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Betty Friedan

As a feminist, an activist, and an author, Betty Friedan helped launch the women's movement of the 1960s with her groundbreaking book, The Feminine Mystique.

Betty Friedan at Second Women's March
Lane, Bettye. Betty Friedan at Second Women's March, 1971 Aug 26. Bettye Lane Photographs. Hollis #: olvwork747171
Related
Betty Friedan Papers Research Guide: Betty Friedan National Organization for Women Records Tully-Crenshaw Feminist Oral History Project

In addition to The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan is the author of It Changed My Life, The Second Stage, and The Fountain of Age.

Friedan was one of the founders of the National Organization for Women and served as its first president, from 1966 to 1970. She was active in many feminist and political organizations, taught at several universities, lectured widely, and published numerous articles on gender and aging.

Throughout her life, Friedan was a leading advocate for women making full use of their education, talent, and skills.

Betty Friedan at Second Women's March
Betty Friedan at podium
Betty Friedan, seated with copies of her book
Portrait of Betty Friedan working at a desk with a typewriter
Portrait of Betty Friedan in Junior High School
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The papers in this collection document aspects of Friedan's public and personal life, including her family, journalism career, and work as an activist.

Collections

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Group of women attending NOW conference in Houston Group of women attending NOW conference in Houston Group portrait of NOW founders at NOW's organizing conference in Washington, DC Women at National ERA March Women holding NOW and "Lesbian Rights" signs at Lake Worth Gay/Lesbian Pride event People attending the NOW demonstration

Records of the National Organization for Women

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Portrait of Florynce Kennedy speaking at California State University

Florynce Kennedy

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Alice Paul Papers Schlesinger Olvwork20002619 Portrait of Paul, holding a book Alice Paul Papers Schlesinger Olvwork20002619 Portrait of Alice Paul Anna Wiley telephoning Doris Stevens accompanied by other women Photograph of Alice Paul sewing stars on the suffrage flag as others look on

Alice Paul

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June Jordan seated in front of bookcase June Jordan seated outdoors in grass June Jordan seated in front of bookcase June Jordan, on far right, with Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Nana Maynard, Ntzoke Shange, Vertamae Grosvenor and others

June Jordan

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Portrait of Murray seated in front of a Magnolia tree Portrait of Murray Portrait of Murray seated in front of a Magnolia tree Portrait of Pauli Murray Pauli Murray standing in front of a microphone, reading from Dark Testament and Other Poems Portrait of Murray wearing her clerical collar

Pauli Murray

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Portrait of Maud Wood Park Portrait of Maud Wood Park Gathering in front of the National American Woman Suffrage Association headquarters on the arrival of Jeannette Rankin in Washington as the first U. S. Congresswoman Portrait of Maud Wood Park wearing cap and gown Maud Wood laying on rock, outdoors Group portrait of eight women holding a sign listing the planks to be presented by the NLWV to the Democratic Platform Committee. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs (left) and Maud Wood Park (right) are holding the sign

Maud Wood Park Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection

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Shere Hite

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Portrait of Barbara Deming Portrait of Barbara Deming Barbara Deming, wrapped in a shawl, and an unidentified woman seated on the ground Barbara Deming, Erika Duncan, Adrienne Rich, and Gloria Orenstein at The Woman's Salon Portrait of Barbara Deming, possibly in Japan Barbara Deming with a circle of women seated on the ground

Barbara Deming

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