THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Patricia Theresa “Pat” Maginnis
June 9, 1928 – August 30, 2021
“It will be a cold day in hell when all abortion laws are repealed.” – Pat Maginnis, October 1, 1971
Political cartoonist, painter, peace activist. Considered the first abortion rights activist in American history. With Rowena Gurner and Lana Phelan, created “Army of Three,” the grassroots collective that would eventually become NARAL Pro-Choice America and that founded the Society for Humane Abortion.
Photo. Patricia Maginnis in 1968. Photo by Don W. Jones.
More About Pat:
- Obituary, New York Times
- They Called Her “the Che Guevara of Abortion Reformers.” A decade before Roe, Pat Maginnis’ radical activism—and righteous rage—changed the abortion debate forever, by Lili Loofbourow
- Pat Maginnis website
- Pat Maginnis and the Army of Three, Facebook page
- Archives
- “From Danger to Dignity: The Fight for Safe Abortion” is a 1995 documentary film directed by filmmaker, Dorothy Fadiman. features interviews with Dr. Jane Elizabeth Hodgson, Pat Maginnis, Constance Cook, Sarah Weddington and archival footage featuring George M. Michaels.
- Cited in Barbara Love’s book, Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975 page 293
- Wikipedia