Jane Bovard Photograph Collection

Collection

Identifier: Photo 2091

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Jane Bovard Photograph Collection consists primarily of color photographs taken by Bovard, FWHO staff, volunteers, and supporters, of protests at the FWHO, damage done by protesters to the clinic, and protests at varied locations, including Bovard‘s residence (Fargo, N.D.) and the Chisholm, Minn. home of Dr. George Miks, who worked for the FWHO. The collection was received in two separate accessions, with folders 1 through 38 reflecting the images received with the Jane Bovard papers, while the remaining folders were deposited several years later. The Jane Bovard Photograph Collection is organized into eight distinct series: Protesters at the FWHO, Picketing, Lambs of Christ invasion, Graffiti, Fire bombing, Vandalism, Contact prints and Negatives.

The Jane Bovard portraits include her seated among plantings by the former Northern Pacific Railroad Depot in Fargo. The remaining undated images were taken of Jane seated at a table with an audience in front, likely a press conference or talk she gave related to the Keep Abortion Legal and Safe organization.

The first series, Protestors at the Fargo Women Health Organization, is arranged chronologically and includes picketing in the years 1983 through 1994 at its business location of 11 South 14th Street, Fargo. Some of these images include the names of individual protestors (Stan McDougal, file 44; Robbi Rydings, file 46; David Pence, file 47; Pat Larson, file 58). There is also a section containing photographs taken when the television show 20/20 filmed a segment about the FWHO (52 items) and shots of the FWHO and staff. The FWHO Series also contains photographs of damage to the FWHO, including a tree in January 1985 and the lawn in October 1991. Also included in this series is an undated photograph of broken medical supplies. Files 75-80 contain undated prints that have been organized by broad topic, format or size of the prints. Finally, the FWHO Series includes photographs of counter-protests held by FWHO supporters in September 1984 and August 1991.

The second series, Picketing, is also arranged chronologically, and includes photographs of pickets outside Jane Bovard‘s Fargo home in November 1984, May 1992, and July 1993. Also in the Picketing Series are photographs of picketing outside Dr. Miks‘ home in October 1991. Lastly, the Picketing Series consists of photographs of picketing at an unidentified location in June 1984.

The third series, Lambs of Christ, consists of photographs of an invasion of the FWHO by a group of anti-abortion protesters called the Lambs of Christ. In May 1991 this group came to the FWHO and invaded the clinic. They sat on the floor and locked themselves together refusing to move. Some also had brought heavy pipes in that they placed their arms into. When the police came the protesters refused to leave and had to be carried out.

The fourth series, Graffiti, contains photographs of graffiti on the south side of the FWHO. What is visible of the graffiti reads ―I would have wanted to live so that…I could…‖ and ―Abortion Sucks‖? The FWHO was painted in red and took place in the spring of 1990.

The fifth series, Fire Bomb, consists of photographs of damage caused by a fire bomb that was set off in April 1992 at the back of the FWHO. On the west side of the building was the patient entrance which is where the fire bomb was set off. The photographs show fire fighters responding to the scene and the damage in the following days.

The sixth series, Vandalism, contains photographs of vandalism at the FWHO in July 1993. Graffiti was written on the building; the garbage was taken out of the dumpster and thrown everywhere, and all the pots and plants where smashed and spread around.

The Contract Print Series consists of paper copy images made by the Institute staff of negatives from the initial accession. They follow a chronological sequence beginning with images within the Fargo Women‘s Health Organization from 1981-1982 into April 1984. These contract prints were made when processing the collection; however this was ended beginning with the latter part of April 1984 negatives.

The Negative Series consists of color 35mm negatives to many of the prints found in the collection. No attempt has been made to link each negative to the corresponding print. However, with many of the prints and negatives dated, a researcher should be able to locate the corresponding negative or print. The series does include a number of negatives that were undated and unidentified.

Dates

1983-1994

Creator

Bovard, Jane. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

History

On October 1, 1981, the Fargo Women‘s Health Organization (FWHO) opened with Jane F. Bovard as administrator. It was located at 11 South 14th Street. The organization did not form unexpectedly, but was the result of extensive planning and organization by Bovard. The FWHO was owned by the National Women‘s Health Organization (NWHO), which managed other clinics nationwide. Bovard, the FWHO, and Susan Hill (NWHO President), became entrenched in an enormous controversy surrounding abortion within the Fargo-Moorhead community. Bovard and the FWHO, especially, were regularly featured in the Fargo Forum reports of activity, protest, and hostile threats. As the 1980s progressed, the FWHO witnessed increasing violence. In addition, the organization was involved in a number of legal battles throughout their existence. The intensity of pro-life activism increased as the 1990s began, and the nation saw abortion doctors and staff murdered; during this time, the vulnerability of the FWHO increased as well. Finally, after fifteen successful years, in 1996 Bovard announced that she planned to retire from the FWHO. The FWHO closed in 2001. Bovard and two others founded a second abortion clinic, the Red River Women‘s Clinic in 1997 which is still in operation today.