THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Zelle W. Andrews, Ph.D.

January 15, 1938 – February 2, 2016

“If I could give you anything, I would give you the passion that drove the feminist movement so that you understand the purpose, respect the dignity and intelligence of women and work to free women all over the world for the sake of your daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters.”

Historian, author and activist. Co-founder and president of Hawaii Women’s Liberation, 1968. Founding member of Hawaii WPC, 1970. Co-founder of the Honolulu chapter of NOW, 1972. Member of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women. Secretary, then president, of the Westchester, NY chapter of NOW; chapter delegate to the state organization; president of NY State NOW; and member of the NOW national board in Washington, D.C., 1975-1981. Member of the national staff in Washington of the United Church of Christ and advocated on Capitol Hill for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1980-1985. Advocated as a national coordinator of the Religious Network for Equality for Women, NYC. Worked with Senior Action in a Gay Environment, NYC, and was a leader in the effort to get domestic partner benefits for Westchester County employees and a domestic partner registry open to all same-sex couples. President of The Rainbow Alliance of Westchester, 2003.