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Dorris (Dotsie) Dutel Holmes papers

 Collection
Identifier: W143

Scope and Contents of Dorris Dutel Holmes papers

Manuscripts include newspaper clippings, correspondence, minutes, publications and handouts that document Holmes’ work with the League of Women Voters (1964-1989) and her activities with the women’s rights movement, with a particular focus on efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia (1970-1989). The ERA-centered materials contain Georgia legislative documents, notes, budgets, and congressional records. Non-manuscript material includes bumper stickers, buttons, identification badges, name tags and t-shirts all revolving around her work on toward passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Dates

  • Creation: 1945-2010
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1968 - 1987

Creator

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 Dorris (Dotsie) Dutel Holmes

Dorris (Dotsie) Dutel Holmes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1924. She attended Loyola University with a major in sociology and a minor in history, and worked as a social worker and pre-school teacher. During her tenure at Loyola, she met her husband Edward Gerald Holmes and was married in 1944. They had four children, Jerelyn, Don, Mary Anne, and Laurie, during their 65 year marriage.

When she and her husband moved to Georgia in 1951, Holmes became increasingly interested in community property and the kinds of discrimination women faced in terms of home ownership and equal pay issues. Holmes joined the League of Women Voters, and served as vice president of the Atlanta chapter, as well as treasurer of the Atlanta chapter of the American Association of University Women. Holmes was a Georgia delegate at the National Women’s Conference in Houston during International Women’s Year in 1977, and participated in lobbying efforts for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia. She chaired Georgia's ERA Council. From 1988 to 1996 Holmes was on the DeKalb Library’s Board of Trustees, and from 1997 to 2000, was treasurer of the Chamblee Library Friends association. Holmes died August 7, 2010 after decades of committed work in her church and other local organizations.

Extent

5.8 Linear Feet (in 15 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

Dotsie Holmes (1924-2010) was a women's rights activist from 1951, when she first moved to Atlanta and became aware of community property laws and the discrimination women faced in home ownership and pay. She served in organizations such as the Atlanta Chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Atlanta Chapter for the League of Women Voters, and lobbied for the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia, 1973-1981. Her papers, 1945-2010, the bulk of which span from 1968-1987, include notes, newsletters, proceedings, memorandums, correspondence, articles, radio scripts, pamphlets, brochures, minutes, budgets and voter guides.

Arrangement

Organized into two series, each arranged alphabetically. I: Documents and Reference Materials, 1945-2010, II: Art, Artifacts and Textiles, 1953-1997.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jerelyn Holmes Jordan, June 18, 2014.

Separated Materials

Separated to Special Collections Books: See online catalog for access

  1. Butler, Phyllis Filiberti, and Dorothy Gray. Everywoman's Guide to Political Awareness. Millbrae, Calif.: Les Femmes Pub., 1976. Print.
  2. California Commission on the Status of Women, and Equal Rights Amendment Project. Successful Advocacy : A Practical Handbook. Sacramento, Ca.: The Commission, 1975. Print.
  3. California, and Anita Miller. ERA Conformance : An Analysis of the California State Codes. Sacramento: California Commission on the Status of Women, 1975. Print.
  4. Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women (U.S.). ERA Resources. Washington, D.C.: Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1976. Print.
  5. Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women (U.S.). Interpretation of the Equal Rights Amendment in Accordance with Legislative History. Washington: Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1974. Print.
  6. Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women (U.S.), and Sam J. Ervin. The Equal Rights Amendment--Senator Ervin's Minority Report and the Yale Law Journal. Washington: The Council, 1972. Print. CACSW, item no. 29-N.
  7. Constitution of the State of Georgia, Ratified, November 2, 1976, Proclaimed, December 22, 1976, (revised, January, 1981). Atlanta: State of Georgia, 1981. Print.
  8. Constitution of the State of Georgia : Designated As the Constitution of the State of Georgia. Rev. Jan. 1985. Atlanta, Ga.: Max Cleland, Secretary of State distributor, 1985. Print
  9. Cunningham, Sarah Jane and Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women (U.S.). The Proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution: A Memorandum. Washington: Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1972. Print.
  10. Galer, Mary Jane, and Mary E. Stakes. Women and State Pensions : A Legislative Guide to Issues of Equity. Columbus, Ga.: Mary Jane Galer, 1984. Print.
  11. General Revenue Sharing : An ACIR Re-Evaluation. Washington: Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, 1974. Print.
  12. Irvine, Charlotte, Edward M. Kresky, and National Municipal League. How to Study a State Constitution. New York: National Municipal League, 1962. Print. Publications / National Municipal League, State Constitutional Studies Project, ser. 1, no. 5; Publications (National Municipal League. State Constitutional Studies Project), ser. 1, no. 5.
  13. National municipal league. Model State Constitution. 6. ed., rev. 1968. New York: National municipal league, 1968. Print. Publications / The State constitutional studies project. Series I, 1; Publications / The State constitutional studies project, Series I ; 1.
  14. National Plan of Action Adopted at National Women's Conference, Nov. 18-21, 1977, Houston, Tex. Washington: National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1977. Print.
  15. Proposed Constitution of the State of Georgia : As Approved by the General Assembly of Georgia, to Be Submitted to the People of the State at the 1982 General Election. Atlanta, Ga.: The Assembly, 1982. Print.

Processing Information

Processed by Ashley Coleman at the item level, 2016.

Title
Dorris (Dotsie) Dutel Holmes:
Subtitle
A Guide to Her Papers at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
31 October 2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)