Scope and Content Note
This collection features the history and minutes of the Boston Mobilization for Survival's Feminist Task Force. It also contains member lists and contact information. Other highlights of this collection include flyers and a press release of activities and forums sponsored between 1985 and 1987 outlining the Task Force's priorities and ideology. This collection also provides some insight into the political debates of the Boston Mobilization for Survival with copies of its organizational evaluation, compiled by its evaluation task force in 1985 and coordinating committee materials from the same period. This collection contextualizes the organization of the Feminist Task Force and the politics of the Boston chapter of Mobilization for Survival. Though the collection is small in size and limited in scope, these papers capture the energy invested by Task Force members and the causes they supported during the mid-1980s.
Dates
- Creation: 1985-1987
Creator
- Mobilization for Survival: Feminist Task Force (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is unrestricted.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.
Historical Note
In 1977, a group of activists formed the Boston chapter of Mobilization for Survival, an organization dedicated to nuclear disarmament and peace. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mobilization for Survival rallied against a variety of anti-military and anti-nuclear causes such as the American presence in Central America and nuclear proliferation. In 1985, a group of feminists in the Boston chapter met to create a Feminist Task Force within the organization to address women's issues within the anti-militarist and anti-nuclear movements, as well as bring the those issues into feminist organizations in Boston. The Task Force met monthly and sponsored forums ranging from the history of women in the peace movement to challenges facing women in Central America. The Task Force also mobilized against the Massachusetts Human Services ban on gay and lesbian families fostering children in 1985, culminating in a massive rally in May of that year. The group continued to meet until 1987.
Chronology
- 1977
- Boston starts a local chapter of the national organization, Mobilization for Survival
- 1985
- A group of feminists associated with the Boston chapter of Mobilization for Survival meet to form a Feminist Task Force within the chapter to bring feminist issues into focus within the disarmament movement and to bring disarmament issues into focus within the feminist movement. The Feminist Task Force organizes educational forums on the history of women in peace movements. The Feminist Task Force along with other affinity organizations like GLAD and the Women's Center protest the Massachusetts Human Services Amendment prohibiting gay and lesbian families from fostering children. This culminates in a Boston city rally in May of 1985.
- 1985-1986
- The Feminist Task Force sponsors open forums and lectures on relevant feminist issues within the anti-nuclear and antimilitary movement ranging from women's participation in Central America to challenges facing GLBT communities.
Extent
0.15 cubic feet (1 container)
Language
English
Overview
In 1977, a group of activists formed the Boston chapter of Mobilization for Survival, an organization dedicated to nuclear disarmament and peace. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mobilization for Survival rallied against a variety of anti-military and anti-nuclear causes such as the American presence in Central America and nuclear proliferation. In 1985, a group of feminists in the Boston chapter met to create a Feminist Task Force within the organization to address women's issues within the anti-militarist and anti-nuclear movements, as well as bring the those issues into feminist organizations in Boston. The Task Force met monthly and sponsored forums ranging from the history of women in the peace movement to challenges facing women in Central America. The Task Force also mobilized against the Massachusetts Human Services ban on gay and lesbian families fostering children in 1985, culminating in a massive rally in May of that year. The group continued to meet until 1987.
Overview
This collection features the history and minutes of the Boston Mobilization for Survival's Feminist Task Force. It also contains member lists and contact information. Other highlights of this collection include flyers and a press release of activities and forums sponsored between 1985 and 1987 outlining the Task Force's priorities and ideology. This collection also provides some insight into the political debates of the Boston Mobilization for Survival with copies of its organizational evaluation, compiled by its evaluation task force in 1985 and coordinating committee materials from the same period. This collection contextualizes the organization of the Feminist Task Force and the politics of the Boston chapter of Mobilization for Survival. Though the collection is small in size and limited in scope, these papers capture the energy invested by Task Force members and the causes they supported during the mid-1980s.
System of Arrangement:
Arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Physical Location
73/1
Subject
- Feminist Task Force (Organization)
- Mobilization for Survival (Organization)
Topical
- Feminism -- Boston -- Massachusetts
- Gay activists -- Massachusetts
- Gay rights -- Massachusetts
- Gays -- legal status, laws, etc. -- United States
- Lesbian activists -- Massachusetts
- Pro-Choice Movement -- Massachusetts
- Women -- Societies and clubs
- Women political activists -- Central America
- Women's rights -- Massachusetts
- Title
- Finding aid for the Mobilization for Survival: Feminist Task Force Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cynthia Rufo
- Date
- 2007 Oct 26
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository