Call Number:

3743

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

1.0 linear feet (; 3 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [indicate cited item or series here], Girls Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania records (Collection 3743), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1976-1998 (inclusive)

Abstract:

The Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania was an advocacy group for girls and women that was active in the Philadelphia area from 1980-2001. The organization worked to promote the self-esteem and visibility of young girls as leaders through hosting conferences and forums covering various issues that included the education of girls, mother-daughter relationships, and girls in sports. Reports of these conferences were published and distributed nationally, impacting the advocacy and study of girls. The Coalition also established the annual Estey Award, named after one of the founding members that recognized the achievements of girls and programs in the community that promoted the self-esteem and leadership of girls. The collection consists mainly of the records of the board of directors as well as materials pertaining to the conferences and Estey Awards sponsored by the coalition.

In 1976, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) granted funds for the formation of a Girls’ Coalition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, advocating for the needs of girls and the agencies serving girls. When the funds for the Coalition were discontinued, Judith Helder, Carole Ruffin, Dagmar McGill, Helen Faust, Anna Bolton, Janet Hartman, and Margaret Estey, board members from the Coalition, joined together to form a new incorporated 501c3 organization, the Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania . Their goal was to improve the quality of life for all girls in the region by increasing awareness for the unique needs of girls, supporting the development of programs and services appropriate for those needs, and encouraging collaboration among all individuals and groups interested in issues of vital concern to girls and women. The board members and staff worked to meet these goals on an entirely volunteer basis. Margaret Estey served as the first chair of the board of directors from 1980 to 1982. In 1987, an annual award was established in her honor, recognizing individuals and organizations that promote the self-esteem and leadership of young women. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania continues to issue annual Estey Awards for girls 14-18 in her memory. Helen Faust, who served as board chair from 1986-1988 and again from 1991-1992, authored the reports of the conferences sponsored by the Coalition, which were distributed nationally and contributed to the study of girls. Other board presidents included Betty Salner (1983-1984), Janet Hartman (1985), Vera Demchenko (1989-1990), Dagmar McGill (1993-1995), Fran Carter (1996-1998), and Caroline Estey King (2000-2001). The Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania was dissolved in 2001, with three of the founding members declaring they had accomplished their mission to bring the advocacy and needs of girls to national attention.

The Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania records document the original Girls Coalition dating form 1976-1979 as well as the Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania from 1980-1998. The materials chiefly relate to the various activities of the Board of Directors and the conferences and forums sponsored by the organization but also include programs and nominations for the Estey Awards and literature and publications produced by the Girls’ Coalition and other girl’s advocacy groups. The collection is arranged chronologically in three boxes.

Materials in the collection include articles of incorporation for the Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania (1980); Board of Directors minutes, reports, and correspondence (1980-1998); documents relating to conferences, forums, and film viewings hosted by the Coalition (1980-1998); reports of conferences: “Girls: Are We Failing Them?” (1980), “Girls: Do They Play Enough?” (1984), “Mother Daughter Relationships and Their Significance for Female Development” (1988), and “Educating Girls for the 21st Century” (1991); correspondence (1980-1998); literature published by the Coalition and other girl’s advocacy groups (1980-1998);and Estey Awards nomination materials and ceremony programs (1987-1998).

This collection provides valuable information relating to feminism and women’s advocacy in late twentieth century America.