Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection, 1976-1981

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Johnson, Sonia
Title
Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection
Dates
1976-1981 (inclusive)
Quantity
22 audiocassette
5 vhs
Collection Number
A0099
Summary
The bulk of the Sonia Johnson collection is concerned with Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
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

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Sonia Johnson (born 1936), who was a member of the LDS Church from birth, began speaking out in support of the ERA in 1977. National exposure occurred with her 1978 testimony in front of the U. S. Senate's Constitutional Rights Subcommittee, and she continued speaking and promoting the ERA and denouncing what she perceived to be her church's political activities against the amendment. After a well-publicized church trial in December 1979, Johnson was excommunicated. Afterwards, she continued promoting the ERA as president of the Mormons for ERA group. She spoke at numerous functions throughout the country and appeared on a number of television talk shows. Her book about her embrace of feminism, From Housewife to Heretic, was published in 1981.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The bulk of the Sonia Johnson Collection is concerned with Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologially by material format.

Related Materials

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

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
cassette
1 Orrin Hatch, Campaign Tape
1976
2 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convention, Audio Only
This tape includes the audio of four segments of Sonia Johnson's Speech in Kalispell Montana.
1979 August 25
3 Sonia Johnson, Tri-Cities, Washington
1979 October 29
4 Idsvoog Program, KUTV
1979
5 Sonia Johnson Excommunication
This tape includes an interview with Sonia Johnson on the events that transpired during her excommunication as well as a television segment about her trial with Diane Sawyer.
1979 December
6 Sonia Johnson, Donahue Program
This tape contains the audio from Sonia Johnson's interview on the Donahue program.
1980 January
7 Sonia Johnson interview with Patrick Greenlaw, Beverly Campbell
Side A contains the audio of Sonia Johnson's interview with Patrick Greenlaw on Take 2. Side B contains Beverly Campbell's Take 2 interview.
1980 February 03
8 Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell, Donahue Program, answer to Sonia Johnson, audio only
Side A of this tape contains the audio from Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell's interview on the Donahue program.
1980 February 19
8 Dick Norse and Shelly Thomas (KSL-TV commentary on Donahue program).
Side B of this tape contains a short commentary from KSL on the interviews from the Donahue program.
1980 February 10
9 Beverly Little and Marty LaBrosse, interview with sisters by Cheryl L. Dalton
1980 December 12
10 Sonia Johnson, Katherine Parker, Patricia Garett, and Thelma Adair, Women's Breakfast at the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church
1980
11 Sonia Johnson, San Fransisco Women's Day
1981 March 07
12 Sonia Johnson, Sonia-Camilla I
1981 March 03
13 Sonia Johnson Sonia-Camilla II
1981 March 07
14 The ERA in America, National Public Radio; Margie Adam: New Possibilities
1981 April 15
15 Sonia Johnson: National Women's Political Caucus Speech Los Altos, California
undated
16 Sonia Johnson, Speech in Fresno, California
undated
17 Sonia Johnson 430-2650
undated
18 To Sonia Johnson from Gwen F. Johnson
This tape was sent to Sonia Johnson after her interview on the Donahue program. It contains a Gwen F. Johnson expressing her thoughts on Sonia's actions and excommunication.
1980 April 16
19 Sonia Johnson: Reflections on Excommunication and Divorce
undated
20 Dear Sonia
undated
21 N.O.W. (National Organization for Women) presidential candidate Anne L. Lang
undated
22 Sonia Johnson on the LDS church, Gordon B. Hinkley and the ERA
Side A contains Sonia's thoughts on the LDS church, Gordon B. Hinkley, and the ERA. Side B is part of a Relief Society Cultural Refinement Kit audiocassette.
undated
23 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convetion
A recording of four segments of Sonia Johnson's speech at the Montana State Convention in Kalispell.
1979 August 25
24 Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell, Donahue program, answer to Sonia Johnson
1980 December 19
25 Sonia Johnson on Donahue program and Beverly Campbell's counteract to Donahue's interview
Sonia Johnson's interview on the Donahue program as well as Beverly Campbell's response to incorrect statements made by Donahue in the program.
1980 January
26 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convetion Duplicate
Another recording of four segments of Sonia's speech at the Montana State convetion in Kalispell.
1979 August 25
27 Sonia Johnson EXTRA with Karl Idsvoog, KUTV
1979

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Equal rights amendments--United States--History--Sources
  • Feminism--United States
  • Latter Day Saint churches--Political activity
  • Latter Day Saint women--United States--Sources
  • Women and religion
  • Women's rights--United States

Form or Genre Terms

  • Sound recordings