Veteran Feminists of America
@veteranfeminists.bsky.social
The VFA Pioneer Histories Project is the personal history of the Second Wave women’s movement – one story at a time. https://veteranfeministsofamerica.org/
"I am what I am today - a civil rights lawyer - because of Robert Kennedy. [He] said every individual can care and everyone can make a difference...if I haven't changed the world, at Least I've changed a little piece of it.” - Debra Millenson, 1988.; senior trial attorney, U.S. Dept. of Labor.
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
"I am what I am today - a civil rights lawyer - because of Robert Kennedy. [He] said every individual can care and everyone can make a difference...if I haven't changed the world, at Least I've changed a little piece of it.” - Debra Millenson, 1988.; senior trial attorney, U.S. Dept. of Labor.
Vera Katz was first woman Speaker of the OR House of Representatives. Said Vera, “The most important bill was my first bill - the extension of the Civil Rights Act to cover gender and sexual orientation…It was a civil rights issue and we realized as early as 1973 that it was important to include.”
December 3, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Vera Katz was first woman Speaker of the OR House of Representatives. Said Vera, “The most important bill was my first bill - the extension of the Civil Rights Act to cover gender and sexual orientation…It was a civil rights issue and we realized as early as 1973 that it was important to include.”
Betty Goldman Schlein (1931-2018), political activist, worked to empower women, providing them with lobbying and organization skills. Head of political action committee of Long Island NOW, she lobbied for the ERA and helped create movements for women’s equality and against domestic violence.
December 1, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Betty Goldman Schlein (1931-2018), political activist, worked to empower women, providing them with lobbying and organization skills. Head of political action committee of Long Island NOW, she lobbied for the ERA and helped create movements for women’s equality and against domestic violence.
Shirley Green Marvin helped found the Baton Rouge chapter of the NWPC; worked on ERA, lobbying a highly resistant LA legislature; co-chaired the IWY conf. comm. for LA. “To give LA women…an opp. to be better informed about policies and issues, to id. areas of concern and explore/propose solutions.”
November 28, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Shirley Green Marvin helped found the Baton Rouge chapter of the NWPC; worked on ERA, lobbying a highly resistant LA legislature; co-chaired the IWY conf. comm. for LA. “To give LA women…an opp. to be better informed about policies and issues, to id. areas of concern and explore/propose solutions.”
Trina Robbins designed clothing worn by some of the most popular musicians of the 60s. In the 70s, she drew comics (i.e. Wonder Woman), but her characters were threatening to male cartoonists of the time. She edited women’s comics anthologies, accentuating their explicitly feminist content.
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Trina Robbins designed clothing worn by some of the most popular musicians of the 60s. In the 70s, she drew comics (i.e. Wonder Woman), but her characters were threatening to male cartoonists of the time. She edited women’s comics anthologies, accentuating their explicitly feminist content.
Mildred Dresselhaus, PhD, “Queen of Carbon Science” (1930-2017) – physicist, materials scientist, nanotechnologist – was renowned for her efforts to promote the cause of women in science. The first woman to secure a full professorship at M.I.T., 1968. veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
November 24, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Mildred Dresselhaus, PhD, “Queen of Carbon Science” (1930-2017) – physicist, materials scientist, nanotechnologist – was renowned for her efforts to promote the cause of women in science. The first woman to secure a full professorship at M.I.T., 1968. veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
Barbara Babcock graduated from Yale Law School in 1963; 4% of law students were women. The term sex discrimination had not been invented but the practice was very real. She was the first director of the Public Defender Service in Washington and taught the first courses in "Women and the Law."
November 21, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Barbara Babcock graduated from Yale Law School in 1963; 4% of law students were women. The term sex discrimination had not been invented but the practice was very real. She was the first director of the Public Defender Service in Washington and taught the first courses in "Women and the Law."
Clara Johnson was promoted to chemist at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in the 1940s. She had to sign a contract promising to resign if her male predecessor came back from the war. That’s the way things were for women. It prompted her to fight as hard as she could for women’s equal rights.
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Clara Johnson was promoted to chemist at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in the 1940s. She had to sign a contract promising to resign if her male predecessor came back from the war. That’s the way things were for women. It prompted her to fight as hard as she could for women’s equal rights.
“Students want more voice in the operation of the college and planning of their own lives. They seek a greater range of choices in their educational and living patterns.” - Dr. Walton, 1974 - Dean of Women, Dean of Students, VP for Student Affairs at Pomona College. veteranfeministsofamerica.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:28 AM
“Students want more voice in the operation of the college and planning of their own lives. They seek a greater range of choices in their educational and living patterns.” - Dr. Walton, 1974 - Dean of Women, Dean of Students, VP for Student Affairs at Pomona College. veteranfeministsofamerica.org
Eunice “Tootsie” Holland (1931-2023): “Today, I’m going to mourn, and tomorrow I’ll start working on trying to get a Women’s Equity Act here in South Carolina.” - Tootsie Holland after seeing the results of the presidential election on November 8, 2016. veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Eunice “Tootsie” Holland (1931-2023): “Today, I’m going to mourn, and tomorrow I’ll start working on trying to get a Women’s Equity Act here in South Carolina.” - Tootsie Holland after seeing the results of the presidential election on November 8, 2016. veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
Millie Chatzinoff was head of the Long Island, NY NOW marriage and divorce committee, established in 1968. The committee offered legal advice and referrals to women going through divorces. It also worked to change existing divorce laws that put women at a disadvantage in the divorce courtroom.
November 12, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Millie Chatzinoff was head of the Long Island, NY NOW marriage and divorce committee, established in 1968. The committee offered legal advice and referrals to women going through divorces. It also worked to change existing divorce laws that put women at a disadvantage in the divorce courtroom.
"I believe women are the future. Feminism instilled in me a different ideology and way of looking at the world." – Torie Osborn, Northern CA Dir., NOW; Exec. Dir., LA Gay & Lesbian Ctr.; Exec. Dir., Nat’l Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Find out more at veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
"I believe women are the future. Feminism instilled in me a different ideology and way of looking at the world." – Torie Osborn, Northern CA Dir., NOW; Exec. Dir., LA Gay & Lesbian Ctr.; Exec. Dir., Nat’l Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Find out more at veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
Artist, educator, member of Women’s Caucus for Art, Marilyn Lanfear was a visual storyteller who translated personal family stories into a common mythology of family generational connections. She loaded her images with irony and symbolism that couldn’t be expressed with words. More on our website.
November 7, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Artist, educator, member of Women’s Caucus for Art, Marilyn Lanfear was a visual storyteller who translated personal family stories into a common mythology of family generational connections. She loaded her images with irony and symbolism that couldn’t be expressed with words. More on our website.
Doris Quinn was a founding member and past president of Missouri State Women's Political Caucus; member of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus; MO. ERA Coalition; MO. Women's Campaign Fund; and member of the American Assoc. of Univer. Women. She served as MO. State Rep., 1975-1976.
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Doris Quinn was a founding member and past president of Missouri State Women's Political Caucus; member of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus; MO. ERA Coalition; MO. Women's Campaign Fund; and member of the American Assoc. of Univer. Women. She served as MO. State Rep., 1975-1976.
“As a woman, I struggle to write from my life, to reflect all the difficulties, angers, joys of my existence in a culture that attempts to silence women, or that does not take our work, our words, or our lives seriously.” – Susan Griffin (1943 – 2025), author, essayist, poet, playwright.
November 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
“As a woman, I struggle to write from my life, to reflect all the difficulties, angers, joys of my existence in a culture that attempts to silence women, or that does not take our work, our words, or our lives seriously.” – Susan Griffin (1943 – 2025), author, essayist, poet, playwright.
“I have been an activist since I became aware of the injustices in the world particularly against the oppression of women, girls and lesbians. I started Woman Sound to provide clear, inexpensive sound for as many movement rallies and events as possible.”–pioneering audio engineer Boden Sandstrom.
October 31, 2025 at 2:06 AM
“I have been an activist since I became aware of the injustices in the world particularly against the oppression of women, girls and lesbians. I started Woman Sound to provide clear, inexpensive sound for as many movement rallies and events as possible.”–pioneering audio engineer Boden Sandstrom.
Wilhelmina “Billie” Holladay, founder and chair of the board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Wash., DC, said, “The goal of the museum is heighten the awareness of the achievements of women and the great things done by women to the point they'll be included in all major collections."
October 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Wilhelmina “Billie” Holladay, founder and chair of the board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Wash., DC, said, “The goal of the museum is heighten the awareness of the achievements of women and the great things done by women to the point they'll be included in all major collections."
June Chewning - Nat'l Membership Chair, Federally Employed Women; lead plaintiff in class-action lawsuit that won a sexual discrimination judgement against the Energy Dept; helped organize Federal Employed Women’s Legal and Education Fund – “She taught us to fight for what we believe in.”
October 27, 2025 at 2:34 AM
June Chewning - Nat'l Membership Chair, Federally Employed Women; lead plaintiff in class-action lawsuit that won a sexual discrimination judgement against the Energy Dept; helped organize Federal Employed Women’s Legal and Education Fund – “She taught us to fight for what we believe in.”
In the '50s, Mabel McClanahan joined the Natl Fed. of Bus. & Prof.Women, ultimately becoming Natl President, leading a major effort for equal opport, and pay legislation for women. A delegate to WH Conf on Small Business, she served on Pres. Johnson’s Wmn’s Advisory Committee on Poverty.
October 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In the '50s, Mabel McClanahan joined the Natl Fed. of Bus. & Prof.Women, ultimately becoming Natl President, leading a major effort for equal opport, and pay legislation for women. A delegate to WH Conf on Small Business, she served on Pres. Johnson’s Wmn’s Advisory Committee on Poverty.
Eleanor Grace Lee Earle was a reg. nurse and prof. parliamentarian. Pres. of the League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge, LA; worked to elect Joe Delpit, the first Black man to city council. Mem. NOW, ERA Coalition, AAUW, counseled at Battered Women’s Program and served on the board. vfa.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Eleanor Grace Lee Earle was a reg. nurse and prof. parliamentarian. Pres. of the League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge, LA; worked to elect Joe Delpit, the first Black man to city council. Mem. NOW, ERA Coalition, AAUW, counseled at Battered Women’s Program and served on the board. vfa.org
Marie Deyoe founded feminist collective A Woman’s Place, in the Adirondacks in the 1970s. As described by Mary Rita Kurycki in 1975: "A lot of women's centers...organizations, just don't have the sisterhood they should. Women haven't been able to feel comfortable with women. Here, it's different.
October 20, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Marie Deyoe founded feminist collective A Woman’s Place, in the Adirondacks in the 1970s. As described by Mary Rita Kurycki in 1975: "A lot of women's centers...organizations, just don't have the sisterhood they should. Women haven't been able to feel comfortable with women. Here, it's different.
Cheryl Scott Williams, educator and leader in education reform and improvement, says young women today can’t believe what it was like for us when we were young and couldn’t get our own credit card or use our income to qualify for a mortgage. Find out more about Cheryl - veteranfeministsofamerica.org
October 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Cheryl Scott Williams, educator and leader in education reform and improvement, says young women today can’t believe what it was like for us when we were young and couldn’t get our own credit card or use our income to qualify for a mortgage. Find out more about Cheryl - veteranfeministsofamerica.org
Abrtn rights and MN Dem. party activist Jeri Rasmussen, and 5 other women, formed the Dem. Farmer Labor Party Fem. Caucus. She was 1st dir., public affairs, PP of MN; admin., Midwest Health Ctr for Women; and brd. memb., Natl Abrtn Fed. Find out more veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
October 15, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Abrtn rights and MN Dem. party activist Jeri Rasmussen, and 5 other women, formed the Dem. Farmer Labor Party Fem. Caucus. She was 1st dir., public affairs, PP of MN; admin., Midwest Health Ctr for Women; and brd. memb., Natl Abrtn Fed. Find out more veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-...
“I feel very fortunate that I can get up every morning and know that I can keep working on some aspect of [the feminist movement] with the ultimate goal of equality.” – Kathy Spillar, Exec Dir, Ms. Mag; Exec Dir, Fem Majority Found & Fem Majority; past Pres, NOW LA; LA County Women & Girls Init.
October 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
“I feel very fortunate that I can get up every morning and know that I can keep working on some aspect of [the feminist movement] with the ultimate goal of equality.” – Kathy Spillar, Exec Dir, Ms. Mag; Exec Dir, Fem Majority Found & Fem Majority; past Pres, NOW LA; LA County Women & Girls Init.
“If I could give you anything, I would give you the passion that drove the feminist movement so that you understand the purpose, respect the dignity and intelligence of women and work to free women all over the world." – Zelle Andrews (1938-2016). veteranfeministsofamerica.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:06 AM
“If I could give you anything, I would give you the passion that drove the feminist movement so that you understand the purpose, respect the dignity and intelligence of women and work to free women all over the world." – Zelle Andrews (1938-2016). veteranfeministsofamerica.org