Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Historical Note
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Incoming Correspondence
- Outgoing Letters
- General Correspondence
- Interoffice Correspondence
- Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings
- Financial Records
- News Releases
- Legal Documents - Certification of Enrolled Enactment, SB68
- Notes
- Directories
- Mailing Lists
- Newsletters of Others
- Petitions
- Photograph of Vincent H. Yano
- Speakers' Packet
- Ephemera
- Clippings
- Subject Series
- Names and Subjects
Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform Records, 1963-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform
- Title
- Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform Records
- Dates
- 1963-1970 (inclusive)19631970
- Quantity
- 1.42 cubic ft. (4 boxes)
- Collection Number
- (Accession No. 1865-001)
- Summary
- Records of a citizen political action group documenting the efforts of the organization to liberalize the state's abortion laws
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to all users.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
At the invitation of Samuel Goldenberg, a dozen persons -- including physicians, Catholic and Protestant clergymen, an attorney, a social worker, and a housewife -- met in early 1967 to discuss the problem of illegal abortions in Washington State. Goldenberg, a Seattle-area clinical psychologist, was troubled by the situation of two patients facing unwanted pregnancies who were denied legal abortions. Washington law allowed "therapeutic" abortions only after a committee of physicians determined that one was necessary to save the life of the mother. Goldenberg's group, which expanded beyond its initial dozen members and adopted the name Citizens' Abortion Discussion Group, explored the possibilities for reforming Washington's abortion law. It continued its study of the issue for two years and drafted a proposed amendment to the state's abortion statute. The group's bill was introduced by Democratic representative William Chatalas and Republican senator Joel Pritchard during the 1969 legislative session. Despite the endorsement of the Washington State Medical Association and the recommendation of the Attorney General's Citizens' Committee on Crime that abortion laws be liberalized, the legislation died in both houses.
Following its legislative defeat, the group incorporated as Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform (WCAR) with Goldenberg as its president and explored a possible court challenge to the abortion statute. During a special legislative session in 1970, Pritchard introduced another WCAR-supported bill. An amended version, which permitted abortions performed by a licensed physician within the first four months of pregnancy with the consent of the woman's husband, if married and living together, or legal guardian, if under the age of 18, was approved and sent to the voters as Referendum 20. WCAR established branches across the state and campaigned vigorously for its passage. The measure was approved by voters in November 1970, making Washington the first state in which abortion was legalized by popular vote.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform Records document the efforts of the organization to liberalize the state's abortion laws. The records primarily cover the 1970 campaign to win passage of Referendum 20 but also include materials on the organization's earlier legislative efforts. WCAR's development of a statewide campaign network is documented in the correspondence files. The Incoming Letters and General Correspondence files are arranged largely alphabetically, while the Outgoing Letters and Interoffice Correspondence files are largely chronological in order. Much of the correspondence deals with logistical and administrative matters. There are several letters regarding the visit of Vincent H. Yano, a Roman Catholic legislator from Hawaii who supported liberalization of abortion laws. WCAR's strategic planning is outlined in the Minutes. The Speakers' Packet and News Releases present WCAR's arguments to the voters. The Clippings date primarily from the fall of 1970.
Several Subject Series also include significant amounts of correspondence. The Case Histories subject file contains letters from physicians and individual women concerning their personal experiences with illegal abortion. The Playboy Forum subject file includes letters received in response to an open letter on abortion reform in Playboy magazine by WCAR's Publicity Chairman, Rev. Peter S. Raible.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Incoming Correspondence, 1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/1
Outgoing Letters, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/2
General Correspondence, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/3
Interoffice Correspondence, 1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/4
Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/5
Financial Records, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/6-7
News Releases, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/8
Legal Documents - Certification of Enrolled Enactment, SB68, 1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/9
Notes, 1970, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/10
Directories, 1969-1970, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/11
Mailing Lists, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/12
Newsletters of Others, 1969-1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/13
Petitions, 1970, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/14
Photograph of Vincent H. Yano, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/15
Speakers' Packet, 1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 1/16
Ephemera, 1970, n.d.Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 2/1
Clippings, 1970Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 4/1-5
Subject SeriesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Abortion Reform Legislation Outside
Washington |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/2 | Incoming Letters |
1969 |
2/3 | Reports |
n.d. |
2/4 | Legislative Bills |
1966-1969 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/6 | Case Histories |
1969 |
Catholics for Individual Responsibility |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/7 | Incoming Letters |
1970, n.d. |
2/8 | Outgoing Letters |
1970 |
2/9 | News Releases |
1970 |
2/10 | Ephemera |
1968-1970, n.d. |
Church - Materials Requests |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/11 | Incoming Letters |
1969-1970 |
2/12 | Reports |
1963, 1969 |
2/13 | Notes |
n.d. |
Doorbelling Volunteers |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/14 | Incoming Letters |
1970 |
2/15 | Lists |
1970 |
Endorsements by Major Organizations |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/16 | Incoming Letters |
1968-1970 |
2/17 | Outgoing Letters |
1969-1970 |
2/18 | General Correspondence |
1969-1970 |
2/19 | News Releases |
1968-1970 |
2/20 | Resolutions |
1968-1970 |
2/21 | Lists |
1969, n.d. |
Box/Folder | ||
3/1 | Hate Mail |
1970 |
Legislation/Legislators |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/2 | General Correspondence |
1970 |
3/3 | Reports, Testimony and Bills |
1968-1970 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/4 | "March on Olympia" Permit Request |
1969 |
Opposition |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/5 | Reports |
1970 |
3/6 | Ephemera |
1970 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/7 |
Playboy Forum |
1970 |
3/8 | Polls |
1969, n.d. |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Abortion--Government policy--Citizen participation
- Abortion--Law and legislation--Washington (State)
- Abortion--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Bonds, Helen K
- Goldenberg, Samuel, 1921-
- Pritchard, Joel M. (Joel McFee), 1925-
- Yano, Vincent H
Corporate Names
- Citizens' Abortion Discussion Group (Wash.)
- Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform--Archives
- Washington State Council of Churches
Geographical Names
- Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th century
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)