Algie Ballif Forum records, 1976-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Algie Ballif Forum
Title
Algie Ballif Forum records
Dates
1976-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear feet, (3 boxes)
Collection Number
MS 0545
Summary
The Algie Ballif Forum records (1976-1990) contain documents regarding this women's group (founded 1977, originally called the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum), the main objective of which was to educate the community and discuss women's issues. Included are brief biographies of members, transcripts of speeches given at monthly meetings, news clippings about forum events, a history about the origins of the forum, a calendar of events, and brochures and correspondence concerning women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and their stand on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). A scrapbook presents news clippings about forum events, but also includes some correspondence, photocopies of photographs, and meeting calendars.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Algie Ballif Forum, founded in 1977, was originally called the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum. The Forum recruited speakers from within its ranks, but also invited people from the community to address the organization concerning women's issues. The Forum changed their name in January 1985 to the Algie Balliff Forum in honor of Algie Eggertsen Ballif, one of the original members who had passed away the previous year. Ballif had been heavily involved in education throughout her life. She was named by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1960s to the Education Committee of John F. Kennedy's Commission on the Status of Women, she was the president of the Provo Board of Education for twenty-three years, and headed the Women's Physical Education Department and taught English and Speech at Brigham Young University. In addition to these accomplishments, Ballif served as the director of the Utah Division of Public Welfare from 1967 to 1969.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Algie Ballif Forum records (1976-1990) contain documents regarding this women's group (founded 1977, originally called the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum), the main objective of which was to educate the community and discuss women's issues. Included are brief biographies of members, transcripts of speeches given at monthly meetings, news clippings about forum events, a history about the origins of the forum, a calendar of events, and brochures and correspondence concerning women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and their stand on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). A scrapbook presents news clippings about forum events, but also includes some correspondence, photocopies of photographs, and meeting calendars. The bulk of the information in the collection concerns the monthly forum meetings and their topics: ERA, women's roles, sex discrimination, polygamy, planned parenthood, rape, AIDS, homelessness, the U.S. Constitution, and the environment, among others. Also included are speeches by Sonia Johnson and letters written to the President of the LDS church, Spencer W. Kimball, and responses by the LDS First Presidency Secretary, Keith Hoopes, concerning ERA.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Boxes 1-2 were donated in 1981 and 1991 (0.75 linear feet). Box 3 was donated in 1991 (0.25 linear feet).

Processing Note

Processed by Amy Bentley, Julie Hunsaker, and Alison Rogers in 1997 and 2002.

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Separated Materials

See also the Ariel Ballif photograph collection (P1154) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Related Materials

See also the George S. and Algie E. Ballif papers (ACCN 1760) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

General InformationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Background Material
Reports, meeting format, by-laws, folder title list and index.
1 2
Calendars
Concerning private meetings and historic dates.
1977-1988
1 3
Membership Lists
1 4-6
Biographical Information on Original Members
Information on Algie Ballif, Karen Lynn, Loneta Murphy, Wanda Scott, Helen Stark, Jan L. Tyler, Thelma E. Weight, and Margaret Woodworth.
1 7
Biographical Information on Members Added to the Private Meetings
Information on Nancy Kader.
1 8-16
Meetings
Speech transcripts, minutes, correspondence, notes, and news clippings regarding Alice Louise Reynolds forums.
1978-1987
1 17
Alice Louise Reynolds Lectures
Transcripts published by the Friends of the Brigham Young University Library.
1988; 1990
1 18
Sunstone Symposium Speeches
Transcripts of speeches.
1988
1 19
Loneta Murphy, "A Vigil for Sonia Johnson"
1979
1 20
Correspondence Regarding ERA and Related Material
A letter by Hartman Rector Jr.; a statement by Sonia Johnson before the U.S. Senate; a statement, "Sustaining the General Authorities of the Church"; a poem, "Creativity," by Gene K. Hoffman; and a news article, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
1978-1979
1 21
Correspondence with LDS President Spencer W. Kimball
Photocopies of thirteen letters sent to and received from LDS Church leaders by members of the Algie Ballif Forum regarding ERA.
1979
1 22
Correspondence with the University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library
Letters regarding depositing the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum papers in the Marriott Library's Special Collections department.
1981
1 23
Correspondence with a Bishop
Letter written by a woman requesting her name be taken off the LDS Church membership rolls due to ERA.
1 24
News Clippings
Articles regarding the International Women's Year Utah meeting and an interview with some of the Forum's founding members.
1977-1979
1 25
Book Lists Regarding Women's Issues
1 26
ERA Brochures
1976-1979

ScrapbooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1-3
Book One
News clippings, correspondence, a memoriam for Algie Ballif, forum by-laws, a calendar of meetings, and photocopies of photographs.
1979-1986
2 4-5
Book Two
News clippings and a calendar of meetings.
1986-1989

The Alige Ballif ForumReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 1
Correspondence
1978-1988
3 2
Historical Information
1977-1988
3 3
Administrative Items
1980
3 4
Seminars, Presentations, and Programs
1980-1988
3 5
Newspaper Articles
1986-1987
3 6
Resumes
3 7
Miscellaneous

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Latter Day Saint churches--Political activity
  • Latter Day Saint women--Utah--Societies and clubs--Archives
  • Sex discrimination against women--Law and legislation
  • Women political activists--Utah--Archives
  • Women politicians--Utah--Archives
  • Women's rights--Religious aspects--Latter Day Saint churches
  • Women's rights--Utah--20th century

Corporate Names

  • Algie Ballif Forum--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Biographies
  • Brochures
  • Business correspondence
  • Calendars
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Membership lists
  • Minutes (Records)
  • Photocopies
  • Records (Documents)
  • Scrapbooks
  • Speeches