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Margaret Miller Curtis papers

 Collection
Identifier: W005

Scope and Content of the Papers

The Margaret Miller Curtis Papers, organized into six series, consists of material from the mid-1970s to 2010s. These materials, including printed materials, speeches, and correspondence, reflect her involvement with the Council on Battered Women, as well as her efforts to ratify the ERA in Georgia through her work as president of People of Faith for the ERA, chair of the Speaker's Bureau for ERA Georgia, and her membership in ERA Georgia, the National Women's Political Caucus, the League of Women Voters, and the Georgia Women's Political Caucus. Manuscript materials (notes, correspondence, news clippings, printed materials and publications) in this collection document not only her involvement with these organizations, but her attendance at major conferences concerning women and the ERA, as well as her involvement in politics and religion.

Series I contains Curtis' personal and public correspondence and Series II contains speeches and writings both produced and collected by Curtis concerning battered women, People of Faith for the ERA, and feminism and Christianity. Series III contains information from the various organizations Curtis was involved with during the 1970s and 1980s. Series IV consists of printed material and personal notes from conferences Curtis attended, including the White House Conferences on Families in 1980. Series V is material filed by subject, including ERA pamphlets and brochures as well as ERA opposition material. Finally, Series VI consists of Curtis' personal materials, including writings and news clippings.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1973-1998, 2018

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 Margaret Miller Curtis

Margaret Miller Curtis, born in Marianna, Florida on November 1, 1935, earned a bachelor's degree in education from Florida State University and taught elementary school in Florida and Ohio. In 1973 she moved to Georgia and became active in the Women's Movement centering her Christian faith in her activism for women's rights. During the 1970s and 1980s she functioned as a writer, lobbyist, and fundraiser for a number of organizations, including People of Faith for the ERA, ERA Georgia, Inc., and the Council on Battered Women. Curtis traveled and spoke extensively to religious groups, at community meetings, and at organizational conferences throughout Georgia, advocating for the ratification of the ERA. Curtis was chair of the Speaker's Bureau for ERA Georgia, Inc. (1979-1980), was president of People of Faith for the ERA in Georgia (1980-1982), and has served on the board of directors for the Council on Battered Women (1975, 1986-88). Curtis "specialized" in newspaper publicity and letter writing and has had over 500 letters to the editor published in addition to those she authored for others. Many of these, which she continues to write, address the ERA and other women's issues. Her cartoons and creative writings, some of which have also been published, reflect her activism and interest in these issues. Curtis resides in Vinings, Georgia.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet (in 12 boxes, and 1 typewriter)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

During the 1970s and 1980s Margaret Miller Curtis functioned as a writer, lobbyist, and fundraiser for a number of organizations, including People of Faith for the ERA, ERA Georgia, Inc., and the Council on Battered Women. Manuscript materials (notes, correspondence, news clippings, printed materials and publications) in this collection document not only her involvement with these organizations, but her attendance at major conferences concerning women and the ERA, as well as her involvement in politics and religion.

Organization of the Papers

Organized into 6 series: Series I. Correspondence; Series II. Speeches, writing and related material produced by Curtis; Series III. Organizations; Series IV. Miscellaneous conferences and events; Series V. Subject files; Series VI. Curtis personal materials.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Margaret Miller Curtis in multiple accessions.

Online Availability:

Numerous artifacts, writings, buttons, photographs, a hat, t-shirts, flyers, and Curtis's book Life As a Feminist in Georgia: A Personal Recollection have been digitized and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in This Repository

  1. Margaret Miller Curtis oral history interview, October 25, 1995. Georgia Women's Movement Oral History Project (W008)

Separated Materials

During processing, printed items such as pamphlets and periodicals were separated to the Women's Printed Collection. Books are catalogued and accessible via the GSU on-line system and national bibliographic databases; artifacts are housed separately.

Processing Information

Processed by processing staff at the file level, 1996-2006.

Subject

Title
Margaret Miller Curtis:
Subtitle
A Guide to Her Papers at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
1996-2006
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)