Missoula Women for Peace

Missoula Women for Peace was founded in 1970 by a group of women, mostly mothers, who were concerned about escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The group actively campaigned to end the military draft and against U.S. war policy. Missoula Women for Peace became a branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom in 1981. Three years later the organization proposed a bill to the Montana State Legislature calling for a statue of Jeannette Rankin to accompany that of Charles M. Russell in the U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall. Despite contentious legislative debate over Ms. Rankin’s wartime votes, the bill passed both houses and was signed by Governor Ted Schwinden. Missoula Women for Peace continued its involvement throughout the process of organizing the statue dedication ceremonies. The organization is also known for multiple donations to the Missoula Children’s Library and an annual April 15th bake sale intended to inform the public about the proportion of tax dollars dedicated to military expenditures and international espionage.

From the guide to the Missoula Women for Peace Records on the Jeanette Rankin Statue, 1983-1988, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

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