National Organization for Women, Northern Nevada Chapter

The Northern Nevada Chapter (NNC) of the National Organization for Women (NOW) was organized at a meeting of forty women in Reno in September, 1973, by Patricia Lynch and Cheryl Jean Yee. There were other NOW chapters in Nevada, including the Southern Nevada and the Rural Nevada Chapters.

The chapter met twice a month for a general meeting and a business meeting.

The work of the chapter included public programs of interest to the community, such as women's legal rights, rape issues, and political candidates' nights.

NNC operated through thirty task forces, each headed by a member who coordinated the activities in that area. Members could work in those areas in which they were interested. One of the most successful was the Rape Task Force which initiated the Women's Center of Northern Nevada and the Rape Crisis Center. Other task forces included: child care, business compliance, University compliance, credit, education, FCC, fund-raising, health, image of women, labor unions, legal, national legislation, state legislation, marriage, divorce and family, masculine mystique, membership, minority women and women's rights, newsletter, older women, politics, poverty, public relations, rape, religion, reproduction, sexuality and lesbianism, sports, taxes, volunteerism, and women and the arts.

This chapter is no longer active.

Scope and Content

The records of the National Organization for Women, Northern Nevada Chapter were donated to the Special Collections Department in 1996 as part of a large gift of records from Ann and William Scott. The NOW material was separated from the Scott Papers and treated as a distinct collection. The NOW records consists of .75 cubic feet of material dating from 1973-1983; the bulk of the records date from 1981-1983. There are no restrictions on use of the material.

This collection is small and reflects only those materials accumulated by one of the NOW members, Ann Scott. The location of other NOW, NNC records is not know.

This material has been divided into two series: administrative records and subject files. Series I, Administrative Records, includes bylaws, minutes, newsletters, correspondence, news releases, and program information. Series II, Subject Files contains topics related to NOW interests and goals, such as abortion, the Equal Rights Amendment, lesbian rights, and reproductive rights. The subject files are arranged alphabetically.

Processed by: Susan Searcy
Date: February 27, 1998

 

Series I.   Administrative Records. 1973; 1981-1983.   .35 cu. ft.

The Administrative Records series includes minutes, correspondence, bylaws, newsletters, and program information. One of the program files concerns the nomination and selection of Maya Miller to be NOW's Woman of the Year (1973).

I/1	Bylaws. n.d.
I/2	Minutes. 1981-1982.
I/3-4	Correspondence. 1981-1983.
I/5	Newsletter. 1981-1983.
I/6	Newsletter ideas.
I/7	Legal and financial.
I/8	History of NOW, Northern Nevada Chapter.
I/9	News releases. 1981.
I/10	Woman of the Year Award - Maya Miller. 1973.
I/11	Programs. 1982.
I/12	Guest book.

 

Series II.   Subject Files. ca 1980-1982.   .40 cu. ft.

These files reflect topics in which the local NOW group was interested. They are also a reflection of the larger women's issues of the time: the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), abortion, and lesbian rights. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.

II/1	[Abortion]. Human Life Amendment information.
II/2	[Abortion]. National Abortion Rights Action League.
II/3	Concept papers to be presented at NOW national conference. 1982.
II/4-6	Equal Rights Amendment. Includes button badges.
II/7	Lesbian rights resources kit.
II/8	Minorities.
II/9	NOW survey. 1981
II/10	NOW Southern Nevada Chapter newsletters. 1981-1982.
II/11	Reproductive rights resources kit.
II/12	Running meetings (workshop).
II/13	Sexual harassment.
II/14	UNR Women's Center. 1980.
II/15	Women's Day Festival. 1980-1982.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated October 23, 2008