Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project
Dates:
1945-1980 ( inclusive )
Quantity:
56 oral history interviews and 1
cubic foot (89 audio cassettes, 2125 pp of transcripts and other paper
documentation, 1 box of research and correspondence)
Collection Number:
Women
and Political Activism
Summary:
The staff of the Idaho Oral History
Center, along with student interns, conducted the Women in Political Activism
Oral History Project to gather and preserve the stories and memories of Idaho
residents, both men and women, involved with a number of political issues of
special interest to women. The time period discussed by the narrators spans
from the 1945 through 1980.
Repository:
Idaho State Historical
Society. Public Archives and Research Library. Idaho Oral History Center
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Historical Note
The Women and Political Activism Oral History Project records the
memories of women and men involved in various aspects of politics in Idaho from
1945 through 1980. The narrators focused their remembrances on their
experiences working with women's issues. This project was conducted from 1995
to1997. The collection ncludes 56 interviews and detailed women's political
work in post-World War II Idaho.
The narrators discussed a variety of topics. Several narrators shared
their work with women's consciousness-raising groups in Boise and Lewiston. The
narrators shared stories of their participation in activities such as the
sit-in type protests aimed at liberating the "round table," an all male bastion
at the Hotel Boise. The main goals of these groups included promoting women's
issues, putting a public face to the problems of women's rights, and working to
facilitate stronger female roles in the work force.
Many of the narrators for this oral history project also worked with
educational issues. Some fought for the introduction of women's studies courses
at Lewis-Clark State College. Others detailed the successful efforts of the
Kindergarten Lobby to introduce public kindergarten in the state. Prior to
their work, the state educational system offered no public kindergarten. Those
working for this issue felt it was an important step in furthering the
education of Idaho's children and brought changes to the system through their
efforts.
As battles flamed up over the Equal Rights Amendment, several Idahoans
got involved in the fighting. Some of the narrators pushed for the passage of
the amendment, while others worked to keep it out of the law. Both sides are
represented in this collection. They not only described the work put into
fighting for or against this issue, but they also detailed their reactions to
both the amendment's passage and recision.
This oral history collection does also contain interviews with several
women who ran for elected office. These women ran for a variety of political
positions, from city councilperson to lieutenant governor.
Those interviewed also described their involvement in several
statewide and national organizations such as the YWCA, American Association of
University Women, Idaho Commission on Women's Programs, League of Women Voters,
and National Organization for Women. Additionally, this collection includes
interviews with members of the groups in political opposition to these women's
issues.
The Women and Political Activism Oral History Project does offer a
glimpse into the struggles women faced in the political arena from 1945 to
1980. The people interviewed for this project represent a cross section of
women's political roles. This collection does clearly show the impact these
women had on the legal workings of Idaho's government and on the attitudes of
Idahoans.
Content Description
The Idaho State Historical Society's Womenand& Political Activism
Oral History Project collection consists of tape-recorded interviews,
transcripts, indexes, summaries, signed release forms, and biographical
information detailing interviews with 49 men and women involved with a number
of issues of special interest to women, such as child care, education, legal
rights, political involvement, and others. The material was created by staff at
the ISHS' Oral History Center between 1995 and 1997.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open for research
Administrative Information
Related Materials :
See the numerous other research material with the ISHS Public Archives
and Research Library, including the manuscript (personal papers) collection,
general book collection, vertical files, and photographs for additional
information about women and politics. This oral history project also became the
basis for a special issue of the historical journal,
Idaho Yesterdays (Volume 41, number 3, Fall, 1997).
Location of Originals :
This collection is housed at the ISHS Public Archives and Research
Library in Boise.
Detailed Description of the Collection
OH1409: Afton Falter interview
Falter,
Afton, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
20 leaves. Transcript :
Falter discusses her personal experiences and involvement in
various organizations in Pocatello, Idaho. Topics include the National
Organization of Women, Idaho Commission on Women's Programs, American
Association of University Women, and the League of Women Voters.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter under the auspices of the Idaho State
Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Apr. 1
OH1410: Alice Hennessey
interview
Hennessey,
Alice, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
29 leaves. Transcript :
Alice Hennessey discusses her background, personal experiences,
involvement in various community organizations, and employment at Boise Cascade
Corporation beginning in 1958 in Boise, Idaho. Topics include feminism in Idaho
and the chamber of commerce in Boise.
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford on 6 Jan. 1996 under the
auspices of the Idaho State Historical Society as part of the Women and
Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Jan. 6
OH1291: Anne Staton Voilleque and Michele
Hansen interview
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
47 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism and International Women's Year (1975) in
Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley and Rosemary L. Wimberly
under the auspices of the Idaho Oral History Center on 29 May 1996 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 May 29
OH1285: Betty Sims interview
Sims, Betty,
1936- (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
27 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include education, feminism, and women in politics in
Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center on 7 June 1996 as part of the Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 June 7
OH1298: Betty VanZonneveld
interview
VanZonneveld,
Elizabeth, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
40 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism in Idaho. Places represented include
Boise.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter under the auspices of the Idaho Oral
History Center as part of Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral
History Project.
1995 Mar. 29
OH1402: DeeDee Copsey interview
Copsey,
DeeDee, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
28 leaves. Transcript :
Copsey discusses her six year tenure as a board member of the
Boise YWCA and her active involvement in Church Women United.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter under the auspices of the Idaho State
Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1994 Mar
OH1401: Del Bowman interview
Bowman,
Del, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
14 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include Bowman's involvement in his wife's, Rose Bowman,
political career in Boise in the early 1970s. Topics include feminism in
Idaho.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter on 15 May 1994 under the auspices of
the Idaho State Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism
in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1994 May 15
OH1278: Edith Miller Klein
interview
Klein, Edith
Miller, 1915-1998, (interviewee)
3 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
54 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism in Idaho and the Idaho Commission on
Women's Programs.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho State Historical Society Oral History Center on 21 Feb. and 4 Apr. 1996
as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History
Project.
1996 Feb. 21 and Apr. 4
OH1413: George H.R. Taylor
interview
Taylor, George H.
R., (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
55 leaves. Transcript :
Taylor discusses his aunt's, Margaret Roberts, role in the women's
suffrage movement in Boise, Idaho, in the early 1920s. He also discusses his
family background, particularly his great-grandfather Alexander Culbertson and
great-grandmother Natawistacha-Iskana.
Interviewed by Rosemary Wimberly under the auspices of the Idaho
State Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Oct. 19
OH1277: Hope Kading interview
Kading, Hope C.,
1933-2000, (interviewee)
3 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
61 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism, practical politics, and women's
organizations in Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho State Historical Society on 5 Dec. 1996 as part of the Women and
Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Dec. 5
OH1411: Idaho Purce interview
Purce,
Idaho, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
18 leaves. Transcript :
Purce recalls her experiences as an African American woman living
in Pocatello, Idaho, beginning in 1913. Topics include feminism, the YWCA, and
civil rights in Idaho.
Interviewed by Kelly Watts under the auspices of the Idaho State
Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 May 2
OH2156: Irene A. Wilcox
interview
Wilcox, Irene A.,
1923-2004, (interviewee)
1 cassette (ca. 35
min.) Sound recordings
:
Wilcox offered her memories of her politically-related activities
in Boise, Idaho. She spoke of the period between the 1940s and 1980s and of the
following topics: societies and clubs in Idaho, civil rights in Idaho, and
homosexuality in Boise, Idaho. She specifically talked about the "Boys of
Boise" scandal of the 1950s
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford on 13 Dec. 1995 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Dec. 13
OH1267: Jil Barnard interview
Barnard,
Jil, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
31 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism and International Women's Year (1975) in
Idaho. Places represented include Lewiston, Idaho.
Interviewed by Rosemary L. Wimberly under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center on 29 July 1996 as part of the Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 July 29
OH1292: Lois Warner interview
Warner,
Lois, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
31 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism, practical politics, and the history of
women in Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center on 26 July 1996 as part of the Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 July 26
OH1408: Lorraine Legg interview
Legg,
Lorraine, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
39 leaves. Transcript :
Legg discusses her background, personal experiences, and career
progression. She also discusses her employment with Boise Cascade, beginning in
the mid-1970s in Boise and her involvement with Women in Management sponsored
by the YWCA.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter under the auspices of the Idaho State
Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Apr. 1
OH1288: Mary Clagett Smith
interview
Smith, Mary
Clagett, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
28 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include education and teachers in Idaho. Places represented
include Boise.
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 May 22
OH1293: Mary Ellen Walsh
interview
Walsh, Mary Ellen
Williams, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
14 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism and women's societies and clubs in
Idaho.
Interviewed by Kelly Watts under the auspices of the Idaho State
Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Feb. 29
OH1283: Mary Lou Reed interview
Reed, Mary
Lou, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
27 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include women in politics, practical politics, and
environmental policy, in Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley and Rosemary Wimberly under
the auspices of the Idaho Oral History Center as part of the Women and
Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 July 30
OH1268: Mary Peavey Brooks
interview
Brooks, Mary
T., (interviewee)
5 cassettes Sound recordings
:
115 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include women in politics in Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center on 3 Apr. and 7 May 1996 as part of the Women and
Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Apr. 3 and May 7
OH1290: Mary Trail interview
Trail,
Mary, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
34 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism, practical politics, and women's societies
and clubs in Idaho.
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Dec. 4
OH1404: Maurine Darling
interview
Darling,
Maurine, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
35 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism and the YWCA in Idaho and the League of
Women Voters in Caldwell, Idaho.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter on 30 Dec. 1994 under the auspices of
the Idaho State Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism
in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1994 Dec. 30
OH1400: Robert E. Smylie
interview
Smylie, Robert
E.(Robert Eben), 1914- (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
8 leaves. Transcript :
Smylie discusses his involvement with and the events surrounding
the first Commission on the Status of Women in Idaho, established in 1965. He
remembers the women who had an active political role and involvement with the
commission.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho State Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in
Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 Mar. 7
OH1294: Rose Bowman interview
Bowman,
Rose, (interviewee)
3 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
83 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism, practical politics, and the history of
women in Idaho.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter under the auspices of the Idaho Oral
History Center on 15 May 1994 as part of the Women and Political Activism in
Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project .
1994 May 15
OH2157: Ruth P. Wright
interview
Wright, Ruth
Petty, (interviewee)
2 cassettes (ca. 90
min.) Sound recordings
:
Wright offered her memories of her teaching and
politically-related activities in Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, Washington, North
Carolina, and Europe. She spoke of the period between the 1930s and 1990s and
of the following topics: civil rights in Idaho, the U.S., and Europe; teaching
in Idaho, Iowa, Washington, North Carolina, and Europe; Boise, Idaho and its
social, political, and cultural climate; and her and her husband's (Charles D.
Wright) family histories. She also spoke of her husband's career at Boise State
University and his battle with cancer that took his life in 1978.
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford on 5 Dec. 1995 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Dec. 5
OH1471: Sally Reed interview
Reed, Sally, d.
2002 (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
18 leaves. Transcript :
Reed talks about the Reed vs. Reed court case that was eventually
heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and led to a re-interpretation of the 14th
Amendment to include sexual discrimination.
Interviewed by Rosemary Wimberly under the auspices of the Idaho
State Historical Society as part of the Women and Political Activism in Idaho,
1945-1980 Oral History Project. Also present were Allen Derr and Troy
Reeves.
2000 June 13
OH1289: Sally Terrill interview
Terrill, Sally
A., (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
24 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include education in Idaho and women's organizations.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley under the auspices of the
Idaho Oral History Center on 5 June 1996 as part of the Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 June 5
OH1281: Sheila Ann Olsen
interview
Olsen, Sheila
Ann, (interviewee)
2 cassettes. Sound recordings
:
50 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include Mormons and abortion law and legislation in
Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley and Rosemary L. Wimberly
under the auspices of the Idaho Oral History Center on 28 May 1996 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 May 28
OH1274: Shirlee Hennigan
interview
Hennigan,
Shirlee, (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
22 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include education, feminism, and the legal status of women
in Idaho.
Interviewed by Linda Morton-Keithley and Rosemary L. Wimberly
under the auspices of the Idaho Oral History Center on 31 July 1996 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1996 July 31
OH2155: Sue Reents interview
Reents, Susan
B., (interviewee)
1 cassette (ca. 75
min.) Sound recordings
:
Reents offered her memories of her politically-related activities
in Boise, Idaho. She spoke of the period between the 1960s and the 1980s and of
the following topics: societies and clubs in Idaho, civil rights in Idaho,
politics and government in Idaho, and the International Women's Year of
1975.
Interviewed by Alice Dieter on 20 Apr. and 6 Oct. 1995 as part of
the Women and Political Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Apr. 20 and Oct. 6
OH1284: Susan B. Reents
interview
Reents, Susan
B., (interviewee)
1 cassette. Sound recordings
:
21 leaves. Transcript :
Topics include feminism and women in politics in Idaho.
Interviewed by Theresa Sullivan Twiford on 28 Dec. 1995 under the
auspices of the Idaho Oral History Center as part of the Women and Political
Activism in Idaho, 1945-1980 Oral History Project.
1995 Dec. 28
Subjects
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
