Janet Paulk papers

Collection

Identifier: W020

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Papers

The Janet Paulk papers (1952-2013) consist of correspondence, financial records, audiovisual recordings, genealogical records, poetry, periodicals, flyers, and newspaper clippings. The bulk of the material comes from Paulk's work at ERA Georgia, Inc. during the campaign that culminated in early 1982 when she served as the group's treasurer. The collection also contains a smaller amount of materials collected by Paulk during her time working at the Emory University Library as well as personal and family items.

Audiocassettes include an August 15, 1981 interview with Mamie K. Taylor (which has been transcribed by staff at Georgia State University). Taylor, born January 14, 1900, began fighting for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and was an Atlanta civic leader and crusader for women's rights until her death in 1982. Other audiocassettes are recordings made at an ERA GA., Inc. general meeting (speakers are Jane Glover, Sherry Shulman Sutton and Cathey Steinberg), at their business meeting, and at their Workshop for Homemakers, all on May 16, 1981. The videocassette of A Women's Rights Anniversary Celebration, 1998-2000 was produced by the Unitarian Universalist Association and distributed by the UU Women's Heritage Society. The script to the video includes information on Atlantan Maria Getzinger Jones.

Dates

1952-2013

Creator

Paulk, Janet, 1932- (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use. Access to one artifact is restricted.

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.

The Emory University Special Collections Department must be contacted for any permission to reproduce or publish portions of the Mamie K. Taylor interview transcript or audiocassette.

Biography of Janet Paulk

A grassroots activist at heart, Janet Paulk is passionate about a variety of social, political and gender issues. Born in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1932, Paulk was the daughter and grandaughter of Presbyterian ministers. Educated in music theory and piano at Maryville College in Tennessee, and business at Georgia State University, Dekalb Technical School and Emory University's School of Business Administration, Paulk began working for the Emory University Library Administration in 1975. She continued to serve the libraries at Emory for 23 years, most recently as human resources manager. During her tenure there, she became an outspoken advocate for the preservation of women's history. She was also active in national and local library associations. She retired from Emory in 1998.

Throughout her career, Paulk served many women-centered political and social organizations. She was treasurer and executive committee member of ERA Georgia, Inc. (1980-1982), treasurer and executive board member of the Georgia Women's Political Caucus (1982-1984), and a member of the Women's Studies Committee at the University Center of Georgia (1984-1988). Other affiliations include the Southeastern and National Women's Studies Associations.

Paulk has received many honors and awards, including special recognition from the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, for her involvement there in the Civil Rights Movement in 1968. She also received numerous appointments by the President of Emory University, specifically a charter membership on the President's Commission on the Status of Women (1976-1979) and two appointments to the University Affirmative Action Appeal Committee (1984, 1990). Today Paulk is active in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta and resides in Decatur.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (in 8 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

A grassroots activist at heart, Janet Paulk is passionate about a variety of social, political and gender issues. The Janet Paulk papers (1952-2013) consist of correspondence, financial records, audiovisual recordings, genealogical records, poetry, periodicals, flyers, and newspaper clippings.