THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Joan Israel
July 24, 1930 – December 30, 2014
“NOW just grabbed me – I thought this was my heritage.”
Psychotherapist, Author, Activist. National Organization for Women: Founding member, Detroit chapter, 1969. President, 1970-1974. Organized and chaired childcare committee, 1968-1970. NOW board, 1976-1977. Co-editor, Looking Ahead: A Woman’s Guide to the Problems and Joys of Growing Older, 1977. Author, Surviving the Change: A Practical Guide to Menopause, 1980. Produced 2 short films, “Women Alone” and “To Life”. Bachelor of Arts, University of Rochester, 1952. Master’s in Social Work, Smith College, 1954.
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Photo. Joan Israel (left), NOW President and Pat McEllerat, NOW V.P. of Political Affairs, MI, 1972.
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More About Joan:
- Obituary
- Jewish Women and Second-Wave Feminist Activism in Metro Detroit, Joan Israel (msu.edu)
- “Passing the Torch,” a documentary produced by Michael Rose Productions, is a behind the scenes look at the role Michigan women played in the Second Wave Feminist movement, 2006.
- Veteran Feminists of America
- The Unfinished Business of the Women’s Movement, Chicago, IL August 2004
- Patricia Hill Burnett introduces Joan, Celebration of NOW’s 30th Anniversary, November 1996
- Archives
- Joan Israel – Wikipedia
- Cited in Barbara Love’s book, Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975, page 230