Hoffman, Merle, 1946-

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1946-03-06

Biographical notes:

Publisher/editor-in-chief of On The Issues magazine and founder/president of both Choices Women's Medical Center, Inc., and Choices Mental Health Center.

From the description of Papers, 1960-1999 and n.d. (bulk 1977-1990). (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 46719304

1946 Mar. 6 Born, Philadelphia, Pa. 1964 Graduated, LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts 1971 With Dr. Martin Gold, founded Choices Women's Medical Center, New York City; President 1972 B.A., Queens College, New York City 1972 1975 Enrolled in doctoral program in social psychology, City University of New York 1976 First president of the National Association of Abortion Facilities (NAAF) 1979 Married to Martin Gold 1982 Founded On the Issues magazine 1985 Founded New York Pro-Choice Coalition

Merle Hoffman is an abortion rights activist and the publisher of the feminist magazine On The Issues . Hoffman has been active in many national and New York City pro-choice organizations, including the National Association of Abortion Facilities, the New York Pro-Choice Coalition, and the National Coalition of Abortion Providers .

Historical Note

Choices Women's Medical Center is a feminist women's health clinic and a major abortion provider in New York City. It was among the first outpatient abortion facilities in the United States. Originally operating under the name Flushing Women's Medical Center, the clinic was founded in 1971 as an ambulatory abortion provider for Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP). It gradually expanded into other areas of women's health and, during the 1990s, into women's mental health. By the mid-1990s, the clinic was serving over 50,000 patients per year, and Hoffman has described it as one of the largest women's health facilities in the U.S.

From the guide to the Merle Hoffman Papers, circa 1944-2012 and undated, bulk 1961-2000, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)