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Mary Bohlen - ERA Fight in Illinois

Mary Painter Bohlen earned her master’s degree in public affairs reporting from Sangamon State University in 1977. She was then hired by United Press International and spent the next five years reporting on activities in the Illinois statehouse. Her tenure included the epic 1982 fight in the legislature over the Equal Rights Amendment. ERA was not passed in Illinois, and it went down to defeat at the national level when it failed to achieve the goal of 38 states adopting it. Mary later spent thirty years teaching journalism classes at Sangamon State University (later renamed the University of Illinois Springfield).

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Abstract

Interview Session (Audio)

Photos

Caption

Mary Bohlen’s 2nd grade photo. She and her family lived on a farm near Anchor, Illinois when this photo was taken in 1957.

Where:

Anchor, Illinois

When:

1957

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Mary Bohlen’s High School senior picture in 1968.

Where:

Octavia, Illinois

When:

1968

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Mary Bohlen worked in the United Press International office at the Illinois statehouse in Springfield when this photo was taken, circa 1980. The state was in the midst of a yearly legislative battle over the Equal Rights Amendment.

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

1980

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Mary Bohlen of United Press International and Dan Egler of the Chicago Tribune were in the Illinois Senate press box when this photo was taken by Michael K. Smeltzer of UPI, circa 1981.

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

1981

Ownership:

May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption

Mary Bohlen when she worked as a UPI reporter in the early 1980s. The ten year fight over ERA in the Illinois legislature ended in June 1982.

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

1980s

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Mary Bohlen taught communication and public affairs reporting at Sangamon State University in Springfield in the late 1980s.

Where:

Sangamon State University in Springfield

When:

1980s

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Helen Thomas, the UPI’s longtime White House reporter, is seen here with journalists Mary Bohlen and Adriana Colindres in the Illinois statehouse when Thomas was visiting Springfield in the late 1990s.

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

1990s

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo