THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Phineas Indritz

August 3, 1916 – October 15, 1997

“There Has Been a Tremendous Amount of Gender Discrimination in This Country.”

Lawyer, passionate civil rights leader and feminist. Graduated from the University of Chicago in 1936 and from its law school two years later. In1938, he joined the legal staff of the Interior Department in Washington as an assistant solicitor. Counsel to House committees including Government Operations, Energy and Power, and Conservation and Natural Resources. Helped draft legislation to end racial segregation at colleges receiving Federal money, to forbid sex discrimination in insurance premiums and to fight job discrimination against pregnant women. Founding member, executive vice chairman and national counsel of the American Veterans Committee, a multiracial organization formed during World War II that championed civil rights. Advisor and speechwriter for U.S. Representative Martha Griffiths. One of the twenty people elected to National Organization for Women’s first National Board and one of the original members of NOW’s Legal Committee.  Honorary Life Member of the Juggling Information Service.