 newspaper box, 1 print box, 1 small CD box
1970-2002
English
.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Elizabeth Smith in 2009.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in four series: Series 1: Organizational records, 1972-1996; Series 2: Pro-ERA Organizations, 1971-2002; Series 3: Subject Files, 1970-1996; Series 4: Clippings, 1971-1996.
Biographical / Historical Information
Elizabeth Smith served as executive director the Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council, and she continued to collect materials pertaining to the amendment throughout her time with the Council and in the years following.
The Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council was a coalition of multiple Virginia organizations brought together by the shared goal of advocating for the ratification of the amendment by Virginia's legislature. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) states that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." It was approved by the House of Representatives and the US Senate, and then submitted to the states for ratification in 1972. As of October 2018, the Virginia legislature has yet to ratify the ERA.
Preferred Citation
Elizabeth Smith collection of Virginia ERA Ratification Council records, 1970-2002, Collection # M 425, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Content Description
This collection consists of materials acquired by Elizabeth Smith and includes a large quantity of materials created by or concerning the Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council. Also included within this collection are items from a number of other organizations such as the National Organization for Women (NOW), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Homemakers for the ERA (HERA), the National Women's Party (NWP) and many other pro-ERA organizations of the time. The collection also holds materials documenting the anti-ERA voice of the same era. Materials found in the collection include reports, correspondence, minutes, agendas, printed materials, educational materials, lobbying materials, event ephemera, speeches, and a substantial quantity of clippings. The collection's contents illuminate the efforts of the Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council and other organizations to advocate for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment during the latter decades of the twentieth century.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Women -- Political activity -- Virginia -- Richmond
Equal rights amendments -- Sources -- Virginia
Women political activists -- Virginia
Women's rights -- History -- 20th century -- Southern States
Smith, Elizabeth
Series 1: Organizational records/repositories/5/archival_objects/595301972-1996Agendas and meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/595311974-199111-2Bylaws/repositories/5/archival_objects/595321978-198213Coalition building/repositories/5/archival_objects/59533circa 197514Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/595341973-1996, undated15-6Election law violation report - Larry Pratt, Virginia House of Delegates/repositories/5/archival_objects/59535197717Electoral activities/repositories/5/archival_objects/595361977-1978, undated1821ERA Summit/repositories/5/archival_objects/595371994-199522Essay contest/repositories/5/archival_objects/59538198323Essays and speeches/repositories/5/archival_objects/595391974-1987, undated24Events/repositories/5/archival_objects/595401974-1994, undated25Executive committee rosters/repositories/5/archival_objects/595411978-1986, undated26Finances/repositories/5/archival_objects/595421974-1989, undated27-8Forms and mailers/repositories/5/archival_objects/595431978-1994, undated29Gala/repositories/5/archival_objects/595441981210Informational flyers and pamphlets/repositories/5/archival_objects/595451974-1987, undated211Initiative planning/repositories/5/archival_objects/595461976-1982, undated31Interfaith Task Force/repositories/5/archival_objects/595471979-198232Jean Hellmuth materials/repositories/5/archival_objects/59548198133Jean Stapleton cassette tape/repositories/5/archival_objects/59549undated34Legislative strategies/repositories/5/archival_objects/595501978, undated35Legislator's kit/repositories/5/archival_objects/595511981, undated36Mailing lists/repositories/5/archival_objects/595521977, undated37Member and attendance lists/repositories/5/archival_objects/595531976-1980, undated38Memoranda/repositories/5/archival_objects/595541976-1982, 199339Newsletters/repositories/5/archival_objects/595551973-1982, undated310Notecards/repositories/5/archival_objects/59556undated41Notes/repositories/5/archival_objects/595571976-1996, undated42Organizational overviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/59558undated43Photographs/repositories/5/archival_objects/595591978-1990, undated44Prayer breakfast/repositories/5/archival_objects/595601978-197945Press releases/repositories/5/archival_objects/595611975-199346Ratification updates/repositories/5/archival_objects/595621974, 1992-199547Referendum materials/repositories/5/archival_objects/595631977, undated48Research and Education Fund/repositories/5/archival_objects/595641982-198549Resolutions/repositories/5/archival_objects/595651975-1977, 1991410Richmond area ERA YES campaign/repositories/5/archival_objects/595661975-1982411Speakers' Bureau/repositories/5/archival_objects/595671976-1980, undated412Steering committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/595681977-1978, undated413Supporters' handbook/repositories/5/archival_objects/59569circa 198351Supporters of ERA lists/repositories/5/archival_objects/595701981, undated52Training materials/repositories/5/archival_objects/595711976, undated53Vigil preparations/repositories/5/archival_objects/595721978-197954Vigils/repositories/5/archival_objects/595731979-1995, 2001 undated55Virginia legislature/repositories/5/archival_objects/595741974-1994, undated56-7Virginia State Library records transfer/repositories/5/archival_objects/595751982, undated58Volunteers/repositories/5/archival_objects/595761977, undated59Series 2: Pro-ERA Organizations/repositories/5/archival_objects/595771971-2002American Association of University Women/repositories/5/archival_objects/595781974-1979510American Civil Liberties Union/repositories/5/archival_objects/595791975-1981, undated511Association of American Colleges/repositories/5/archival_objects/595801972-197461Bar Associations/repositories/5/archival_objects/595811982, undated62Business and Professional Women's Clubs/repositories/5/archival_objects/59582undated63California Commission on the Status of Women/repositories/5/archival_objects/59583197564Catholics Act for ERA/repositories/5/archival_objects/595841976-1982, undated65Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women/repositories/5/archival_objects/595851966-1976, undated66Common Cause of Virginia/repositories/5/archival_objects/595861977, 198667Congressional Union/repositories/5/archival_objects/595871980, undated68Democratic National Committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/595881976-1981, undated69ERAmerica/repositories/5/archival_objects/595891976-1981610-1171Homemakers' Equal Rights Association/repositories/5/archival_objects/595901975-1982, undated72Institute for Studies in Equality Equal Rights Monitor/repositories/5/archival_objects/595911976-197773International Women's Year/repositories/5/archival_objects/595921976-1991, undated74-5League of Women Voters/repositories/5/archival_objects/595931972-197876League of Women Voters of Virginia and local chapters/repositories/5/archival_objects/595941975-198477National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs/repositories/5/archival_objects/595951976-1977, undated81National Organization for Women/repositories/5/archival_objects/595961971-1992, undated82-3National Organization for Women - Richmond/repositories/5/archival_objects/595971976-199084National Organization for Women - Virginia/repositories/5/archival_objects/595981974-198785National Women's Party/repositories/5/archival_objects/595991978-2002, undated86National Women's Political Caucus/repositories/5/archival_objects/596001979-199087National Women's Political Caucus of Virginia/repositories/5/archival_objects/596011981-199391Religious Committee for ERA/repositories/5/archival_objects/596021975-1982, undated92Republican National Committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/59603undated93Reston ERA Coalition/repositories/5/archival_objects/596041981-198294Richmond Committee on the Concerns for Women/repositories/5/archival_objects/596051979-198595Richmond Council of Women's Organizations/repositories/5/archival_objects/59606197696United Methodist Church/repositories/5/archival_objects/596071978, undated97United States Commission on Civil Rights/repositories/5/archival_objects/596081975-198598-10University of Virginia Institute of Government/repositories/5/archival_objects/596091974-1984911Virginia Council of Churches/repositories/5/archival_objects/596101981-1982, undated101Virginia Education Association/repositories/5/archival_objects/596111980-1982, undated102Virginia ERA Ratification Project/repositories/5/archival_objects/596121981103Virginia Women Attorneys Association/repositories/5/archival_objects/596131981-1986104Virgina Women's Meeting/repositories/5/archival_objects/596141977105Virginians for the Equal Rights Amendment Political Action Committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/596151977-1979, undated106Women and the Constitution Institute/repositories/5/archival_objects/596161987107Women's Action Alliance/repositories/5/archival_objects/596171978-1979, undated108Women's Bureau/repositories/5/archival_objects/596181980-1984109Women's Center of Richmond/repositories/5/archival_objects/596191974, undated1010Women's Equity Action League/repositories/5/archival_objects/596201976-1982, undated1011Women's International League for Peace and Freedom/repositories/5/archival_objects/596211972-1989, undated1012Women's Round Table/repositories/5/archival_objects/596221979-19891013Young Women's Christian Association/repositories/5/archival_objects/596231978-1989, undated1014Series 3: Subject Files/repositories/5/archival_objects/596241970-1996Abortion/repositories/5/archival_objects/596251976-19871015Anti-ERA flyers and pamphlets/repositories/5/archival_objects/596261972-1982111-2Anti-ERA rebuttal information/repositories/5/archival_objects/596271977-1981, undated113Background information on the ERA/repositories/5/archival_objects/596281973-1992, undated114Buttons, bracelet, and bear ornament/repositories/5/archival_objects/59629undated20Christian denominations/repositories/5/archival_objects/596301975-1982, undated115Credit access/repositories/5/archival_objects/596311975-1980116Education/repositories/5/archival_objects/596321974-1981, undated117Equal Employment/repositories/5/archival_objects/596331972-1989, undated118Essays and speeches/repositories/5/archival_objects/596341972-1987, undated119Extension and rescission of ratification/repositories/5/archival_objects/596351973-1981, undated1110Family/repositories/5/archival_objects/596361975-1986, undated121Informational flyers and pamphlets/repositories/5/archival_objects/596371975-1989, undated122-4Informational flyers and pamphlets - Virginia/repositories/5/archival_objects/596381976-1985, undated125Labor/repositories/5/archival_objects/596391976-1983126Language/repositories/5/archival_objects/596401976, undated127Lobbying/repositories/5/archival_objects/596411977-1981131Military draft/repositories/5/archival_objects/596421970-1981, undated132Music and religious services/repositories/5/archival_objects/596431978-1988, undated133Pay Equity/repositories/5/archival_objects/596441981-1987, undated134Pennant, sashes, and textiles/repositories/5/archival_objects/59645undated19Phyllis Schlafly Report/repositories/5/archival_objects/596461973-1981135Posters/repositories/5/archival_objects/596471975-2002, undated187Property rights, marriage, and divorce/repositories/5/archival_objects/596481978-1982, undated136Resource bibliographies and lists/repositories/5/archival_objects/596491973, undated137Retirement/repositories/5/archival_objects/59650undated138Sexual assault and domestic violence/repositories/5/archival_objects/596511977-1985139Socialism/repositories/5/archival_objects/596521978-1979, undated1310State materials on ERA/repositories/5/archival_objects/596531972-19951311-12Unitarian Universalism/repositories/5/archival_objects/596541976-1985141United States Congress/repositories/5/archival_objects/596551976-1990, undated142Virginia legislature/repositories/5/archival_objects/596561976-1983, undated143-6151Virginia legislature - ERA Task Force/repositories/5/archival_objects/596571974152Virginia Military Institute case/repositories/5/archival_objects/596581973-1996, undated153Virginia State Board of Elections/repositories/5/archival_objects/596591979, undated154Series 4: Clippings/repositories/5/archival_objects/596601971-1996Articles/repositories/5/archival_objects/596611976-1990155Newspaper clippings/repositories/5/archival_objects/596621971-1996, undated156-7161-4171-5181-6