Womens

Museum of California
Archives
AC-028
Thelma Stacy Papers

Guide to AC-028 Thelma Stacy Papers
Bulk Dates 1970-1980

Title: AC-028 Thelma Stacy Papers

Accession Number: AC-028
Creator: Thelma Stacy
Prepared By: Frances Wolven
Head Archivist: Bonnie Domingos
Date Acquired: unknown
Date Processed: May 2014

Provenance: The records were located in different locations /boxes that were identified as
both as Thelma Stacy and M. Maschal. Upon appraisal after the move to NTC, the records were
assessed and understood to be created by a Thelma Stacy and believed to have been acquired by M.
Maschal. All of the personal correspondence to/from T. Stacy was located in manila envelope,
addressed to M. Maschal and stated that the letters were not to be opened until 2010. In an effort to
create some organization to the records, the collection that was identified as T. Stacy was keep
together and an order was applied. Only the correspondence found amongst M. Maschal collection,
having originating from T. Stacy was moved into her archive. No records have been found regarding
how the museum acquired this collection.

Location: WMC at Liberty Station

Administrative Information:
Access Restrictions: None
Use Restrictions: None

HISTORICAL NOTE
Thelma Stacy was born January 13th, 1934 the daughter of Ruth and Andy Roe. She
had two sisters, one who died at birth in 1929 and the other born September 4th, 1931 named
Doris Jean. Stacy also had one brother born Feb 6th, 1938 named Charles William. Before the
Great Depression, Stacys father was an oil driller and then after the depression became a
farm labourer. During her time at school, she was on the honor roll and received a scholarship
for tuition at Wayland Baptist College. She worked and went to school from 6am to 6pm six
days a week. She graduated from Control Tower School, as top honor student. From there,
she went to Kelly AFB (Air Force Base) in San Antonio Texas. Stacy met her husband
Reginald Stacy in Texas. Immediately after marrying Mr. Stacy, Stacy became pregnant at
nineteen. She developed colitis and chronic inflammation of the lining of her nose and
anaemia after her son Kents birth. Stacy developed a variety of other health issues after her
pregnancy.
Stacy joined the San Diego County Chapter of NOW in April 1972. She was a
political activist for the National organization for Women (N.O.W.) for eight years and the
National Womens Political Caucus (N.W.P.C.) for three years. Stacy coordinated successful
lobbying efforts in San Diego County for extending the time limit of ERA ratification in
1978.
In the fall of 1979, Stacy worked as a field organizer for the ERA in Chicago Illinois.
And as part of the ERA campaign, she prepared an ERA Study Kit which included a
summary of books, government documents and legal studies on the ERA. The kit was used
throughout California and in unratified states, to promote the ratification of the ERA. After
working with NOW for ten years, Stacy became ill and decided to step back from NOW. She

offered to provide workshops for the ERA at her house so other women could continue the
ERA campaign.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE:

Series I
Includes correspondence divided into five sub-series. The series are arranged chronologically.
Sub-series I contains personal correspondence between Stacy and her husband Reginald
Stacy, to her son Kent Stacy, and her friend Mary Healey. The personal correspondence to
Reginald Stacy contains personal letters written about their marriage to Thelma. She writes in
detail about arguments, her husbands verbal and physical abuses, and her plans for
separation from their marriage.
Sub-series II is personal correspondence written to Kent Stacy, where Thelma discusses the
state of her marriage. She argues with her son about his relationship with his father. The
letters she writes also reveal the tension in her and Kents relationship.
Sub-series III, includes personal correspondence from Kent Stacy. Kent writes about his
travels abroad in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. There are two letters that Kent writes (one to
Thelma and one to Reginald) that reveals his feelings about his parents marriage and his
relationship with his father.
Sub-series VI includes correspondence between Thelma and her friend Mary Healey and
focuses almost solely on Marys day-to-day life. She briefly mentions Thelma having written
to her and about Reginald. Mary writes about her health and about her two older children,
Gail and Ed Healey.
Sub-series V includes miscellaneous correspondence to and from Thelma Stacy. There are
letters to news stations, newspaper editors, and universities. The letters were arranged
individually by year, from 1951-1977.

Series II
The majority of Thelma Stacys papers are within this series. The records have been arranged
by topic because the information within the records varied to the point where it was most
logical to list the topics rather than making different sub-series. The series contains essays,
bibliographies, speeches, ERA education packet (compiled by Stacy), ERA research
materials, ERA resources, ERA task force and NOW Speakers Bureau.
This series includes essays written by Thelma Stacy and others including Aileen Lipscomb,
R.S. Grothaus and Russell Lewis. The essays discuss feminism and ERA, homemakers and
working women, equal pay for women and the history of discrimination against women to
show why the ERA was needed. It also includes a chronology of Thelmas career
development, letters of recommendation, book bibliographies for projects with the ERA task
force that involved public libraries and bookstores. Also, the book bibliographies contain lists
of books that Stacy had for personal use. In addition, there is an ERA Education Study packet
and legislation intent compiled by Thelma Stacy that was used for congress to help pass the
ERA. She also compiled research materials and resources for the ERA task force and Now
Speakers Bureau. The series contains personal Notebooks ranging from 1977-1981. The
notebooks record scheduled meetings with various people and organizations. The last set of
records in series II is resume, awards and transcripts for the International Academy of
Clinical Acupuncture. The majority of these papers reflect her personal research and work on
the ERA issue and provides in-depth information of her ongoing projects. The ERA folders
within this series contain articles and correspondence on feminism, lists of books on the
Equal Rights Amendment, questions on the ERA and essays on womens rights regarding
implementation of the ERA. They also include research and facts and figures on the ERA,
newspaper articles, and resource bibliographies on ERA prepared by San Diego County

NOW and Suggestions for Coverage on Womens Needs and Problems by the Media by
Thelma Stacy.
Series III
Series III includes interviews that were conducted for compilation of the N.O.W Herstory
book. Kathleen K. Haney, the woman who interviewed N.O.W women, compiled all of the
research about them from 1975-1979.
Names of the women interviewed are listed alphabetically and were placed within one folder.
Thelma Stacy interview was not found within this collection of records. The Herstory book
provides a history of the N.O.W organization and the projects that members were involved
with. This book can be found at the Womens Museum of Californias Library.
Series IV
Includes publications and news resources such as newspapers and newsletters published by
National N.O.W. Times, Womens Political times, Owl Observer and some miscellaneous
clippings. Newsletters include NOW San Diego County, Mormons for ERA, California
Women and miscellaneous newsletters.

Series V
Includes artifacts collected by Thelma Stacy. The artifact of highest importance is the ERA

Education Packet signed by Gloria Steinem. The artifacts were organized into groupings and
each one was given a description. The groupings include jewelry, buttons, stickers, badges,
photographs, posters and miscellaneous artifacts. The miscellaneous artifacts include pins,
hat, gloves and a banner.

CONTAINER LIST:
Box 1:
Series I. Correspondence
Sub-Series I. Personal Correspondence to Husband Reginald Stacy
Folder 1: 1975
Folder 2: 1975
Folder 3: January 13th, 1977
Folder 4: no date
Folder 5: 1983
Folder 6: 1986
Folder 7: 1992
Folder 8: no date
Folder 9: no date
Folder 10: no date

Sub-Series II. Personal Correspondence to Son Kent Stacy

Folder 11: no date
Sub-Series III. Personal Correspondence from Son Kent Stacy
Folder 12: June 23rd, 1981
Folder 13: March 4th, 1982
Folder 14: August 3rd, 1983
Folder 15: no date
Folder 16: no date
Folder 17: Oct. 27th?

Folder 18: Feb. 10th-20th, 1992?

Folder 19: Nov. 17th-Dec. 1st,?
Sub-Series IV. Personal Correspondence from Mary Healey
Folder 20: April 30th, 1969
Folder 21: Nov. 8th, 1985
Folder 22: Dec. 11th, 1985
Folder 23: Jan. 6th, 1986
Folder 24: Jan. 12th, 1986
Folder 25: Jan. 13th, 1986
Folder 26: Jan. 24th. 1986
Folder 27: Jan. 25th, 1986
Folder 28: Feb. 3rd, 1986
Folder 29: Feb. 17th, 1986
Folder 30: March 7th, 1986
Folder 31: April 3rd, 1986
Folder 32: May 14th, 1986
Folder 33: June 20th, 1986
Folder 34: July 22nd, 1986
Folder 35: no date
Sub-Series V. Misc.; Correspondence to and From Thelma Stacy
Folder 36: Aug. 13th, 1951-April 19th, 1977
Folder 37: no dates
Folder 38: no dates
Folder 39: no dates
Series II. Personal Research and Work

Folder 1: Background Case History Thelma Stacy

Folder 2: My Diary
Folder 3: Career Development and Letters of Recommendation
Folder 4: Orientation Term Paper; Heredity, Environment and Personality May 14th, 1952
Wayland Baptist College
Folder 5: Essays
Folder 6: Books, Bibliography
Folder 7: Books, Bibliography
Folder 8: Books
Folder 9: Books, Bibliography
Folder 10: Books, Bibliography
Folder 11: Books, Bibliography
Box 2:
Folder 12: Books, Bibliography
Folder 13: Books, Bibliography
Folder 14: Speeches
Folder 15: ERA Education Packet and Legislative Intent
Folder 16: ERA Research Material
Folder 17: ERA Resources
Folder 18: ERA Task Force
Folder 19: NOW Speakers Bureau

Folder 20: Personal Notebook 1977

Folder 21: Personal Notebook March 1977- March 1978
Folder 22: Personal Notebook March 1978- September 1978
Folder 23: Personal Notebook April 1979- Spring 1981
Folder 24: Personal Notebook 1981
Folder 25: Personal Notebook April 1981
Folder 26: Resume and Awards and Transcripts International Academy of Clinical
Acupuncture
Folder 27: Misc.; Personal Ephemera
Series III. Interviews for NOW Herstory Book
Folder 1 of 1: Berkouf, Rose
Crane, Grandin Julianne
Casale, Joan
Chacon, Estelle
Ewing, Radlow Ann
Gleason, Jan
Hrycyszyn, Patricia
Johnson, Gloria
Porte, Ruth
Petrosian, Sylvia
Riddle, January
Rosselli, Judith
Schuchman, Brina Rae

Stern, Jean
Wilson, J. Jacquelyn
Box 3:
Series IV. Publications and News Resources
Sub-Series I. Newspapers
Folder 1: National NOW Times May 1979-April 1991
Folder 2: Womens Political Times April 1979-1989
Folder 3: Owl Observer Dec. 1985-Aug. 1986
Folder 4: Misc.; Newspaper Clippings
Sub-Series II. Newsletters
Folder 5: NOW San Diego County March 18th, 1973-Feb. 1986
Folder 6: Mormons For ERA Fall 1985-Spring 1986
Folder 7: California Women Fall 1977-June 1980
Folder 8: Misc.; Newsletters
Sub-Series III. Various Organizations
Folder 9: The Spirit of Houston: The First National Womens Conference Official Report
1978
Folder 10: NOW Accomplishments
Folder 11: Real Women, Real Lives: Marriage, Divorce, Widowhood.
Folder 12: Playgirl Sept. 1973
Folder 13: Civil Rights Digest Winter 1978
Folder 14: Shana Alexanders State-By-State Guide to Womens Legal Rights
Folder 15: Time Magazine 1972-1982
Folder 16: Misc.; Publications
Folder 17: Misc.; Pamphlets

Box 4:
Series V. Artifacts
Photographs
1. Photograph- To Thelma. Babs. Woman in full air force uniform. Black and white
photograph.
2. Photograph-Mary Healey. Dog and cat with Mary on her bed.
3. Photograph-Mary Healeys kids-Eddie and Gail. Summer of 82.
4. Photograph-Denise Gregor-Hallich (?), W.V. January, 1978. Shovelling snow.
Buttons
1. Button-yellow with black letters. Support Life Illegal Abortions Kill Women.
2. Button-white with red letters. If Home is His Castle Let Him Clean It. Womens
Graphics. (213) 935-1568.
3. Button-white with blue letters. Im Pro-Choice and I Vote.
4. Button-white with purple letters. November 12th Mobilize for Womens Lives. Across
the USA and Washington, D.C.
5. Button-Green? with black letters. A man of quality is not threatened by a woman of
equality.
6. Button-swirl (prism). Inside a bag.
7. Button-National Womens Political Caucus logo; NWPC.
8. Button-blue with red letters. January 22nd, 1973 Reproductive Choice. Navy blue
flowers.
9. Button-white (with a brown stain) and red letters. Equal.
10. Button-yellow with maroon letters. New Directions for women. Some leaders are born
women.

11. Button-A New Day Beyond ERA. Orange and yellow letters. Orange and yellow on
button.
Necklaces
1. Necklace-two sides. First side: Failure is Impossible. Second side: Never Another
Season of Silence. 1966. Group of women raising a symbol: circle with two lines and a cross
underneath.
2. Necklace-Failure is Impossible. Woman holding American flag and holding a piece of
parchment that says ERA.
3. Necklace-Womens Bicentennial. 2776-1976. Woman holding American flag and a
piece of parchment that says ERA. No chain attached.
4. Necklace-Never Another Season of Silence. 1966. Group of women raising a symbol:
circle with two lines and a cross underneath. Backside: Failure is Impossible.
5. Necklace-two signs for female.
6. Necklace-quarter dollar. Gold. Liberty. 1979. Stars. Woman. In God We Trust.
Backside: United States of America. Stars. Eagle. One dollar.
7. Necklace-letters ERA.
8. Necklace. Gold. Owl encircled in female symbol (?)

Badges
1. Badge? Thelma Stacy San Diego County. San Diego California. A man and woman
pictured. Man has a poncho (?) over his shoulder and he is holding a guitar. The woman has
her hand raised and is wearing a big hat w/ shirt and shorts. Top left-hand corner: picture of a
tower w/ trees.
2. Badge- Thelma Stacy San Diego County. San Diego California. A man and woman
pictured. Man has a poncho (?) over his shoulder and he is holding a guitar. The woman has

her hand raised and is wearing a big hat w/ shirt and shorts. Top left-hand corner: picture of a
tower w/ trees. San Diego County Thelma Stacy San Diego.
3. Badge-8th National NOW Conference. October 24-27, 1975. Philadelphia, pa. Its Our
Revolution NOW. 8507. Thelma Stacy San Diego NOW. NOW logo surrounded by stars
and cross.
4. Badge-Countdown to Equality. 1981 National NOW Conference. Washington, D.C.
Member. Thelma, Stacy. NOW logo.
5. Badge-Thelma Stacy. Admin. VP. San Diego County NOW.
6. Badge-Los Angeles. City for All Seasons. Birds of paradise. Thelma Stacy. Sticker 106.
7. Badge-NWPC (National Womens Political Caucus) logo. LTA (?) logo. Local 11509.
Thelma Stacy NWPC, ERA Coordinator.
8. Badge-Thelma Stacy. San Diego, Long Beach. Drawing of boat on water.
9. Badge-Thelma Stacy. Speakers Bureau.
10. Badge-8th Regional Conference on Women and the Law 1978. Thelma Stacey San Diego,
Ca. Panellist. October 27-29. Western State University College of Law. 1333 Front Street.
San Diego, California. 92101. (714) 232-2636.
11. Badge-Thelma Stacy. San Diego County Chapter NOW. Blue stripes.
12. Badge-Thelma Stacey. Spring Learning. April 28-30, 1978. San Diego, Calif. Picture of
sunrise inside a raindrop with a butterfly.
13. Badge-14th National Conference. Countdown to Equality. Washington, DC.-1981.
NOW logo top left-hand corner. Thelma Stacy San Diego, Cal. Delegate Signature: Thelma
Stacy. Cred. Comm.: UT. Delegate No.: 0545. Picture of Thelma Stacy lower left-hand
corner. Red background. She is wearing yellow and green.

Stickers

1. Sticker-Mens Rights and nothing more. Womens rights and nothing less.-S.B.
Anthony. Era on the side. NWPC-SDC logo underneath quote.
2. Sticker-four stickers-Support ERA.
3. Sticker-Green. ERA Yes.
4. Sticker-roll of stickers. Needs tape.
5. Sticker-Vote Choice. National Womens Political Caucus. NWPC logo. 1275 K Street,
N.W. Suite 750. Washington, DC. 20005. (202)898-1100.
6. Sticker-Picture of Earth. I Support Greenpeace. Orange and green letters. 1990. Post
office box 3720 Washington D.C. 20007.
7. Sticker-ERA Yes. Green circle. White letters.
8. Sticker-Symbol for female in blue and white. Blue and white owl. Older Womens League.
730 11th Street NW Suite 300. Washington, DC. 20001-4512.
9. Sticker-Public citizen logo. Red and blue. Naders Raiders. Red and blue. Fighting for
Better Government and Public Safety. Black letters. 2000 P Street, N.W., Suite 605,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
10. Sticker-Page of seven stickers. Black and white letters. Black and white stickers.
11. Sticker-Sticker-Thelma Stacy. Post-It-Note: Men Have Only Two Faults: Everything
They Say and Everything They Do. p-713. Copyright 1986. 3M.

Posters
1. Poster-I want to be an outrageous old woman who is never accused of being an old lady. I
want to get leaner and meaner. Sharp-eyed, color of the earth. Til I discorporate from sheer
joy. Anonymous. Brown paper. Gold letters.
2. Poster-red poster: Thelma is off and Away. Red letters. Plane. Winning of the ERA.
Written on the plane.

3. Poster-blue poster. Illinois will be in for a big surprise, when Thelma-our Grand Orator,
and Organizerarrives. Woman in black on a black staircase wearing pearls pictured.
Phyllisget ready for your demise. Red letters.
4. Poster-green poster. Theres been many a time her body gives her flackBut she
miraculously always bounces back! Woman on a bed covered in a sheet pictured below.
5. Poster-orange poster. She never loses a fight! black letters. Woman hanging from
handles (?) swinging. When she knows, shes right. Orange letters.
6. Poster-yellow poster. Picture of a woman in a field of yellow flowers with a dress and
riding and on a white horse. Once again to save the Day and the ERA. Black letters.
7. Poster-pink poster. Thelma knows the score, and will accept tokenism no more! comic
pictured below Marlette by Doug Marlette. Picture of Uncle Sam talking to a woman
scrubbing floor wearing an ERA pin.
8. Poster-red poster: Your persistence and power packed dedication will be rewardedwhen
womens place in the Constitutionis awarded. Picture of a crowd below. Thank-You
Thelma! Well always remember, love and respect youyour feminist sisters.

Frames-set of frames (3)

1. Arab woman of Lake Huleh (Holy Land). Singed Southby. Back: One of a series of four
drawings made from traditional costumes of the Holy Land and donated by S. Southby Cards
printed for and sold by United Nations Relief and Words Agency Womens Auxiliary for the
benefit of its Arab Refugee Charities. Printed in Lebanon by La Serigraphie. Frame size:
4x6.
2. Arab woman of Ramallah (near Jerusalem). Two of three frames. Frame size: 4x6.
3. Arab Woman of Bethlehem. Three of three frames. Frame size: 4x6.
Note w/ frames: To Mary from Brina-Rae.

Obituary Materials
1. Obituary Materials-We Remember our Sister set of five. Purple and gold. Purple and
yellow flowers.
2. Obituary-We Remember Our Sister Thelma Stacy 1934-1995.
Miscellaneous Artifacts
1. Pin?-door with lock and chain across. 1977 engraved on back hinge. NWPC(?) engraved
on opposite back hinge.
2. Medal? Necklace?-Gold. Woman with headband(?) Crown (?) says Kellog and Co.
Surrounded by stars. 1854.
3. Pin-Green with white and gold letters. NOW National Organization for Women.
4. Heart. Gold.
5. Small purse. Floral design. Zipper.
6. Hat-White with American flag. America 3 The Womens Team Americas Cup 1995.
Faded rim.
7. Gloves-pair of gloves. Lace or knitted gloves? White.
8. Banner? 39 Alive Supports This Effort. San Diego Advisory Committee. P.O. Box 9752
San Diego, Ca. 92109. (714) 283-5143. Heavily stained and yellowed. On back: National
Womens Conference Hareston 1977.
9. Sign-sign. Handwritten on white cloth. Reads: Stay Out of My Bedroom.
10. Matches-matches encased in small plastic bag. President of the United States seal.
Backside: Jimmy Carter.
11. Sash? National ERA March 78. Gold sash with purple lettering. Torn and stained with
holes.
12. Bag-dollar printed on all sides. Please do not cut bag when opening. Return to U.S. Mint
Denver. Dollar. $2000 . 1979. Marked fromink? Stained on the front.

13. Decoration? Bird. Two lines painted on tail and womens symbol on front.
14. Small bag. Sugar packets. Famous women throughout history pictured on packets. Facts
about Outstanding American Women. on the back of each sugar packet. Sugar. Packed by
I.A.M. Perrysburg, Ohio. 43551.
15. Plaque. Pink. Hook. An 80s Woman. Poem. Blue and green squiggles (flowers?) .
1984. Hallmark Cards, Inc. Sticker on the back: Hallmark plaque logo. DE8084. Made in
U.S.A.
16. Sign-I will live to see womens spirit sweep over the Earth like wildfire: out of mens
control, untameable, cleansing, renewing, awaking. I will live to see women walking hand in
hand the world over. I will live to see us free! paper. Handwritten in blue ink.
17. Program-A Memorial Service for Women who have been victims of a sexist society. St.
Johns Episcopal Church Charleston, W.V. November 12th, 1977.
18. Program-A Memorial Service for Women who have been victims of a sexist society. St.
Johns Episcopal Church Charleston, W.V. November 12th, 1977.