Jane Bovard Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss 313
Scope and Contents
The Jane Bovard papers contain materials involving four organizations with which Bovard was involved: North Dakota Council for a Legal Safe Abortion, Fargo Women’s Health Organization, Citizens for a Real Choice, and Red River Women’s Clinic. In addition to records from these organizations, the papers contain a large collection of newspaper clippings in three formats: originals, photocopies, and clippings that were assembled into scrapbooks by Bovard, FWHO staff, and organization members.
Due to this fact, the collection has been broken down into these four organizations, beginning with NDCLSA materials, followed by records of the FWHO, CRC, the RRWC, and, finally, newspaper clippings. Organizational histories for each of the four groups are provided, preceding the scope and content description, beneath the organizational heading. The newspaper clippings span the entire period of Bovard’s activities, and therefore could not be placed in the four organization record groups. Because of this, they were organized into as a separate collection. While quite a few of the newspaper clippings were copied onto acid-free paper, not all were.
For the most part, when the papers were donated, the materials were organized along these four organization groupings; however, some reorganization was required. Original titles for many of the folders were retained.
North Dakota Council for a Legal, Safe Abortion Records, 1966-1987 [bulk 1975-1981] History
In 1975, due to the efforts of Jane Bovard, the NDCLSA was founded as an affiliate of the National Abortion Rights Action League [NARAL]. This organization remained active, largely due to Bovard’s participation, until the early 1980s. With abortion rights as the objective, the NDCLSA organized at local and state levels, focusing primarily on political change. Scope and Content
The records of the NDCLSA are divided into five major series: By-Laws and Organization; Legal, Legislative and/or Political; Minutes and Meetings; Administrative; and Activities.
The By-Laws and Organization Series contains records pertinent to the establishment of the organization, as well as standards and guidelines for operation. This small series is made up of information about the group’s Board of Directors, as well as their constitution, resolutions, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and standards and guidelines for affiliation. Brochures and correspondence related to by-laws and organization are intermingled within this series. Correspondence and documents relating to the development of the NDCLSA at the state organizing conference in April 1975 are also found in the series. Finally, materials from the NARAL Executive Committee special session in 1980 are included; these materials detail protocol for elections and campaign activities.
The Legal, Legislative and/or Political Series comprises a variety of records that Bovard acquired through research, participation, or from organizers in other areas of the country. The materials in this series date from 1966 to 1987, but the majority are from 1975 to 1981. Since the NDCLSA was intimately involved in promoting pro-choice candidates for political office, the Legal, legislative and/or Political Series contains extensive information about North Dakota and United States politicians and their voting on abortion. Significantly, a file exists for each constitutional amendment, house bill, senate bill or concurrent resolution in North Dakota during the NDCLSA’s existences, each of which consists of Bovard’s research and correspondence. Information about local organizing and materials designed to educate others about the political process can also be found in this series. Finally, two affidavits from Bovard’s testimony in court cases are filed within this series.
The Minutes & Meetings Series consists of minutes, meeting information, and memoranda from 1975 to 1981. The series begins with NDCLSA meeting minutes from 1975, followed by records from the 1977 NDCLSA annual meeting. Also included in this series are materials from the NARAL Affiliates’ Day in Washington, D.C. in April 1979, the NARAL State Leaders’ Day in May, 1980, memoranda from the Faith United Methodist Church (1976-1977) and memoranda from NARAL (1979-1981).
The Administrative Series includes correspondence, financial information, forms, letterhead, contact information, and other materials necessary for smooth functioning of the NDCLSA. Within the series, general incoming correspondence ranges from 1975 to 1982, and incoming mail from Voters for Choice dates from around 1979 or 1980. In addition, outgoing correspondence from 1975 to 1981 is included. Financial records within this series include information about donations and donations received (19761979), receipts, invoices, and requests for reimbursement and payment (1976-1979), information about and applications for grants (1978-1981), a bank deposit record, check book, materials about organizational tax exemption, fundraising, donors, and membership dues. Dates to remember, a blank training contract, lists of supporters, notes, information about meetings, a telephone tree, membership and financial solicitation letters, and a variety of other materials, form the bulk of this series.
The Activities Series contains information about specific activities that the NDCLSA engaged in, as well as advertisements for NDCLSA and other organizations, educational resources and tools, press coverage and releases, right-to-life organizing, speech information, reports, and newsletters.
Six major activities are detailed within the series: materials from Larry Lader’s 1977 abortion rights mobilization, the 1978 NARAL Foundation Holiday Bazaar Benefit, the May 1979 pro-choice organizing tour of North Dakota, the Abortion Rights Action Week in October, 1979, extensive materials from Impact ’80, and state coordinator information from 1980. There are undated advertisements for various pro-choice and several pro-life groups, dating from 1975 to 1979, within the collection. NDCLSA’s newspaper advertisement from 1976 is also included. The educational resources and tools within the series consist largely of a huge file of handouts, posters, brochures, and fact sheets from NARAL (and affiliates), the National Organization of Women (NOW), the NDCLSA, Planned Parenthood, and others. In addition to this file is a map of North Dakota Districts, sample letters and tips for lobbying a member of congress or the senate, and sample financial solicitation letters used by other organizations.
Press coverage spans from 1977 to 1982; the series contains press releases from NARAL and the NARAL Political Action Committee (1977-1979), as well as from NDCLSA (1979-1982). Materials regarding right-to-life organizing are limited to a fundraising letter from 1979 and information from the 1979 National Right-to-Life Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Information gathered for presentations about abortion rights, given to area high school classes, follows press coverage. Reports, dating from 1975 to about 1980 from a variety of organizations are in the Activities Series as well. The only NDCLSA annual report within the series, however, is from 1979. Finally, the Activities Series contains newsletters from multiple pro-choice organizations throughout the country, published between 1972 and 1981. NDCLSA newsletters from 1976-1980 are also filed within this series. Fargo Women’s Health Organization Records, 1975-1998 [bulk 1981-1998]
History
On October 1, 1981, the Fargo Women’s Health Organization [FWHO] opened, with Bovard as administrator. 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 FargoMoorhead community; Bovard and the FWHO, especially, were regularly featured in 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.
Scope and Content
The By-Laws and Organization Series consists of one folder titled ―start-up‖ by Bovard; correspondence, court decisions and bills, brochures, handouts and designs for the interior of the clinic are found within this series, which documents the development of the FWHO from idea to physical reality.
The Legal (harassment, complaints & reports) Series includes a variety of materials related to the FWHO’s relationship with the Fargo Police Department, Fargo City Commission, complaints and litigation against protestors and local pro-life groups, and notes and summaries of difficulties the Clinic has faced throughout its existence. ―Anti-letters,‖ as Bovard labeled them, are also found in this series; letters of protest, written to Bovard, the FWHO, and FWHO doctors and staff, between 1983 until 1996 attest to the intensity of the local abortion debate. Bovard’s notes on clinic violence and terrorism nationwide are also found in this series, and extensive research that Bovard and others compiled on various pro-life activists and organizations, like Joe Schiedler and the Lambs of Christ, fall into this series.
The Memoranda & Agenda Series is comprised of memoranda from the State Public Affairs Action Network (1986) and from the National Abortion Federation (1988), as well as agenda from the NARAL Foundation and FWHO (1995).
The Administrative Series includes incoming correspondence to Jane Bovard and the FWHO from 1981 to 1994 within which are support and protest letters Bovard received as a result of the airing of a 20/20 special on the FWHO in 1985. Outgoing correspondence is also found in this series, dating from 1982 to 1994 (with the exception of outgoing correspondence from 1990 to 1992). Financial records are limited to bills and receipts from 1987, and a blank W-4 tax form. Various administrative materials that ensure smooth functioning of the FWHO are also found in this series, from letterhead and office equipment information to phone call messages, generic thank you letters, security information, and blank forms. Finally, the administrative series includes appointment calendars/date books from 1983 to 1997.
The Activities Series contains Education and activism resources and tools, media coverage, press releases, one report, and newsletters. Educational tools include case studies, articles, research papers by Faye Ginsburg, and other materials. Media coverage includes a cassette tape of NARAL Foundation Radio spots, information about the WCCO ―Prairie Storm‖ documentary of 1982, and complaints to the Forum about FWHO advertisements that did not run. The press releases in this series were issued by the FWHO between 1980 and 1991. The report is a 1993 Survey of Abortion Violence by the National Clinic Defense Project (of the Feminist Majority Foundation). Finally, the series includes an issue of Plainswoman newsletter from 1981, LIFE Coalition newsletters from 1987, and an issue of Political Woman from 1992.
Citizens for a Real Choice [CRC] Records, 1981-1987 [bulk 1981-1986]
Scope and Content
Citizens for a Real Choice emerged to support the Fargo Women’s Health Organization, months before the clinic even opened. Pro-life groups in Fargo-Moorhead had organized into the Life Is for Everyone (LIFE) Coalition, and were actively attempting to keep an abortion clinic out of Fargo. Citizens for A Real Choice was vital to the success of the FWHO from the very beginning, but only lasted until around 1986 or 1987. The organization coordinated and recruited volunteer escorts to accompany patients to and from their cars, often through a crowd of protestors. CRC was also involved in recruiting local activists, publicizing pro-choice arguments and causes, and coordinating statewide organizing. The CRC was instrumental in raising local support for the FWHO, and had a ―PRIDE Fund‖ where supporters could mail in a pledge to support abortions for poor local women. Depending on how many pickets were outside the FWHO on the chosen day, the PRIDE Fund supporter would donate a pledged amount of money for each picketer outside the FWHO.
The By-Laws and Organization Series includes materials from a NARAL Foundation training in Portland, Oregon, in 1981, as well as the CRC’s bylaws, NARAL Standards for affiliation, organizational structure, and board information (1982-1986). Within the Board information are records that detail position descriptions, work plans, the proposed structure for the board, and activities from 1986.
The Legal, Legislative and/or Political Series contains fact sheets generated by Planned Parenthood, information on family planning (from the North Dakota State Department of Health), and a statement made by the CRC board made at a Fargo City Commission Meeting regarding picketing outside Bovard’s personal residence. Unfortunately, all of the records in this small series are undated.
The Minutes & Agenda Series includes minutes from CRC meetings from 1983 to 1986. In addition are minutes from various committee meetings in 1984: the State Executive Committee in Jamestown, the Program Committee, and the Political Committee. CRC agenda from 1983 to 1986 is also included, along with agenda from the State Public Affairs Network (1986). Finally, this series contains memoranda from 1986, from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, Physicians for Choice, and Planned Parenthood.
The Administrative Series is comprised of incoming correspondence from 1981 to 1987, and outgoing correspondence from 1983 to 1985. Financial information, such as tax exemption, donations, fundraising, grants, funding, and treasurer information are all included in this series. Information about and materials generated by CRC affiliates, the University of North Dakota and Grand Forks chapters, largely from 1986 is also found within the administrative series. Finally, contact information, telephone numbers, and forms and materials necessary for successful administration of the organization are found at the end of the series.
The Activities Series consists of specific activities undertaken by the CRC, along with materials for advertisement and outreach, education and activism, press coverage and releases, reports, and newsletters. The activities range from a Choice Entertainment and Political Skills Workshop in January 1982 to the Women in Need PRIDE Fund detailed earlier. Records of activities range from 1982 to 1986. Advertisement and outreach records consist of general information, a public service announcement questionnaire, the first CRC advertisement, and a CRC brochure. Similarly, the education and activism resources and tools files contain handouts, posters, flyers, and fact sheets from various pro-choice organizations, including NARAL, NOW, PP and others. A listing of pro-choice films for sale, information about writing to legislators, senators and members of congress, a transcript of Gloria Steinem’s address at NDSU in 1981, and informational packets also are found in this series. Information about press coverage and releases is limited to 1984, while CRC reports are limited to 1985-1986. Finally, the series ends with a variety of pro-choice (and a few pro-life) newsletters, received between 1983 and 1986.
Red River Women’s Clinic [RRWC] Records, 1998-2002
Scope and Content
The records of the Red River Women’s Clinic consist of three planners/date books from 1998, 1999 and 2002. Newspaper Clippings
Scope and Content
The newspaper clippings section is divided into three series: the scrapbook series, the copied newspaper clippings series, and the original newspaper clippings series. Specific information and years represented within each series are detailed below.
The Scrapbook Series includes seven scrapbooks of newspaper clippings that were generated by Bovard and others, in 1981, 1983 & 1985, 1984, 1985, 1986-1988, 1992, 1992 & firebombing, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. Since the clippings were original clippings housed in magnetic sleeves, the scrapbooks were copied onto acid free paper (except 1981), and the pages were numbered to maintain original order and preserve the scrapbooks. . The Copied Newspaper Clippings Series contains newspaper clippings that were copied by Bovard, FWHO staff, CRC or NDCLSA members, a clipping service, or the archives staff. The copied clippings are separated by year, and date from 1975 to 1996. The series also contains a file of clippings that were not dated. Some of these may actually be copies of the articles found in the Scrapbook Series.
The Original Newspaper Clippings Series comprises all of the original newspaper clippings within the entire Bovard collection. Since these clippings are deteriorating at a faster rate than copied clippings, they were separated and housed in their own box. Dating from 1975 to 1981, and 1984 to 1996, this series of original clippings is also divided by year.
Due to this fact, the collection has been broken down into these four organizations, beginning with NDCLSA materials, followed by records of the FWHO, CRC, the RRWC, and, finally, newspaper clippings. Organizational histories for each of the four groups are provided, preceding the scope and content description, beneath the organizational heading. The newspaper clippings span the entire period of Bovard’s activities, and therefore could not be placed in the four organization record groups. Because of this, they were organized into as a separate collection. While quite a few of the newspaper clippings were copied onto acid-free paper, not all were.
For the most part, when the papers were donated, the materials were organized along these four organization groupings; however, some reorganization was required. Original titles for many of the folders were retained.
North Dakota Council for a Legal, Safe Abortion Records, 1966-1987 [bulk 1975-1981] History
In 1975, due to the efforts of Jane Bovard, the NDCLSA was founded as an affiliate of the National Abortion Rights Action League [NARAL]. This organization remained active, largely due to Bovard’s participation, until the early 1980s. With abortion rights as the objective, the NDCLSA organized at local and state levels, focusing primarily on political change. Scope and Content
The records of the NDCLSA are divided into five major series: By-Laws and Organization; Legal, Legislative and/or Political; Minutes and Meetings; Administrative; and Activities.
The By-Laws and Organization Series contains records pertinent to the establishment of the organization, as well as standards and guidelines for operation. This small series is made up of information about the group’s Board of Directors, as well as their constitution, resolutions, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and standards and guidelines for affiliation. Brochures and correspondence related to by-laws and organization are intermingled within this series. Correspondence and documents relating to the development of the NDCLSA at the state organizing conference in April 1975 are also found in the series. Finally, materials from the NARAL Executive Committee special session in 1980 are included; these materials detail protocol for elections and campaign activities.
The Legal, Legislative and/or Political Series comprises a variety of records that Bovard acquired through research, participation, or from organizers in other areas of the country. The materials in this series date from 1966 to 1987, but the majority are from 1975 to 1981. Since the NDCLSA was intimately involved in promoting pro-choice candidates for political office, the Legal, legislative and/or Political Series contains extensive information about North Dakota and United States politicians and their voting on abortion. Significantly, a file exists for each constitutional amendment, house bill, senate bill or concurrent resolution in North Dakota during the NDCLSA’s existences, each of which consists of Bovard’s research and correspondence. Information about local organizing and materials designed to educate others about the political process can also be found in this series. Finally, two affidavits from Bovard’s testimony in court cases are filed within this series.
The Minutes & Meetings Series consists of minutes, meeting information, and memoranda from 1975 to 1981. The series begins with NDCLSA meeting minutes from 1975, followed by records from the 1977 NDCLSA annual meeting. Also included in this series are materials from the NARAL Affiliates’ Day in Washington, D.C. in April 1979, the NARAL State Leaders’ Day in May, 1980, memoranda from the Faith United Methodist Church (1976-1977) and memoranda from NARAL (1979-1981).
The Administrative Series includes correspondence, financial information, forms, letterhead, contact information, and other materials necessary for smooth functioning of the NDCLSA. Within the series, general incoming correspondence ranges from 1975 to 1982, and incoming mail from Voters for Choice dates from around 1979 or 1980. In addition, outgoing correspondence from 1975 to 1981 is included. Financial records within this series include information about donations and donations received (19761979), receipts, invoices, and requests for reimbursement and payment (1976-1979), information about and applications for grants (1978-1981), a bank deposit record, check book, materials about organizational tax exemption, fundraising, donors, and membership dues. Dates to remember, a blank training contract, lists of supporters, notes, information about meetings, a telephone tree, membership and financial solicitation letters, and a variety of other materials, form the bulk of this series.
The Activities Series contains information about specific activities that the NDCLSA engaged in, as well as advertisements for NDCLSA and other organizations, educational resources and tools, press coverage and releases, right-to-life organizing, speech information, reports, and newsletters.
Six major activities are detailed within the series: materials from Larry Lader’s 1977 abortion rights mobilization, the 1978 NARAL Foundation Holiday Bazaar Benefit, the May 1979 pro-choice organizing tour of North Dakota, the Abortion Rights Action Week in October, 1979, extensive materials from Impact ’80, and state coordinator information from 1980. There are undated advertisements for various pro-choice and several pro-life groups, dating from 1975 to 1979, within the collection. NDCLSA’s newspaper advertisement from 1976 is also included. The educational resources and tools within the series consist largely of a huge file of handouts, posters, brochures, and fact sheets from NARAL (and affiliates), the National Organization of Women (NOW), the NDCLSA, Planned Parenthood, and others. In addition to this file is a map of North Dakota Districts, sample letters and tips for lobbying a member of congress or the senate, and sample financial solicitation letters used by other organizations.
Press coverage spans from 1977 to 1982; the series contains press releases from NARAL and the NARAL Political Action Committee (1977-1979), as well as from NDCLSA (1979-1982). Materials regarding right-to-life organizing are limited to a fundraising letter from 1979 and information from the 1979 National Right-to-Life Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Information gathered for presentations about abortion rights, given to area high school classes, follows press coverage. Reports, dating from 1975 to about 1980 from a variety of organizations are in the Activities Series as well. The only NDCLSA annual report within the series, however, is from 1979. Finally, the Activities Series contains newsletters from multiple pro-choice organizations throughout the country, published between 1972 and 1981. NDCLSA newsletters from 1976-1980 are also filed within this series. Fargo Women’s Health Organization Records, 1975-1998 [bulk 1981-1998]
History
On October 1, 1981, the Fargo Women’s Health Organization [FWHO] opened, with Bovard as administrator. 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 FargoMoorhead community; Bovard and the FWHO, especially, were regularly featured in 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.
Scope and Content
The By-Laws and Organization Series consists of one folder titled ―start-up‖ by Bovard; correspondence, court decisions and bills, brochures, handouts and designs for the interior of the clinic are found within this series, which documents the development of the FWHO from idea to physical reality.
The Legal (harassment, complaints & reports) Series includes a variety of materials related to the FWHO’s relationship with the Fargo Police Department, Fargo City Commission, complaints and litigation against protestors and local pro-life groups, and notes and summaries of difficulties the Clinic has faced throughout its existence. ―Anti-letters,‖ as Bovard labeled them, are also found in this series; letters of protest, written to Bovard, the FWHO, and FWHO doctors and staff, between 1983 until 1996 attest to the intensity of the local abortion debate. Bovard’s notes on clinic violence and terrorism nationwide are also found in this series, and extensive research that Bovard and others compiled on various pro-life activists and organizations, like Joe Schiedler and the Lambs of Christ, fall into this series.
The Memoranda & Agenda Series is comprised of memoranda from the State Public Affairs Action Network (1986) and from the National Abortion Federation (1988), as well as agenda from the NARAL Foundation and FWHO (1995).
The Administrative Series includes incoming correspondence to Jane Bovard and the FWHO from 1981 to 1994 within which are support and protest letters Bovard received as a result of the airing of a 20/20 special on the FWHO in 1985. Outgoing correspondence is also found in this series, dating from 1982 to 1994 (with the exception of outgoing correspondence from 1990 to 1992). Financial records are limited to bills and receipts from 1987, and a blank W-4 tax form. Various administrative materials that ensure smooth functioning of the FWHO are also found in this series, from letterhead and office equipment information to phone call messages, generic thank you letters, security information, and blank forms. Finally, the administrative series includes appointment calendars/date books from 1983 to 1997.
The Activities Series contains Education and activism resources and tools, media coverage, press releases, one report, and newsletters. Educational tools include case studies, articles, research papers by Faye Ginsburg, and other materials. Media coverage includes a cassette tape of NARAL Foundation Radio spots, information about the WCCO ―Prairie Storm‖ documentary of 1982, and complaints to the Forum about FWHO advertisements that did not run. The press releases in this series were issued by the FWHO between 1980 and 1991. The report is a 1993 Survey of Abortion Violence by the National Clinic Defense Project (of the Feminist Majority Foundation). Finally, the series includes an issue of Plainswoman newsletter from 1981, LIFE Coalition newsletters from 1987, and an issue of Political Woman from 1992.
Citizens for a Real Choice [CRC] Records, 1981-1987 [bulk 1981-1986]
Scope and Content
Citizens for a Real Choice emerged to support the Fargo Women’s Health Organization, months before the clinic even opened. Pro-life groups in Fargo-Moorhead had organized into the Life Is for Everyone (LIFE) Coalition, and were actively attempting to keep an abortion clinic out of Fargo. Citizens for A Real Choice was vital to the success of the FWHO from the very beginning, but only lasted until around 1986 or 1987. The organization coordinated and recruited volunteer escorts to accompany patients to and from their cars, often through a crowd of protestors. CRC was also involved in recruiting local activists, publicizing pro-choice arguments and causes, and coordinating statewide organizing. The CRC was instrumental in raising local support for the FWHO, and had a ―PRIDE Fund‖ where supporters could mail in a pledge to support abortions for poor local women. Depending on how many pickets were outside the FWHO on the chosen day, the PRIDE Fund supporter would donate a pledged amount of money for each picketer outside the FWHO.
The By-Laws and Organization Series includes materials from a NARAL Foundation training in Portland, Oregon, in 1981, as well as the CRC’s bylaws, NARAL Standards for affiliation, organizational structure, and board information (1982-1986). Within the Board information are records that detail position descriptions, work plans, the proposed structure for the board, and activities from 1986.
The Legal, Legislative and/or Political Series contains fact sheets generated by Planned Parenthood, information on family planning (from the North Dakota State Department of Health), and a statement made by the CRC board made at a Fargo City Commission Meeting regarding picketing outside Bovard’s personal residence. Unfortunately, all of the records in this small series are undated.
The Minutes & Agenda Series includes minutes from CRC meetings from 1983 to 1986. In addition are minutes from various committee meetings in 1984: the State Executive Committee in Jamestown, the Program Committee, and the Political Committee. CRC agenda from 1983 to 1986 is also included, along with agenda from the State Public Affairs Network (1986). Finally, this series contains memoranda from 1986, from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, Physicians for Choice, and Planned Parenthood.
The Administrative Series is comprised of incoming correspondence from 1981 to 1987, and outgoing correspondence from 1983 to 1985. Financial information, such as tax exemption, donations, fundraising, grants, funding, and treasurer information are all included in this series. Information about and materials generated by CRC affiliates, the University of North Dakota and Grand Forks chapters, largely from 1986 is also found within the administrative series. Finally, contact information, telephone numbers, and forms and materials necessary for successful administration of the organization are found at the end of the series.
The Activities Series consists of specific activities undertaken by the CRC, along with materials for advertisement and outreach, education and activism, press coverage and releases, reports, and newsletters. The activities range from a Choice Entertainment and Political Skills Workshop in January 1982 to the Women in Need PRIDE Fund detailed earlier. Records of activities range from 1982 to 1986. Advertisement and outreach records consist of general information, a public service announcement questionnaire, the first CRC advertisement, and a CRC brochure. Similarly, the education and activism resources and tools files contain handouts, posters, flyers, and fact sheets from various pro-choice organizations, including NARAL, NOW, PP and others. A listing of pro-choice films for sale, information about writing to legislators, senators and members of congress, a transcript of Gloria Steinem’s address at NDSU in 1981, and informational packets also are found in this series. Information about press coverage and releases is limited to 1984, while CRC reports are limited to 1985-1986. Finally, the series ends with a variety of pro-choice (and a few pro-life) newsletters, received between 1983 and 1986.
Red River Women’s Clinic [RRWC] Records, 1998-2002
Scope and Content
The records of the Red River Women’s Clinic consist of three planners/date books from 1998, 1999 and 2002. Newspaper Clippings
Scope and Content
The newspaper clippings section is divided into three series: the scrapbook series, the copied newspaper clippings series, and the original newspaper clippings series. Specific information and years represented within each series are detailed below.
The Scrapbook Series includes seven scrapbooks of newspaper clippings that were generated by Bovard and others, in 1981, 1983 & 1985, 1984, 1985, 1986-1988, 1992, 1992 & firebombing, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. Since the clippings were original clippings housed in magnetic sleeves, the scrapbooks were copied onto acid free paper (except 1981), and the pages were numbered to maintain original order and preserve the scrapbooks. . The Copied Newspaper Clippings Series contains newspaper clippings that were copied by Bovard, FWHO staff, CRC or NDCLSA members, a clipping service, or the archives staff. The copied clippings are separated by year, and date from 1975 to 1996. The series also contains a file of clippings that were not dated. Some of these may actually be copies of the articles found in the Scrapbook Series.
The Original Newspaper Clippings Series comprises all of the original newspaper clippings within the entire Bovard collection. Since these clippings are deteriorating at a faster rate than copied clippings, they were separated and housed in their own box. Dating from 1975 to 1981, and 1984 to 1996, this series of original clippings is also divided by year.
Dates
- 1966-2002
Creator
- Bovard, Jane. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
The Institute owns the copyright.
Biography
Jane French Bovard grew up in Ohio. The family moved to Minneapolis, Minn. when she was a high school senior and where she graduated. She returned to Ohio to attend Denison University in Granville where she studied biology, graduating in 1965. She married Richard W. Bovard. They lived at New Concord, Ohio for a short time before moving to Denver, Colorado where she was a substitute teacher. In 1972 the family moved to Fargo where her husband accepted a position in the English Department of North Dakota State University.
Jane Bovard became active in several feminist causes in the Fargo-Moorhead region beginning in the 1970s. Because of her efforts, the North Dakota Council for a Legal, Safe Abortion [NDCLSA] was founded in 1975 and flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s. She was state coordinator from its founding until 1981. In addition to involvement in the NDCLSA, Bovard was administrator of the Fargo Women’s Health Organization [FWHO] from its inception in 1981 until 1996. She was also a member of the organization Citizens for a Real Choice [CRC], which supported the FWHO until the group disbanded in 1986 or 1987. Bovard left the Fargo Women’s Health Organization in 1997 (it closed in 2001). In late 1997 she and two partners formed the Red River Women’s Clinic [RRWC], which she operated until retiring about 2003. She continued to work part-time at RRWC until early 2006.
Jane Bovard became active in several feminist causes in the Fargo-Moorhead region beginning in the 1970s. Because of her efforts, the North Dakota Council for a Legal, Safe Abortion [NDCLSA] was founded in 1975 and flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s. She was state coordinator from its founding until 1981. In addition to involvement in the NDCLSA, Bovard was administrator of the Fargo Women’s Health Organization [FWHO] from its inception in 1981 until 1996. She was also a member of the organization Citizens for a Real Choice [CRC], which supported the FWHO until the group disbanded in 1986 or 1987. Bovard left the Fargo Women’s Health Organization in 1997 (it closed in 2001). In late 1997 she and two partners formed the Red River Women’s Clinic [RRWC], which she operated until retiring about 2003. She continued to work part-time at RRWC until early 2006.
Extent
7.6 Linear Feet (7.6 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Jane Bovard papers contain materials involving four organizations with which Bovard was involved: North Dakota Council for a Legal Safe Abortion, Fargo Women's Health Organization, Citizens for a Real Choice, and Red River Women's Clinic. In addition to records from these organizations, the papers contain a large collection of newspaper clippings in three formats: originals, photocopies, and clippings that were assembled into scrapbooks by Bovard, FWHO staff, and organization members.
Provenance
Donated by Jane F. Bovard, 2008 (Acc. 2870).
Separated Materials
The following non-manuscript materials have been placed in the following Institute Collections.
Photographs (Institute Photo 2091) 1,862 photographs plus negatives were separated from the initial accession and later accession and processed as Photo Collection 2091. The photographs document protesters and clinic supporters, damage to the FWHO property, and picketing at the FWHO, and at the residences of FWHO staff. The bulk of these images were originally filed among the FWHO records, within the legal/harassment files.
Broadsides (Institute Case files)
Four posters from circa 1976 related to the North Dakota Council for Legal Safe Abortion
Artifacts (Placed in last box of papers—Box 9, folder 3)
I Am Pro-Choice …And I Vote‖ plastic bag issued by NARAL (separated from NDCLSA, Legal, Legislative, and/or Political Series, Box 2)
Wood carving of pistol with fetus forming part of barrel
Audio visual (Cataloged for Institute collection) Prairie Storm, by WCCO Television, 1982 (1/2 in. VHS tape)
Broadsides (Institute Case files)
Four posters from circa 1976 related to the North Dakota Council for Legal Safe Abortion
Artifacts (Placed in last box of papers—Box 9, folder 3)
I Am Pro-Choice …And I Vote‖ plastic bag issued by NARAL (separated from NDCLSA, Legal, Legislative, and/or Political Series, Box 2)
Wood carving of pistol with fetus forming part of barrel
Audio visual (Cataloged for Institute collection) Prairie Storm, by WCCO Television, 1982 (1/2 in. VHS tape)
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
Creator
- Bovard, Jane. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Jane Bovard Papers
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu