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Sonia Johnson papers, 1958-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Johnson, Sonia
Title
Sonia Johnson papers
Dates
1958-1983 (inclusive)
bulk 1978-1982 (bulk)
Quantity
21.75 linear feet, (50 boxes)
Collection Number
MS 0287
Summary
The Sonia Johnson papers (1958-1983) contain materials dealing with her excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the group "Mormons for ERA" between the years 1978 and 1982.
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
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Historical Note

Sonia Ann Harris was born on 27 February 1936 in Malad City, Idaho, to Alvin and Ida Howell Harris. Her childhood was spent in Preston, Idaho, until the family moved to Logan, Utah, in 1948. She was raised a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormon Church).

After graduation from Logan High School in 1954 Sonia worked in a bank until she entered Utah State University in January 1955. She received her B.A. in English in 1958.

Sonia and Richard Theodore Johnson were married 21 August 1959. In February 1960 the Johnsons moved to Apia, Western Samoa where they both taught English for a year. They returned to Minneapolis where Sonia did graduate work at the University of Minnesota toward her master's degree. For two years of that time she was also a graduate assistant in the English Department. They moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where Sonia received her master's and Ed.D. degrees from Rutgers University.

In 1965 the Johnsons and their two children went to Lagos, Nigeria, where Sonia spent two years as head of testing at the American International School. From Nigeria, they went to Palo Alto, California, for two years, where Sonia had another baby, then on to Malawi where Sonia taught for two years at the University of Malawi.

After a brief stay in California the Johnsons and their three children went to Korea, where Sonia taught diplomats, their wives, and servicemen through the University of Maryland extension. She was also a visiting professor at Seoul University.

After spending almost a year in Western Malaysia, where Sonia had a fourth child, they returned to Califronia in 1974 and finally settled in Sterling, Virginia, in 1976. Sonia spent one year working through the federal Office of Education then became an adjunct professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Virginia.

Sonia Johnson began speaking out as a Mormon for Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1977. Her first national exposure was following her August 1978 testimony in front of the Senate Constitutional Rights Subcommittee where she came into conflict with Utah's junior Senator, Orrin Hatch. She continued speaking and promoting the Equal Rights Amendment and denouncing what she perceived to be her church's political activities against the amendment.

Sonia's August 1979 speech in Kalispell, Montana, to their National Organization for Women convention, the September 1979 paper given to the American Psychological Association, and an October 1979 speech at the University of Utah culminated in her call to an LDS Bishop's Court in November 1979.

After a well-publicized trial on December first, Sonia was officially excommunicated from the LDS Church on 5 December 1979. The decision was affirmed by a Church High Council Court on 6 April 1980. Sonia continued her promotion of the Equal Rights Amendment as president of the national Mormons for ERA group. She spoke at numerous functions throughout the country and appeared on a number of television talk shows, including the Phil Donahue program. In 1981 her book From Housewife to Heretic about her embrace of feminism was published.

In 1982 Sonia Johnson made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of the National Organization for Women. She still continues to be active in promoting feminist issues and women's rights.

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Content Description

The bulk of the collection is concerned with Mrs. Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the group "Mormons for ERA" between the years 1978 and 1982. There is a small amount of personal material, mainly family correspondence, included with the collection and dated between 1958 and 1982.

The thirty-five boxes containing the collection have been divided into six major categories. The first, consisting of three boxes is personal material. Included are chronologically arranged family letters. The other portion of the personal material deals with her excommunication trial including an alphabetical file of letters written by supporters of Mrs. Johnson to officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Four boxes comprise category two which contains information on the Equal Rights Amendment. Included are alphabetically filed letters from organizations supporting the amendment; information on extension, revision, and ratification; and organizations of the LDS Church opposing ERA and filed by state.

Within the three boxes in the third category are filed materials dealing with the Mormons for ERA groups. Included are articles and clippings about the LDS Church and its reaction to the Equal Rights Amendment, correspondence, speeches, activities, and information by and about state Mormons for ERA. Bylaws, press releases, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings are also included.

Even though the correspondence in the twelve boxes comprising the fourth category was sent to Sonia Johnson, much of it is closely tied to the Mormons for ERA organization. The correspondence has been divided into these nine subject areas: LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and Ex-LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and ex-LDS, Religion; LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Pro-ERA; Non-LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Religion; Pro-Sonia; and Requests for ERA Information. Each subject area has a list of names included.

Category five contains four boxes of material on speeches and articles. Included is correspondence arranging various speaking engagements organized chronologically by date of engagement, and a number of speeches and articles by Sonia Johnson. Also included are the drafts, correspondence and other information connected with herbook From Housewife to Heretic published In 1981.

The miscellaneous category included seven boxes of newspaper clippings dated from 1978 to 1982 with the bulk falling between November 1979 and January 1980 gleaned from newspapers all over the country. Also included in this section are eight daybooks kept by Mrs. Johnson and other miscellaneous information.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into eight series: I. Personal; II. Equal Rights Amendment; III. Mormons for ERA; IV. Correspondence; V. Speaking Engagements, Speeches and Writings; VI. Newspaper Clippings; VII. Miscellaneous; VIII. Addendum.

Separated Materials

See also the Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection (A0099) and the Sonia Johnson photograph collection (P0099) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Sonia Johnson, David M. Jabush, and Linda Sillito in 1981.

Processing Note

Processed by Marlene Lewis in 1982, 2006 and 2010.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

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

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Personal Materials

    • Personal Correspondence

      • Description: Sonia and Rich Johnson to Harris, Family

        Letters from Sonia and Rick Johnson to Sonia' s parents, Alvin and Ida Harris, and family. The letters are written from Western Samoa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nigeria, California, Pennsylvania, Malawi, Korea, Western Malaysia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Virginia.

        Dates: 1960-1968
        Container: Box 1, Folder 1-24
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Ida Harris to Sonia Johnson

        Letter to Sonia from her mother about Sonia's activities and the Mormons for E.R.A.

        Dates: 1980
        Container: Box 1, Folder 25
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Sonia and Rick Johnson

        Letters exchanged between Rick and Sonia Johnson including a number of notes, greeting cards and miscellaneous items.

        Dates: 1958-1979
        Container: Box 2, Folder 1-9
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Sonia and Rick Johnson to their children
        Dates: 1969-1977
        Container: Box 2, Folder 10
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Eric Johnson

        Letters about Sonia and Rick's eldest son and his stay in Logan including a letter from Floyd V. Israelsen and Sonia's reply.

        Dates: 1978
        Container: Box 2, Folder 11
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Sonia Johnson and Family Members

        Letter from Sonia to her brother Mark, letters to Sonia from her sister Joyce and Aunt Grace Baugh.

        Dates: 1962-1975
        Container: Box 2, Folder 12
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Robert Michael Harris

        Letter to and from Sonia's brother "Mike" while serving a mission for the LDS Church.

        Dates: 1962-1964
        Container: Box 2, Folder 13
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Jeff Harris

        Letters from Sonia's brother Jeff to his mother.

        Dates: 1964
        Container: Box 2, Folder 14
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Ina and Wayne Harris

        Letters from Ina and Wayne Harris to Ida and Alvin Harris.

        Dates: 1960-1965
        Container: Box 2, Folder 15
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Martha Harris

        Letter from Martha Harris to Ida Harris.

        Dates: 1964
        Container: Box 2, Folder 16
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Ida Harris

        Ida Harris to her husband and son Alvin and Mark Harris.

        Dates: 1972
        Container: Box 2, Folder 17
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Ida Johnson

        Letter from Ida Johnson to Ida Harris about a possible visit to their children Rick and Sonia Johnson.

        Container: Box 2, Folder 18
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Grace Smith

        Letter from Mrs. Marion Smith to her aunt Ida Harris.

        Dates: 1965
        Container: Box 2, Folder 19
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Lupe P. Afuvia

        Letters from Lupe P. Afuvia to Ida Harris. The Harris' had Sinapi Afuvia of Samoa staying with them in Logan, Utah.

        Dates: 1962-1963
        Container: Box 2, Folder 20
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Sinapi Afuvia

        Letters to and from Sinapi Afuvia who was living with the Harris' in Logan, Utah. Some of the letters are written in Samoan.

        Dates: 1961-1963
        Container: Box 2, Folder 21
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Ida and Alvin Harris

        Miscellaneous letters to Ida and Alvin Harris including one about conflicts with the LDS Church home teachers in Logan, Utah.

        Dates: 1963-1981
        Container: Box 2, Folder 22
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Friends to Sonia Johnson

        Letters to Sonia from Barbara Allen, Bill Billingsley, Virginia L. Carter, Peggy and Andrew Creese, Linda Daube, Audrey Grant, Edward L. Meyerson, Candice Osborn, Ron and Hazel Rigby and other personal acquaintances.

        Dates: 1974-1981
        Container: Box 2, Folder 23
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Archives to Sonia Johnson

        Letters from the University of Missouri, Brigham Young University, Utah State University and the University of Utah asking about deposition of Sonia Johnson's papers.

        Dates: 1979-1982
        Container: Box 2, Folder 24
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence
      • Description: Miscellaneous Personal Items

        Includes a play program from an itinerary for Richard T. Johnson from 1976, and Sonia Johnson's reports on an open house at the Palo Alto LDS Church in 1972.

        Dates: 1957
        Container: Box 2, Folder 25
        Location: Personal Materials / Personal Correspondence

    • Excommunication

      • Description: L.D.S. Church Documents

        Copy of Sonia's partriarchial Blessing from 1960 and 1976.

        Dates: 1960-1976
        Container: Box 3, Folder 1
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Correspondence with First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

        Letters between Sonia Johnson and the LDS Church hierarchy about her support for the Equal Rights Amendment, her trial and appeal of her excommunication.

        Dates: 1979-1980
        Container: Box 3, Folder 2
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Summons, Trial, and Appeal

        Correspondence and statements between Sonia Johnson, her LDS Bishop Jeffery H. Willis, and the L.D.S. Stake President Earl J. Roueche about her excommunication trial and appeal.

        Dates: 1979-1980
        Container: Box 3, Folder 3
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Defense: Michael J. Barrett

        Correspondence, articles, and notes about a possible defense against excommunication or possible civil action against the LDS Church from Michael J. Barrett, a lawyer.

        Dates: 1979-1980
        Container: Box 3, Folder 4
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Defense: Paul N. McCloskey, Jr.

        Offer from California representative McCloskey to assist with her case.

        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 5
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Defense: Articles

        Copies of "Resolution of Civil Disputes by Mormon Ecclesiastical Courts," by Raymond T. Swenson, and the testimony concerning Reed Smoot in the Committee on Privileges and Elections.

        Container: Box 3, Folder 6
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Trial Testimonies and Statements

        Included are statements by Sonia Johnson, the LDS Church representative, Ralph J. Payne, Nancy Kuhn, Hazel Rigby, Loneta Murphy, William D. Payne, Mary Ann Payne, Nadine Hansen, Kris Green, and the Consortium for Utah Women in Higher Education.

        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 7
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Trial Vigil Prayers and Statements

        Prayer by Emily Benson, statements by Loneta Murphy and an unnamed individual.

        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 8
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Press Packet

        Folder for members of the press at Sonia Johnson's trial which includes copies of earlier newspaper clippings, statements, and testimony by and about Sonia Johnson and the Equal Rights Amendment.

        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 9
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Notes on Church Meeting

        Notes by Arlene Wood and Kathryn McKay about the church meeting attended by Sonia on December 2, 1979 the day following her excommunication.

        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 10
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Miscellaneous Correspondence

        Included is a letter from Hartman Rector, jr. to Teddie Wood in which he claims if men did not hold the priesthood they "...would problably be eaten by the famale as in the case with the black widow spider [SIC]." Also included is a letter to Sonia from Barbara B. Smith, LDS Relief Society President, and an exchange of letters about Jeffrey Willis's position with the Central Intelligence Agency.

        Dates: 1978-1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 11
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Sterling Park Ward Kirectory
        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 3, Folder 12
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication
      • Description: Letters to LDS Church Leaders

        Letters, arranged in alphabetical order, written to LDS Church leaders from her bishop to the First Presidency in support of Sonia Johnson and her position on the Equal Rights Amendment. A name list is included and filed in folder 13.

        Container: Box 3, Folder 13-21
        Location: Personal Materials / Excommunication

  • Equal Right Amendment

    • Organizations, Pro-ERA., A - N

    • Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W

      • Description: National Organization for Women (NOW), States U-W

        Includes some Utah material

        Dates: 1973-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 1-4
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations N

        National Assembly of Women Religious

        National Coalition of American Nuns

        National Council of Churches

        National Women's Party

        Network (Catholic nuns' group)

        Nevadans for ERA

        North Miami Beach Commission on the Status of Women

        Dates: 1978-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 5
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations O

        OK-ERA (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

        Oklahoma Governor's Commission on the Status of Women

        Oklahomans for the Equal Righs Amendment

        Oklahoma Homemakers for the ERA

        Older women's Liberation

        Dates: 1980
        Container: Box 5, Folder 6
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations P

        Planned Parenthood-Louisville

        Presbyterian Church groups

        People of Faith for the ERA

        President's Advisory Committee for Women

        Prince George's County Commission for Women

        Dates: 1979-1980
        Container: Box 5, Folder 7
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Religious Advocates for Equality
        Dates: 1979
        Container: Box 5, Folder 8
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Religious Committee for the ERA
        Dates: 1979-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 9
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations S- T

        Sacramento Valley Ecumenical Women

        Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women (California)

        Sisters of Divine Providence (Kentucky)

        Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (Washington, D. C.)

        South Texas Women's Forum

        Tacoma Dominican Sisters Consensus Group 2

        Thurston County Ministries in Higher Education (Washington)

        Dates: 1979-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 10
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations U

        Unitarian Church groups

        United Methodist Church groups

        United Teachers of Los Angeles

        United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (Minnesota)

        Unity (Texas)

        Utah Order of Women Legislators

        Dates: 1978-1980
        Container: Box 5, Folder 11
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations V

        Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification

        Council

        Virginians for the Equal Rights Amendment-Political Action Committee

        Virginia Polytechnic Institute Women's Network

        Virginia Religious Committee for ERA

        Dates: 1978-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 12
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Women's Political Caucus

        National materials, 1979-1981; and material arranged alphabetically by state, 1979-1980

        Dates: 1979-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 13-14
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W
      • Description: Organizations W

        Washington Equal Rights Amendment Coalition

        Women in Communications, Inc.

        Women and Religion Task Force in Kansas City

        Women for Sobriety, Washington Group

        Women's Issues Forum, Glendale, Arizona

        Women Space (Ohio)

        Women's Resources for Action (Washington, D. C.)

        Women's Campaign Fund

        Women's Caucus for Art/Coalition of Women's Art Organizations

        Women's Center of Eastern Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)

        Women's Center, University of Tennessee

        Women's Information Network (Missouri)

        Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

        Women's Ordination Conference of Rhode Island

        The Women's Room and Resource Center (Virginia)

        Dates: 1979-1981
        Container: Box 5, Folder 15
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W

    • Equal Rights Amendment Information

      • Description: Statements of Extension and Recision

        Testimony before Senate committee by Rugh Bader Ginsburg, Judith Hertz and Mildred Jeffrey in 1978 statements by Eleanor Smeal, Jan Tyler, and Carol Caston; a memorandum of law prepared by Lippman and Hart; and various fact sheets on the proposed ratification time and proposal to allow recision of approval of the Equal Rights Amendment.

        Dates: 1977-1978
        Container: Box 6, Folder 1
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Judge Marion J. Callister

        Judge Callister, a high ranking LDS Church leader was to sit on the case to decide if the recision of ratification of a constitutional amendment, in this case the Equal Rights Amendment, was legal in the Federal District Court for the District of Idaho. An attempt was made to disqualify him based on his authority in a church so vocal against the ERA Included here are copies of the disqualification motions and orders, 1979-1981; information sheets, press releases and newspaper clippings, 1979-1980; and the NOW Press Kit.

        Dates: 1979-1981
        Container: Box 6, Folder 2-6
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Congressional Hearings on ERA

        Statements supporting ERA including rebuttals to Senator Sam Ervin's Minority Report in relation to the Yale Law Journal report on ERA.

        Dates: 1972-1978
        Container: Box 6, Folder 7
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Speeches and Statements on ERA

        Includes speeches, statements and fact sheets.

        Dates: 1978-1979
        Container: Box 6, Folder 8
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Reports on ERA

        Reports made by the National Organization for Women.

        Container: Box 6, Folder 9
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Pamphlets

        Pamphlets, brochures and flyers in favor of ERA.

        Container: Box 6, Folder 10
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Anti-ERA Information

        Includes flyers and newsletters from the Eagle Forum and STOP ERA, statements of Senators Sam Ervin and Orrin G. Hatch, a transcript of the Utah State Senate discussion of the Equal Rights Amendment Rejection Resolution in 1979, and information on the Republican and Democratic Parties' attitudes toward the Equal Rights Amendment.

        Container: Box 6, Folder 11-15
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Articles about ERA
        Dates: 1977-1979
        Container: Box 6, Folder 16
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Newspaper Clippings on ERA
        Dates: 1977-1980
        Container: Box 6, Folder 17-21
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information
      • Description: Miscellaneous Information on ERA
        Container: Box 6, Folder 22
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / Equal Rights Amendment Information

    • LDS Church Organizations Against ERA

      • Description: Arizona

        Information sent by Lou Ann Stoker Dickson about anti-ERA activities carried on in the LDS Churches in Tempe, Arizona, and news-clippings about Mormons in Arizona.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 1
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Florida

        Information and financial records on FACT-PAC (Families Are Concerned Today-Political Action Committee), its backing by LDS Church members, and its activities.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 2-3
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Missouri

        Information, correspondence, flyers about the Missouri Citizen's Council and its connection with the LDS Church.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 4
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Nevada

        Letters, articles, and information on the LDS Church's influence on Nevada politics from Renee and Sheldon Rampton, including Renee Rampton's paper "The Role of the Mormon Church in the 1978 Nevada Election."

        Container: Box 7, Folder 5-6
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Nevada

        Articles, statements, and other information on Citizen's Quest for Quality Government, its activities in Nevada, and its connection with the LDS Church.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 7-8
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Nevada

        Clippings, articles, and summary statements on the connection of Nevada Mormons and polictics including materials on Mormons and the ERA, The Mormon Voting Bloc, Beehive, and LDS Church publication and its political role; Ezra Taft Benson; the Conservative Caucus; Karen Hays Campaign; the Holt Campaign; International Women's Year in Nevada; Douglas Wallace; and other miscellaneous items.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 9-20
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Virginia

        Includes correspondence, articles and other information on the LDS Citizen's Coalition, including a typed transcript of the organizational meeting, and much about the coalition's involvement in Virginia politics in opposition to ERA Also included is a pamphlet and flyers on the "Equality Yes! ERA No!" link between the Virginia LDS Citizens Coalition and Phyllis Schlafly's STOP ERA movement, and some miscellaneous information.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 21-25
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: Miscellaneous States

        Information about LDS Church activities against the ERA from California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 26
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
      • Description: General

        Information on LDS Church political activities.

        Container: Box 7, Folder 27
        Location: Equal Right Amendment / LDS Church Organizations Against ERA

  • Mormons for ERA

    • Description: Meetings with LDS Church Officials

      Sets of notes made by Sonia Johnson and by Jan Tyler on a meeting between Sonia Johnson and Jan Tyler and two members of the LDS General Conference October 3, 1981, made by Gayle Brooks Freeman.

      Dates: 1981
      Container: Box 8, Folder 1
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Statements and Articles by LDS Church Officials

      Letters, press releases, interviews, speeches and other statements by church leaders about the Equal Rights Amendment and the role of women in society.

      Container: Box 8, Folder 2
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Primary Class Lesson

      Correspondence and information concerning the controversy over a girls' LDS primary lesson about honoring the priesthood.

      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box 8, Folder 3
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Mormons for ERA

      Information statements, articles, and other information about the LDS Church and its role in opposition to the ERA by the Mormons for ERA group.

      Container: Box 8, Folder 4-5
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Pusillo Study

      Paper by Sally Mercurio Pusill titled "Mormon Children's Present Sex and Future Sex-Role Preferences."

      Container: Box 8, Folder 6
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Articles and Newspaper Clippings

      Including a number of articles by Loneta Murphy, articles pro and anti-ERA, and newspaper clippings from 1975-1981 and undated.

      Dates: 1975-1981
      Container: Box 8, Folder 7-17
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Articles and Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1977-1981
      Container: Box 8, Folder 18-22
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Articles on Women and Religion
      Container: Box 8, Folder 23
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Articles, Papers and Newspaper Clippings on Women
      Dates: 1971-1981
      Container: Box 8, Folder 24-27
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Senate Committee Hearing

      Includes Sonia Johnson's travel voucher and testimony, a typed transcript of the hearing, a statement by Sonia Johnson about how she became involved which is partly a journal of events following the testimony, and a supportive statement by Hazel Rigby.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 9, Folder 1
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Sonia Johnson Biographical Notes
      Dates: 1979
      Container: Box 9, Folder 2
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Correspondence

      Copies of letters written by Sonia Johnson or other members of the Mormons for ERA central organization about the groups activities, opinions, and business.

      Dates: 1978-1980
      Container: Box 9, Folder 3-8
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Correspondence

      Letters to state and national legislators from individuals and the Mormons for ERA group, 1978-1979; response from national legislators, 1978-1979; correspondence with the executive branch, 1978-1980; response from Virginia legislators and other state legislators, 1978-1979; and correspondence with representatives of the written and televised media, 1979-1981, and undated.

      Dates: 1978-1981
      Container: Box 9, Folder 9-17
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Speeches and Statements

      Speeches and statements about Mormons for ERA by Jan L. Tyler, Christine Arlene Chapman, James E. Chapman, Shirlie Kaplan, Sheldon Rampton, and Cheryl L. Dalton. Also included are some speeches with no name given.

      Container: Box 9, Folder 18-20
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Activities Permits

      Permits for demonstrations on the United States Capitol grounds given to the Mormons for ERA by the United States Capitol Police Board.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 9, Folder 21
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Bellevue, Washington Arrest

      Materials relating to the arrest of Sonia Johnson and twenty other people for chaining themselves to the gates of the L. D. S. Temple in Bellevue. Also included is material about the personal injury suit filed by Marty La-Brasse against the church members in charge of the temple. Included are letters, legal papers, name lists, news letters, press releases, and newspaper clippings.

      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box 9, Folder 22-24
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: ERA Missionaries in Utah

      Information, including the model program for sending people door-to-door to speak for the ERA in Utah in the same way LDS Church missionaries operate.

      Dates: 1981
      Container: Box 9, Folder 25
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Southern California Mormons for ERA

      Press releases, newsletters, flyers.

      Dates: 1979-1981
      Container: Box 9, Folder 26
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Washington Mormons for ERA

      Press releases, newsletters, statements, flyers

      Dates: 1979-1981
      Container: Box 9, Folder 27
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Ex-Mormons for ERA

      Invitation to join, press release, newspaper story.

      Temporarily Restricted.

      Dates: 1980-1981
      Container: Box 9, Folder 28
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Utah Mormons for ERA

      Correspondence, minutes, memoranda.

      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box 9, Folder 29-30
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: By-laws
      Container: Box 10, Folder 1
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Minutes
      Dates: 1979-1980
      Container: Box 10, Folder 2
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Name and Address Lists

      ERA supporters contact list, media representatives.

      Container: Box 10, Folder 3-4
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Press Releases
      Dates: 1978-1981
      Container: Box 10, Folder 5
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Newsletters

      Copies of newsletters, articles for the newsletter, and name lists.

      Dates: 1979-1981
      Container: Box 10, Folder 6-7
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Pamphlets

      Pro-ERA pamphlets a document to encourage ratification, and Anti-Mormon pamphlets.

      Container: Box 10, Folder 8-10
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Miscellaneous

      Included are flyers, information on Mormons for ERA and a number of feminist songs and poems.

      Container: Box 10, Folder 11-13
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Exponent II

      Copy of the , Vol, III, No. 1, September 1976, a newspaper for Mormon Women.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 10, Folder 14
      Location: Mormons for ERA
    • Description: Articles and Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1981
      Container: Box 10, Folder 15-17
      Location: Mormons for ERA

  • Correspondence

  • Speaking Engagements, Speeches and Writings

  • Newspaper Clippings

    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 27
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 28
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 29
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 30
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 31
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 32
      Location: Newspaper Clippings
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      Dates: 1978-1982
      Container: Box 33
      Location: Newspaper Clippings

  • Miscellaneous

    • Description: Daybooks

      Spiral bound steno pads containing phone messages, notes on things to be done, notes for articles or speeches, address and phone numbers.

      Dates: 1978-1981
      Container: Box 34
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: Religious Roundtable National Affairs Briefing

      Clippings and information about this politically right wing, moral-majority rally and convention in Dallas, Texas 21-22 August 1980. (See also: Speaking Engagements, about Sonia Johnson's speech in Dallas on August 24, 1980.)

      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box 35, Folder 1
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: The Far Right Wing

      Articles, statements and pamphlets by and about politically right wing and "Moral Majority" groups.

      Container: Box 35, Folder 2-3
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: Miscellaneous

      Includes a cartoon on wage discrimination and an article about resistance movements.

      Container: Box 35, Folder 4
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: Ribbons, Buttons, Badges, and Stickers
      Container: Box 35, Folder 5
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: Interesting Envelopes

      Small sampling of envelopes from letters mailed to Sonia Johnson which contain a number of editorial comments, or odd or incomplete addresses which still reached her.

      Container: Box 35, Folder 6
      Location: Miscellaneous

  • Addendum

Finding aid created by Marlene Lewis.
1982 (last modified: 2018)

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