Guide to the Ellen Chesler papers, 1965-2019

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2023

Collection Overview

Title:	Ellen Chesler papers
Date range:	1965-2019
Creator:	Chesler, Ellen
Extent:	25 linear feet (25 record center cartons and 1 oversize folder)
Abstract:	This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Ellen Chesler, scholar and women's rights advocate who is respected for the work she does with gender and public policy in areas of government, philanthropy, and think tanks. She is also well known for her landmark text, Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America. Materials date from 1965 to 2019 and include clippings, correspondence, handwritten notes, research materials, speeches, and drafts related to both Chesler's professional work and volunteerism.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	MS.2020.002

Scope & content

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Ellen Chesler, scholar and women's rights advocate who is respected for the work she does with gender and public policy in areas of government, philanthropy, and think tanks. She is also well known for her landmark text, "Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America." Materials date from 1965 to 2019 and include clippings, correspondence, handwritten notes, research materials, speeches, and drafts related to both Chesler's professional work and volunteerism.

The collection is arranged into 6 series and 17 subseries that follow Chesler's career and volunteerism. Please note that materials within each series may date before or after Chesler's actual dates of involvement.

Series 1, PERSONAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, 1971-2019, includes personal and job search related correspondence, correspondence and files regarding the births of Chesler's son and daughter, drafts of Chesler's master's thesis and Ph.D. dissertation, and planners. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles, the processor created all other folder titles. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, 1965-2017, contains materials related to Chesler's work on the Carol Bellamy, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton political campaigns; at the Twentieth Century Fund, Open Society Institute, Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, and the Roosevelt Institute; and her teaching as various institutions of higher education. This series is arranged into 8 subseries listed chronologically according to when Chesler was affiliated with each organization. Please note that materials within each series may date before or after Chesler's actual dates of involvement.

Series 2, subseries 1, CAROL BELLAMY CAMPAIGNS AND WORK, 1972-2005, includes clippings, correspondence, and speeches related to Chesler's service as Carol Bellamy's Chief of Staff from 1978-1983. Materials document Carol Bellamy's tenure as New York State Senator (1972-1977), and her run for and tenure as New York City Council President (1978-2004). Of particular note is the speech and related materials regarding the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Bellamy was one of only three women elected to the New York State Senate in 1972, and she became the first woman ever elected to any city or statewide office in New York in 1977. Additional materials related to this period in Chesler's career reside in the New York City Municipal Archives. The Carol Bellamy papers (MSS 71 MSS.071) reside in the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, subseries 3, TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND, 1970-1997, includes correspondence and research materials from Chesler's work as a Senior Fellow at the Twentieth Century Fund. Research files regard childcare, healthcare, and settlement houses, among other topics. The Twentieth Century Fund, now known as The Century Fund, is one of the oldest public policy research institutes in the country. Additional materials related to this period in Chesler's career reside in The Century Foundation Archives. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, subseries 4, OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE, 1992-2013, documents Chesler's tenure as a Senior Fellow and Program Director at the institute and includes annual reports, clippings, conference material, and research files. Items primarily regard Chesler's work on reproductive justice and address Mifepristone medical abortion and emergency contraception. The Open Society Institute, now known as Open Society Foundations, was founded by George Soros in approximately 1993. It financially supports civil society groups around the world with the aim of advancing justice, education, public health and independent media. Additional materials related to this period in Chesler's career reside in the Open Society Archives in Budapest, Hungary. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, subseries 5, ROOSEVELT HOUSE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE AT HUNTER COLLEGE, 1985-2011, includes correspondence, conference materials, handwritten notes, research materials, and meeting materials related to Chesler's work as Distinguished Lecturer and Director for the Eleanor Roosevelt Initiative on Women and Public Policy. Topics include the Aspen Leadership Series and the Faculty Seminar on Public Policy. Roosevelt House is a public policy institute honoring Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Its mission is to educate students in public policy and human rights, to support faculty research, and to foster creative dialogue. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, subseries 6, ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE, 2008-2017, includes correspondence, clippings, and readings related to Chesler's on-going work as Senior Fellow. Of particular note are the materials on Women and Girls Rising, a book edited by Chesler and Terry McGovern. The Roosevelt Institute is a think tank and campus network that works to move the country toward a new economic and political system, "one built by many for the good of all." The Roosevelt Institute is the nonprofit partner to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY, that also hosts several events, including the Four Freedoms Awards and the Distinguished Public Service Awards. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, subseries 7, TEACHING, 1990-2009, includes readings, handwritten and typed notes, and syllabi, related to courses Chesler taught at various institutions. Of particular note are the files for "Becoming Equal: Women in Public Policy since the 1960s," taught at Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by course title.

Series 3, WOMAN OF VALOR AND OTHER WRITINGS, 1971-2018, includes correspondence, drafts, and research materials related to Chesler's published works. Note that during this time in her career, Chesler took leave from her day jobs in order to write while she also taught part-time at Barnard College. This series is arranged into 5 subseries.

Series 3, subseries 1, ADMINISTRATIVE, 1974-2007, includes clippings, correspondence, and film adaptation materials, related to the publication, promotion, and reprinting of Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 3, subseries 2, DRAFTS, circa 1992, contains typed and annotated drafts of Woman of Valor. This subseries is arranged chronologically by book chapter.

Series 3, subseries 3, RESEARCH BY BOOK SECTION, 1974-2007, contains handwritten notes, clippings, readings, and photocopied archival materials from other archives. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged chronologically by chapter.

Series 3, subseries 4, RESEARCH ABOUT PEOPLE, circa 1975-1996, contains handwritten notes, clippings, readings, and photocopied archival materials from other archives. People include Abraham Stone, Emma Goldman, Mary Calderone, and Margaret Sanger. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by person's name. Note that dates reflected in this series document the period when Chesler collected this research material as opposed to the life/death dates of Chesler's research subjects.

Series 3, subseries 5, RESEARCH BY TOPIC, 1971-2006, contains handwritten notes, clippings, readings, and photocopied archival materials from other archives. Topics include birth control, birth control clinics, eugenics, marriage, Planned Parenthood, and World War II. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by topic. Note that dates reflected in this series document the period when Chesler collected this research material as opposed to the dates related to Chesler's research subjects.

Series 3, subseries 6, OTHER WRITINGS, 1992-2018, contains newspaper and magazine articles written by Chesler, as well as research for an uncompleted book about Betty Friedan and related correspondence. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, VOLUNTEERISM, 1987-2013, documents Chesler's career as a volunteer and includes clippings, correspondence, conference materials, and handwritten notes created by Chesler through her work with the Parks Council, International Women's Health Coalition, United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, and Planned Parenthood. This series is arranged chronologically into 4 subseries by organization. Please note that materials within each series may date before or after Chesler's actual dates of involvement.

Series 4, subseries 1, CLINTON RELATED MATERIALS, 1965-2004, includes correspondence, clippings, and speeches related to Chesler's contributions to the Bill Clinton and Al Gore presidential campaign and Hillary Clinton's term as New York State Senator. Folder titles listed in quotations are Chesler's original folder titles; the processor created all other folder titles. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, subseries 2, PARKS COUNCIL, 1987-2007, includes clippings, correspondence, and exhibit materials documenting Chesler's time as a board member on the Parks Council. Now known as New Yorkers for Parks, this organization conducts research and develops policy recommendations related to park development, management, and sustainability. Note that materials related to Chesler's successful advocacy for adding monuments to women in Central Park is not yet included in the collection. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, subseries 3, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH COALITION, 1991-2011, includes informational packets, annual reports, booklets, and conference materials from Chesler's term as a board member and board chair. The International Women's Health Coalition is a non-governmental organization founded in 1984 and based in New York City. It focuses on issues relating to women and girls' human rights, health, and equality. The Coalition is one of the oldest currently active global feminist groups. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, subseries 4, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, 1995-2010, includes conference and meeting materials, correspondence, readings, and handwritten notes from Chesler's terms as a member of the United States delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women in 2010, 2011, and 2013. Of particular note are the materials related to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly described as an international bill of rights for women. The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Commission promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series 4, subseries 5, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, 2005-2013, includes correspondence, clippings, fundraising and Leadership Council packets, and Second Century campaign materials gathered from Chesler's service as a board member, chair of the nominating committee, and member of the Global Advisory Board. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 5, OVERSIZE MATERIALS, circa 1993, contains a drawing of Margaret Sanger, a drawing of the woman symbol with a note from Nataya Friedan, a poster from a commencement forum, and posters from the Lawyers Committee to End the [Vietnam] War (an organization in which Chesler's husband, Matthew Mallow, was a member). This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, COMPUTER DISKS, AUDIO RECORDINGS, AND VIDEO RECORDINGS Disks, Audio Recordings and Video Recordings, 1991-2009, contains 5" floppy discs, 3.5" discs, audio cassettes, DVDs, and VHS tapes. Topics include "A Century of Women," "Sex in the 20th Century," Woman of Valor, and interviews related to Woman of Valor. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by title on the carrier.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Bellamy, Carol, 1942-
• Clinton, Hillary Rodham
• Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966

Subject Organizations

• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.
• Feminist Theory Archive.
• Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
• International Women's Health Coalition
• Open Society Institute
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
• United Nations. Commission on the Status of Women

Subject Topics

• Feminist theory
• Abortion--Government policy--United States.
• Abortion--Political aspects--United States
• Abortion--United States.
• Birth control clinics--United States.
• Birth control--Government policy--United States.
• Birth control--History.
• Mifepristone--Research.
• Reproductive rights
• Sex discrimination against women
• Women -- Government policy.
• Women philanthropists.
• Women -- Political activity
• Women in politics

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 6 series and 17 subseries.

Biographical/Historical Note

Ellen Chesler is currently a Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute where she focuses on women's rights and reproductive health in the United States and abroad. She earned her A.B. magna cum laude in History from Vassar College, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in History from Columbia University.

Trained as an historian, Chesler has spent the majority of her professional life in government, philanthropy and think-tanks and is widely respected for the practical and intellectual perspectives she brings to gender and public policy.

Chesler served as Chief of Staff for New York City Council President Carol Bellamy from 1978-1983. Beginning in 1985, Chesler researched and wrote the landmark text, Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America, published in 1992. From 1992-1996, Chesler was a Senior Fellow at the Twentieth Century Fund where she developed and edited books and papers and managed programs on public policy.

From 1997-2006, Chesler was a Senior Fellow and Program Director at George Soros' Open Society Institute. There, she helped launch a national electronic advocacy network and a robust web presence for Planned Parenthood; supported the development of Plan B emergency contraception; and supported Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone as an early option for pregnancy termination, among many other accomplishments. During this time, Chesler also served as a board member for the International Women's Health Coalition and began serving on the board for Planned Parenthood.

In 2007, Chesler joined the Roosevelt House at Hunter College as Distinguished Lecturer and Director for the Eleanor Roosevelt Initiative on Women and Public Policy. Before leaving this role in 2010, Chesler created a strategic fundraising plan, developed a Macaulay Honors College course on women and public policy, and led an interdisciplinary Hunter College faculty seminar on public policy issues addressing equal opportunity, social justice, and human rights. In 2011, Chesler became Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute where she edited Women and Girls Rising: Progress and resistance around the world, and where she continues to work today.

Chesler is married to Matthew Mallow, a New York lawyer, Brown University graduate with the class of 1964, honorary doctorate recipient, and member of the Corporation. They have two children, Jonathan Mallow, Yale University class of 2000, and Elizabeth Mallow, Brown University class of 2002, and two grandsons.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the John Hay Library are requested to complete a Notice of Intent to Publish, prior to reproducing, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Ellen Chesler papers, Ms.2020.002, Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Ellen Chesler beginning in 2019.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Amanda Knox, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-01-13.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Curatorial work and processing provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Related material:

Additional materials related to Ellen Chesler's professional and volunteer work can be found at the following institutions: New York City Municipal Archives The Carol Bellamy papers, New York University The Century Foundation Archives Open Society Archives Roosevelt Institute Archives at the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park

Inventory

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