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 Jacqueline "Jacqui" Michot Ceballos (born September 8, 1925) is an American feminist and activist. Ceballos is the former president of New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women and founder of the Veteran Feminists of America organi ...

in 1992, Veteran Feminists of America regularly hosts reunions for second-wave feminists and events honoring feminist leaders. VFA's major effort is the Pioneer Histories Project, the personal history of the Second Wave women's movement, one story at a time. Interviews with hundreds of feminist activists are featured on the VFA webpage. Support for the Project is provided by the Sy Syms Foundation.

VFA Mission statement

The purpose of Veteran Feminists of America is to honor, record and preserve the history of the accomplishments of women active in the feminist movement, to educate the public on the importance of the changes brought about by the women's movement, to preserve the movement's history and to inspire future generations.

History

The Veteran Feminists of America was created with the goals of remembering and recording the faces and retrospectives of the hundreds of pioneers who launched the 1960s feminist movement, often called

second-wave feminism Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. It took place throughout the Western world, and aimed to increase equality for women by building on previous feminist gains. ...

. At first, VFA gatherings consisted of a time and place to meet and reminisce, followed by an awards dinner captured for posterity on video. Those videotapes are now archived at 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 the Radcliffe Institute and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture at

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist Jam ...

. Soon after their first reunion in 1992,

joined with Dorothy Senerchia and Mary Jean Tully to create the organization.

Muriel Fox Muriel Fox (born February 3, 1928) is an American public relations executive and feminist activist. Childhood and education Muriel Fox's parents were Anne Rubenstein Fox and M. Morris Fox. In 1980, Muriel said (at a Mother's Day rally for the Equa ...

joined soon thereafter and has chaired the organization since 1994. The original idea for a name, Veterans of Feminist Wars, was rejected because its acronym could be confused with that of the

Veterans of Foreign Wars The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as military service members fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters, or ...

organization. During its first decade, VFA mainly honored individuals and groups for their work in establishing national and local organizations, raising public awareness about feminist issues, and lobbying for women's rights. In time, VFA's events spread geographically and reached into new areas across the country. In 1998, VFA Board member

Barbara Love Barbara Joan Love (February 27, 1937 – November 13, 2022) was an American feminist writer and the editor of ''Feminists who Changed America, 1963–1975''. With the National Organization for Women, Love organized and participated in demonstr ...

, with help from VFA members, began compiling a directory of feminists, published in 2006 as ''Feminists Who Changed America: 1963-1975'' (University of Illinois Press). The book is a collection of 2,220 biographies of second-wave feminists who accomplished significant activist work. It is also available as a searchable CD. ''Feminists Who Changed America''—along with the videos from two decades of retrospective events—brings to life the history of feminism's second wave. It is meant to help to ensure that the achievements of the women's movement are not forgotten. VFA has a new partnership with the

New York Historical Society The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library in New York City, along Central Park West between 76th and 77th Streets, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The society was founded in 1804 as New York's first museu ...

Museum & Library. Its newly created Center for Women's History will be the venue to showcase the artifacts and stories that document modern feminism.

Notable VFA Officers and Board members

;Officers * Eleanor Pam, President *

, Chair of the Board Special Portfolios *

Heather Booth Heather Booth (born December 15, 1945) is an American civil rights activist, feminist, and political strategist who has been involved in activism for progressive causes. During her student years, she was active in both the civil rights movement ...

, Liaison/Outreach Board of Directors * Virginia Carter * Roxanne Barton Conlin * Carol Jenkins *

* Linda Stein Board Advisor *

Gloria Steinem Gloria Marie Steinem (; born March 25, 1934) is an American journalist and social-political activist who emerged as a nationally recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Steinem was a c ...

Founder * Jacqui Ceballos

Events

On February 4, 2021, VFA held a Zoom webinar honoring NOW founder

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 ...

on the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the 15th anniversary of her death). "Betty Friedan's 100 Birthday: Moving the Legacy Forward". VFA has held a number of events honoring second-wave feminists, including: * May 26, 1993 – VFA's debut. Honoring Catherine East. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * December 1993 – Honoring Flo Kennedy. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * May 1994 – Honoring Congresswoman Martha Griffiths. Also honored were

Gene Boyer Retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Gene Tunney Boyer (July 24, 1929 – August 27, 2016) was the chief pilot of Army One Army One is the callsign of any United States Army aircraft carrying the president of the United States. ...

, Nan Wood, Virginia Allen,

Evelyn Cunningham Evelyn Cunningham (January 25, 1916 – April 28, 2010) was an American journalist and aide to Nelson Rockefeller.The Associated Press, "Evelyn Cunningham, Journalist and Aide, Dies at 94", ''The New York Times'', April 29, 2010available onli ...

and others. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, D.C. * Fall 1994 – Honoring Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City * Spring 1995 – Marriage and Family with Coalition for Family Justice. Irvington, New York. * December 13, 1995 – Honoring

. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * November 21 and 22, 1996 – Celebrating NOW's 30th anniversary and honoring NOW founders. Barnard College and Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City * December 13, 1997 – Celebrating the women's liberation movement. Speakers included

Jo Freeman Jo Freeman aka Joreen (born August 26, 1945), is an American feminist, political scientist, writer and attorney. As a student at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s, she became active in organizations working for civil liberties ...

Susan Brownmiller Susan Brownmiller (born Susan Warhaftig; February 15, 1935) is an American journalist, author and feminist activist best known for her 1975 book '' Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape'', which was selected by The New York Public Library as o ...

, and

Alix Kates Shulman Alix Kates Shulman (born August 17, 1932) is an American writer of fiction, memoirs, and essays, and a prominent early radical activist of second-wave feminism. She is best known for her bestselling debut adult novel, ''Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Qu ...

. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * April 1998 – Honoring great feminists, including

Gerda Lerner Gerda Hedwig Lerner (née Kronstein; April 30, 1920 – January 2, 2013) was an Austrian-born American historian and woman's history author. In addition to her numerous scholarly publications, she wrote poetry, fiction, theatre pieces, screenp ...

, Betty Harragan and Midge Kovacs. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * November 7, 1998 – Honoring

Kate Millett Katherine Murray Millett (September 14, 1934 – September 6, 2017) was an American feminist writer, educator, artist, and activist. She attended Oxford University and was the first American woman to be awarded a degree with first-class honors ...

. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * May 1999 – Honoring a number of feminists, including Donna Allen, Tina Hobson, Elizabeth Boyer, Vera Glaser, Arvonne Frazer, Carmen Delgado Votaw and others. Washington DC * November 12, 1999 – Honoring Betty Friedan. National Arts Club, New York City. * April 28, 2000 – "''Spring Reunion – VFA Celebrates Some Of Our National Treasures''." Honorees included Jean Ledwith King,

Patricia Schroeder Patricia Nell Scott Schroeder (born July 30, 1940) is an American politician who represented Colorado in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, Schroeder was the first female U.S. Repres ...

, Patricia Ireland, Cathryn Adamsky, Mary Gereau, Joy Simonson, Ruth McLean and others. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, D.C. * October 18, 2000 – Celebrating 30th Anniversary of Women's Strike for Equality. "''Veteran Feminists Recall Past Battles, Gaze Ahead''." Participants included Karen DeCrow,

, Carole DeSaram, Jacqui Ceballos and others. Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City. * March 2001 – Celebrating Louisiana Feminists. Honorees included Roberta Madden, Sylvia Roberts and Karline Tierney. Newcomb College, New Orleans, LA * June 9, 2001 – Celebrating Heroes of Women's Studies. Honorees included Lois Gould, Lois Herr, Lenor Weizmann, Renata Bridenthal, Louise Knight, Florence Howe and others. Barnard College, New York City. * April 6, 2002 – "''Women Speak Out NOW: Defining the Past, Confronting the Present, Shaping the Future''" conference. Honored pioneer feminists of Florida. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. * April 26, 2002 – "''Salute to Feminist Authors: Celebrating Feminist Writers who Changed the World, 1966–1985''." Honored

Erica Jong Erica Jong (née Mann; born March 26, 1942) is an American novelist, satirist, and poet, known particularly for her 1973 novel ''Fear of Flying''. The book became famously controversial for its attitudes towards female sexuality and figured pro ...

Barbara Seaman Barbara Seaman (September 11, 1935 – February 27, 2008) was an American author, activist, and journalist, and a principal founder of the women's health feminism movement. Early years Seaman, whose parents, Henry J. Rosner and Sophie Kimels, ...

, Letty Pogrebin, Marilyn French,

Marlene Sanders Marlene Sanders (January 10, 1931 – July 14, 2015) was an American television news correspondent, anchor, producer and executive who worked for ABC News in the 1960s and 1970s and moved to CBS News in 1978. She is known for being the first woma ...

and others. Barnard College, New York City. * November 8, 2002 – "''A Conference To Celebrate And Evaluate The Effects Of Thirty Years Of

Title IX Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other educat ...

''." Among those present were Bernice Sandler, Holly Knox and

Jean King Jean Sadako King, (née McKillop born December 6, 1925 - November 24, 2013) was the seventh lieutenant governor of Hawaii, the state's first woman to be elected as such, from 1978 to 1982 in the administration of Governor George Ariyoshi. Fa ...

. Baltimore, Maryland. * November 6, 2003 – "''Celebrating Feminist Artists Who Changed The World, 1966–1980''." Artists present included Suzanne Benton, Gloria Orenstein, Cristine Biaggi, Patricia Burnett, Karen LeCocq, Arlene Raven, Fern Shaffer,

Sylvia Sleigh Sylvia Sleigh (8 May 1916 – 24 October 2010) was a Welsh-born naturalised American realist painter who lived and worked in New York City. She is known for her role in the feminist art movement and especially for reversing traditional g ...

and others. The National Arts Club, New York City. * May 2004 – Celebrating 40 years of Title VII. Panelists included Eleanor Clift, Aileen Hernandez, Lorena Weeks and William H. Brown. Newton, Massachusetts. * August 27 and 28, 2004 – "''Unfinished Business of the Women's Movement – Dangers and Opportunities''." This first Midwest VFA event was dedicated to the late Gene Boyer. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago. * April 16, 2005 – "''Feminism And Its Values: An Intergenerational Dialogue''." Honoring Connecticut feminists, including Ruthe Boyea, Barbara Lifton, Kay Bergin, Susan Yolen and others. Cromwell, Connecticut. * May 2006 – Honoring Helen Reddy. Event on day two honored California feminists and paid special tribute to Judith Meuli. Feminist Majority building, Los Angeles. * November 13, 2006 – Two-day event celebrating the debut of "''Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975''" and honoring editor

. Also present were Cheryl Redmon and

Bettye Lane Bettye Lane (September 19, 1930, Boston – September 19, 2012, Manhattan) was an American photojournalist known for documenting major events within the feminist movement, the civil rights movement, and the gay rights movement in the United Stat ...

. Columbia University and Barnard College, New York City. * May 6, 2007 – Saluting Arizona feminists. Among honorees were Janet Elsea, Muriel Magenta, Himilce Novas, Nola Claire, Bette Adelman, Susan Koppelman and others. Phoenix, Arizona. * October 13, 2007 – Celebrating Washington, DC-area feminists, including

Helen Thomas Helen Amelia Thomas (August 4, 1920 – July 20, 2013) was an American reporter and author, and a long serving member of the White House press corps. She covered the White House during the administrations of ten U.S. presidents—from th ...

. Sewall-Belmont House, Washington, D.C. * June 9, 2008 – "''Salute to Feminist Lawyers, 1963–1975''." Honorees included Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sylvia Roberts, Emily Goodman, Jan Goodman, Faith Seidenberg, Doris Sassower, Sonia Fuentes and Karen DeCrow. Harvard Club, New York City. * April 20, 2009 – Honoring Florida feminists. Speaker was Patricia Ireland, former president of NOW. Palm Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach. * August 27, 2009 – Stockton (California) Celebration Of Women's Equality Day. Honored Northern California feminists. Stockton, California. * March 2010 – "''The Gender Agenda: Beyond Borders – Pursuing Women's Rights at Home and Abroad''." Honored Texas activists including Sissy Farenthold, Virginia Whitehill, Winnie Wackowitz, Moira McNiel, Catalina Garcia and others. Women's Museum, Dallas. * June 17, 2011 – Tribute to

on the 45th anniversary of NOW and the Feminine Mystique. National Arts Building, New York City. * October 28 and 29, 2011 – "''Day of Dialogue With Feminist Heroes''." Rollins College students were paired with VFA members and a gala dinner honored Florida feminists. Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Terry O'Neill, Sherrill Redmon and

. Rollins College, Orlando. * June 24, 2012 – "''A Love Fest For Kate Millett''." Speakers included

, Terry O'Neill,

, and Noreen Connell. Judson Church, New York City. * September 15, 2012 – "''Empowering Women: A Tale Of Two Generations''." Speakers included Congresswoman Gwen Moore,

Lynn Povich Lynn Povich (born 1943) is an American journalist. She began her career as a secretary in the Paris Bureau of ''Newsweek'' magazine, rising to become a reporter and writer in New York in the late 1960's. In 1970, she was one of a group of women w ...

, Jesse Ellison,

Kathleen Falk Kathleen Falk (born June 26, 1951) is an American attorney, politician, and policymaker from Wisconsin who served as Dane County Executive from 1997 until 2011. In 2013, she was appointed Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and H ...

, Dr. Mary Meehan and

Judy Goldsmith Judy Goldsmith (born November 26, 1938) is an American feminist, academic, and activist. She served as president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from 1982 to 1985, which is the largest feminist organization in the United States; prio ...

. Midwest feminists were honored. Alverno College. Milwaukee. * February 27, 2013 – "''On The Front Lines Of Feminism''" panel discussion. Participants included Eleanor Pam, Syd Beiner, Mary Vasiliades and Marilyn Fitterman. Sandy Rapp performed. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. * September 7, 2013 – "''Women and Media''" and VFA's 20th anniversary celebration. Honorees included David Dismore,

Gloria Allred Gloria Rachel Allred ( Bloom; born July 3, 1941) is an American attorney known for taking high-profile and often controversial cases, particularly those involving the protection of women's rights. She has been inducted into the National Women's ...

, Helen Reddy,

June Millington June Millington (born April 14, 1948) is a Filipina-American guitarist, songwriter, producer, educator, and actress. She was the co-founder and lead guitarist of the all-female rock band Fanny, which was active from 1970 to 1974. Millington has ...

, Carol Downer, Linda Perkins, Joannie Parker and

Tucker Reed Aisling Tucker Moore-Reed (born October 15, 1989), known by her pen name Tucker Reed, is an American novelist and disgraced civil rights activist who has been found liable for defamation and who was convicted of manslaughter in May 2020. Reed c ...

. Sheraton Universal Hotel, Los Angeles. * September 27, 2014 – "''Labor & the Women's Movement: The untold story and why it matters''." Speakers included Alice Kessler-Harris, Brigid O'Farrell, Emily LaBarbera Twarog, Karen Nussbaum, Sarita Gupta, Carmen Berkley and others. Missouri feminists were honored. Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis. * October 21, 2014 – A lifetime achievement award was presented to

for her years of commitment to women's issues. Also receiving VFA Spirit Awards and VFA's Medal of Honor were

Rosie O'Donnell Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series '' Star Search'' ...

Marlo Thomas Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas (born November 21, 1937) is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. She is best known for starring on the sitcom ''That Girl'' (1966–1971) and her children's franchise '' Free to Be... You and ...

, Eve Ensler and Carol Jenkins. Harvard Club, New York City. * March 31, 2017 – "Sharing Our Stories: The Second Wave Feminist Movement." Keynote speaker was Dr. Nancy MacLean. Through three panel discussions, second wave activists and young historians had an intergenerational conversation to ensure that the full history of the movement is told and remembered. Southern feminists were honored. Hilton Durham Hotel, Durham, NC. * June 10, 2017 – "Feminist Reunion 2017 – We Won't Go Back." Among those attending were

, Yolanda Bako,

and

. Highlight was a Speak Out at an open mic guided by Carole DeSaram. Judson Memorial Church, New York City."Report on the Feminist Reunion, June 10, 2017"
Veteran Feminists of America. * November 9, 2017 – Memorial Service for Kate Millett – About 500 people attended the celebration of life for Kate Millett. Speakers included

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up i ...

Holly Near Holly Near (born June 6, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, teacher, and activist. Early years Holly Near was born in Ukiah, California, United States, and was raised on a ranch in Potter Valley, California. She was eight years ...

, Eleanor Pam and Kathleen Turner. Fourth Universalist Society Unitarian Universal Church, New York City.

References

External links