The University of Iowa Libraries

ERA Iowa 1992 was a grassroots campaign initiated in 1991 in Des Moines, Iowa, to promote the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Iowa constitution in the November 1992 election. The campaign staff's primary goal was to provide the citizens of Iowa with information to help them make an informed decision on election day. ERA Iowa 1992 attempted to achieve this goal through promotional meetings; rallies; television and radio advertisements; and the distribution of flyers, newsletters, and action kits. In September 1991, a fifteen-member steering committee was elected to direct this effort. The committee met monthly to plan campaign strategies, and to discuss finances and programs that might contribute to the amendment's passing. In addition to the steering committee, ERA Iowa was staffed by a group of volunteers from throughout the state. ERA Iowa 1992 disbanded after the November election when the amendment was defeated by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.

The ERA Iowa 1992 records date from 1980 to 1993 and measure 7.5 linear inches.  The records are arranged in six series: Administrative material, Media coverage, Ecumenical correspondence, Research files, ERA national campaign, and Artifacts.  The bulk of the ERA Iowa 1992 collection documents the Equal Rights Amendment campaign in Iowa from 1991 to 1992; however, there are related materials dating from 1980 to 1986.

The Administrative material series (1991-1993) contains membership lists, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and meeting minutes of committees and coalitions created for the ERA Iowa 1992 campaign. The series also includes a letter written by the Iowa director of elections that discusses the wording of the new amendment to be used on the ballot, a teaching packet used to educate local residents at a volunteer-based "campaign school,"and material pertaining to financial procedures in the organization.

The Media coverage series (1980-1993, scattered) includes promotional literature such as flyers and newsletters, speeches delivered at various ERA programs, television and radio advertisement scripts, and letters of endorsement from influential community members. The bulk of this series consists of clippings of newspaper editorials for and against the ERA and news articles that describe events that took place during the campaign.

The Ecumenical correspondence series (1992) includes letters written by members of the Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa stating their support of the amendment as well as a letter written by a Des Moines community member to the Catholic bishops of Iowa describing his feelings about their political stance. The Research files series (1992) contains data from surveys and studies conducted within the state about the ERA. The ERA national campaign series (1972-1992, scattered) consists of informational packets, articles, and case studies, conducted both locally and nationally on the ERA.

Alternate Extent Statement: Artifacts in boxes 3-4
1 audiocassette [AC475]

Access: The records are open for research.

Use: Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The records were donated by Betty Durden (donor no. 419) in 1997 and Loren Shultz (donor no. 891) in 2002.

Preferred Citation: ERA Iowa 1992 records, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:	Iowa Women's Archives
Address:	100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5068
Curator:	Kären Mason
Email:	lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Corporate Names:
ERA Iowa 1992 (Organization)

Dates:
1980-1989
1990-1999

Topics:
Equal rights amendments
Women's rights
Political participation

Geographic Names:
Des Moines (Iowa)
Iowa

Genre/Form of Materials:
Archives
Administrative records
Cultural artifacts

Browse:
Women, Politics and the Law
Women's Clubs and Organizations