UUM_A0099.xml Guide to the Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection Johnson (Sonia) audio-visual collection J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections

2004 (Last modified: 2025)
295 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Business Number: 801-581-8863 special@library.utah.edu https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/index.php
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-11-14. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection Johnson, Sonia A0099 22 audiocassette 5 vhs 1976-1981 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). Click here to request digitized materials from the collection or visit ArchivesSpace for a container level list of digitized materials. English

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.

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).

The collection is arranged chronologially by material format.

Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

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

 Women and religion Latter Day Saint women--United States--Sources Feminism--United States Women's rights--United States Equal rights amendments--United States--Sources Latter Day Saints--Political activity Civil Rights Sound Recordings Moving Images Sound recordings Orrin Hatch, Campaign Tape 1976 audiocassette 1 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convention, Audio Only 1979 August 25 audiocassette sound 2

This tape includes the audio of four segments of Sonia Johnson's Speech in Kalispell Montana.

 Sonia Johnson, Tri-Cities, Washington 1979 October 29 audiocassette sound 3 Idsvoog Program, KUTV 1979 audiocassette sound 4 Sonia Johnson Excommunication 1979 December audiocassette sound 5

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.

 Sonia Johnson, Donahue Program 1980 January audiocassette sound 6

This tape contains the audio from Sonia Johnson's interview on the Donahue program.

 Sonia Johnson interview with Patrick Greenlaw, Beverly Campbell 1980 February 03 audiocassette sound 7

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.

 Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell, Donahue Program, answer to Sonia Johnson, audio only 1980 February 19 audiocassette sound 8

Side A of this tape contains the audio from Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell's interview on the Donahue program.

 Dick Norse and Shelly Thomas (KSL-TV commentary on Donahue program). 1980 February 10 audiocassette sound 8

Side B of this tape contains a short commentary from KSL on the interviews from the Donahue program.

 Beverly Little and Marty LaBrosse, interview with sisters by Cheryl L. Dalton 1980 December 12 audiocassette sound 9 Sonia Johnson, Katherine Parker, Patricia Garett, and Thelma Adair, Women's Breakfast at the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church 1980 audiocassette sound 10 Sonia Johnson, San Fransisco Women's Day 1981 March 07 audiocassette sound 11 Sonia Johnson, Sonia-Camilla I 1981 March 03 audiocassette sound 12 Sonia Johnson Sonia-Camilla II 1981 March 07 audiocassette sound 13 The ERA in America, National Public Radio; Margie Adam: New Possibilities 1981 April 15 audiocassette sound 14 Sonia Johnson: National Women's Political Caucus Speech Los Altos, California undated audiocassette sound 15 Sonia Johnson, Speech in Fresno, California undated audiocassette 16 Sonia Johnson 430-2650 undated audiocassette sound 17 To Sonia Johnson from Gwen F. Johnson 1980 April 16 audiocassette sound 18

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.

 Sonia Johnson: Reflections on Excommunication and Divorce undated audiocassette sound 19 Dear Sonia undated audiocassette sound 20 N.O.W. (National Organization for Women) presidential candidate Anne L. Lang undated audiocassette sound 21 Sonia Johnson on the LDS church, Gordon B. Hinkley and the ERA undated audiocassette sound 22

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.

 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convetion 1979 August 25 VHS color, sound 23

A recording of four segments of Sonia Johnson's speech at the Montana State Convention in Kalispell.

 Barbara Smith and Beverly Campbell, Donahue program, answer to Sonia Johnson 1980 December 19 VHS color, sound 24 Sonia Johnson on Donahue program and Beverly Campbell's counteract to Donahue's interview 1980 January VHS color, sound 25

Sonia Johnson's interview on the Donahue program as well as Beverly Campbell's response to incorrect statements made by Donahue in the program.

 Sonia Johnson: Mormons for ERA National Organization for Women, Montana State Convetion Duplicate 1979 August 25 U-Matic (TM) color, sound 26

Another recording of four segments of Sonia's speech at the Montana State convetion in Kalispell.

 Sonia Johnson EXTRA with Karl Idsvoog, KUTV 1979 Betacam (TM) color, sound 27