A New First-Hand Account of the Women’s Movement
The Women’s Revolution: How We Changed Your Life, by Muriel Fox
Published June 2024
A comprehensive, indexed memoir about the Second Wave women’s movement by the cofounder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Muriel Fox offers […]
Museum of Public Relations Records Muriel Fox’s Activism for Women’s History Month
[This piece was created by Jared Meade on behalf of the Museum of Public Relations in honor of Women’s History Month.]
The Feminist Trailblazer: How Muriel Fox Used Public Relations to Change the World
By Jared Meade
03/13/2024
With […]
American Quarters Program Features Pauli Murray
The 2024 Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray Quarter is the 11th coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program. Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray was a poet, writer, activist, lawyer, and Episcopal priest. Pauli Murray was a founder […]
VFA Statement on Rape as a Weapon of War
We decry rape at all times, and especially as an instrument of war as it was practiced by the terrorist organization, Hamas, on October 7. VFA opposes all discrimination, gender based violence and all crimes […]
The Passing of Rebecca Lubetkin, Pioneering Feminist
We write with heavy hearts to inform you that we lost Rebecca Lubetkin, colleague, educator, VFA board member and friend early this morning. Becky passed away peacefully in her sleep, resting beside her beloved Daniel […]
New Book by Katherine Turk on “The Women of NOW”
The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America, published on August 15, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Author Katherine Turk says, “I spent two decades researching NOW, a key force in […]
Celebrating the Life of Barbara Love, Sept. 10, 2023 at 2pm in NYC
New York – On September 10th, a celebration of the life of Barbara J. Love, a seminal figure of the women’s, lesbian and gay rights movements, who died at 85 on November 13, 2022, will […]
Dorothy Pitman Hughes Dies at 84; Brought Black Issues to Feminism
A close friend of Gloria Steinem, she toured with her and spoke widely about the need for women to confront racism and classism in their ranks. Read her obituary here.
Barbara Love, Activist and Author, Dies at 85
As an activist and an author, she was determined to demystify and normalize the lesbian experience, and to integrate it into the women’s movement.
From The New York Times, Dec. 1, 2022
Sheila Tobias is Remembered in New Obit from NYT
Feeling jittery about math — and altogether avoiding it — “is a serious handicap” that […]
Barbara Ehrenreich, writer and activist, dies at 81
Barbara Ehrenreich, the author, activist and self-described “myth buster” who in such notable works as “Nickel and Dimed” and “Bait and Switch” challenged conventional thinking about class, religion and the very idea of an […]
New York Historical Society – Title IX Exhibit/ERA Display, Opens May 13
The New York Historical Society is rapidly approaching the May 13 opening of their Title IX exhibit, “Activism On and Off the Field,” which runs through September 4. In addition, there is a two-case […]
Helen Ramirez-Odell, July 22,1942 – March 22, 2022
Helen Marie RAMIREZ-ODELL, age 79, of Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her husband and daughter on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Helen was born July 22, 1942. Beloved wife to Paul A. […]
Feminists Who Changed America by Barbara Love – Now an E-Book
Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975
Edited by Barbara J. Love
University of Illinois Press
Now available as an e-book from multiple sources:
Exhibit of Kate Millett Fantasy Furniture, 1967
Salon 94 Design presents Fantasy Furniture, 1967, an exhibition of work by the late writer, activist, and Fluxus artist Kate Millett (b. 1934 – 2017). The exhibit runs from January 20 – March 5, 2022. Appointments can […]
Newly Released Documentary: “My Name Is Pauli Murray”
This 2021 Amazon Original Documentary film has just been released, and portrays Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray – non-binary Black lawyer, activist and poet who influenced both Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall – as “One of […]
In Honor of Kate Millett’s 87th Birthday
September 16th would have been Kate’s 87th Birthday and while we mourn the loss of Kate’s remarkable presence on this planet, we celebrate with love and admiration, Kate’s brilliance and bravery; her profound dedication to […]
VFA Founder Jacqui Ceballos is 96 on Sept. 8!
Paula Joan Caplan, Pioneering Psychologist Passes
Paula Caplan, a pioneering psychologist who exposed how her profession […]
Sheila Tobias, VFA Board Member, Author and Educator
April 26, 1935 – July 6, 2021
As she worked her way through the ranks of academia during the 1960s […]
Alix Dobkin, Whose Music was by Women for Women, Dies at 80
Released in 1973, Lavender Jane Loves Women by Alix Dobkin and her band, was the first album recorded and distributed by women for women. It was, says Dobkin, “the very first album […]
Barbara Love’s New Book, There At The Dawning: Memories of a Lesbian Feminist
Barbara Love has already done more than her share of work in documenting the history of Second Wave Feminism with the publication of Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975. Now, with the publication of […]
Online Event: Feminist Writings that Inspired a Revolution
Women’s Liberation! Feminist Writings That Inspired A Revolution And Still Can
[…]
Betty Friedan Webinar Video is Online
Go to our Events page to view the recording of the Feb. 4 webinar.
Betty Friedan, creator of the modern women’s movement, was honored in a “star-studded” webinar titled “Betty Friedan’s 100 Birthday: Moving the Legacy […]
In the Passing of Penny Stoil, We Have Lost a Great Friend!
Is it with deep sadness that Muriel and I write to inform you that, Penny Stoil, VFA Vice President for Development, passed away from cancer this morning.
We will miss her tremendously, not only because of […]
Helen Reddy, Whose No. 1 Hit Became an Anthem for Women, Dies in CA
Fans around the world are mourning Australian trailblazer and singer Helen Reddy after her death in Los Angeles.
Reddy’s famous friends and devoted fans flooded social media with tributes to her many […]
Florence Howe, Author, Editor, Publisher, Scholar, Passes at 91
Find out more about Florence here: https://veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-histories-project-florence-howe/
Florence Howe, a key architect of the women’s studies movement and a founder of the Feminist Press, a literary nonprofit dedicated to promoting social […]
Shere Hite, Who Challenged Myths of Female Sexuality, Dies at 77
Her 1976 book, ‘The Hite Report,’ touched off ‘a revolution in the bedroom’ and has sold tens of millions of copies. But harsh criticism drove her to self-exile in Europe.
Shere […]
Maura McNiel, Longtime Feminist Leader in Dallas, Dies at 99
Feminism was still a dirty word in macho Texas when Maura McNiel, wife, mother, Sunday school teacher and community volunteer, dared to speak up for women’s rights.
An irresistible force with stamina, brains and […]
Diana E.H. Russell, Writer on Crimes Against Women, Dies at 81
Diana E. H. Russell, world-renowned feminist activist, scholar, and author died July 28th in Oakland, California. She was 81 years old. The cause of her death was respiratory failure.
Diana Russell devoted her […]
What Would Flo Kennedy Think of “Mrs. America”?
Mary Reinholz spoke with Jacqui Ceballos about the controversial series “Mrs. America.” And although Jacqui did not watch the series, the conversation made it clear that, most unfortunately, the writer/creator of the series missed […]
Phyllis Lyon, Lesbian Activist and Gay Marriage Trailblazer, Dies at 95
When Ms. Lyon married her partner of 55 years in 2008, they formed the first legal gay union in California.
In 2004, despite state and federal bans on same-sex marriage, Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco […]
Ruth B. Mandel, Voice for Women, Holocaust Survivor, Dies at 81
Ruth Mandel, who ran the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, went on to serve as the Institute director. She was also an official with the […]
Lorraine Duvall’s “Finding A Woman’s Place: The Story of a 1970s Feminist Collective”
Lorraine Duvall’s new book – Finding A Woman’s Place: The Story of a 1970s Feminist Collective in the Adirondacks – is reviewed by Timothy Miller, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies, University of Kansas, author of numerous books on intentional […]
Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician Dies at 101
African American mathematician Katherine Johnson began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1953 in a position that was classified as “subprofessional,” not far outranking a secretary or janitor.
Nevertheless she persisted: using a […]
Save the Date: Aug. 26, 2020 – Unveiling of Women’s Rights Monument in NYC
Join Monumental Women® for the Unveiling of Our Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument on the Mall in NYC Central Park, the First Statue of Real Women in the Park’s 167-year History.
[…]Virginia Passes ERA in Historic Vote
Both chambers of Virginia’s General Assembly passed the Equal Rights Amendment Wednesday, January 15, marking a watershed moment in the nearly century-long effort to add protections for women to the U.S. Constitution.
The House gallery was […]
A New Youth-Led Movement to Ratify the ERA
A new youth-led group is working hard to further one of the most important causes we have been fighting for. They are looking for people and groups to join their coalition. Please check […]
Ann Juliano Jawin, 1922 – December 31, 2019
Ann Juliano Jawin, founder of the Center for the Women of New York and a pioneer who dedicated her life to women’s equality and […]
Jan Heineman Allen of NC NOW and Lillians List
Lifetime NOW member Jan Heineman Allen passed away on September 13, 2019. She joined NOW over 40 years ago to work for the Equal Rights Amendment, and went on to join the North Carolina NOW […]
VFA Founder Jacqui Ceballos is 94 Today!
Today we celebrate our VFA founder, Jacqui Ceballos, who is 94 years young. You can see her profile page here, which presents a sampling of some of the bold actions she took in the […]
Ann Snitow Died on August 10, after Finishing her Sixth Book
In “Remembering Ann Snitow, the Feminist Activist Who Embraced Uncertainty,” Alix Kates Shulman presents the portrait of the writer, teacher, and unstoppable organizer who was “a founding member of one crucial radical feminist group […]
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-Winning Novelist, Passes at 88
“Ms. Morrison placed African Americans, particularly women, at the heart of her writing at a time when they were largely relegated to the margins both in literature and in life. With language celebrated for […]
Dr. Eleanor Pam and the Pamela Smart Case
The Pamela Smart Case and some commentary by Dr. Eleanor Pam who has fought for her freedom for nearly 30 years.
After reviewing all the footage for the Dateline show on Monday, July 29, the […]
Obituary for Barbara Materka, Fighter for Women’s Rights and Human Rights
Barbara F. Materka, a lifelong fighter for human rights and women’s rights, died peacefully in her home on Turtle Creek Blvd at the age of 99, surrounded by loving family in the days preceding her […]
Megan Rapinoe on the Politics of Division and Equal Pay
From the New York Times, “Megan Rapinoe Steals the Show at the Women’s World Cup Parade.”
There were words of gratitude, the usual forgettable verbiage from public officialdom and a presentation […]
Women’s Forum of NY Presents Elly Award to Muriel Fox
On Monday, June 17, VFA Board Chair Muriel Fox was honored with an Elly Award at a luncheon benefiting the Women’s Forum of New York. We congratulate Muriel on this wonderful honor!
[…]ERA Sees First Hearing in 36 Years!
The Equal Rights Amendment is back on Capitol Hill – 36 years since its last hearing and nearly a century since the amendment to guarantee equal rights to women was first introduced in Congress.
Democratic […]
Birch Bayh, Indiana senator who championed Title IX, dies at 91
Former senator Birch Bayh, the author of two major constitutional amendments as well as legislation that dramatically improved women’s rights in classrooms and on athletic fields, died March 14 at his home in Easton, Md. […]
“Heather Booth: Changing the World” Movie Airs on PBS this Month
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, activist and organizer Heather Booth helped register voters in Mississippi. She then became a go-to strategist for causes like women’s rights and an advisor to political leaders. […]
Frederick Douglass died Feb. 20, 1895, just hours after his public makeup with Susan B. Anthony
Despite decades of antipathy between Douglass and the women’s suffragist group leaders – after Douglass had at a critical moment prioritized the vote for African American men over the suffagist push to enfranchise white women, […]
Happy Birthday to Betty Friedan!
Betty Friedan, author of the Feminine Mystique and a founder of the National Organization for Women, was born 98 years ago today, February 4, 1921. Betty was one of the catalysts of the second wave […]
Supreme Court Justice RBG Expected to Make a Full Recovery
For those who have been concerned that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent surgery might cause her to retire from her position as Supreme Court Justice, a recent Rachel Maddow Show put that fear to rest.
“This is […]
Highlighting the Gender Wage Gap in Britain
Automated email replies of working women – “I’m out of office until 2019” – were part of a campaign to mark Equal Pay Day in Britain this November to draw attention to the […]
Christine Blasey Ford Spoke for Us All
In her September 27 column in the New York Times, “Christine Blasey Ford’s Sacrifice”, Michelle Goldberg describes Dr. Ford’s testimony as heroic:
“On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford testified to […]
Report Finds the Digital Gender Pay Gap Is Alive and Well
Although one might think that the male/female pay gap would not apply in the online arena, research conducted by Website Planet, a supplier of digital services, says otherwise.
“Female freelancers are being paid significantly less […]
Leah Napolin Has Passed; Her Legendary ‘Yentl’ Adaptation Will Live On
Leah Napolin passed away at her home in Sea Cliff, New York on May 13, 2018. She was 83 years old. Napolin made her playwriting debut in 1975 with “Yentl,” adapted from a short story […]
Court Rules Women Can’t Be Paid Less than Men Based on Past Wages
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that relying on a woman’s previous salary to determine her pay for a new job perpetuates disparities in the wages of men and women and is illegal […]
‘Our Bodies, Ourselves’ Will Stop Printing New Editions
According to an article in the Boston Globe published on April 4, 2018, “the most recent print edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves will be its last, halting advancement in women’s health, contraception, and sexual […]
Remarkable Women Whose Obituaries were Overlooked
Remarkable Women Whose Obituaries were Overlooked is the concept behind a new series introduced by The New York Times during National Women’s History month this year.
“Since 1851, obituaries in The New York Times have been […]
Feminists Who Changed America by Barbara Love at Nagoya University in Japan
This news just in from Jodi Moran our colleague on the VFA Oral History Project: “My sister, Judy Greiman, is representing Stony Brook University at a meeting with #HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 colleagues working […]
New Documentary, “Beauty Bites Beast” Coming to NYC on March 22, 2018
A special screening of the new documentary by Ellen Snortland – “Beauty Bites Beast” – will be held on Thursday, March 22nd at 8:30 AM at the Salvation Army Auditorium, 221 East 52nd St. in […]
Women in Iran Protest by Removing their Headscarves…
Iranian women have been raising a new challenge to their Islamic government, breaking one of its most fundamental rules by pulling off their headscarves in some of the busiest public squares and brandishing them […]
Were You Active in the Feminist Movement Between 1963 and 1982?
Were you active in the feminist movement between 1963 and 1982? Veteran Feminists of America (VFA) has created an ORAL HISTORY PROJECT to capture the history of that period told by the participants. […]
Kate Millett Collection to be Offered on WBAI, Sunday, Feb. 25
On Sunday, February 25, Joy of Resistance, Multicultural Feminist Radio @WBAI, will be offering listeners “The Kate Millett Collection” in exchange for a $100. pledge.
The Collection includes: a complete recording of the moving memorial attended by […]
Is #MeToo is Going Too Far for Some Veteran Feminists? (Not!)
In her article #MeToo is Going Too Far for Some Veteran Feminists, Mary Reinholz looks at the movement through the eyes of veteran feminists and their experiences of sexual harrassment in the days when […]
Women’s Marches – Numbers Still Coming in for One-Year Anniversary Activism
On the first anniversary of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, marches have once again held around the country. Reports are still coming in on the numbers involved, and several sites are collecting videos of […]
“Time’s Up” –Hollywood Women’s Initiative Against Sexual Harassment
The New York Times reported on January 1 that 300 prominent women actors, agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed an initiative to combat sexual harassment in Hollywood and blue-collar workplaces nationwide. […]
Leslie Wolfe, Second Wave Feminist Who Fought for Inclusion of All Women, Dies at 74
Ms. Wolfe sought AIDS treatment for women in the 1980’s and researched gender and racial bias on the SAT exam as head of a think tank. She pursued equality for women, particularly women of color, […]
Memorial Service to be Held for Kate Millett, November 9 in NYC
A Memorial Service for our beloved Kate Millett – feminist pioneer, writer, artist and visionary – will be held on November 9, from 2-4 pm at the Fourth Universalist Society (Unitarian Universal Church), 160 […]
Myrna Lamb, Feminist Playwright, Dies at 87
The New York Times, September 22, 2017, by Neil Genzlinger.
Myrna Lamb, a feminist playwright in an unwelcoming era, put the tenets of second-wave feminism in front of theater goers in provocative works that […]
Feminist Reunion 2017 – Four New Videos from the Event
As part of our reporting on the Feminist Reunion 2017: “We Will Not Go Back!”, held in New York on June 10, we are pleased to present four videos from the event, filmed by Liza […]
On the Passing of Kate Millett
It is with enormous sadness that we announce the death of our longtime friend, pioneer feminist and author of SEXUAL POLITICS, Kate Millett. She died this morning in Paris of cardiac arrest. Kate would have […]
“Heather Booth: Changing the World” — Inspiring Documentary Film Premiers in LA
From huffingtonpost.com | July 28, 2017
By Peter Dreier
Over the past half century, Booth has improved the lives of tens of millions of Americans who never knew her name.
But if you’ve […]
The Women Who Built the New York Art World
From Artsy.net | July 6, 2017
By Alexxa Gotthardt
Over the course of 10 years, between 1929 and 1939, four of New York City’s most iconic museums emerged in Manhattan: the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney, […]
Sheila Michaels, Who Brought ‘Ms.’ to Prominence, Dies at 78
From NY Times.com | July 6, 2017
By Margalit Fox
Sheila Michaels, who half a century ago, wielding two consonants and a period, changed the way modern women are addressed, died on June 22 in Manhattan. Ms. […]
Fresh Thinking on History of Feminism
Class, timeline explore lesser-known narratives in movement’s rise
From Harvard.edu | July 3, 2017
By Colleen Walsh | Gloria Steinem photo by Dori Jacobson-Wenzel
For many, feminism just took a flying, sword-wielding leap with “Wonder Woman,” the […]
Toni Van Pelt Elected New President of National Organization for Women (NOW)
From NOW.org | July 1, 2017
Members of the National Organization for Women voted Saturday to elect Toni Van Pelt president of the organization. Gilda Yazzie was elected vice president.
Van Pelt and Yazzie were elected by […]
More Female Voices Must be Heard: New York Times Letters to the Editor
From the Huffingtonpost.com | June 16, 2017
By Linda Stein
Part One:
On Monday, January 2, 2017, the New York Times presented an all-male lineup in its Letters to the Editor section – not one […]
Veteran feminists show they’re young at heart at reunion
From theVillager.com | June 15, 2017
By Mary Reinholz | Photos by Tequila Minsky
Report on the Feminist Reunion, June 10, 2017
On June 10, 2017 The Veteran Feminists of America held a feminist reunion in New York City at the famous progressive church, Judson Memorial, in Greenwich Village.
As Barbara Love pointed out in her welcoming remarks, […]
Veteran Feminists to Thump Trumpism at Judson Reunion
From the Villager.com | May 25, 2017
By Mary Reinholz
Radical feminist Susan Brownmiller has plenty of room at the top in her West Village penthouse near the Meatpacking District. Outside on the terrace is her urban […]
Suffragist Sue Shelton White honored in Jackson
From The Jackson Sun | May 26, 2017
By
Dozens gathered outside Jackson City Hall for the unveiling of the Sue Shelton White monument on Thursday afternoon.
Born in Chester County in 1887, […]
Sister Joel Read, who shaped Milwaukee’s Alverno College and was among nation’s top college innovators, dies at 91
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | May 26, 2017
Sister Joel Read, the longtime leader of Alverno College whose vision of placing abilities over grades put her among the nation’s top college innovators, died shortly […]
Obituary: Sister Joel Read 1925-2017
Former Alverno College President Sister Joel Read, SSSF, ’48, one of the nation’s longest-serving college presidents and a renowned advocate for education reform, died May 25. She was 91 years old.
During her 35 years at […]
She’s The Best Answer To Donald Trump You Never Heard Of
Angry? Worried? Disillusioned? Heather Booth wants you.
By David Wood
Heather Booth doesn’t look like a revolutionary. She sits demurely on a sofa, dressed […]
Obituary: Judith Ellen Brady
April 26, 1937 – May 14, 2017
Judith (Judy) Brady, a well known feminist and activist, passed away in San Francisco on May 14th, 2017 at the age […]
17th Berkshire Conference
June 1-4, 2017
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Two tours have been organized as part of the Berkshire Conference offerings. Booking deadline: May 29.
Tour #1:
Tour of Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Heights Neighborhood
Heather Booth Film Premiere in Chicago
Heather Booth: Changing the World
Chicago premiere! Heather Booth and Lilly Rivlin in person!
Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL
- Fri, May 19th 7:45pm
- Sat, May 20th 7:30pm
The ongoing and […]
New York Historical Society Center for Women’s History
About the center
Our new Center for Women’s History—the first of its kind in the nation within the walls of a major museum—reveals the untold stories of women who have shaped and continue to […]
New-York Historical Society’s Revamped Fourth Floor Traces NYC’s History
The new Henry Luce III Center focuses on women’s history in New York, among other topics
From the NY Curbed.com | April 29, 2017
by Jenna Scherer
After five years of planning and […]
VFA Shares Our Stories in North Carolina
An exciting VFA event — “Sharing Our Stories: The Second Wave Feminist Movement” – – took place in Durham, North Carolina, on Friday, March 31.
Noted historian Dr. Nancy MacLean kicked off the day with a […]
The Amateur Abortionists
From the NY Times | April 22, 2017
by Kate Manning
Imagine a stay-at-home mom who can do an abortion. Or a college student. […]
The First Museum Dedicated To American Women’s History Is Coming To New York City
By Ann-Derrick Gaillot
It’s here! The nation’s first museum dedicated to women in American history is opening in New York City this spring, and it won’t be the last. Brought to us by (and […]
Feminist Reunion 2017 – We Won’t Go Back
June 10, 2017, 1:30 – 4:30
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Street South, New York, NY 10012
- Women’s music
- Open mike
- Meet your friends
- FREE DVD of Women’s Music & Feminists’ favorite photos
- Handicap […]
A Woman’s Place Is in History
The New-York Historical Society’s Center for Women’s History will open its doors this spring, a season many expected to spend settling into […]
Obituary: Farewell Our Great Friend, Aileen Hernandez
May 23, 1926 – February 13, 2017
The only woman appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 to the first EEOC, Hernandez has spent a lifetime working to improve the political and […]
Dolley Madison and Her Peers Ran Their Own ‘Pussy-Hat’ Brigade
From the NY Times | March 9, 2017
by Jennifer Schuessler
Before there were “pussy hats,” there were the women of Revolutionary-era America.
“We possess […]
Sharing Our Stories: The Second Wave Feminist Movement
Friday, March 31, 2017
Durham Hilton, Durham, North Carolina
Visit the Official Website for Details and Tickets:
www.SharingOurStories2017.org
Historians and Feminists: An Intergenerational Conversation
A dialogue between Second Wave activists and young historians will ensure that […]
Letter on behalf of the VFA from Gloria Steinem & Carol Jenkins.
Gloria Steinem & Carol Jenkins invite you to join and support the Veteran Feminists of America. Read their inspiring letter here. View PDF Letter
Muriel Fox: Feminist Trailblazer
Muriel Fox ’48 battled for equality on picket lines and in boardrooms alongside better-known icons of the women’s movement
by Jennifer Altmann
Fifty years ago, a few dozen women gathered in a basement in Washington, […]