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Margo St. James and COYOTE

Margo St. James (1937–2021) was the founder of COYOTE, a sex worker’s rights organization that advocates for decriminalization of prostitution.

Poster for Margo St. James's 1979 San Francisco Masquerade Hookers Ball
Margo St. James' 1979 San Francisco Masquerade Hookers Ball. Coyote Records. Hollis #: 8001349567
Related
COYOTE Records Margo St. James Papers Research Guide: Pornography and Sex Work Research Guide: HIV/AIDS

COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), founded in San Francisco in 1973, provided legal and medical services for sex workers; offered employment, health, and financial counseling; and worked to educate the public about prostitution. St. James threw annual Hookers Balls, which raised money for COYOTE’s work, including bail funds. In the 1980s, COYOTE raised awareness about AIDS among sex workers and the public. 

In addition to her work with COYOTE, Margo St. James promoted a sex-positive feminism and was active in efforts to decriminalize prostitution internationally.

Poster for Margo St. James's 1979 San Francisco Masquerade Hookers Ball
Margo St. James and Nancy Bormon
Margo St. James holding a poster as she protests outside the Democratic National Convention
Margo St. James reading a newspaper at the Battered Women's conference
Margo St. James, President of the San Francisco Prostitute Union
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Collections

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Betty Friedan at Second Women's March 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

Betty Friedan

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Portrait of Florynce Kennedy speaking at California State University

Florynce Kennedy

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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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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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Group portrait of Black Women Oral History Project Advisory Board Portrait of Rosa Parks Group portrait of Black Women Oral History Project Advisory Board Portrait of Ozeline Wise Portrait of Dorothy Height Portrait of Eva B. Dykes

Black Women Oral History Project

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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 Dorothy West, seated in chair on a deck Dorothy West autographs a book at the book party held at Reckling Studio in her honor Dorothy West in her New York City apartment. West is seated on a couch, holding a pad of paper on her lap Dorothy West standing in front of a pier at Oak Bluffs beach on Martha's Vineyard Portrait of Dorothy West seated at her writing desk

Dorothy West

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Portrait of Susan B. Anthony Portrait of Susan B. Anthony Portraits of Stanton and Anthony together Susan B. Anthony seated, and reading a book Susan B. Anthony and others, possibly members of the Anthony family, on porch Side profile portrait of Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

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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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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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Group portrait of members of the Blackwell family on a dwelling porch Group portrait of members of the Blackwell family on a dwelling porch Portrait of Marian Blackwell seated Elizabeth Blackwell seated with an open book on her lap View of Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell (right) and Alice Stone Blackwell (left) seated in a horse-drawn carriage decorated with flowers for a parade Woman's Journal button with portrait of Lucy Stone

Blackwell Family

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