THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Eunice “Tootsie” Holland

December 27, 1931 – November 26, 2023

“Today, I’m going to mourn, and tomorrow I’ll start working on trying to get a Women’s Equity Act here in South Carolina.” – Tootsie Holland after seeing the results of the presidential election on November 8, 2016

Joined NOW in Columbia, SC in 1972 and was elected chapter Vice President.  Later served as chapter President for three terms. Served as State NOW President and on the National NOW Board.  She was part of efforts to change South Carolina’s rape laws, educated law enforcement on rape response protocols, and traveled to small SC towns to help set up rape crisis centers.  She was part of NOW’s efforts to push the University of South Carolina to comply with Title IX, resulting in scholarships and uniforms for the women’s basketball team. Delegate to the International Women’s Year conference in Houston, 1977.  Served as a delegate on women’s issues to Libya for the State Department in the Carter Administration. Owned and operated a feminist bookstore.

Photo. Eunice Holland (right), vice president of the Columbia Chapter of the National Organization for Women, announces that her group has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission charging local broadcasting stations with sex discrimination in the workplace. Also pictured are Pat Hartley (center) of NOW and attorney Carrington Salley Baker Wingard (left). Copyright © The State Media Company.