FLVC logo

Phyllis J. Hudson Collection, 1966-2006

 

Summary

Abstract:
These materials were accumulated by Phyllis J. Hudson when she was active in issues concerning women and labor. In correspondence, bibliographies, leaflets, newsletters and memorabilia, this collection documents women's concerns in employment, the Equal Rights Amendment, education, reproduction, domestic violence and women's rights. Similar materials show how organizations worked to overcome social problems, such as, homelessness and an inadequate mass transit system. Most of the labor materials concern librarians, but one folder of newsletters and correspondence documents industrial action by the United Farm Workers.
Extent:
5 Linear Feet 5 Boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Phyllis Hudson Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The materials are arranged in eight series by topic.

Series I: Employment, 1974-2000 holds materials relating to employment issues that mainly concern women but more generally affect librarians. Local organizations are represented here as well as state and national associations. Of particular interest are the large quantity of materials concerning the concept of comparable worth, which was designed to overcome a limitation of the equal pay ideal which occurs when men and women do not work in exactly the same occupations. The comparable worth philosophy compares work done solely by women with similar work done by men.

Series II: Equal Rights Amendment, 1972-2001 shows how women worked both in Florida and nationally to ratify the ERA. Florida ultimately failed to ratify the amendment despite being included in a boycott by the National Organization for Women, and some materials on these subjects may be found here. Additionally, this series includes information about support from the American Library Association.

Series III: Education, 1972-2001 provides information concerning education for women and about women. Research materials on Women's Studies Programs are held in this series with particular emphasis on the establishment of the program at UCF.

Series IV: Reproductive Issues, 1980-2006 documents local and national organizations that either support women's right to an abortion, offer advice on contraception or advocate protection against rape. The Human Life Amendments aimed to offer the unborn the full protection of the constitution.

Series V: Organizations, 1976-2006 shows the range of organizations that women formed not only to protect women's rights but also to preserve their history and to overcome social problems. All the organizations advocate either for issues that specifically concern women or for matters of interest to Floridians.

Series VI: Events, 1975-1996 holds a few materials concerning particular national and international events that advocated women's rights.

Series VII: Domestic Violence, 1995-2006 contains information about the problem of domestic violence with particular emphasis on the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Series VIII: Individual Women, 1966-1984 holds campaign materials, news clippings and research materials on three women, Jane Emmons, Fannie Lou Hamer and Sonia Johnston.

Series IX: Memorabilia, 1980-1998 holds materials such as sashes, stickers, and buttons from rallies and marches concerning women's rights, pro-abortion, and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Biographical / historical:

Phyllis J. Hudson worked as a UCF librarian for thirty-four years. Hudson interested herself in many organizations concerned with employment issues and women's rights both in libraries and in the community. From 1977-1978, she chaired the United Faculty of Florida Women's Rights Committee. She was president of the Association of College and Research Libraries Florida Chapter from 1982-1983. Hudson chaired the Florida Library Association Women in Libraries Caucus from 1981-1982 and the Collective Bargaining in Libraries Caucus from 1987-1988. She was a director of the NEA Florida Teaching Profession board from 1987-1989. Her writings include two articles in Florida Libraries entitled "Equal Pay Issue at FTU" and "Librarians Denied Sex Equality" in the May-June and November-December 1978 issues. In the Fall 1982 issue of Reach, she published "Comparable Worth".

Hudson organized a poster display and presentation at FTU in 1978 on the subject "The FTU Woman: Today's Answers, Tomorrow's Opportunities." She was on the panel at FLA Women in Libraries Caucus in 1979 and 1982; the latter on the subject of the ERA. In 1987, she spoke at the Social Responsibilities Round Table Library Union Task Force on "Academic Libraries and Union Activism: The Florida Experience". Hudson continued to be active in both the UFF and the ACRL throughout her career. In 1989, she received the UCF Excellence in Librarianship award and earned the title Emerita in 2006.

Acquisition information:
These papers were donated to the Special Collections and University Archives in 2005 (CFM2005_02).
Processing information:

Collection processed by Judith Beale; finding aid prepared by Judith Beale.

The materials were organized and rehoused in acid free folders and boxes.

Rules or conventions:
other_unmapped

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished records are protected by copyright. Permission to publish quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

Phyllis Hudson Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA