Jean Ford Papers
Scope and Contents
The Jean Ford Ppapers are divided into two series: "Elections," 1982-1988; and "Women's Rights Movement," 1970-1984. Series l, "Elections," contains political handouts, correspondence, clippings, and speeches for Mary L. Gojack's 1982 campaign for U.S. Congressman from Nevada and about her death in 1985; the 1988 elections for U.S. Senator and Congressman from Nevada; other 1988 local Nevada elections; and the 1988 presidential campaign.
The largest segment of the collection, Series 2, consists of pamphlets and other printed materials on women's rights issues such as the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, sex and age discrimination, education, and the legal status of women in Nevada and the United States. Series 2 includes materials dating from 1970-1984 and has been maintained in Ms. Ford's original order.
Dates
- 1970-1988
Creator
- Ford, Jean, 1929-1998 (Creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Biographical Note
Imogene Evelyn Young Ford (Jean) was born in Miami, Oklahoma on December 28, 1929 and was raised in Missouri. She married Samuel Ford on April 9, 1955 and had two daughters: Janet Ford Spelman (born 1956) and Carla Ford Oberst (born 1958). The Fords divorced in 1977.
Jean Ford received her B. A. in Sociology (cum laude) From Southern Methodist University in 1951 and her M. A. in Public Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1978. She served in the Nevada State Assembly as a Republican from 1972-1976 and as a Democrat in the Nevada State Senate from Clark County, District 3 from 1977-1982.
After serving in the Nevada Legislature, Jean continued her public service as director of the Nevada Office of Community Services (1985-1989) and acting program coordinator and instructor of the Women's Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno (1991-1995). Jean was project surveyor for the Nevada Women's Archives project from 1992-1996. She played leading roles in many community organizations over the years.
Jean Ford died of pancreatic cancer at her home in Carson City on August 26, 1998. Before her death, her oral history was recorded and published by the Oral History Program of the University of Nevada, Reno: Jean Ford: A Nevada Woman Leads the Way. (Special Collections call number: HQ 1236.5 U6 F67 1998).
Extent
2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Imogene Evelyn Young (Jean) Ford (1929-1998) served in the Nevada State Assembly (1972-19760 and in the Nevada State Senate from Clark County, District 3 (1977-1982). The collection includes clippings, correspondence, and political handouts for Mary L. Gojack's 1982 campaign for U.S. Congresswoman from Nevada, and 1988 Nevada campaigns for local and federal offices; and printed materials on the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, women's rights and legal status, age and sex discrimination, education for women, and other related women's issues in Nevada and the U.S.
Arrangement
Arranged into the following series: 1) Elections; 2) Women's Rights Movement
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Jean Ford February 28, 1989.
- Title
- Guide to the Jean Ford Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Susan Searcy
- Date
- March 1989
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Nevada, Reno. Special Collections Department Repository
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
1664 N. Virginia St.
Reno Nevada 89557-0322 USA
775-682-5665
775-682-5724 (Fax)
specoll@unr.edu