Judith Meuli (January 15, 1938 – December 14, 2007)
was an American feminist, activist and scientist.
Early life and education
Judith Meuli was born in 1938 to parents Isabel Meuli (''née'' Dresel) and Earle Meuli in
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 14,778 in the 2021 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa Cou ...
. Her siblings are Yvonne Herbert (''née'' Meuli), Allan R. Meuli, Dr. Earle Maile and Gerald R. Meuli.
In 1963, she earned a
Bachelor of Science degree
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
from the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
.
For the next 10 years, she was a research scientist there, and then the
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...
, where she studied
renal physiology
Renal physiology (Latin ''rēnēs'', "kidneys") is the study of the physiology of the kidney. This encompasses all functions of the kidney, including maintenance of acid-base balance; regulation of fluid balance; regulation of sodium, potassium, ...
.
Although she taught surgical techniques and research methods at the university, Meuli was discouraged from entering medical school by her peers due to her sex as well as her age.
Work in Women's Empowerment
Work in National Organization for Women
Meuli joined the
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...
(NOW) in 1967. She helped to found the Los Angeles chapter of NOW,
and served as secretary from 1968-1970.
She was the co-editor of ''NOW Acts'' (NOW's national newsletter) from 1970 to 1973, co-editor of the ''National NOW Times'' (the national newspaper) from 1977 to 1985, and editor of ''Financing the Revolution'' in 1973.
Meuli was a member of NOW's national board of directors from 1971 to 1977 and the chair of the National Membership Committee from 1971 to 1974, on the National Nominating Committee in 1974, and co-ordinator of the
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood, ...
chapter of NOW in 1976. She was president of Los Angeles NOW from 1998 to 2000.
She also co-edited the National NOW publication ''Do it NOW'' with her partner
Toni Carabillo
Toni Carabillo (March 26, 1926 – October 28, 1997) was an American feminist, graphic designer, and historian.
She was born Virginia Ann Carabillo on March 26, 1926, in Jackson Heights, Queens. She graduated from Middlebury College in 1948 a ...
,
as well as creating a line of feminist jewelry to raise money for NOW and the
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...
campaign.
Books
''The Feminization of Power'' was published in 1988,
co-written with her partner Carabillo. The book originated with a traveling exhibit that they created for a campaign tour intended to motivate women to run for office that year.
''The Feminist Chronicles, 1953-1993'' (1993) was written with Carabillo and June Csida.
Women's Heritage Corporation
In 1969, she co-founded a publishing company for feminist literature, such as paperback biographies of individuals like
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was an American writer and activist who was a leader of the women's rights movement in the U.S. during the mid- to late-19th century. She was the main force behind the 1848 Seneca ...
and
Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone (August 13, 1818 – October 18, 1893) was an American orator, abolitionist and suffragist who was a vocal advocate for and organizer promoting rights for women. In 1847, Stone became the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a colle ...
. This company, the Women's Heritage Corporation, also produced a calendar and almanac.
Women's Graphic Communications
In 1970, Meuli created a graphic arts firm with Carabillo.
She designed many graphic images for T-shirts, buttons, etc., most famously one that combines the symbol for women with the "equals" sign across the circle called the "Brassy", one of which was given to
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...
by
Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan ( February 4, 1921 – February 4, 2006) was an American feminist writer and activist. A leading figure in the women's movement in the United States, her 1963 book ''The Feminine Mystique'' is often credited with sparking the se ...
in 1973. She also made designs to promote the
Older Women's League
OWL - The Voice of Women 40+ was founded as the Older Women's League by Tish Sommers and Laurie Shields, following the White House Mini-Conference on Older Women in Des Moines, Iowa in October 1980. The conference, called "Growing Numbers, Growing ...
, the
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...
and many other issues and events.
The Feminist Majority Foundation
In 1987,
Feminist Majority
The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, whose stated mission is to advance non-violence and women's power, equality, and economic development. The name Feminist Majority com ...
(now known as Feminist Majority Foundation) was founded by Meuli, Eleanor Smeal, arabillo, Peg Yorkin and Katherine Spillar to "encourage women to become involved in public affairs and
heelectoral process".
She was secretary and board member. In 1990, she designed and constructed a building to host their media center and archives.
The Feminist Majority Foundation publishes ''
Ms.
Ms. (American English) or Ms (British English; normally , but also , or when unstressed)''Oxford English Dictionary'' online, Ms, ''n.2''. Etymology: "An orthographic and phonetic blend of Mrs ''n.1'' and miss ''n.2'' Compare mizz ''n.'' The pr ...
'' magazine and ran a national clinic access project, which trained members on how to defend against anti-abortion extremists.
It also led campaigns to pass the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, as well as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Other involvement in women's rights organizations
She also designed the
Veteran Feminists of America
Veteran Feminists of America (VFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization for supporters and veterans of the second-wave feminist movement. Founded by Jacqueline Ceballos in 1992, Veteran Feminists of America regularly hosts reunions for secon ...
pin and medal of honor, and was a member of its national board.
She was awarded its Trailblazer Award in 2006.
in 1977, Meuli became an associate of the
Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press
Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP) is an American nonprofit publishing organization that was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1972. The organization works to increase media democracy and strengthen independent media. Mo
Basic infor ...
(WIFP),
an American non-profit publishing organization which works to increase communication between women and to connect the public with forms of women-based media.
She is featured in ''Who's Who in America'', ''Who's Who in American Women'' and ''Feminists Who Changed America.
''
Death and legacy
Meuli died December 14, 2007, at age 69 of
multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, an ...
at her San Fernando Valley home in California.
She donated her archive collections to the
Schlesinger Library
The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America is a research library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. According to Nancy F. Cott, the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Director, ...
at
Harvard Radcliffe Institute
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University—also known as the Harvard Radcliffe Institute—is a part of Harvard University that fosters interdisciplinary research across the humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, a ...
in Massachusetts. Her archives can also be found in Harvard and UCLA's digital collections.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meuli, Judith
American feminists
LGBT people from Wisconsin
University of Minnesota alumni
1938 births
2007 deaths
Deaths from multiple myeloma
20th-century American LGBT people
National Organization for Women people