Please take a moment to fill out our survey
To link to this object, paste this link in email, IM or document

To embed this object, paste this HTML in website

Sonia Johnson papers

small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution

Inventory of the Sonia Johnson papers

Table of Contents

Collection Overview

Collection Inventory+/-

Biographical Note/Historical Note

Content Description

Collection Use

Administrative Information

Subjects

Collection Overview +/-

Title: Sonia Johnson papers
Dates: 1958-1983 (inclusive)
bulk 1978-1982 (bulk)
Collection Number: Ms0287
Summary: The Sonia Johnson papers contain materials dealing with her excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the group "Mormons for ERA" between the years 1978 and 1982.
Repository: J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Address:
Special Collections
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0860
801-581-8864
http://www.lib.utah.edu/collections/manuscripts.php

Collection Inventory +/-

series: PERSONAL
box 1: Personal Correspondence (1960-1980)
folder 1-24: Sonia and Rich Johnson to Harris, Family (1960-1968)

Letters from Sonia and Rick Johnson to Sonia' s parents, Alvin and Ida Harris, and family. The letters are written from Western Samoa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nigeria, California, Pennsylvania, Malawi, Korea, Western Malaysia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Virginia.

folder 25: Ida Harris to Sonia Johnson (1980)

Letter to Sonia from her mother about Sonia's activities and the Mormons for E.R.A.

box 2: Personal Correspondence (1958-1982)
folder 1-9: Sonia and Rick Johnson (1958-1979)

Letters exchanged between Rick and Sonia Johnson including a number of notes, greeting cards and miscellaneous items.

folder 10: Sonia and Rick Johnson to their children (1969-1977)
folder 11: Eric Johnson (1978)

Letters about Sonia and Rick's eldest son and his stay in Logan including a letter from Floyd V. Israelsen and Sonia's reply.

folder 12: Sonia Johnson and Family Members (1962-1975)

Letter from Sonia to her brother Mark, letters to Sonia from her sister Joyce and Aunt Grace Baugh.

folder 13: Robert Michael Harris (1962-1964)

Letter to and from Sonia's brother "Mike" while serving a mission for the LDS Church.

folder 14: Jeff Harris (1964)

Letters from Sonia's brother Jeff to his mother.

folder 15: Ina and Wayne Harris (1960-1965)

Letters from Ina and Wayne Harris to Ida and Alvin Harris.

folder 16: Martha Harris (1964)

Letter from Martha Harris to Ida Harris

folder 17: Ida Harris (1972)

Ida Harris to her husband and son Alvin and Mark Harris.

folder 18: Ida Johnson

Letter from Ida Johnson to Ida Harris about a possible visit to their children Rick and Sonia Johnson.

folder 19: Grace Smith (1965)

Letter from Mrs. Marion Smith to her aunt Ida Harris.

folder 20: Lupe P. Afuvia (1962-1963)

Letters from Lupe P. Afuvia to Ida Harris. The Harris' had Sinapi Afuvia of Samoa staying with them in Logan, Utah.

folder 21: Sinapi Afuvia (1961-1963)

Letters to and from Sinapi Afuvia who was living with the Harris' in Logan, Utah. Some of the letters are written in Samoan.

folder 22: Ida and Alvin Harris (1963-1981)

Miscellaneous letters to Ida and Alvin Harris including one about conflicts with the LDS Church home teachers in Logan, Utah.

folder 23: Friends to Sonia Johnson (1974-1981)

Letters to Sonia from Barbara Allen, Bill Billingsley, Virginia L. Carter, Peggy and Andrew Creese, Linda Daube, Audrey Grant, Edward L. Meyerson, Candice Osborn, Ron and Hazel Rigby and other personal acquaintances.

folder 24: Archives to Sonia Johnson (1979-1982)

Letters from the University of Missouri, Brigham Young University, Utah State University and the University of Utah asking about deposition of Sonia Johnson's papers.

folder 25: Miscellaneous Personal Items (1957)

Includes a play program from an itinerary for Richard T. Johnson from 1976, and Sonia Johnson's reports on an open house at the Palo Alto LDS Church in 1972.

box 3: Excommunication (1960-1980)
folder 1: L.D.S. Church Documents (1960-1976)

Copy of Sonia's partriarchial Blessing from 1960 and 1976.

folder 2: Correspondence with First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1979-1980)

Letters between Sonia Johnson and the LDS Church hierarchy about her support for the Equal Rights Amendment, her trial and appeal of her excommunication.

folder 3: Summons, Trial, and Appeal (1979-1980)

Correspondence and statements between Sonia Johnson, her LDS Bishop Jeffery H. Willis, and the L.D.S. Stake President Earl J. Roueche about her excommunication trial and appeal.

folder 4: Defense: Michael J. Barrett (1979-1980)

Correspondence, articles, and notes about a possible defense against excommunication or possible civil action against the LDS Church from Michael J. Barrett, a lawyer.

folder 5: Defense: Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. (1979)

Offer from California representative McCloskey to assist with her case.

folder 6: Defense: Articles

Copies of "Resolution of Civil Disputes by Mormon Ecclesiastical Courts," by Raymond T. Swenson, and the testimony concerning Reed Smoot in the Committee on Privileges and Elections.

folder 7: Trial Testimonies and Statements (1979)

Included are statements by Sonia Johnson, the LDS Church representative, Ralph J. Payne, Nancy Kuhn, Hazel Rigby, Loneta Murphy, William D. Payne, Mary Ann Payne, Nadine Hansen, Kris Green, and the Consortium for Utah Women in Higher Education.

folder 8: Trial Vigil Prayers and Statements (1979)

Prayer by Emily Benson, statements by Loneta Murphy and an unnamed individual.

folder 9: Press Packet (1979)

Folder for members of the press at Sonia Johnson's trial which includes copies of earlier newspaper clippings, statements, and testimony by and about Sonia Johnson and the Equal Rights Amendment.

folder 10: Notes on Church Meeting (1979)

Notes by Arlene Wood and Kathryn McKay about the church meeting attended by Sonia on December 2, 1979 the day following her excommunication.

folder 11: Miscellaneous Correspondence (1978-1979)

Included is a letter from Hartman Rector, jr. to Teddie Wood in which he claims if men did not hold the priesthood they "...would problably be eaten by the famale as in the case with the black widow spider [SIC]." Also included is a letter to Sonia from Barbara B. Smith, LDS Relief Society President, and an exchange of letters about Jeffrey Willis's position with the Central Intelligence Agency.

folder 12: Sterling Park Ward Kirectory (1979)
folder 13-21: Letters to LDS Church Leaders

Letters, arranged in alphabetical order, written to LDS Church leaders from her bishop to the First Presidency in support of Sonia Johnson and her position on the Equal Rights Amendment. A name list is included and filed in folder 13.

series: EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
box 4: Organizations, Pro-ERA., A - N (1977-1981)
folder 1: American Association of University Women (1979-1980)
folder 2: Organizations A (1979-1980)

Acadiana Women's Political Caucus

Alaska Women's Resource Center

Arizonians of Faith for the Equal Rights Amendment

Association for Women in Psychology

Association of Women in Ministry

Augusta Women's Advisory Council

Awake-Worship-Action-Renewal-Education (AWARE--RLDS group)

folder 3: Business and Professional Women's Clubs (1979-1980)
folder 4: Organizations B (1979-1980)

Brouard County (Florida) Commission on the Status of Women

Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa.

folder 5-6: Congressional Union (1980-1981)
folder 7: Organizations C (1979-1981)

Catholic Advocates for Equality

Catholics Act for ERA

Catholic Women for ERA

Center of Concern

Church of the Brethren, Women's Caucus

Coalition on Women and Religion

Common Cause

Concord United Church of Christ (Wichita, Kansas)

folder 8: E. R. A. Action Line (Seattle, Washington) (1980-1981)
folder 9: ERAmerica (1978-1981)

Includes ERArkansas, and ERAmerica Michigan.

folder 10-11: Equal Rights Coalition of Utah (1978-1981)
folder 12: Organizations E (1977-1981)

8th Day Center for Justice

Episcopal Church groups

Epsilon Sigma Alpha International, Alpha Beta Chapter

Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Action Coalition

Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Council

Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Project (Illinois)

ERA Illinois

ERA Strike Force

Evangelical Women's Caucus (Bay Area and Michigan)

folder 13: Organizations F (1978-1979)

Federally Employed Women

Florida Impact

Fort Wayne Feminists

folder 14: Homemakers' Equal Rights Association (Housewices for ERA) (1979-1981)
folder 15: Organizations I- L (1979-1980)

Ingham County Women's Commission (Michigan)

Interchange

Junior League of Minneapolis

Kentuchy Pro-EAR Alliance

Labor for Equal Rights Now (LERN)

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

League of Women Voters

folder 16: Organizations M (1979-1981)

Madison (Wisconsin) Coalition for the ERA

Missouri Equal Rights Amendment Coalition

folder 17-22: National Organization for Women (NOW), National (1977-1981)

Correspondence, 1978-1981; ERA-NOW Action Packet; ERA National Outreach, press releases, pamphlets, information, 1977-1981

folder 23-27: National Organization for Women (NOW), States, A-T (1979-1981)
box 5: Organizations, Pro-ERA, N-W (1973-1981)
folder 1-4: National Organization for Women (NOW), States U-W (1973-1981)

Includes some Utah material

folder 5: Organizations N (1978-1981)

National Assembly of Women Religious

National Coalition of American Nuns

National Council of Churches

National Women's Party

Network (Catholic nuns' group)

Nevadans for ERA

North Miami Beach Commission on the Status of Women

folder 6: Organizations O (1980)

OK-ERA (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Oklahoma Governor's Commission on the Status of Women

Oklahomans for the Equal Righs Amendment

Oklahoma Homemakers for the ERA

Older women's Liberation

folder 7: Organizations P (1979-1980)

Planned Parenthood-Louisville

Presbyterian Church groups

People of Faith for the ERA

President's Advisory Committee for Women

Prince George's County Commission for Women

folder 8: Religious Advocates for Equality (1979)
folder 9: Religious Committee for the ERA (1979-1981)
folder 10: Organizations S- T (1979-1981)

Sacramento Valley Ecumenical Women

Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women (California)

Sisters of Divine Providence (Kentucky)

Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (Washington, D. C.)

South Texas Women's Forum

Tacoma Dominican Sisters Consensus Group 2

Thurston County Ministries in Higher Education (Washington)

folder 11: Organizations U (1978-1980)

Unitarian Church groups

United Methodist Church groups

United Teachers of Los Angeles

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (Minnesota)

Unity (Texas)

Utah Order of Women Legislators

folder 12: Organizations V (1978-1981)

Virginia Equal Rights Amendment Ratification

Council

Virginians for the Equal Rights Amendment-Political Action Committee

Virginia Polytechnic Institute Women's Network

Virginia Religious Committee for ERA

folder 13-14: Women's Political Caucus (1979-1981)

National materials, 1979-1981; and material arranged alphabetically by state, 1979-1980

folder 15: Organizations W (1979-1981)

Washington Equal Rights Amendment Coalition

Women in Communications, Inc.

Women and Religion Task Force in Kansas City

Women for Sobriety, Washington Group

Women's Issues Forum, Glendale, Arizona

Women Space (Ohio)

Women's Resources for Action (Washington, D. C.)

Women's Campaign Fund

Women's Caucus for Art/Coalition of Women's Art Organizations

Women's Center of Eastern Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)

Women's Center, University of Tennessee

Women's Information Network (Missouri)

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Women's Ordination Conference of Rhode Island

The Women's Room and Resource Center (Virginia)

box 6: Equal Rights Amendment Information (1972-1981)
folder 1: Statements of Extension and Recision (1977-1978)

Testimony before Senate committee by Rugh Bader Ginsburg, Judith Hertz and Mildred Jeffrey in 1978 statements by Eleanor Smeal, Jan Tyler, and Carol Caston; a memorandum of law prepared by Lippman and Hart; and various fact sheets on the proposed ratification time and proposal to allow recision of approval of the Equal Rights Amendment.

folder 2-6: Judge Marion J. Callister (1979-1981)

Judge Callister, a high ranking LDS Church leader was to sit on the case to decide if the recision of ratification of a constitutional amendment, in this case the Equal Rights Amendment, was legal in the Federal District Court for the District of Idaho. An attempt was made to disqualify him based on his authority in a church so vocal against the ERA Included here are copies of the disqualification motions and orders, 1979-1981; information sheets, press releases and newspaper clippings, 1979-1980; and the NOW Press Kit.

folder 7: Congressional Hearings on ERA (1972-1978)

Statements supporting ERA including rebuttals to Senator Sam Ervin's Minority Report in relation to the Yale Law Journal report on ERA.

folder 8: Speeches and Statements on ERA (1978-1979)

Includes speeches, statements and fact sheets.

folder 9: Reports on ERA

Reports made by the National Organization for Women.

folder 10: Pamphlets

Pamphlets, brochures and flyers in favor of ERA.

folder 11-15: Anti-ERA Information

Includes flyers and newsletters from the Eagle Forum and STOP ERA, statements of Senators Sam Ervin and Orrin G. Hatch, a transcript of the Utah State Senate discussion of the Equal Rights Amendment Rejection Resolution in 1979, and information on the Republican and Democratic Parties' attitudes toward the Equal Rights Amendment.

folder 16: Articles about ERA (1977-1979)
folder 17-21: Newspaper Clippings on ERA (1977-1980)
folder 22: Miscellaneous Information on ERA
box 7: LDS Church Organizations Against ERA
folder 1: Arizona

Information sent by Lou Ann Stoker Dickson about anti-ERA activities carried on in the LDS Churches in Tempe, Arizona, and news-clippings about Mormons in Arizona.

folder 2-3: Florida

Information and financial records on FACT-PAC (Families Are Concerned Today-Political Action Committee), its backing by LDS Church members, and its activities.

folder 4: Missouri

Information, correspondence, flyers about the Missouri Citizen's Council and its connection with the LDS Church.

folder 5-6: Nevada

Letters, articles, and information on the LDS Church's influence on Nevada politics from Renee and Sheldon Rampton, including Renee Rampton's paper "The Role of the Mormon Church in the 1978 Nevada Election."

folder 7-8: Nevada

Articles, statements, and other information on Citizen's Quest for Quality Government, its activities in Nevada, and its connection with the LDS Church.

folder 9-20: Nevada

Clippings, articles, and summary statements on the connection of Nevada Mormons and polictics including materials on Mormons and the ERA, The Mormon Voting Bloc, Beehive, and LDS Church publication and its political role; Ezra Taft Benson; the Conservative Caucus; Karen Hays Campaign; the Holt Campaign; International Women's Year in Nevada; Douglas Wallace; and other miscellaneous items.

folder 21-25: Virginia

Includes correspondence, articles and other information on the LDS Citizen's Coalition, including a typed transcript of the organizational meeting, and much about the coalition's involvement in Virginia politics in opposition to ERA Also included is a pamphlet and flyers on the "Equality Yes! ERA No!" link between the Virginia LDS Citizens Coalition and Phyllis Schlafly's STOP ERA movement, and some miscellaneous information.

folder 26: Miscellaneous States

Information about LDS Church activities against the ERA from California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee.

folder 27: General

Information on LDS Church political activities.

series: MORMONS FOR ERA
box 8: LDS Church and ERA; LDS Church; Women LDS Church and ERA (1975-1981)
folder 1: Meetings with LDS Church Officials (1981)

Sets of notes made by Sonia Johnson and by Jan Tyler on a meeting between Sonia Johnson and Jan Tyler and two members of the LDS General Conference October 3, 1981, made by Gayle Brooks Freeman.

folder 2: Statements and Articles by LDS Church Officials

Letters, press releases, interviews, speeches and other statements by church leaders about the Equal Rights Amendment and the role of women in society.

folder 3: Primary Class Lesson (1975)

Correspondence and information concerning the controversy over a girls' LDS primary lesson about honoring the priesthood.

folder 4-5: Mormons for ERA

Information Statements, articles, and other information about the LDS Church and its role in opposition to the ERA by the Mormons for ERA group.

folder 6: Pusillo Study

Paper by Sally Mercurio Pusill titled "Mormon Children's Present Sex and Future Sex-Role Preferences."

folder 7-17: Articles and Newspaper Clippings (1975-1981)

Including a number of articles by Loneta Murphy, articles pro and anti-ERA, and newspaper clippings from 1975-1981 and undated.

folder 18-22: Articles and Newspaper Clippings (1977-1981)
folder 23: Articles on Women and Religion
folder 24-27: Articles, Papers and Newspaper Clippings on Women (1971-1981)
box 9: Mormons for ERA (1978-1981)
folder 1: Senate Committee Hearing (1978)

Includes Sonia Johnson's travel voucher and testimony, a typed transcript of the hearing, a statement by Sonia Johnson about how she became involved which is partly a journal of events following the testimony, and a supportive statement by Hazel Rigby.

folder 2: Sonia Johnson Biographical Notes (1979)
folder 3-8: Correspondence (1978-1980)

Copies of letters written by Sonia Johnson or other members of the Mormons for ERA central organization about the groups activities, opinions, and business.

folder 9-17: Correspondence (1978-1981)

Letters to state and national legislators from individuals and the Mormons for ERA group, 1978-1979; response from national legislators, 1978-1979; correspondence with the executive branch, 1978-1980; response from Virginia legislators and other state legislators, 1978-1979; and correspondence with representatives of the written and televised media, 1979-1981, and undated.

folder 18-20: Speeches and Statements

Speeches and statements about Mormons for ERA by Jan L. Tyler, Christine Arlene Chapman, James E. Chapman, Shirlie Kaplan, Sheldon Rampton, and Cheryl L. Dalton. Also included are some speeches with no name given.

folder 21: Activities Permits (1978)

Permits for demonstrations on the United States Capitol grounds given to the Mormons for ERA by the United States Capitol Police Board.

folder 22-24: Bellevue, Washington Arrest (1980)

Materials relating to the arrest of Sonia Johnson and twenty other people for chaining themselves to the gates of the L. D. S. Temple in Bellevue. Also included is material about the personal injury suit filed by Marty La-Brasse against the church members in charge of the temple. Included are letters, legal papers, name lists, news letters, press releases, and newspaper clippings.

folder 25: ERA Missionaries in Utah (1981)

Information, including the model program for sending people door-to-door to speak for the ERA in Utah in the same way LDS Church missionaries operate.

folder 26: Southern California Mormons for ERA (1979-1981)

Press releases, newsletters, flyers.

folder 27: Washington Mormons for ERA (1979-1981)

Press releases, newsletters, statements, flyers

folder 28: Ex-Mormons for ERA (1980-1981)

Invitation to join, press release, newspaper story.

Temporarily Restricted.

folder 29-30: Utah Mormons for ERA (1980)

Correspondence, minutes, memoranda.

box 10: Mormons for ERA (1978-1981)
folder 1: By-laws
folder 2: Minutes (1979-1980)
folder 3-4: Name and Address Lists

ERA supporters contact list, media representatives.

folder 5: Press Releases (1978-1981)
folder 6-7: Newsletters (1979-1981)

Copies of newsletters, articles for the newsletter, and name lists.

folder 8-10: Pamphlets

Pro-ERA pamphlets a document to encourage ratification, and Anti-Mormon pamphlets.

folder 11-13: Miscellaneous

Included are flyers, information on Mormons for ERA and a number of feminist songs and poems.

folder 14: Exponent II (1978)

Copy of the , Vol, III, No. 1, September 1976, a newspaper for Mormon Women.

folder 15-17: Articles and Newspaper Clippings (1978-1981)
series: CORRESPONDENCE
box 11: Correspondence-Mormons for ERA, A-H (1979-1981)
folder 1: Name List

Alphabetical list of LDS, Pro-ERA Correspondents from boxes 11, 12 and 13.

folder 2-7: A-D
folder 8-10: Cheryl L. Dalton (1980-1981)
folder 11-14: E-H
folder 15: Susan Hofen (1981)
folder 18-23: Nadine Hansen (1979-1981)
box 12: Correspondence-Mormons for ERA, I-T (1978-1981)
folder 1-8: I-Mu
folder 9: Beatrice Marchant and Byron Marchant (1978-1981)
folder 10: Loneta Murphy (1978-1981)
folder 11-12: N-P
folder 13: Betty Parkinson
folder 14: Alice Allred Pottmyer (1979-1981)
folder 15-18: R-S
folder 19: John Sillito and Linda Sillitoe (1979-1981)
folder 20-22: T
box 13: Correspondence-Mormons for ERA, U-Z; Alienated and Ex-LDS for ERA, A-Z (1978-1981)

LDS Pro ERA.

folder 1: Mary Jean Uebelgunne (1979-1981)
folder 2-3: U-W
folder 4: Bill Washburn (1979-1980)
folder 5-9: Arlene Wood (1979-1981)
folder 10: Teddie Wood (1978-1981)
folder 11: Z
folder 12-14: Multiple Signatures, Unsigned, and Incomplete Signatures
folder 15: Name List
folder 16-17: A-G
folder 18-26: John W. Gitzgerald (1978-1981)
folder 27-31: H-Z, and Unsigned
box 14: Correspondence-Mormons for ERA Alienated and Ex-LDS, Religion
folder 1: Name List
folder 2-3: A-L
folder 4: Grant Mildenhall
folder 5-8: P-T, and Unsigned
box 15: Correspondence-LDS, Anti-ERA (1979)
folder 1: Name List
folder 2-6: A-D
folder 7: Gigl Doty (1979)
folder 8-25: E-Y, Multiple Signatures, Unsigned, and Incomplete Signatures
box 16: Correspondence-Non-LDS, Pro-ERA, A-E
folder 1: Name List
folder 2-20: A-E
box 17: Correspondence-Non-LDS, Pro-ERA, F-K
box 18: Correspondence-Non-LDS, Pro-ERA, L-Re
box 19: Correspondence-Non-LDS, Pro-ERA, Rh-Z
box 20: Correspondence - Non-LDS, Pro-ERA
folder 1-4: Multiple Signatures, Unsigned, Incomplete Signatures
box 21: Correspondence - Non-LDS, Anti-ERA, Non-LDS, Religion
folder 1-6: Non-LDS, Anti-ERA Name List, A - W, Unsigned
folder 7-27: Non-LDS, Relition Name list, A - Z, Multiple Signatures Unsigned, Incomplete Signatures
box 22: Pro-Sonia, Requests for ERA Information
folder 1-6: Pro-Sonia A - W
folder 7-14: Requests for ERA Information A - W
series: SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, SPEECHES AND WRITINGS
box 23: Speaking Engagements (1879-1981)
folder 1: Chronological List (1979-1981)

List of speaking engagements accepted.

folder 2-22: Speaking Engagements (1979-1981)

Correspondence, flyers, information regarding Sonia Johnson's personal appearances.

folder 23: Miscellaneous Information on Personal Appearances
folder 24: Engagements Declined (1979-1981)
folder 25: Speaker's Bureaus

Information and flyers on Sonia Johnson's availability as a speaker through an organization.

folder 26: World Conference of the U. N. Decade for Women (1980)

Correspondence and information about Sonia Johnson's attendance at this conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

box 24: Speeches and Articles (1978-1982)
folder 1: "The Last Great Western Patriarchy" (1982)

Speech given on a panel, on the 10th of February 1982. ERA Referendum Strategies, Washington Institute for Women in Politics, Mt. Vernon College, Washington, D. C.

folder 2: "Patriarchial Panic: Sexual Politics in the Mormon Church" (1979)

Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Meetings, September 1, 1979, New York City; and a summary of the paper.

folder 3: "Off Our Pedestals, or the Chronicles of the Uppity Sisters" (1979)

Speech given at the Utah Women's Conference, October 1979. Included are notes and drafts of the speech.

folder 4: Speeches (1978-1979)

Includes Sonia Johnson's testimony to the Senate Subcommittee in 1978,a speech of the National Organization for Women's Religious Panel in 1978; comments at a "Labor for Equal Rights Now" press conference, 1979; comments at the ERAmerica strategy session, 1979; a speech at the Montana NOW state conference, 1970; a speech at the Alice Louise Reynolds Women's Forum in Provo, Utah in 1979; and some other comments and remarks.

folder 5: Articles by Sonia Johnson (1979-1981)
folder 6: Notes for Speeches and Articles
folder 7-10: Interviews (1979-1981)

Transcripts of interviews of Sonia Johnson; Barbara B. Smith, LDS Relief Society President; and Beverly Campbell of the monetary reward on moral grounds. Included is a letter from Christie Hefner.

box 25: From Housewife to Heretic

A copy of the book is found in the Western Americana.

folder 1-13: Original Draft

No chapter numbers, typed with numerous revisions and inserts.

folder 14-28: Draft

Chapters 1-15, typed with revisions and additions.

box 26: From Housewife to Heretic (1979-1981)
folder 1-14: Draft

Chapters 1-14, photocopy of typescript with revisions and additions.

folder 15: Book Jacket
folder 16: Doubleday Correspondence (1980-1981)

Correspondence, including editor notes and comments, from Doubleday about the publication of .

folder 17: Tape Transcripts

Transcripts of taped material for use in the book with comments by Arlene Wood.

folder 18: Chapter Outlines
folder 19: Autobiography of Sonia Johnson Typescript

Typescript.

folder 20: Story Rights--David M. Jabusch

Correspondence between Jabusch and Sonia Johnson about his article and a copy of the paper he presented to the Speech Communication Association Convention in 1980 titled "Sonia Johnson and the Mormons for ERA Campaign."

folder 21-24: Story Rights--Correspondence (1979-1980)

Letters between Sonia Johnson, Barbara Butler, Susan A. Grade, Sonia Johnson's lawyer, and others concerning the rights to Sonia's story.

series: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
box 27: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 28: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 29: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 30: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 31: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 32: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
box 33: Newspaper Clippings (1978-1982)
series: MISCELLANEOUS
box 34: Daybooks (1978-1981)

Spiral bound steno pads containing phone messages, notes on things to be done, notes for articles or speeches, address and phone numbers.

box 35: Miscellaneous (1980)
folder 1: Religious Roundtable National Affairs Briefing (1980)

Clippings and information about this politically right wing, moral-majority rally and convention in Dallas, Texas 21-22 August 1980. (See also: Speaking Engagements, about Sonia Johnson's speech in Dallas on August 24, 1980.)

folder 2-3: The Far Right Wing

Articles, statements and pamphlets by and about politically right wing and "Moral Majority" groups.

folder 4: Miscellaneous

Includes a cartoon on wage discrimination and an article about resistance movements.

folder 5: Ribbons, Buttons, Badges, and Stickers
folder 6: Interesting Envelopes

Small sampling of envelopes from letters mailed to Sonia Johnson which contain a number of editorial comments, or odd or incomplete addresses which still reached her.

series: ADDENDUM
box 36: Mormons for E.R.A. (1979-1982)
folder 1: By-laws
folder 2: Minutes (1979-1980)
folder 3: Financial Materials
folder 4: Demonstration Slogans
folder 5: Correspondence (1979-1982)
folder 6: Interviews with Beverly Campbell (1980)
folder 7: Marthanne La Brosse v. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Plaintiff's Statement (1981)
folder 8: Judge Marion Callister Incident (1979)
box 37: Mormons for E.R.A. (1980-1981)
folder 1: "The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue -- A Rebuttal"
folder 2: "Coming Through the Confusion"
folder 3: "The Bee Sting -- Mormons for ERA in Southern California (1981)
folder 4-5: Newsletters (1980-1981)
folder 6-7: Various Materials
box 38: Mormons for E.R.A. (1979-1983)
folder 1-12: Newsletter (1979-1983)
folder 13-16: Mailing Lists
folder 17-18: Financial Materials
folder 19-25: Correspondence (1980-1981)
box 39: Mormons for E.R.A.
folder 1-3: Articles Received by Mormons for E.R.A Newsletter
folder 4-6: Articles Sent to Mormons for E.R.A Newsletter
box 40: Mormons for E.R.A. (1982)
folder 1-2: Correspondence (1982)
folder 3: Campaign Brochures
folder 4: Financial Material
folder 5: Campaign Contribution Materials
folder 6: Appointment Calendars
folder 7: Flyers
folder 8: Kathy Webb Campaign Material
folder 9: Anne L. Lang Campaign Material
folder 10: Maureen Rogman Campaign Material (1982)
folder 11: Mary Jean Collins Campaign Material (1982)
folder 12: Carol King Campaign Material (1982)
folder 13: Katie Harris Campaign Material (1982)
folder 14: Jane Wells-Schooley Campaign Material (1982)
folder 15: Judy Goldsmith Campaign Material (1982)
folder 16: Various Campaign Material (1982)
folder 17: Various Material
box 41: E.R.A. Fast (1982)
folder 1-3: Newsclippings
folder 4: Press Releases (1982)
folder 5: Spiritual Services
folder 6-28: Correspondence (1982)
box 42: Personal Correspondence (1973-1980)
box 43: Personal Correspondence (1981-1982)
box 44: Personal Correspondence (1982)
box 45: Personal Correspondence (1982)
box 46: Personal Correspondence (1982-1983)
box 47: Personal Correspondence (1983)
box 48: Personal Correspondence
box 49: Miscellaneous Material (1980-1982)
folder 1: "The Church and the Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue" (1980)
folder 2: Frequently Asked Questions About the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Closer Look
folder 3: "The Utah Papers: A Diary"
folder 4: "The Role of Women in the Modern Mormon Church" (1982)
folder 5-6: "A Woman's Place" (1980)
folder 7: "Mormon Anti-E.R.A. Rhetoric: An Exercise in Piety" (1981)
folder 8: "How Two Major Salt Lake City Dailies Covered the Sonia Johnson Controversy" (1981)
folder 9: "Sonia Johnson and the Mormons for E.R.A. Campaign" (1980)
folder 10: "Mormons for E.R.A. -- Speaking Freely?"
folder 11: "The Church and the Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue"
folder 12: "Risk of Freedom"
folder 13: "Introduction at Focus on Women Conference" (1982)
folder 14: "Behind the Zion Curtain"
folder 15: "Delilah at the Pillars: Being an Acount of the Celebrated Case of Sonia Johnson"
folder 16: "A Moral Issue" (1980)
folder 17: "Equality Versus the Equal Rights Amendment"
folder 18: "The Cult of Mormonism"
folder 50: Miscellaneous Material (1979-1982)
folder 1-6: Interviews with Sonia Johnson (1979-1982)
folder 7: Address Johnson gave at NAWR Conference in Boston (1981)
folder 8-9: Congressional Union Materials
folder 10: Correspondence Regarding Grants Given to Mormons for E.R.A. (1980)
folder 11: World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women, Copenhagen (1980)

Correspondence

folder 12-15: World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women, Copenhagen (1980)

Various Materials

folder 16: Various Material

Biographical Note/Historical Note +/-

Sonia Ann Harris was born on 27 February 1936 in Malad City, Idaho, to Alvin and Ida Howell Harris. Her childhood was spent in Preston, Idaho, until the family moved to Logan, Utah, in 1948. She was raised a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormon Church). After graduation from Logan High School in 1954 Sonia worked in a bank until she entered Utah State University in January 1955. She received her B.A. in English in 1958. Sonia and Richard Theodore Johnson were married 21 August 1959. In February 1960 the Johnsons moved to Apia, Western Samoa where they both taught English for a year. They returned to Minneapolis where Sonia did graduate work at the University of Minnesota toward her master's degree. For two years of that time she was also a graduate assistant in the English Department. They moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where Sonia received her master's and Ed.D. degrees from Rutgers University. In 1965 the Johnsons and their two children went to Lagos, Nigeria, where Sonia spent two years as head of testing at the American International School. From Nigeria, they went to Palo Alto, California, for two years, where Sonia had another baby, then on to Malawi where Sonia taught for two years at the University of Malawi. After a brief stay in California the Johnsons and their three children went to Korea, where Sonia taught diplomats, their wives, and servicemen through the University of Maryland extension. She was also a visiting professor at Seoul University. After spending almost a year in Western Malaysia, where Sonia had a fourth child, they returned to Califronia in 1974 and finally settled in Sterling, Virginia, in 1976. Sonia spent one year working through the federal Office of Education then became an adjunct professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Virginia. Sonia Johnson began speaking out as a Mormon for Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1977. Her first national exposure was following her August 1978 testimony in front of the Senate Constitutional Rights Subcommittee where she came into conflict with Utah's junior Senator, Orrin Hatch. She continued speaking and promoting the Equal Rights Amendment and denouncing what she perceived to be her church's political activities against the amendment. Sonia's August 1979 speech in Kalispell, Montana, to their National Organization for Women convention, the September 1979 paper given to the American Psychological Association, and an October 1979 speech at the University of Utah culminated in her call to an LDS Bishop's Court in November 1979. After a well-publicized trial on December first, Sonia was officially excommunicated from the LDS Church on 5 December 1979. The decision was affirmed by a Church High Council Court on 6 April 1980. Sonia continued her promotion of the Equal Rights Amendment as president of the national Mormons for ERA group. She spoke at numerous functions throughout the country and appeared on a number of television talk shows, including the Phil Donahue program. In 1981 her book From Housewife to Heretic about her embrace of feminism was published. In 1982 Sonia Johnson made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of the National Organization for Women. She still continues to be active in promoting feminist issues and women's rights.

Content Description +/-

The bulk of the collection is concerned with Mrs. Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the group "Mormons for ERA" between the years 1978 and 1982. There is a small amount of personal material, mainly family correspondence, included with the collection and dated between 1958 and 1982.

The thirty-five boxes containing the collection have been divided into six major categories. The first, consisting of three boxes is personal material. Included are chronologically arranged family letters. The other portion of the personal material deals with her excommunication trial including an alphabetical file of letters written by supporters of Mrs. Johnson to officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Four boxes comprise category two which contains information on the Equal Rights Amendment. Included are alphabetically filed letters from organizations supporting the amendment; information on extension, revision, and ratification; and organizations of the LDS Church opposing ERA and filed by state.

Within the three boxes in the third category are filed materials dealing with the Mormons for ERA groups. Included are articles and clippings about the LDS Church and its reaction to the Equal Rights Amendment, correspondence, speeches, activities, and information by and about state Mormons for ERA. Bylaws, press releases, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings are also included.

Even though the correspondence in the twelve boxes comprising the fourth category was sent to Sonia Johnson, much of it is closely tied to the Mormons for ERA organization. The correspondence has been divided into these nine subject areas: LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and Ex-LDS, Pro-ERA; Alienated and ex-LDS, Religion; LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Pro-ERA; Non-LDS, Anti-ERA; Non-LDS, Religion; Pro-Sonia; and Requests for ERA Information. Each subject area has a list of names included.

Category five contains four boxes of material on speeches and articles. Included is correspondence arranging various speaking engagements organized chronologically by date of engagement, and a number of speeches and articles by Sonia Johnson. Also included are the drafts, correspondence and other information connected with herbook From Housewife to Heretic published In 1981.

The miscellaneous category included seven boxes of newspaper clippings dated from 1978 to 1982 with the bulk falling between November 1979 and January 1980 gleaned from newspapers all over the country. Also included in this section are eight daybooks kept by Mrs. Johnson and other miscellaneous information.

Collection Use +/-

Restrictions on Access:

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Preferred Citation:

Initial Citation:, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations:.

Administrative Information +/-

Arrangement:

Organized into eight series: I. Personal; II. Equal Rights Amendment; III. Mormons for ERA; IV. Correspondence; V. Speaking Engagements, Speeches and Writings; VI. Newspaper Clippings; VII. Miscellaneous; VIII. Addendum

Acquisition Information:

Donated by Sonia Johnson, David M. Jabush, and Linda Sillito in 1981

Processing Note:

Processed by Marlene Lewis in 1982, 2006 and 2010.

Creator:

Johnson, Sonia

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

21.75 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid created by Marlene Lewis

EAD Creation Date:

2006

Subarea:

Manuscripts Division

Subjects +/-

Corporate Names:

Mormons for E.R.A.

Subject Terms:

Women and religion
Mormon women--United States--History--Sources
Feminism--United States
Women's rights--United States
Equal rights amendments--United States--History--Sources
Mormon Church--Political activity

Form or Genre Terms:

Correspondence
Articles
Reports
Clippings
Press releases
Audiocassettes
Videocassettes

you wish to report:
Your comment:
Your Name:
...
Select the collections to add or remove from your search
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
 
OK