Steinem, Gloria, 1934-

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Gloria Steinem, late 1960's

Gloria Steinem was born on March 25, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio to Leo Steinem and Ruth Nuneviller Steinem, the second of their two children (Suzanne Steinem was born in 1925). She grew up in Toledo and Clark Lake, Michigan, where the family ran a summer resort. Leo and Ruth divorced in 1945, and, with Suzanne away at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, eleven-year-old Gloria assumed responsibility for the care of her mother, who was increasingly vulnerable to mental illness. For a short time Gloria lived with Suzanne, by that time employed in Washington, D.C., completing her senior year at Western High School in Georgetown.

In 1952, Steinem followed Suzanne to Smith College. After her 1956 graduation, Steinem received a Chester Bowles post-graduate fellowship to spend two years studying and writing in India, where she absorbed grass roots organizing skills from followers of Gandhi. In 1960 she moved to New York City where she worked for Help! magazine and wrote freelance for Life, Esquire, Glamour, and many other newspapers and magazines. Steinem co-founded New York magazine in 1968 and served as its political columnist until 1972. She was active in various civil rights and peace campaigns in the 1960s and 70s, including United Farmworkers, Vietnam War Tax Protest, and Committee for the Legal Defense of Angela Davis. She also participated in the political campaigns of Adlai Stevenson, Robert Kennedy, Shirley Chisholm, and many others.

Steinem came to the Women's Movement in 1969, after she attended a meeting of the Redstockings during which women shared their experiences with abortion. Her consciousness raised, she began speaking to audiences across the country, often paired with African-American activist Dorothy Pitman Hughes, and later Florynce Kennedy and Margaret Sloan. In 1971, Steinem, with others, founded Ms. magazine, and since that time, Steinem has devoted her career to writing, editing, fund-raising, and publicity on behalf of Ms, its allied organizations (e.g. the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Free to Be Foundation) and the women's movement more generally. A collection of her Ms. articles and other work was published in a best selling book, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983). She published Marilyn in 1986, Revolution from Within in 1992, and Moving Beyond Words in 1994. In 1986, Steinem became a contributing correspondent for the Today Show, doing interviews and features. Other organizing activities include the founding of the Ms. Foundation for Women, The National Women's Political Caucus, Voters for Choice, The Women's Action Alliance, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. She has lectured extensively and received numerous writing awards, including the Front Page, Clarion, and Penney- Missouri journalism awards. Bloomfield College, Simmons College, Smith College, the University of Toledo, and Hobart and William Smith College have awarded Steinem honorary degrees.

Two book-length biographies of Steinem have appeared to date: Carolyn Heilbrun, The Education of a Woman: The Life of Gloria Steinem (1995); and Sydney Stern, Gloria Steinem: Her Passions, Politics and Mystique (1997).

From the guide to the Gloria Steinem Papers MS 237., 1940 - 2000 [ongoing], (Sophia Smith Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Letty Cottin Pogrebin Papers MS 294., 1955-2011 (ongoing) Sophia Smith Collection
contributorOf 10/02/1977 - Joint Speech w/ GMS (Gloria Steinem) California Dental Association, San Francisco, [Not yet open but can be added to the Review Queue] Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Gloria Steinem Papers MS 237., 1940 - 2000 [ongoing] Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Steinem, Gloria EDX 25 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Amy Richards Papers MS 702., 1995-2012 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Dori Jacobson's Women's Rights Portfolio MS 279., 1977-1986 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Additional records, 1972-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Robin Morgan papers, 1940s-2010 and undated, bulk 1970-2000 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Oral History Interviews of the Women's Action Organization, 1974-1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards. 1893 - 2008. Photographs of Meetings, Activities, and the National Women's Conference National Archives at College Park
contributorOf NEW YORK, NEW YORK INTERVIEW GLORIA STEINEM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Voices of Feminism Oral History Project MS 535., 1990-2006 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Photographs Used to Illustrate the Report, "Spirit of Houston: The First National Women's Conference", 1977 - 1978 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Phyllis Rosser Papers MS 297., 1976-2009 (ongoing) Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Arthur Unger collection of recorded interviews [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn [Videotape collection] [videorecording], 1984-1990 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn J. Walter Thompson Company. Iconographic Collection, 1848-2005 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Women's Action Alliance Records MS 363., 1970 - 1996 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Ms. Foundation For Women Records MS 583., 1973-2008 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Papers, 1908-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Maren Lockwood Carden papers, 1969-1979 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, (inclusive), (bulk), 1955-1990, 1972-1990 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Women's Liberation Collection MS 408., 1959-2006, 1966-78 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, (inclusive), (bulk), 1893-1983, 1943-1983 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the National Organization for Women, 1959-2002 (inclusive), 1966-1998 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Slide Presentation, ca. 1975 - ca. 1978 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Victoria Ocampo papers, 1908-1979. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of NOW officers, 1969-1976 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Photographs, ca. 1969-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Gloria Steinem National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Focus on Women. Videotapes, 1983-1993 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Organization for Women: New York City Chapter Records Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Democratic Socialists of America Audiocassette Collection, 1976-1996 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Papers of Florynce Kennedy, (inclusive), (bulk), 1915-2004, 1947-1993 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Voters for Choice Records MS 461., 1977-2002 (ongoing) Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Papers of Gerda Lerner, 1924-2006 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn General Records of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 1931 - 2003. Main Photographic Print File of the Department of Housing and Urban Development National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
contributorOf 10/03/1977 - Joint Speech with Gloria Steinem, College of Marin, [Not yet open but can be added to the Review Queue] Gerald R. Ford Library
contributorOf CAMPAIGN 72--DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn New York Times Company records. A.M. Rosenthal papers, 1955-1994, 1967-1986 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Phyllis Chesler Papers, 1968-1990 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn East, Catherine Shipe. Papers of Catherine Shipe East. 1941-1995 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn David Dinkins Papers, 1941-2001, [Bulk Dates: 1985-1993]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Videotape collection of the National Organization for Women. 1977-1988. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woman Alive! Videotapes and program books, 1974-1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn She's Nobody's Baby collection, 1980-1987 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith 9 to 5: National Association of Working Women (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Abzug, Bella S., 1920- person
associatedWith BARBARA DEMING, 1917-1984 person
associatedWith Carden, Maren Lockwood person
associatedWith Catherine East, 1916-1996 person
associatedWith Chesler, Phyllis person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Socialists of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Diana Mara Henry person
associatedWith Dinkins, David N. person
associatedWith Feigen, Brenda person
associatedWith Fonda, Jane, 1937- person
associatedWith Frances Arick Kolb person
associatedWith Galbraith, John Kenneth, 1908- person
correspondedWith GERDA LERNER, 1920- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Hughes, Dorothy Pitman person
associatedWith Jacobson, Dori person
associatedWith Jacqueline Bernard person
associatedWith J. Walter Thompson Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Kennedy, Florynce person
associatedWith Kennedy, Florynce, 1916- person
associatedWith Millett, Kate person
associatedWith Monroe, Marilyn, 1926-1962 person
associatedWith Mordeca Jane Pollock, 1941- person
associatedWith Morgan, Robin person
associatedWith Ms. corporateBody
associatedWith Ms. Foundation for Women corporateBody
associatedWith Ms. Foundation for Women (U. S.) person
associatedWith National Abortion Rights Action League corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women person
associatedWith National Organization for Women. New York City. corporateBody
associatedWith National Women's Political Caucus corporateBody
associatedWith New York journal title corporateBody
associatedWith NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund corporateBody
correspondedWith Ocampo, Victoria, 1891- person
associatedWith Pogrebin, Letty Cottin person
associatedWith Richards, Amy, 1970- person
associatedWith Rosenthal, A. M. (Abraham Michael), 1922-2006 person
associatedWith Rosser, Phyllis person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Smith College corporateBody
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Unger, Arthur person
associatedWith Voters for Choice family
associatedWith Voters for Choice (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Action Alliance corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Action Organization corporateBody
associatedWith Women USA (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Wonder Woman Foundation corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Toledo OH US
India-Social life and customs-20th century
Subject
Abortion
Feminists
Pornography
Pro-choice movement
Women in politics
Women journalists
Women's rights
Occupation
Journalists
Writer
Activity

Person

Birth 1934-03-25

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6kb62d1

SNAC ID: 39926640