"The Church and the Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue"

File — Box: 49, Folder: 11

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The bulk of the collection is concerned with Mrs. Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the group "Mormons for ERA" between the years 1978 and 1982. There is a small amount of personal material, mainly family correspondence, included with the collection and dated between 1958 and 1982.

The thirty-five boxes containing the collection have been divided into six major categories. The first, consisting of three boxes is personal material. Included are chronologically arranged family letters. The other portion of the personal material deals with her excommunication trial including an alphabetical file of letters written by supporters of Mrs. Johnson to officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Four boxes comprise category two which contains information on the Equal Rights Amendment. Included are alphabetically filed letters from organizations supporting the amendment; information on extension, revision, and ratification; and organizations of the LDS Church opposing ERA and filed by state.

Within the three boxes in the third category are filed materials dealing with the Mormons for ERA groups. Included are articles and clippings about the LDS Church and its reaction to the Equal Rights Amendment, correspondence, speeches, activities, and information by and about state Mormons for ERA. Bylaws, press releases, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings are also included.

Even though the correspondence in the twelve boxes comprising the fourth category was sent to Sonia Johnson, much of it is closely tied to the Mormons for ERA organization. The correspondence has been divided into these nine subject areas: LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and Ex-LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and ex-LDS, Religion; LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Pro-ERA; Non-LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Religion; Pro-Sonia; and Requests for ERA Information. Each subject area has a list of names included.

Category five contains four boxes of material on speeches and articles. Included is correspondence arranging various speaking engagements organized chronologically by date of engagement, and a number of speeches and articles by Sonia Johnson. Also included are the drafts, correspondence and other information connected with herbook From Housewife to Heretic published In 1981.

The miscellaneous category included seven boxes of newspaper clippings dated from 1978 to 1982 with the bulk falling between November 1979 and January 1980 gleaned from newspapers all over the country. Also included in this section are eight daybooks kept by Mrs. Johnson and other miscellaneous information.

Dates

1958-1983
Majority of material found within 1978-1982

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.