National Women's Health Network Records, 1975-1996 (ongoing)
69 boxes (84.5 linear ft.)
Collection number: MS 360
Terms of Access and Use:
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.
Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Founded at the height of second wave feminism, the National Women's Health Network was an outgrowth of informal groups of women sharing their experiences. The idea for an organization that would enable women to influence health policy was hatched in the fall of 1974 by Barbara Seaman and Belita Cowan. The "Women's Health Lobby" (later called the National Women's Health Lobby Network, and finally the National Women's Health Network) was officially launched in 1975. That year, the Network received its first official donation: $15 from a Pittsburgh women's law firm that needed information on the Dalkon Shield in order to prepare the case of a client who had been injured by the device.
Since its beginnings, the Network has waged numerous legal, organizing, and public education campaigns to increase women's input into the U.S. health care system. Currently, the Network is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with affiliates in New Mexico and New Jersey. As of 1987, it had 8,000 individual members and 400 organizational members.
The National Women's Health Network improves the health of all women by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues in order to affect policy and support consumer decision-making. The Network aspires to a health care system that is guided by social justice and reflects the needs of diverse women.
The National Women's Health Network collection includes administrative files, correspondence, publications, project files, fundraising/ grant files, financial records and mailing lists. Approximately half of the collection consists of subject files relating to the NWHN's many research projects and legal organizing and public education campaigns including abortion, birth control and reproductive health, breast cancer, eating disorders, health care reform, menopause, prenatal care, and toxic shock syndrome.
NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you.
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.
Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
National Women's Health Network Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.
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Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063 Phone: (413) 585-2970 Fax: (413) 585-2886 Email Reference Form: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/emailform.html URL: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/ |