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.
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.
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.
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
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Boxes 1-2 were donated in 1981 and 1991 (0.75 linear feet). Box 3 was donated in 1991 (0.25 linear feet).
Processed by Amy Bentley, Julie Hunsaker, and Alison Rogers in 1997 and 2002.
See also the
See also the
Forms part of the
Reports, meeting format, by-laws, folder title list and index.
Concerning private meetings and historic dates.
Information on Algie Ballif, Karen Lynn, Loneta Murphy, Wanda Scott, Helen Stark, Jan L. Tyler, Thelma E. Weight, and Margaret Woodworth.
Information on Nancy Kader.
Speech transcripts, minutes, correspondence, notes, and news clippings regarding Alice Louise Reynolds forums.
Transcripts published by the Friends of the Brigham Young University Library.
Transcripts of speeches.
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."
Photocopies of thirteen letters sent to and received from LDS Church leaders by members of the Algie Ballif Forum regarding ERA.
Letters regarding depositing the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum papers in the Marriott Library's Special Collections department.
Letter written by a woman requesting her name be taken off the LDS Church membership rolls due to ERA.
Articles regarding the International Women's Year Utah meeting and an interview with some of the Forum's founding members.
News clippings, correspondence, a memoriam for Algie Ballif, forum by-laws, a calendar of meetings, and photocopies of photographs.
News clippings and a calendar of meetings.