mnsss507 Saralee Hamilton Papers, 1965-2006 Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

2010

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 12.0. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. July 22, 2011 Finding aid written in English. Collection Overview Hamilton, Saralee, 1945-2006 Saralee Hamilton Papers1965-2006 MS 629 14 boxes (11.75 linear ft.) English Spanish Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Feminist; Administrator; Reproductive rights advocate. Early records of the Reproductive Rights National Network, and materials documenting international women's rights organizing. Organizations and topics include the Reproductive Rights National Network, the Black Women's Health Project, Women's International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines (WISAP)/Gabriela, Women Living Under Muslim Laws, Madre, Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights, sterilization abuse, reproductive rights advocacy and politics, lesbian and gay liberation, grassroots organizing, international women's rights, and rights for women laborers in the U.S. and in developing countries. Central American and Asian women's organizations are especially well- represented. Biographical Note

Born October 25, 1945. During her college years, Hamilton was active in anti-war activities and organizations. She worked for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) for thirty-one years, directing that organizaion's Nationwide Women's Program. In the early years of the program, Hamilton became part of the intellectual development of modern feminism, meeting often with the emerging leadership of that movement. It was through her efforts that various AFSC programs became connected to women's groups around the world, such as Madre; Gabriella, in the Philippines; ISIS, in South America; and Women Living Under Muslim Law. She was also involved in the Reproductive Rights National Network, and in the Commitee to End Sterilization Abuse. Her vision of mutuality introduced AFSC perspectives to women's movements, and brought learnings from those movements to the AFSC. She was also adept at fostering women's involvement in issues from the policy level down to the every day actions that could bring about change. She organized delegations to women's conferences including the U.N. World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985, and in Beijing in 1995. Hamilton died December 7, 2006 in Philadelphia, PA of complications from cancer.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Early records of the Reproductive Rights National Network, and materials documenting international women's rights organizing. Organizations and topics include the Reproductive Rights National Network, the Black Women's Health Project, Women's International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines (WISAP)/Gabriela, Women Living Under Muslim Laws, Madre, Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights, sterilization abuse, reproductive rights advocacy and politics, lesbian and gay liberation, grassroots organizing, international women's rights, and rights for women laborers in the U.S. and in developing countries. Central American and Asian women's organizations are especially well-represented.

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Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Saralee Hamilton Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

The Saralee Hamilton Papers were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection by Maria Pappalardo in 2007, with subsequent donations in 2009.

Processed by Burd Schlessinger, October 2008.

Sterilization (Birth control) -- United States -- History Women's rights -- Asia, Southeastern -- History -- Sources Women's rights -- Developing countries Muslim women -- Social conditions Women -- Latin America Women and peace -- South Asia Hamilton, Saralee, 1945-2006 American Friends Service Committee Reproductive Rights National Network National Black Women's Health Project