Browse Organizations
Displaying 51 - 75 of 104
Name |
Description | Founding year | Works by | Works about | Works to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union | Founded in 1900, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) initially represented a largely immigrant workforce. The ILGWU and the women within the union gained significant strength during the 1909 shirt... Founded in 1900, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) initially represented a largely immigrant workforce. The ILGWU and the women within the union gained significant strength during the 1909 shirtwaist strike. Throughout its history the ILGWU was a dominant force in the American labor movement with branches around the country. The Union became part of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) in 1995. Show more Show less | 1900 | 1 | 15 | |
| International Women's Peace Movement | From 1915 onwards women reformers, led by Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, promoted disarmament and world peace through organizations like the United States Women’s Peace Party (1915-1919), and the Women’s In... From 1915 onwards women reformers, led by Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, promoted disarmament and world peace through organizations like the United States Women’s Peace Party (1915-1919), and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (1919-). Show more Show less | 1915 | 5 | 16 | |
| Iowa State Woman Suffrage Association | The Association began as the Iowa Equal Rights Association, founded in 1870 and sponsor of various woman suffrage campaigns thereafter. By the mid-1880s suffrage activist Carrie Chapman Catt had joined the Associati... The Association began as the Iowa Equal Rights Association, founded in 1870 and sponsor of various woman suffrage campaigns thereafter. By the mid-1880s suffrage activist Carrie Chapman Catt had joined the Association as a writer and lecturer. Catt went on to become president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and to play a major role in lobbying effort that resulted in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Show more Show less | 1870 | 2 | ||
| Irish Woman's Suffrage Federation | 1911 | ||||
| Josephine Butler Society | The Association for Moral and Social Hygiene (AMSH) carried out the work of Josephine Butler (1828-1906), who organized to end state regulation of prostitution and the stigmatization of prostitutes. The AMSH was a B... The Association for Moral and Social Hygiene (AMSH) carried out the work of Josephine Butler (1828-1906), who organized to end state regulation of prostitution and the stigmatization of prostitutes. The AMSH was a British affiliate of the International Abolitionist Federation (IAF). In 1962, the AMSH merged into the Josephine Butler Society. Women and Social Movements International includes material related to the group's work on international prostitution and trafficking issues. Show more Show less | 1915 | 2 | 1 | |
| Juvenile Court Movement | From 1890 to 1915 a wave of juvenile reform (in which women played a prominent role) swept the nation and, within a few years, most states passed juvenile court legislation. Children were increasingly seen to have d... From 1890 to 1915 a wave of juvenile reform (in which women played a prominent role) swept the nation and, within a few years, most states passed juvenile court legislation. Children were increasingly seen to have different needs from adults in the justice system and were provided for accordingly. Show more Show less | 1890 | 6 | ||
| Ladies Association of Philadelphia | The Ladies Association of Philadelphia emerged during the Revolutionary War, 1780-81, as a patriotic organization among women in and near Philadelphia. Association members worked to supply material support to George... The Ladies Association of Philadelphia emerged during the Revolutionary War, 1780-81, as a patriotic organization among women in and near Philadelphia. Association members worked to supply material support to George Washington’s army -- in 1781, members sewed and delivered 2,000 linen shirts to soldiers. Through their work in the association, Esther Reed (1747-1780) and Sarah Franklin Bache (1743-1808), Benjamin Franklin’s daughter, created a public voice for women and anticipated the new democratic politics of the nineteenth century. Show more Show less | 1780 | 1 | 1 | |
| League of Women Shoppers | The League of Women Shoppers was formed in 1935 to serve as a middle-class ally to working people engaged in labor disputes. With the slogan "use your buying power for justice," the LWS challenged women to support f... The League of Women Shoppers was formed in 1935 to serve as a middle-class ally to working people engaged in labor disputes. With the slogan "use your buying power for justice," the LWS challenged women to support fair labor practices with their shopping dollars by purchasing union-produced goods, boycotting manufacturers who mistreated employees, donating to strike relief funds, and writing to store managers. The predominantly middle-class members of the LWS used their social position to attract media attention to the strikes and pickets of workers across race, class, and geographic lines. The LWS had chapters in many major cities—San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Hollywood—and worked with other reform organizations such as the National Consumers League. Show more Show less | 1935 | 1 | 2 | |
| Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs | The Massachusetts state affiliate of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (see above) provided a state federation for women's clubs offering social, literary and reform activities for women under the overall umbr... The Massachusetts state affiliate of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (see above) provided a state federation for women's clubs offering social, literary and reform activities for women under the overall umbrella of the General Federation. Its first president was Julia Ward Howe, suffragist and founder of the New England Women's Club in 1868. Show more Show less | 1893 | 2 | 4 | |
| Massachusetts Public Interests League | The Massachusetts Public Interests League (MPIL) campaigned against woman suffrage in 1915 and later attacked women’s organizations during the so-called Red Scare. In 1925, membership was said to extend to 118 cit... The Massachusetts Public Interests League (MPIL) campaigned against woman suffrage in 1915 and later attacked women’s organizations during the so-called Red Scare. In 1925, membership was said to extend to 118 cities, 20 states and the District of Columbia. Margaret Robinson was a longstanding president. Show more Show less | 1915 | 1 | ||
| Movement to End Violence Against Women | From the 1960s onward, women’s groups protested violence women suffered at the hands of men and the lack of protection offered to women victims by police and the legal system. Alongside providing shelters for batt... From the 1960s onward, women’s groups protested violence women suffered at the hands of men and the lack of protection offered to women victims by police and the legal system. Alongside providing shelters for battered women, women publicized the issue of violence, holding national conferences, and demanding legislative protections and reforms. As a result of this movement, in 1994 Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which responded to the inadequacies of state justice systems in dealing with violent crimes against women. Show more Show less | 1960 | 1 | ||
| National American Woman Suffrage Association | In 1890 the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, joined Lucy Stone’s American Woman’s Suffrage Association (AWSA) to form the National American Woman Su... In 1890 the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, joined Lucy Stone’s American Woman’s Suffrage Association (AWSA) to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). The suffrage movement had split in 1869 over the issue of black male suffrage in the Fifteenth Amendment. From 1890 to 1920 when woman suffrage was finally added to the U.S. Constitution, NAWSA was the dominant national suffrage organization. Show more Show less | 1890 | 6 | 33 | |
| National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage | The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage (NAOWS) was founded in New York in 1911 to lobby against woman suffrage on the state and federal levels. Membership peaked between 1911 and 1916, when NAOWS claimed... The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage (NAOWS) was founded in New York in 1911 to lobby against woman suffrage on the state and federal levels. Membership peaked between 1911 and 1916, when NAOWS claimed a membership of 350,000. Beginning in 1916 the Association published a magazine, The Woman Patriot, to disseminate anti-suffrage views. Important leaders included Mrs. Alice Hay Wadsworth, Mrs. Robert Lansing, Margaret C. Robinson and Ann Squire. Show more Show less | 1911 | 2 | 4 | |
| National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | In 1909 W.E.B. Du Bois, other participants in the Niagara Movement, women activists including Mary Church Terrell and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and other African-American critics of Booker T. Washington united with whit... In 1909 W.E.B. Du Bois, other participants in the Niagara Movement, women activists including Mary Church Terrell and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and other African-American critics of Booker T. Washington united with white supporters to form the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Still an important representative of African American interests, the NAACP has a long history of defending and expanding black civil rights. Show more Show less | 1909 | 6 | 207 | |
| National Association of Colored Women | In the 1890s amid increasing racial tensions a national club movement emerged among black women that led to the formation of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) in Washington, D.C. in 1896. The first pr... In the 1890s amid increasing racial tensions a national club movement emerged among black women that led to the formation of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) in Washington, D.C. in 1896. The first president of the NACW was Mary Church Terrell. "Lifting As We Climb" became the Association's motto, and members coordinated their efforts to improve the condition of African Americans in the United States. In 1915 more than 100,000 women were NACW members. The NACW is still active today working toward improving the lives of African American women and children. Show more Show less | 1896 | 1 | 68 | |
| National Birth Control League | The National Birth Control League (NBCL) formed in 1915 under the leadership of Mary Ware Dennett, who lobbied for repeal of federal and state statutes that defined birth control as "obscene." By 1919, the National... The National Birth Control League (NBCL) formed in 1915 under the leadership of Mary Ware Dennett, who lobbied for repeal of federal and state statutes that defined birth control as "obscene." By 1919, the National Birth Control League had disbanded due to financial difficulties and Dennett's decision to found the Voluntary Parenthood League. Show more Show less | 1915 | 1 | ||
| National Congress of Mothers | Founded by Alice McLellan Birney in 1897, the National Congress of Mothers was the forerunner of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. The Congress mobilized thousands of largely white, middle-class women o... Founded by Alice McLellan Birney in 1897, the National Congress of Mothers was the forerunner of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. The Congress mobilized thousands of largely white, middle-class women on behalf of child-saving activism in the early years of the twentieth century, most notably support for mothers’ pensions. In 1924 the Congress became the National Congress of Parents and Teachers in an effort to distance itself from accusations of radical politics. Inspired by such leaders as Hannah Schoff, Congress activists also lobbied for the creation of nationwide juvenile courts in the early twentieth century. Show more Show less | 1897 | 4 | 8 | |
| National Council of Women of the United States | The National Council of Women (NCW) was founded in 1888 as the national section of the International Council of Women. The NCW aimed to "promote the welfare of all women of the country" and became an umbrella organi... The National Council of Women (NCW) was founded in 1888 as the national section of the International Council of Women. The NCW aimed to "promote the welfare of all women of the country" and became an umbrella organization for numerous women’s organizations including the American Association of University Women and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Show more Show less | 1888 | 7 | 13 | |
| National League of Women Voters | The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a United States nonpartisan organization that formed out of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1920. In addition to a domestic focus on voter education, t... The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a United States nonpartisan organization that formed out of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1920. In addition to a domestic focus on voter education, the LWV developed international committees to address foreign affairs. In its early years, the LWV established the Department of International Cooperation to Prevent War, which focused on peace work. In 1947 it set up the Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund to provide civic education to women whose countries were transitioning to democratic governments. The name of the Memorial Fund changed to the Overseas Education Fund (OEF) in 1961 and OEF International in 1986. This digital archive includes selected international material from the Department of International Cooperation in the 1920s and 1930s and OEF International material from the 1940s to the 1990s. Show more Show less | 1919 | 638 | 113 | |
| National Organization for Women | The National Organization for Women was formed in 1966 by a group of women frustrated with the failure of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s prohibition of sex discr... The National Organization for Women was formed in 1966 by a group of women frustrated with the failure of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s prohibition of sex discrimination. NOW was broadly conceived as a feminist organization dedicated to addressing sex and gender discrimination. Through lobbying, legal action, picketing, demonstrations, and marches, NOW supported a variety of causes, including the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, the repeal of restrictive abortion laws, publicly funded child care, the end of sex discrimination in employment, equal treatment of women and men in public accommodations, and lesbian rights. Show more Show less | 1966 | 9 | 32 | |
| National Woman Suffrage Association | Founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony after the demise of the American Equal Rights Association, this woman suffrage organization supported a wide range of women's rights issues. Led by an all-women... Founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony after the demise of the American Equal Rights Association, this woman suffrage organization supported a wide range of women's rights issues. Led by an all-women slate of officers, the Association promoted a conscious strategy of organizing women independently of male-dominated political parties. Competition between the National and the American Woman Suffrage Association (see above) divided the woman suffrage movement until the two organizations merged in 1890. Show more Show less | 1869 | 3 | 14 | 1 |
| National Woman's Party, US | In 1916 Alice Paul, founder of the militant suffragist organization, the Congressional Union of Woman Suffrage (CUWS), mobilized her supporters to launch the National Woman's Party (NWP). The NWP used civil disobedi... In 1916 Alice Paul, founder of the militant suffragist organization, the Congressional Union of Woman Suffrage (CUWS), mobilized her supporters to launch the National Woman's Party (NWP). The NWP used civil disobedience tactics to promote the passage of the woman suffrage amendment. Paul’s strategies contributed to the passage of the federal Suffrage Amendment in 1919 and its ratification in 1920. After 1920 the NWP turned its attention to the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Show more Show less | 1916 | 645 | 82 | 1 |
| National Women's Conference : 1977 Nov. 18-21: Houston, TX | Held in Houston in 1977, the National Women’s Conference was funded by Congress and supported by leaders within the Democratic and Republican parties. The wives of four presidents attended along with more than 20,... Held in Houston in 1977, the National Women’s Conference was funded by Congress and supported by leaders within the Democratic and Republican parties. The wives of four presidents attended along with more than 20,000 women, children, and men. Bella Abzug presided. The Houston conference marked a high point in the history of feminism during the second half of the twentieth century. State conventions preceded the national meeting, where delegates considered a "national plan" of legislation designed to improve women’s lives. Show more Show less | 1977 | 1 | 9 | |
| New England Woman Suffrage Association | Founded in 1868, the Association concentrated its focus exclusively on woman suffrage and contributed to the emergence of the American Woman Suffrage Association (see above) to channel women reformers' support for t... Founded in 1868, the Association concentrated its focus exclusively on woman suffrage and contributed to the emergence of the American Woman Suffrage Association (see above) to channel women reformers' support for the Fifteenth Amendment. Early leaders included Lucy Stone and Isabella Beecher Hooker. Show more Show less | 1868 | 5 | ||
| New York Female Moral Reform Society | The New York Female Moral Reform Society, (founded in 1834 and renamed the American Female Moral Reform Society in 1839) and the Boston Female Moral Reform Society (founded in 1835 and renamed the New England Female... The New York Female Moral Reform Society, (founded in 1834 and renamed the American Female Moral Reform Society in 1839) and the Boston Female Moral Reform Society (founded in 1835 and renamed the New England Female Moral Reform Society in 1838) were umbrella organizations that brought together more than 50,000 members in 600 societies in New England, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Part of the mobilization of women during the Second Great Awakening, moral reform societies worked in villages and cities to eliminate prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation of women, including the sexual double standard. Expressing values associated with the demographic transition from high to low birth rates (1800-1900), moral reform encouraged women to control access to their bodies. The nation's first explicitly female social movement, moral reform offered many middle-class women their first opportunity to venture into the public arena and agitate for social change on behalf of women. Show more Show less | 1834 | 1 | 1 |
