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Jeri Frederick - ERA Fight in Illinois
Jeri Frederick was a young college student at Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois when she began working for the local chapter of the National Organization for Women. Over the next two years, NOW fought an extended battle, trying to convince the Illinois State Legislature to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Springfield became the epicenter of the ERA fight in the United States. Frederick attended a rally in Detroit (protesting at the Republican National Convention in 1980), and pro-ERA rallies in Chicago and Springfield, and talks about her disappointment when ERA was finally defeated in early 1982
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
ERA in Grass
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Growing up in Springfield area and early career
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
ERA fight from 1980 to 1982 from the perspective of IL NOW
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Paternal grandparents Ace and Minnie Frederick, circa 1946.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1946
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Al Frederick holds his daughter Jeri, in 1956.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1956
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri, age three, sits in her mother’s lap on Christmas Eve, 1959.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1959
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri Frederick, in the center, with high school friends Suzi White and Pricilla McClain in 1974.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1974
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri Frederick, with some friends at Southeast High School. 1st-Karla Springer, Jannie Winkler, Danielle Zellars, Micki Logsdon, Jeri, Pam Scott, 2nd-Dennis Chavours, Fran Tally, Marty Scanlan, Stephen Archie, in Springfield, in 1974.
Where:
Southeast High School, Springfield, Illinois
When:
1974
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Maternal grandparents, Louise and Melvin Engel, in their Springfield home at Christmas time.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
ERA bumper sticker dating from the early 1980s.
Where:
Unknown
When:
early 1980s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
An ERA bumper sticker dating from the early 1980s.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Early 1980s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Norman Lear and Phil Donohue were among the many celebrities that attended the Chicago ERA rally in May, 1980.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
May, 1980
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri Frederick, on the left, at the ERA rally in Chicago at Soldier’s Field in May, 1980. The event was designed to put a spotlight on the Illinois state legislature’s failure to pass ERA.
Where:
Soldier’s Field, Chicago
When:
May, 1980
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Marlo Thomas talks to another ERA supporter at an ERA rally at Soldier’s Field in Chicago in May, 1980.
Where:
Soldier’s Field, Chicago
When:
May, 1980
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri attended an ERA rally in Chicago in May, 1980 at Soldier’s Field. Marlo Thomas (clapping), Norman Lear, and other Hollywood stars were in attendance.
Where:
Soldier’s Field, Chicago
When:
May, 1980
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
ERA supporters gathered in Detroit Michigan at the Lewis Convention Center on July 14, 1980, where the Republican National Convention was being held.
Where:
Detroit Michigan at the Lewis Convention Center
When:
July 14, 1980
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A pro-ERA rally was held in Springfield, Illinois in June 30, 1981. Representative Doug Kane was one of the speakers.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The Illinois state legislature had only one more year to pass ERA. Seated from left to right are Judy Goldsmith, NOW Vice President, actress Esther Rolle, Addie Wyatt of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and actress Patty Duke Astin.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Betty Ford spoke at the ERA rally held in Springfield, Illinois on June 30, 1981.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Wilma Scott Heide, a feminist with the Women’s Studies program at Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois, attended an ERA rally, circa June, 1981.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa June, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Al Frederick (Jeri’s father), with Jeri’s niece, Lisa Burnett, came out to support ERA at the Springfield, Illinois rally on June 30, 1981.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Melba Frederick, Jeri’s mother, sits in the foreground at the ERA rally in Springfield in June, 1981. It was her first ERA rally.
Where:
Springfield , Illinois
When:
June, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri and father Al Frederick at her father’s first ERA rally on July 30, 1981 in Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
July 30, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A pro-ERA rally on the Capitol steps in Springfield, Illinois, June, 1981.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jeri Frederick at the ERA rally held in Springfield, Illinois in June, 1981.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June, 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ellie Smeal, National Organization for Women President, at a pro-ERA event, circa 1981.
Where:
Pro-ERA event
When:
Circa 1981
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A collection of ERA Buttons.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
These items are considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A collection of ERA Buttons.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
These items are considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A collection of ERA Buttons.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
These items are considered to be in the public domain.