Guide to the Helen Lotos Files on Orange County Women's Organizations
MS.R.074
Processed by John Howard Fowler.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
(cc) 2004
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: Helen Lotos files on Orange County women's organizations
Creator:
Lotos, Helen
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.074
Physical Description:
2.6 Linear Feet
(6 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1968-1988
Date (bulk): 1971-1984
Abstract: This collection comprises pamphlets,
information packets, clippings, newsletters, minutes, notes, and other materials documenting
Helen Lotos' involvement in women's rights organizations during the 1970s and 1980s. Women's
advocacy organizations represented in this collection include the National Organization for
Women (N.O.W.) which is dedicated to eliminating sexism, and Women in Communications, Inc.
(W.I.C.I.) which promotes the advancement of women in all fields of communications. While
Lotos was primarily involved at the local level (Orange County, California) in both
organizations, her statewide, regional, and national level involvement is also represented
in this collection. Much of the material reflects Lotos' participation as an officer in
these organizations and as an expert in public relations and media issues.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by
the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish,
please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Preferred Citation
Helen Lotos files on Orange County women's organizations. MS-R74. Special Collections and
Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Helen Lotos, 1998.
Biography
Helen Lotos became active in the Orange County Chapter of the National Organization for
Women in 1971. In 1972 she was the membership chair for that chapter, and in 1973 she served
as its president. The California state N.O.W. organization was formed in 1972, and in 1973
Lotos ran unsuccessfully for State Coordinator.
In 1976 Lotos joined Women in Communications, Inc. She became the Orange County chapter's
vice-president and E.R.A chair in 1977-1978. In 1978-1979 she served as president of the
Orange County chapter of W.I.C.I. and, under her leadership, the Orange County professional
chapter was chosen as one of the six best in the nation. In 1984 she served on the W.I.C.I.
national board of directors.
In 1973 Lotos accepted a position as Information Services Director for the Orange County
Libraries, which she still held as of 1999. She has been a member of various professional
societies, including the Orange County Press Club, the Public Relations Society of America,
the Library Public Relations Council, and the California Elected Women's Association. In
1999 she was on the board of directors for the Friends and Foundations of California
Libraries.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection comprises pamphlets, information packets, clippings, newsletters, minutes,
notes, and other materials documenting Helen Lotos' involvement in women's rights
organizations during the 1970s and 1980s. Women's advocacy organizations represented in this
collection include the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) which is dedicated to
eliminating sexism, and Women in Communications, Inc. (W.I.C.I.) which promotes the
advancement of women in all fields of communications. While Lotos was primarily involved at
the local level (Orange County, California) in both organizations, her statewide, regional,
and national level involvement is also represented in this collection. Much of the material
reflects Lotos' participation as an officer in these organizations and as an expert in
public relations and media issues.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into two series:
Series 1. National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) files, 1968-1976. 1.6 linear ft.
Series 2. Women in Communications, Inc. (W.I.C.I.) files, 1971-1988. 1.0 linear ft.
Separated Note
Three serials were removed from this collection and cataloged separately in Special
Collections:
-
Action N.O.W., 1971-1976. Newsletter of the Orange
County chapter of N.O.W.
-
Do it NOW, 1972-1976. Newsletter of the National
Organization for Women.
-
The Signal, 1975-1982. Newsletter of the Los Angeles
County chapter of W.I.C.I.
-
Update, 1976-1988. Newsletter of the Orange County
chapter of W.I.C.I.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Human rights advocacy -- California -- Orange County -- History --
Sources
Women's rights -- California -- Orange County -- History --
Sources
Activists -- California -- Orange County.
National Organization for Women -- Archival resources
Women in Communications, inc. -- Archives
Lotos, Helen -- Archives
Online Archive of California
National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) files, . Series 1.
1968-1976
Physical Description: 1.6 Linear
Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains clippings, newsletters, minutes, notes, photographs, and
information resource materials documenting activities and projects of the National
Organization for Women at various organizational levels. Materials in this series
address a variety of issues including women's representation on the Orange County
(Calif.) Manpower Commission, prenatal care for poor women, public relations and media
issues, and the coordination of efforts with other local women's groups. Issues of
Action N.O.W., the Orange County chapter newsletter, have
been cataloged separately. Files in the series are arranged topically within larger
groupings reflecting local Orange County N.O.W. activities, other N.O.W. activities, and
N.O.W. information resources.
box 1, folder 1-7, box 2, folder 1-12, box 6, folder 6
Orange County N.O.W. files
box 1, folder 2
Local N.O.W. chapters
1972-1974
box 1, folder 4
Women's Coalition
1974-1976
box 6, folder 6
Women's Political Caucus
1971-1975
box 1, folder 5
Agenda and minutes
1972-1974
box 1, folder 7
Clippings files
1972-1976
box 2, folder 1
College and school curricula
1973-1974
box 2, folder 3
Equal Rights Amendment
1972-1973
box 2, folder 5
Financial statements
1972-1973
box 2, folder 6
General meeting at Santa Ana YMCA, photographs
1974
box 2, folder 7
Member recruitment
1972-1974
box 1, folder 8
Orange County women's pamphlets, and undated
1971-1975
box 2, folder 10
Public relations and the media
1972-1974
box 2, folder 11
Publication paste-ups
1972
box 2, folder 12
Speaker's bureau
1972-1973
box 2, folder 13, box 3, folder 1-3, box 6, folder 7
box 3, folder 1, box 6, folder 7
box 3, folder 1
California NOW News,
1976
box 6, folder 7
California NOW Newsletter
1973
box 3, folder 3
Legislative issues
1972-1974
box 3, folder 4
Western Region N.O.W. files
1971-1976
box 3, folder 5-7, box 6, folder 8, box FB-002, folder 3
box 6, folder 8, box FB-002, folder 3
box FB-002, folder 3
National NOW Times
1979-1980
box 6, folder 8
NOW Acts, scattered issues
1970-1973
box-folder 3 : 8 - 4 : 2, folder 8-11, box 4, folder 1-2
N.O.W. information resource files
box 3, folder 9
Government and legal
1970
box 3, folder 11
Published articles on women's issues
1969-1974
box 4, folder 1
Manuscript articles on women's issues, undated
box 4, folder 2
Women's Equity Action League
1975-1976
Women in Communications, Inc. (W.I.C.I.) files Series 2.
1971-1988
Physical Description: 1 Linear
Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains correspondence, clippings, newsletters, minutes, notes,
photographs, convention packets, and information resource materials documenting the
activities and projects of Women in Communication, Inc., at various organizational
levels. Of particular interest are the chronological files containing a variety of
materials documenting the administration of the Orange County chapter during Lotos'
decade of membership. Issues of
Update, the Orange County
chapter newsletter, and
The Signal, the Los Angeles County
chapter newsletter, have been cataloged separately. Files in the series are arranged
topically within larger groupings reflecting local (Orange and Los Angeles counties),
Western regional, and national activities.
box 4, folder 3-10
Orange County W.I.C.I. files
box 4, folder 9
Mary Hart fundraiser
1987
General note
Honored Dale Messick, the creator of "Brenda Starr."
box 5, folder 1-2
Los Angeles County W.I.C.I. files
box 5, folder 2
Lotos' membership information
1976
box 5, folder 3-4
Western Region W.I.C.I. chronological files
box 5, folder 5-9, box 6, folder 1-5, box FB-001, folder 6
box 5, folder 7-9, box 6, folder 1-2
box 5, folder 7-9, box 6, folder 1
box 6, folder 2
Related materials
1977-1980
box 6, folder 3-5, box FB-001, folder 6
box FB-001, folder 6
Pro/Comm: The Professional
Communicator
1983
