Elizabeth Smith collection of Virginia ERA Ratification Council records
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.
Dates
- 1970-2002
Creator
- Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council (Organization)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
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.
Extent
8.42 Linear Feet (17 document cases, 1 newspaper box, 1 print box, 1 small CD box)
Language of Materials
English
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.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Elizabeth Smith in 2009.
- Equal rights amendments -- Sources -- Virginia Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women -- Political activity -- Virginia -- Richmond. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women political activists -- Archives -- Virginia Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women's rights -- History -- 20th century -- Southern States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Smith, Elizabeth (Donor, Person)
- Title
- A Guide to the Elizabeth Smith collection of Virginia ERA Ratification Council records, 1970-2002
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections and Archives staff
- Date
- 2018 By Virginia Commonwealth University. All rights reserved.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the VCU James Branch Cabell Library Repository
Special Collections and Archives 901 Park Avenue
Richmond Virginia 23284 USA US
(804) 828-1108
libjbcsca@vcu.edu
