Donna Novak Coles papers

Collection

Identifier: W010

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Papers

The Donna Novak Coles papers, organized in two series, consists of manuscript materials (notes, correspondence, news clippings, printed materials and publications) related to Coles's participation in the Women's Movement and efforts to ratify the ERA, 1968-1984. Series I contains materials related to Coles's involvement with the League of Women Voters of Georgia, Inc., the bulk of which relates specifically to their state Constitution Revision Committee, 1968-1983; Series II contains materials relating to Coles' activities in other women's organizations and their efforts to ratify the ERA in Georgia, 1974-1984.

Dates

1968-1984

Creator

Coles, Donna Novak (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biography of Donna Novak Coles

Donna Novak Coles was born in Atlanta, Texas, 5 December 1945. While in Texas, Coles participated in Democratic candidate Frances (Sissy) Tarlton Farenthold's 1972 campaign for governor. In Georgia, Coles was active with the Feminist Action Alliance, Housewives for the ERA, Georgia Women's Political Caucus, the League of Women Voters, and she was one of the few individual members of ERA Georgia. Inc., the umbrella organization for all groups supporting passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

As a member of the League of Women Voters of Georgia, Coles served as a chairperson on both the Legal Status of Women and the Georgia Constitutional Revision committees, and as a lobbyist. In 1995, Donna Novak Coles was named, along with her husband, businessman Michael Coles, as the 1995 Georgia Philanthropist of the Year. In 1996, she became a member of the Water's Edge Committee of the Georgia Women's Movement Project, a cooperative project of GSU's Women's Studies Institute and University Library's Special Collections Department, and was a member of the GSU Foundation from 1998 to 2001.

Extent

2.09 Linear Feet (in 5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Donna Novak Coles was active with the Feminist Action Alliance, Housewives for the ERA, Georgia Women's Political Caucus, the League of Women Voters, and she was one of the few individual members of ERA Georgia. Inc., the umbrella organization for all groups supporting passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The Donna Novak Coles papers, organized in two series, consists of manuscript materials (notes, correspondence, news clippings, printed materials and publications) related to Coles's participation in the Women's Movement and efforts to ratify the ERA, 1968-1984.