Veteran Feminists of America

Veteran Feminists of America (VFA) is a nonprofit organization for supporters and veterans of the Second Wave of the feminist revolution. It is the foremost national source of information about the modern women's movement for journalists, historians, archivists and writers. It was founded by Jacqueline Ceballos in 1992. Veteran Feminists of America regularly hosts reunions for second-wave feminists and events honoring feminist leaders. Veteran Feminists of America is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

VFA Mission statement

The purpose of Veteran Feminists of America is to honor, record and preserve the history of the accomplishments of women and men active in the feminist movement, to educate the public on the importance of the changes brought about by the women’s movement, and to preserve the movement’s history for future generations.

History

VFA was created with the goals of both remembering and recording the faces and retrospectives of the hundreds of pioneers who launched the 1960s Women’s Movement, often called the “Second Wave” of feminism.

At first, VFA gatherings consisted simply of a time and place to meet and reminisce, followed by an awards dinner captured for posterity on video. Those videotapes are now archived at the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute and at the Sallie Bingham Library at Duke.

Soon after their first reunion in 1992, Jacqueline Ceballos joined with Dorothy Senerchia and Mary Jean Tully to take the next step: creating a new organization. Muriel Fox and Sheila Tobias joined soon thereafter.

The name they chose, Veteran Feminists of America, was meant to be provocative: feminists were indeed “veterans” of gender battles and wars. In fact, the original idea for a name – Veterans of Feminists Wars – was rejected for potential legal issues.

During its first decade, VFA mainly honored individuals and groups for their work in establishing national and local organizations, raising public awareness about feminist issues, and lobbying for women’s rights. In time, VFA’s events spread geographically and reached into new areas.

In 1998, VFA Board member Barbara Love, with help from VFA members, set about compiling a directory of feminists. It was published in 2006 as Feminists Who Changed America: 1963-1975 (University of Illinois Press). The book is a collection of 2,220 biographies of second-wave feminists who accomplished significant activist work.^[1][2] It is also available as a searchable CD (www.fwca-cd.vetfems.org).

Feminists Who Changed America - along with the videos from 20 years of retrospective events - brings to life the history of Feminism’s Second Wave. They will help to ensure that the achievements of the women’s movement are not forgotten.

VFA Officers and Board

Officers

Eleanor Pam, President; Muriel Fox, Chair of the Board; Jacqui Ceballos, Founder; Virginia Watkins, Secretary; Pam Ross, Treasurer; Barbara Love, VP Development; Sheila Tobias, VP Events; Mary-Ann Lupa, VP Membership

Special Portfolios

Heather Booth, Liaison/Outreach; Joan Michel, Editor at Large; Zoe Nicholson, Intergenerational; Judy Kaplan, Preservation; Karen Spindel, Data Manager

Board of Directors

Virginia Carter; Mary Jean Collins; Roxanne Barton Conlin; Joanne DePaola; Carole DeSaram; Amy Hackett; Dora Jacobson; Rebecca Lubetkin; Beverly McCarthy; Anita Murray; Kathy Rand; Carol Robles-Roman; Linda Stein; Marcy Syms; Grace Welch; Bonnie Wheeler; Martha Wheelock

Helen Pearl, Of Counsel; Sally Lunt, Parliamentarian

Events

VFA has held a number of events honoring Second Wave feminists. Here is a summary:

May 1993 – VFA’s debut. Honoring Catherine East. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

December 1993 – Honoring Flo Kennedy. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

May 1994 – Honoring Congresswoman Martha Griffiths. Also honorerd were Betty Friedan, Gene Boyer, Nan Wood, Virginia Allen, Evelyn Cunningham and others. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, DC

Fall 1994 – Honoring Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

Spring 1995 – Marriage and Family with Coalition for Family Justice. Irvington, NY

Fall 1995 – Honors Gloria Steinem. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

November 1996 – Celebrating NOW’s 30th anniversary and honoring NOW founders. Barnard College and Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

December 13, 1997 – Celebrating the women’s liberation movement. Speakers included Heather Booth, Jo Freeman, Susan Brownmiller and Alix Kate Schulman. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

April 1998 – Honoring great feminists, including Gerda Lerner, Betty Harragan and Midge Kovacs. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

November 1998 – Honoring Kate Millett. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

May 1999 – Honoring a number of feminists, including Donna Allen, Tina Hobson, Elizabeth Boyer, Vera Glaser, Arvonne Frazer, Carmen Delgado Votaw and others. Washington DC

November 12, 1999 – Honoring Betty Friedan. National Arts Club, New York City

April 28th, 2000 - Spring Reunion – VFA Honors Some Of Our National Treasures. Honorees included Jean Ledwith King, Patricia Schroeder, Patricia Ireland, Cathryn Adamsky, Mary Gereau, Joy Simonson, Ruth McLean and others. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, D.C.

October 18, 2000 - VFA Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Women's Strike for Equality. “Veteran Feminists Recall Past Battles, Gaze Ahead.” Participants included Karen DeCrow, Susan Brownmiller, Kate Millett, Carole DeSaram, Jacqui Ceballos and others. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City

March 2001 – Celebrating Louisiana Feminists. Honorees included Roberta Madden, Sylvia Roberts and Karline Tierney. Newcomb College, New Orleans, LA

June 9, 2001 – Celebrating Heroes of Women’s Studies. Honorees included Lois Gould, Lois Herr, Lenor Weizmann, Renata Bridenthal, Louise Knight, Florence Howe and others. Barnard College, New York City

April 6, 2002 - "Women Speak Out NOW: Defining the Past, Confronting the Present, Shaping the Future" conference. Honored pioneer feminists of Florida. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

April 26, 2002 – Salute to Feminist Authors: Celebrating feminist writers who changed the world - 1966-1985. Honored Erica Jong, Barbara Seaman, Letty Pogrebin, Marilyn French, Marlene Sanders and others. Barnard College, New York City

November 8, 2002 - A Conference To Celebrate And Evaluate The Effects Of Thirty Years Of Title IX. Among those present were Bernice Sandler, Holly Knox and Jean King. Baltimore, MD

November 6, 2003 - Celebrating Feminist Artists Who Changed The World 1966-1980. Artists present included Suzanne Benton, Gloria Orenstein, Cristine Biaggi, Patricia Burnett, Karen LeCocq, Arlene Raven, Sylvia Sleigh and others. The National Arts Club, New York City

May 2004 – Celebrating 40 years of Title VII. Panelists included Eleanor Clift, Aileen Hernandez, Lorena Weeks and William H. Brown. Newton, MA

August 27-28, 2004 - "Unfinished Business of the Women's Movement – Dangers and Opportunities." The first Midwest VFA event was dedicated to the late Gene Boyer. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

April 16, 2005 – “Feminism And Its Values: An Intergenerational Dialogue.” Honoring Connecticut feminists, including Ruthe Boyea, Barbara Lifton, Kay Bergin, Susan Yolen and others. Cromwell, CT

May 2006 – Honoring Helen Reddy. Event on day two honored California feminists and paid special tribute to Judith Meuli. Feminist Majority building, Los Angeles, CA

November 13, 2006 – Two-day even celebrating the debut of Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975 and honored editor Barbara Love. Also present were Cheryl Redmon and Bettye Lane. Columbia University and Barnard College, New York City

May 6, 2007 – Salute to Arizona feminists. Among honorees were Janet Elsea, Muriel Magenta, Himilce Novas, Nola Claire, Bette Adelman Susan Koppelman and others. Phoenix, AZ

October 13, 2007 – Celebrating Washington, DC-area feminists, including Helen Thomas. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, DC

June 9, 2008 – Salute to Feminist Lawyers, 1963-1975. Honorees included Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sylvia Roberts, Emily Goodman, Jan Goodman, Faith Seidenberg, Doris Sassower, Sonia Fuentes and Karen DeCrow. Harvard Club, New York City

April 20, 2009 – Honoring Florida feminists. Speaker was Patricia Ireland, former president of NOW. Palm Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach, FL

August 27, 2009 - Stockton (California) Celebration Of Women's Equality Day. Honored northern California feminists. Stockton, CA

March 2010 - The Gender Agenda: Beyond Borders - Pursuing Women's Rights at Home and Abroad. Honored Texas activists including Sissy Farenthold, Virginia Whitehill, Winnie Wackowitz, Moira McNiel, Catalina Garcia and others. Women’s Museum, Dallas, TX

June 17, 2011 - Tribute to Betty Friedan on the 45th anniversary of NOW and the Feminine Mystique. National Arts Building, New York City October 28-29, 2011 - “Day of Dialogues With Feminist Heroes.” Rollins College students were paired with VFA members. Gala dinner honored Florida feminists. Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Terry O’Neill, Sherrill Redmon and Barbara Love. Rollins College, Orlando, FL

June 24, 2012 - A Love Fest For Kate Millett. Speakers included Gloria Steinem, Terry O’Neill, Susan Brownmiller, Alix Kate Shulman, Barbara Love, and Noreen Connell. Judson Church, New York City

Sept. 15, 2012 – “Empowering Women: A Tale Of Two Generations.” Speakers included Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Lynn Povich, Jesse Ellison, Kathleen Falk, Dr. Mary Meehan and Judy Goldsmith. Midwest feminists were honored. Alverno College.Milwaukee, WI

February 27, 2013 – “On The Front Lines Of Feminism” panel discussion. Participants included Eleanor Pam, Syd Beiner, Mary Vasiliades and Marilyn Fitterman. Sandy Rapp performed. Ft. Lauderdale, FL

September 7, 2013 - Women and Media and VFA’s 20th anniversary celebration. Honorees included David Dismore, Gloria Alred, Helen Reddy, June Millington, Carol Downer, Linda Perkins, Joannie Parker and Tucker Reed. Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, CA

September 27, 2014 – “Labor & the Women’s Movement: The untold story and why it matters.” Speakers included Alice Kessler-Harris, Brigid O’Farrell, Emily LaBarbera Twarog, Karen Nussbaum, Sarita Gupta, Carmen Berkley and others. Missouri feminists were honored. Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis, MO

October 21, 2014 - A Tribute to Muriel Fox. Muriel was honored for her lifetime of commitment to women’s issues. Among those saluting her were Gloria Steinem, Rosie O’Donnell, Marlo Thomas, Eve Ensler and Carol Jenkins. Harvard Club, New York City

Second Wave Feminists

Biographies of Second Wave Feminists are included on the VFA website *Veteran Feminists of America official site. They are in the section titled Fabulous Feminists of VFA. Obituaries for many Second Wave Feminists are also included on the site in the Obits section.