Elms, Patrice I., 1943-

Activist in behalf of women's rights issues in Michigan, officer in the American Association of University Women, treasurer of the People's Campaign for Choice (reproductive rights) ballot issue.

From the description of Patrice I. Elms papers, 1972-1997 (bulk 1987-1992) (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 79152870

Patrice I. Elms has championed women's rights issues in Michigan since the early 1980s. Elms, who resides in Marshall, Michigan, has held numerous offices with state women's associations. She has been president of her town chapter of the American Association for University Women (AAUW), state legislative chairwoman for the same organization, treasurer of the People's Campaign for Choice (reproductive rights) ballot question committee, and a lobbyist for women's pay equity. She is currently (1999) the president of the Michigan Women's Assembly, the statewide umbrella group for women's rights organizations.

Elms cites the failure of the Equal Rights Amendment as the catalyst of her political career. Elms was also active in the Marshall chapter of the AAUW, eventually becoming elected president and then moving on to become the organization's state legislative chairwoman. Elms vehemently lobbied state lawmakers on the subjects of education reform and abortion rights. She became the treasurer of People's Campaign for Choice in 1987, a referendum petition drive created to place a proposal on the November 1988 ballot to rescind Public Act 59 of 1987 which banned Medicaid-funded abortions. The group organized a petition drive to collect enough signatures to get the question placed on the ballot and raised funds to educate the public on the issue of reproductive health, reproductive rights and economic equity.

Elms received her bachelor's and master's degrees at Michigan State University and was an elementary educator for five years before entering state politics.

From the guide to the Patrice I. Elms Papers, 1972-1997, 1987-1992, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)