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Guide to the Dian Kiser collection of National Organization for Women, Salinas chapter files
M000013
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Collection Title: Dian Kiser collection of National Organization for Women, Salinas chapter files
Dates: 1974-2006
Identification: M000013
Physical Description: 0.50
Repository:
Sutro Library, California State Library
1630 Holloway Avenue
5th floor
San Francisco, CA, 94132-4030
URL: http://www.library.ca.gov/about/sutro_main.html
Email: sutro@library.ca.gov
Phone: 415-469-6100
The National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) was founded on June 30, 1966 during the "Third National Conference of Commissions
on the Status of Women." It was founded by Betty Friedan and twenty-seven other dissenting women, who were displeased by the
proceedings of the original conference. When NOW held the first of its own conferences, the organization had 300 members.
During this conference, the structure of the organization was created and Betty Friedan was elected president.
According to N.O.W., the organization concentrates on six priorities: the constitutional equality amendment (ERA), reproductive
rights, racism, LGBTQIA+ rights, violence against women, and economic justice. NOW also takes action on causes such as affirmative
action, child care, custody and family law issues, disability rights, education equity/title IX, exposing the radical right,
global feminism, health and body image, media activism, peace, social security, welfare, and women in the military.
N.O.W. is one of the largest feminist advocacy groups in the United States with over 500,000 members.
The Salinas Valley chapter of NOW had its first meeting in 1974 at the City Hall Rotunda, coordinated by active member and
collection donor Dian Kiser. Almost 60 people, including men and women attended this meeting to welcome the feminist movement
to Salinas. Despite being one of the smaller chapters of N.O.W., The Salinas Chapter enjoyed moderate levels of membership
and activity during the 1970s and 1980s, fuelled by the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the controversial election
of Ronald Reagan as President in 1980.
The Salinas Valley Chapter's chief accomplishments during its prime period of activity included a successful march to the
state capitol (Sacramento) in 1976 to fundraise money for the ERA, a "Take Back the Night" rally in 1991, and the establishment
of a women's crisis center and hotline in Salinas in 1976. The Chapter was regularly involved in the community and conducted
workshops at Hartwell College, as well as "Consciousness Raising" seminars at Soledad Prison for men incarcerated for domestic
violence and sexual misconduct.
Prominent members of the chapter, including Dian Kiser, also spoke at several local debates on feminist issues, some of which
are detailed in this collection.
The Salinas Valley N.O.W. Chapter disbanded in 1983 only a decade after its founding, due to prominent members leaving the
area to pursue outside work and educational goals. SV NOW is no longer an active or recognized segment of the National Organization
for Women at this point in time. The larger parent organization continues to operate at a national level, with chapters in
all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Leila Kalliel and Sutro Library staff.
Property rights reside with the repository. Any applicable literary rights might reside with the creators of the documents
or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please email sutro@library.ca.gov .
The collection is open for research. Please page materials three business days in advance of your visit by email: sutro@library.ca.gov
.
[Idenitification of item], Dian Kiser collection of National Organization for Women, Salinas chapter files, M000013, Sutro
Library, California State Library, San Francisco, Calif.
The papers are arranged as follows: press clippings, personal photographs, publications, and outreach items.
This collection consists primarily of newspaper clippings and personal photographs from the Salinas Valley Chapter of the
National Organization for Women. There is also a publication, program, and several miscellaneous outreach items.