Guide to the Margo House Papers,​ 1973-​1980

Summary Information

Title: Margo House Papers

Inclusive Dates: 1973-1980

Creator: House, Margo, 1928-

Call Number: Eau Claire Mss BU; VBA 470

Quantity: 1.0 c.f. (1 record center carton)

Repository: Housed at the Area Research Center, William D. McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Library-Archives Division

Archival Locations: UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library / Eau Claire Area Research Ctr.  Abstract: Papers of Wisconsin feminist Margo House pertaining to the founding of the Eau Claire chapter of NOW; her service on the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, circa 1975-1979; the Wisconsin Feminists Project Fund, circa 1974-1977, a group which funded historical research projects and employment workshops related to women (House served as its president); and several educational programs aimed at sexism. The video is from the Governor's Commission convention of 1976.

Language: English

Search Terms/Subject Terms

• National Organization for Women. Eau Claire Chapter (Wis.)
• Wisconsin Feminists Project Fund
• Wisconsin. Governor’s Commission of the Status of Women
• Feminism—Wisconsin
• Sex discrimination against women—Wisconsin

Biography/History

Margo House was born in August 1928. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College, with a B.A. in Art History in 1949. After additional schooling, House worked for the Board of Regents at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 1965 to 1969; she also taught English there, as a faculty assistant, from 1968 to 1971. In 1977 House received her M.A. in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. During the 1970's she was active in the women's movement in Wisconsin, serving on the state board of the League of Women Voters, as president of the Wisconsin Feminists Project Fund, and as state coordinator for the National Organization for Women. House also was a member of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women until its disbanding in 1979.

Scope and Content Note

The Margo House Papers are an alphabetically-arranged subject file documenting the many issues and organizations with which she was involved. They cover the years 1973-1980, with heaviest coverage on the latter years. It was during this time that many of the organizations with which House was involved were firmly established. The collection includes material concerning educational programs, both for schools and the workplace, which were sponsored by various women's groups. These programs, some of which were eventually utilized by the State of Wisconsin, sought to oppose discrimination and sexism: Women in Wisconsin History; Attitudes, Women, and Employment; Skilled Jobs for Women; and so on. Materials dealing with the National Organization for Women deal primarily with the Eau Claire chapter, with some assorted state-level information. The collection also contains correspondence between women's groups and state and local government agencies on a wide array of issues.

Administrative/Restriction Information

Acquisition Information 

Presented by Dr. Helen Sampson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1982. Accession Number: M82-346

Processing Information 

Processed by Andrew Murphy and Ann Hokanson, 1991.

Contents List

Eau Claire Mss BUAttitudes, Women, and Employment Box/Folder 1/1-2Evaluations, 1974-1977Box/Folder 1/3Proposals, 1973-1975Box/Folder 1/4Reports, 1974-1976 Box/Folder 1/5Staff memos, 1974-1976 Box/Folder 1/6-8Training materials, 1974; 1976 Box/Folder 1/9Unemployment issues, 1973-1977 Box/Folder 1/10Miscellaneous, 1973-1976 Box/Folder 1/11Current Issues in Women's Equality, 1979Box/Folder 1/12Eau Claire National Organization for Women, 1973-1976 Box/Folder 1/13Equal Rights Amendment, 1973-1979Box/Folder 1/14Feminist Advocacy Network, 1979 
Governor's Commission on the Status of Women Box/Folder 1/15Clippings and financial, 1973-1979 Box/Folder 1/16Issue positions, 1974-1978 Box/Folder 1/17Meeting information, 1975-1978, undated Eau Claire Mss BU Box/Folder 1/18Miscellaneous, 1975-1979Box/Folder 1/19Local government issues, 1975-1978 Box/Folder 1/20Marital property reform, 1977, undatedBox/Folder 1/21National Women's Conference, 1977-1979Box/Folder 1/22Skilled Jobs for Women, 1975-1977Box/Folder 1/23Skilled Training Improvement Program, 1974-1979Box/Folder 1/24State government issues, 1973-1979Box/Folder 1/25Uncommon Lives of Common Women, correspondence and financial, 1975-1976
Wisconsin Feminists Project Fund Box/Folder 1/26-27Correspondence, 1974-1979, undated Box/Folder 1/28Financial, 1974-1977, undated Box/Folder 1/29Meeting minutes, 1973-1979Box/Folder 1/30Membership and organizational materials Box/Folder 1/31Wisconsin Women's Network, 1979-1980Box/Folder 1/32Women, Historical Identity, and Challenge, 1976 
Women in Wisconsin HistoryBox/Folder 1/33Correspondence, 1974-1976, undatedBox/Folder 1/34Progress Reports, 1974-1975 Box/Folder 1/35Miscellaneous, 1975, undatedBox/Folder 1/36Women's Educational Equity Act, 1974-1976 Box/Folder 1/37Miscellaneous, 1973-1979