Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.
Collection Overview
Title:	Abortion Action Coalition records
Dates:	1970-1982
Location:	71/1
Call Number:	M21
Volume:	2.30 cubic ft. (4 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:	The collection documents the founding and development of the Abortion Action Coalition. Because the Coalition worked with many other Boston area and national groups, the collection provides insight into the challenges women faced as federal and state legislators tried to curtail abortion rights. Records include Abortion Action Coalition brochures, articles on abortion and women's health issues, clippings, contact and membership lists, correspondence, flyers, "how to" media packets, information on clinics, minutes, organizing materials, pamphlets, data about abortion and women's health legislation during the 1970s, and speeches. In addition, this collection includes correspondence with, information about, reports by, and publications of other organizations working on the same issues.
Historical Abstract:	The Abortion Action Coalition, a project of the Women's Educational Center (Cambridge, MA), was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1977 to oppose the Doyle-Flynn anti-abortion amendment, which proposed cutting state funding for abortions. The Coalition organized community activities and held discussion forums and educational meetings. The Coalition also worked with local unions and community groups to create a wider action network. Members spoke at demonstrations, on talk shows, and to other concerned groups. The original focus on abortion rights grew to encompass issues linked to women's rights, including birth control, child care, maternity leave, reproductive rights, and teenage pregnancy. The Coalition was structured into four committees: Legislative Liaison, Community and Labor Outreach, Health and Hospitals, and Media. These committees were coordinated by an elected steering committee. Most of the work was done by volunteers. The Abortion Action Coalition was a member of the Reproductive Rights National Network. The Abortion Action Coalition disbanded in 1980.
Arrangement:	The collection is alphabetically arranged into four series: 1) Administration, 2) Public Relations, 3) Subject Files, and 4)Non-AAC Materials.
Subjects and Contributors:	Abortion Action Coalition (Boston, Mass.). Abortion -- Government policy -- Citizen participation. Pro-choice movement -- Massachusetts. Women's rights -- Massachusetts.
Restrictions:	The collection is unrestricted.
Related Materials:	Boston Women's Music Collective records (M22), Somerville (Mass.) Women's Educational Center, Inc. records (M26), Women's Educational Center (Cambridge, Mass.) records (M47)
Processor:	Finding aid prepared by Jane Fitzpatrick, November 1993

Scope and Content Note
The Abortion Action Coalition collection (AAC) consists of records collected by Leslie Cagan, Marla Erlien, Madge Kaplan and Clare Sheridan, members. The collection includes material that traces the founding and development of AAC. Because the Coalition worked with many other Boston area and national groups, this collection provides an insight into the problems women faced as federal and state legislators tried to curtail their abortion rights. AAC records comprise approximately 2.3 cubic feet of material. The majority of the records date between 1977 and 1980. The records include AAC brochures, articles on abortion and women's health issues, clippings, contacts and membership lists, correspondence, flyers, how to media packets, information on clinics, minutes, organizing material on the International Day of Action in 1979 (Box 1), pamphlets, and speeches. The collection includes data about abortion and women's health legislation during the 1970s, both national and from Massachusetts, which can be found in the Legislative Liaison Committee folders (Box 1). There is information on anti-abortion groups, abortion, birth control, and sterilization. Newsletters and pamphlets from other groups concerned with abortion and women's reproductive rights are also included (Boxes 2 and 3).

Historical Note
The Abortion Action Coalition (AAC) was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in the summer of 1977 to actively oppose the Doyle-Flynn anti-abortion amendment. The bill was an attempt to cut state funding for abortions following the national adoption of the Hyde Amendment, which allowed states to restrict Medicaid payments for abortions. In the fall of 1977, the ad-hoc group decided to establish goals and a formal structure. AAC ran community activities and held discussions and educational meetings. By 1979 the Coalition was reaching out to unions and other community groups to create a wider action network. Members spoke at demonstrations, on talk shows, and to other groups. In 1979 AAC members organized a large rally as part of an International Day of Action. The original focus on abortion rights naturally grew to encompass issues intimately linked to women's rights, including birth control, child care, maternity leave, reproductive rights, and teenage pregnancy. The Coalition was structured into four committees, all of which were coordinated by an elected steering committee. Most of the work was done by volunteers. The Legislative Liaison Committee acted as a watchdog for legislative and judicial issues and also coordinated efforts with other pro-choice groups. The Community and Labor Outreach Committee was the educational arm of the Coalition. Its function was to provide speakers and information to third world, labor, and community groups, both to help those groups and to link abortion and women's issues to the concerns of these groups. The function of the Health and Hospitals Committee was to learn about abortion policies at these institutions through contacts who worked at them. AAC also gathered information about other services provided (such as day care and family planning) and reached out to people who used the clinics and hospitals. Finally, the Media Committee was responsible for drafting press releases, writing letters or contacting the media, and generally keeping the Coalition's activities publicized. AAC were a member group of the Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2). The Abortion Action Coalition disbanded in 1980.





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Series:	1. Administration, 1973-1980
Volume:	.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	This series reveals the adminsitrative functions of the organization and is comprised of contacts and membership lists, correspondence, financial records, legislative liaison committee materials, minutes, and strategy and organization proposals.
Box	Title			Date
1	Community Calls for Action: Letters			1978-1979
	Contacts
1		Labor Contacts: Lists		1979
1		Members: List (2 folders)		1978-1980
1		On-Call People and Organizations: Mailing Lists		1979
1		Sexual Assault Conference in South End: Contacts List		1979
1		Welfare Contacts: List		1979
1	Correspondence			1978-1980
	Finance
1		Financial Ledger		1979
1		Grant Funding: Correspondence, Drafts and Proposals		1977-1979
1	Groups Participating in City-Wide Fair: List			ca. 1970
1	Internal Education Day			1979
1	Introduction to Proposals for January 27th			1979
	Legislative Liaison Committee
1		Abortion Law		1973
		Abortion Legislation
1			General	1974-1975
1			Articles and Clippings	1974
1			Correspondence	1974
1			Facts Sheets	ca. 1974
1			Notes and Training Outline	1974
1			Notes on Self-Help	ca. 1974
1			Questionnaire on Abortion	1974
1		Citizen Lobbying		1975
1		Form Letters to Legislators		ca. 1978
1		Legislation Relating to Abortion: Lists		1978-1980
1		Legislative Updates		1977-1979
1		"Massachusetts Medicaid Program Information": Pamphlet		1977
1		Massachusetts Senate Votes		1977-1978
1		"A Review of State [Abortion] Laws and Policies"		1979
1		"Testimony of Abortion Action Coalition"		1978
1		"The United States Law Week"		1976-1977
1	Letterhead			ca. 1970
1	Minutes (13 folders)			1977-1979
1	Minutes of Steering Committee			1978-1979
1	Organizations and Acronyms			ca. 1970
1	Orientation Packets (4 folders)			1978
1	"Our Suggestions on Feedback"			ca. 1970
1	Principles of Unity			1977-1979
1	Strategy Proposals			1979
1	Structure Proposals (2 folders)			1977-1978
1	Trip Reports			1978
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Series:	2. Public Relations, 1978-1980
Volume:	.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	This series documents AAC's publicity efforts and includes AAC brochures, flyers, letters to the editor, newsletters, petitions, press releases, songs, and speeches.
Box	Title		Date
	Abortion Action Coalition
1		Brochures (2 folders)	1978
1		Newsletter	1978
	Childbearing Rights Conference
1		Conference Packets	1978
1		Correspondence and Drafts	1978
1		Resources on Childbearing Rights Issues	ca. 1978
1	Fall Mobilization: Correspondence		1979
1, 4	Flyers (4 folders)		n.d., 1978-1979
1	"Guardian" Article and Responses		1978
1	"How to Media Package"		ca. 1970
	International Day of Action
1		Chants	1979
1		Endorsers and Sponsors	1979
1		Flyers	1979
1		International Campaign for Abortion Rights	1979
1		Northeast Coalition for Reproductive Rights [NCCR]: Correspondence, Newsletter and Press Releases (2 folders)	1979
1		Proposal for AAC's Involvement	1979
1		Regional Planning Meeting: Agenda and Directions	1978
	Kaplan, Madge
1		Mobilization for Survival Panel: Speech	1978
1		Notes	ca. 1970
1	Kaufman, Joyce: Speech		1977
1	Letters to the Editor		1978-1980
1	Media Contacts		ca. 1970
1-2	Morality Pamphlet (3 folders)		1978-1979
2	"More than a Choice": Women Talk About Abortion: Pamphlet		ca. 1979
2	Petitions		1977
2	Press Releases		1977-1980
2	Rallies		1977
2	Reproductive Rights Conference: Handouts		ca. 1978
2	Sheridan, Clare: Speeches		1978
2, 4	Songs and Chants (2 folders)		ca. 1970
2	Speeches		1977-1978
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Series:	3. Subject Files, 1970-1980
Volume:	.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	This series indicates the issues with which AAC was particularly concerned and includes anti-abortion materials, articles, bibliographies, clippings, histories of abortion, and newsletters.
Box	Title		Date
2, 4	Abortion: Articles and Fact Sheets		1976-1981
2	Abortion the Fight Gets Rough		1978
	Anti-Abortion Movement
2		"Arguments in Opposition to the Public Funding of Abortion"	ca. 1970
2		Financing the Anti-Abortion Movement: Excerpts	ca. 1970
2		"Massachusetts Citizens for Life" (2 folders)	ca. 1977
2		"The Monstrosity of Planned Parenthood"	ca. 1970
2		"National Right to Life News" April and Septemeber	1978
2		Notes on Articles and Conferences	ca. 1970
2		Pamphlets	1978-1981
2		Price List from Phyllis Schlafly Report	ca. 1970
2		"The Right-Wing Attack on Women"	1979
2		Rockford College Institute: Brochures	1978
2		"Testimony on Proposed Abortion Amendment Excerpted"	1974
2		"Voice for the Unconceived": Newsletter	1970
2		"Who Are the Right-to-Lifers' and What Do They Want?": Draft	ca. 1970
2	Bibliographies on Abortion and Women's Health Issues		1974-1978
2	"Bill of Reproductive Rights"		ca. 1970
2	Birth Contorl: Articles and Fact Sheets		1974-1978
2	Breast Issues: Articles		n.d.
	Chronologies and Histories of Abortion and Women's Health Clinics
2		General	1971-1978
2		"Abortion A Description of How to Set About Getting an Abortion in Cambridge"	n.d.
2		"The Abortion Business A Report on Free Standing Abortion Clinics": Pamphlet	1975
2		Charles Circle Clinic: Essay	n.d.
2		Clinics: List	1978
2		"Crimes in the Clinic: A Report on Boston City Hospital"	n.d.
2	Clippings		1972-1981
2	Clippings Citations		1981
2	"Community News, Jamaica Plain": Newspaper		1978
2	"Dukakis' Veto on House Bill No. 6420"		1977
2	Edelin Abortion Trial: Articles, Correspondence and Flyers		1975
2	Graphics (3 folders)		1970s
2	"INFACT (Infant Formula Action Coalition)": Newspaper		ca. 1970
2	Medical Issues for Women		n.d.
2	Menstruation: Articles		n.d., 1974
2	"A Plea to End Poverty"		1977
2	Polls on Abortion		1973-1978
2	"Survey of Women Using Herbs to Bring on Menses and Induce Abortion"		n.d.
2	"To the Parents and Friends of the Class of 1978": Letter/Flier		n.d.
2	"A View from the Loop": Newsletter		1975
2	Women and Health Care		1974-1981
2	"Women's Issues on the Hill"		1978
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Series:	4. Non AAC Materials, 1973-1983
Volume:	.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	Brochures, correspondence, fact sheets, flyers, legislative updates, newsletters, and publications.
Box	Title		Date
4	Abortion: Articles and Fact Sheets		1977-1979
2	Abortion Rights Coalition: Brochures and Flyers		n.d.
2	Abortion Rights Movement: Brochures, Correspondence and Newsletter (2 folders)		1979
2	Abortion Task Force/Peoples Alliance: Petition		1978
2	Boston Wages for Housework: Flyer		1977
2	Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Inc: "A Short List of Women's Health Resources"		1978
2	Catholics for a Free Choice: Correspondence, Newsletters, Pamphlets and Press Releases		1973-1982
	Coalition for Reproductive Freedom
2		Administrative Materials	1982-1983
2		Adopt-A-Bus/Train Program	ca. 1983
2		Agendas	1981-1983
2		Flyers	1981-1982
2		Legislative Updates	ca. 1981
2		Member Organizations	n.d.
	Committee for Abortion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse (CARASA)
2		"Carasa News": Newsletter	1978, 1981
2		Constitution (2 folders)	ca. 1970
2		Correspondence	1978-1982
2		Flyers (2 folders)	1978
2		"Medical Facts: Guide to the Abortion Crisis"	ca. 1970
2		Pamphlets	ca. 1970
2		"Sterilization: Right and Abuse of Rights"	ca. 1970
2		"Summary of Discussion with Meredith Tax of CARASA"	1978
2		"Women Under Attack: Abortion, Sterilization, Abuse and Reproductive Freedom"	1979
2	Committee to End Sterilization Abuse: Fact Sheets (2 folders)		n.d.
4	Free County Voice: Newspaper		1978
2	Massachusetts Childbearing Rights Alliance: Agenda, Conference Materials, Newsletter (3 folders)		1978-1982
2	Medical Committee for Human Rights: Informational Material		1977-178
2	MORAL, Constitutional Defense Project of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)		1978-1979
2	National Abortion Campaign: Fact Sheets and Pamphlet (2 folders)		1978
2	National Abortion Federation: Memorandum		ca. 1970
	National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)
2		Action Alerts	1977
2		Citizen Lobbying: Fact Sheets and Speech	ca. 1970
2		Correspondence: Internal and External	1976-1978
2		Flyers and Pamphlets	1977
2		Legislative Updates	1978-1979
2		Newsletter	1977-1979
2		"Organizing for Action"	1976
2		Public Relations: Polls and Press Releases	1976-1979
2	National Women's Health Network		1978
	New American Movement
2		Correspondence	1978
2		Flyers and Pamphlets	ca. 1970
2		"Moving On: Monthly Magazine of the New American Movement"	1978
2		"Reproductive Rights Newsletter"	1978-1979
3		"Women Organizing: A Socialist-Feminist Bulletin" no. 1-4	1978
3	Northeast Coalition for Reproductive Rights: Correspondence		ca. 1970
	Planned Parenthood
3		Correspondence	n.d., 1978
3		Fact Sheets and Flyers	n.d., 1979
3		"Reports": Newsletter	1978
3		Resources	1979
3		Urgent Actions	1978-1980
3	Public Workers for Choice: Flyers, Letters, Pamphlets and Petitions		ca. 1974-1979
	Publications
3		"Abortion: A Fundamental Right Under Attack": Brochure	n.d.
3		"Abortion: The Double Standard": Pamphlet	1974
3		"Abortion Eve": Comic Book	1973
3		"Abortion: It's Our Right, Abortion Rights Week October 22-29, 1979": Pamphlets	1979
3		"Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Power": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"Abortion: Public Issue, Private Decision": Pamphlet	1975
3		"Abortion Rights in Danger!": Pamphlet	1975
3		"Defend Your Freedom to Choose": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"Free Abortion on Demand!": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"Health Newsletter"	1978
3		"Health on Demand": Newsletter	n.d.
3		"Legal Abortion": Pamphlet	1977
3		"Legal Abortion: A Speakers Notebook": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"ProLife? So am I": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"Reflections": Newsletter	1978
3		"Reproduction, Ethics, and Public Policy: The Federal Sterilization Regulations": Pamphlet	n.d.
3		"Survival Kit": Newsletter	ca. 1978
3		"WATCH [Women Acting Together to Combat Harassment]": Newsletter	ca. 1977
3		"WIN: Peace and Freedom Thru Non-Violent Action": Newsletter	1977-1980
3		"Women and Health": Newsletter (ISIS)	1978
	Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights
3		"Abortion Rights History"	1973-1978
3		Fact Sheets	n.d.
3		Flyers and Pamphlets	n.d.
3		"Options": Newsletter	1977-1980
3		Speeches: Excerpts	1976
	Reproductive Rights National Network [R2N2] (Boston)
3		"Boston R2N2" Newsletter	ca. 1980
3		Correspondence	1979-1981
3		Flyers and Pamphlets	n.d., 1982
3		Principals of Unity: Draft	n.d.
3		Summary of Meeting	1978
3	Somerville Mental Health Clinic: Achievements List		1978
4	Songs and Chants		Ca. 1970
3	Traditional Childbearing Group: Flyer		n.d.
3	Unions: Flyers		n.d., 1978
3	Women's Health Concerns Committee: Informational Materials		n.d.
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Archives and Special Collections 92 Snell Library 360 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 (617) 373-2351 archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Series:

1. Administration, 1973-1980

Series:

2. Public Relations, 1978-1980

Series:

3. Subject Files, 1970-1980

Series:

4. Non AAC Materials, 1973-1983

Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu