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Georgians for Choice records

 Collection
Identifier: W078

Scope and Content of the Records

Correspondence and printed material, as well as minutes and agendas, financial records, legal records, photographs, audio-visual records, and artifacts including textiles, 1974-2006 (bulk 1982-2006), document the legislative, organizational, advocacy, and educational work of Georgians for Choice to preserve reproductive choice in the state. Reference material documents legal issues, legislation, and various other organizations representing pro-choice and pro-life viewpoints. The Georgians for Choice records also contain materials relating to the administration, fundraising, and management of the coalition-based non-profit.

Dates

  • Creation: 1974-2008
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1982-2006

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Folders containing sensitive materials are restricted for 75 years from date of creation.

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.

History of Georgians for Choice

Formed in 1986, Georgians for Choice brought together 16 women's organizations in an effort to greater impact the protection and expansion of women's reproductive freedom in Georgia. Over time, Georgians for Choice grew to become to a 45 member coalition. Membership in Georgians for Choice was open to any organization supporting the coalition's mission and goals. Each organization paid a membership fee based on its total budget. However, no organization was denied membership due to an inability to pay dues. Additional financial support for the coalition came from special events, individual donations, organizational donations (special appeals), and foundations.

Georgians for Choice strove for diversity in both its membership and leadership, and in its selection of its steering committee, worked to ensure that members represented varied geographic regions and included women of color, organizations of faith, social services, the women's legal community, health care providers, educational organizations, and gay and lesbian organizations.

Serving as a clearinghouse for members, Georgians for Choice functioned as a centralized source for media referrals; had a video library on women's reproductive health issues; provided timely information on state and national legislation; provided a quarterly newsletter with state, regional, and national events; provided speakers for panels and forums; monitored clinic violence; provided clinic escorts and training; testified before state legislative committees; and conducted in-district and Washington meetings with members of Congress. GFC invested a great deal of energy in its Candidate Report Card, which provided voters with information on national, statewide, and local candidates for public office and their positions on reproductive rights. It also helped connect women seeking reproductive services to care providers who offered family planning, abortion, pregnancy care, adoption services, and financial assistance.

In 2008 Georgians For Choice changed its name to SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW and its mission to "collaborate with individuals and communities to build and sustain a powerful reproductive justice movement in Georgia by developing and sharing a radical analysis in order to shift culture; mobilizing in response to immediate threats and; organizing for long term systemic change."

Extent

42 Linear Feet (in 83 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

Formed in 1986, Georgians for Choice brought together a number of women's organizations in an effort to greater impact the protection and expansion of women's reproductive freedom in Georgia. The records consist of correspondence and printed material, as well as minutes and agendas, financial records, legal records, photographs, audio-visual records, and artifacts including textiles, that document the legislative, organizational, advocacy, and educational work of the organization.

Arrangement

Arranged in 15 series: I. Administrative files, II. Legislative files, III. Election files, IV. Legal files, V. Campaigns and Projects files, VI. Office files, VII. Media and Publicity files, VIII. Events files, IX. Training files, X. Development files, XI. Coalition files, XII. Anti-Choice files, XIII. Subject and Reference files, XIV. Audiovisual and Visual materials, XV. Artifacts and Textiles.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Georgians for Choice, courtesy of Paris Hatcher and Mai Mingus, October 2007 and January 2009.

Online Availability:

Several items have been digitized and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Separated Materials note

During processing, printed materials such as periodicals and pamphlets, were separated to Women's Printed Collections. See List of Separated Material following Detailed Description of the Collection.

Processing Information

Processed by Amanda Pellerin and Hilary Morrish at the file level, 2009-2010.

Title
Georgians for Choice:
Subtitle
A Guide to Its Records at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
January 2008
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)