Lesley C. Doonan activist files (Ms.2019.001)

This collection consists of the activist files of Lesley C. Doonan, social justice feminist and founding member of the Women's Liberation Union of Rhode Island. The collection documents Doonan's participation in various feminist organizations including the National Conference on Women, the Rhode Island Abortion Counseling Service and the Women's Liberation Union of Rhode Island. Materials include correspondence, conference material, clippings, legal files, and print materials, dating from 1968-2003. The collection is arranged into 4 series.

Series I, NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE FILES, 1976-1978, documents Doonan's participation as a Rhode Island delegate to the National Women's Conference held in Houston, Texas in 1978. Files include newsletters, plans of action, the conference program, and state and national reports. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, RHODE ISLAND ABORTION COUNSELING SERVICE FILES, 1970-1973, documents the lawsuit to found the organization and other establishing documents. Files include articles of incorporation, correspondence, information packets for patients, and legal files. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 3, WOMEN'S LIBERATION UNION OF RHODE ISLAND FILES, 1969-2003, documents the founding of the organization and political actions supported by the union.

The Women's Liberation Union of Rhode Island formed in 1969 by a group of women concerned with improving the status of women in society. In the beginning, many members were affiliated with Brown University as faculty and/or staff, but over time, the organization expanded to include a diverse community of women from across Rhode Island.

The union used various means to achieve their goals, including lawsuits, organized protests, leafletting, and working with other agencies to promote women's issues. Topics for which the union fought included equal pay for equal work, maternity leave, availability of contraceptives, repeal of abortion laws, the establishment of rape crisis centers, self-defense classes, and a ban on men-only bars. The organization continued to exist until at least 2003.

Series 3 includes articles of association, charters, correspondence, political action and legal case files, and a rich collection of organizational newsletters that describe the Union's work and current events affecting women. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, OTHER PRINT MATERIAL, 1968-1981, contains booklets, newsletters and other published material. Notable titles include Our Bodies Our Selves (1971); Birth Control Handbook (unknown date); Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center Newsletter (1979); Women: A Journal of Liberation (1969-1972), and New Times: Feature News Magazine containing a cover story regarding Vincent "Buddy" Cianci rape allegations. The magazine is inscribed and signed by Cianci, possibly in an act of intimidation. Series 4 is arranged alphabetically by title.