Title: Women Against Rape Records
Inclusive Dates: 1975-1993

Creator:

• Women Against Rape (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 352

Quantity:

• 10.5 cubic ft. (14 boxes)
• 1,376 digital files (40.7 GB)
• 1 oversize folder
• 3 rolls

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Locations:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Minutes, correspondence, proposals, newsletters, news clippings, case files, print materials, and artifacts from Women Against Rape (WAR). WAR's activities included advocating for adult and child survivors of rape and sexual abuse, establishing an anti-rape unit in the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), and educating professionals, children, and the public on sexual violence prevention and intervention. The bulk of the records date from 1979 to 1984.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0352

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Women Against Rape (WAR) was founded in Milwaukee by Patty Dow and Virginia Link in or around 1979. WAR was a local feminist organization that worked to change how local communities, schools, and legal institutions viewed and treated adults and children who were victims of sexual abuse, assault, and rape. WAR's guiding philosophies were direct action and consciousness-raising, which were typical strategies for feminist organizations in the 1970s.

In 1979, Link organized WAR after reading a news story about a woman who was raped while out jogging. Detectives from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) vice squad, who investigated rape cases, responded to the incident with a statement that women should not be running alone.

Link gathered a group to protest victim-blaming; their slogan was: "Cut it out or we will cut it off." WAR argued that rape should not be associated with vice because it is a violent act alike physical assault. They recommended that the MPD perform outreach to rape victims in order to increase the numer of reported and prosecuted rape cases. WAR gathered over 9,000 signatures demanding an anti-rape unit in the MPD, leading to the successful establishment of such a unit.

WAR conducted court watches in the Milwaukee family court system after women spoke to the organization about their experiences with their children in family court. WAR found that there was a level of tolerance of sexual violence within the family. For example, in custody cases, if there was evidence that the father sexually abused his child, he would still be granted custody of the child. In 1981, WAR met with attorneys and representatives from Child Protective Services to gather more information on how cases of child sexual abuse and assault were handled in the Milwaukee family court system. The next year, WAR trained Family Court professionals and other medical and mental health personnel on how to better serve mothers and children in Family Court.

WAR served on MPS's sex education board, called the Human Growth and Development Task Force, to develop MPS's sex education curriculum. WAR designed a prevention model that involved parental and teacher involvement, as well as abuse and assault prevention curriculum. WAR also offered rape and assault prevention and rapist identification workshops to women, encouraged women to join WAR and get involved in protests and rallies, and organized female neighborhood patrols to thwart rapists. In 1983, WAR applied for a grant from the City of Milwaukee to continue its mission, but was denied funding. Due to the lack of funds, WAR disbanded in 1984.

Most WAR materials date from 1979 to 1984. The collection includes flyers, correspondence, meeting minutes, background research, and proposal for the anti-rape unit. Also included are general meeting minutes, correspondence, background research, grant proposals, newsletters, photographs, flyers, posters, rape and assault cases, as well as restricted surveys and questionnaires completed by victims and MPS students. Background research materials include news clippings, publications, and articles on various rape and assault cases, court proceedings, WAR protests, and public perception and opinion on sexual violence.

Documents on direct action and feminist consciousness-raising are also in the collection. Other administrative records include articles of incorporation, by-laws, and a brief history of WAR's early years. Artifacts include WAR t-shirts, banners, and anatomically correct instructional dolls. The dolls were used primarily to teach the parts of the body taught in the first volume of a sex education program developed by MPS called The Four Elements of Prevention: An Abuse and Assault Prevention Program for Children and Adults.

The files are organized alphabetically by personal name or by subject, then chronologically.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• National Organization for Women. Milwaukee Chapter: Records. Milwaukee Mss 176.

• Women's Coalition, Inc. (Milwaukee, Wis.). Milwaukee Mss 177.

Access Restrictions

Boxes 9-10 are restricted. The Wisconsin Constitution, Art. I § 9m and Chapter 950 and 48 of the Wisconsin Statutes specifically recognize the rights of privacy and dignity for children, and crime victims and their families. Please contact the Archives for additional information. Handling of the artifacts (boxes 12-14 and rolls 1-3) requires the assistance of an archivist. There are no access restrictions on the rest of the collection, which is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Virginia Ray donated the collection to the Archives in June 2017 (accession 2016-050).

Processing Information

Phyllis Reske processed the collection at the Archives from September through December 2017 (Christel Maass supervised).

UWM Manuscript Collection 352	Records, 1975-1993 Physical Description: 10.5 cubic ft. (14 boxes); 1,376 digital files (40.7 GB); 1 oversize folder; 3 rolls
Box   1 Folder   1	Accomplishments and Activities, 1979-1983
Box   13-14	Anatomically Correct Instructional Dolls, undated
	Anti-Rape Unit
	Background Research
Box   1 Folder   2	1974-1986
Box   1 Folder   3	Local and State Legislative Information, 1979-1984
Box   1 Folder   4	Milwaukee Police Department, 1978-1982
Box   1 Folder   5	Bulletins, Press Releases, and Public Service Announcements, 1980-1981
	Direct Action Tactics, undated
Electronic Folder     \Box01\   Folder06\	Digital Physical Description: 247 digital files (1.95 GB)
Box   1 Folder   6	Physical
	Fire and Police Commission
Box   1 Folder   7	Appointment Campaign, 1979-1981
Box   1 Folder   8	Complaint Protocols, 1977
Box   1 Folder   9	Flyers, 1980
Box   1 Folder   10	Meeting Minutes, 1979-1981
	News Clippings
Box   2 Folder   1-3	1979-1988, 1993
Box   2 Folder   4	undated
Box   2 Folder   5	Newsletters, 1979-1980
Box   11 Folder   4	Political Candidate Scorecard, 1980
Box   2 Folder   6	Position Papers, undated
Box   2 Folder   7	Resolutions from Sexism Workshop, 1979
Box   2 Folder   8	Speeches, undated
Box   11 Folder   5	Survey of Anti-Rape Unit in Different Locality, undated
Box   2 Folder   9	Unit Components, 1980
Box   2 Folder   10-11	Unit Proposal, 1979
Box   2 Folder   12	The "Women Against Rape" Campaign for an Anti-Rape Unit: A Case Study in Combative Persuasion, 1980
Box   2 Folder   13	Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and History, 1979-1981
Box   2 Folder   14	Assault and Rape Cases, 1981-1982
Box   2 Folder   15	Award from Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus, 1981
	Background Research
Box   3 Folder   1	1975-1984
Box   3 Folder   2-3	undated
Box   3 Folder   4	News Clipping Analysis and Notes, 1979-1984
Box   3-4	Publications, 1979-1984
	Banners
Roll   2	"An Attack on One Will be Answered by All," undated Physical Description: Tan quilt with brown lettering, 90" x 46"
Roll   1	"Rape or Threat of Rape Does not Have to be a Fact of Life for Women," undated Physical Description: Red cotton blend with black lettering, 107" x 44"
Roll   3	Women Against Rape, undated Physical Description: Black spray paint on fuscia satin blend, 50" x 44"
Box   4 Folder   1	Budgets and Financial Procedures Manual, 1981-1984
Box   4 Folder   2	Child Abuse and Assault Prevention Program, Hillside Community Center, 1983-1984
Box   4 Folder   3	Child Abuse and Assault Workshops, Evaluations, 1982-1983
Box   4 Folder   4	Child Assault Prevention Adult Workshop, 1979
Box   4 Folder   5	Conferences and Workshops, 1982-1983
	Correspondence
Box   4 Folder   6	1979-1981
Box   5 Folder   1	1982-1983, 1987
Box   5 Folder   2	Quintin Dailey Protest, 1982
Box   11 Folder   1	Evaluation of Sexual Assault Seminar, 1982
Box   5 Folder   3	Fact Sheets and Position Papers, 1979-1981
	Family Court
	Background Research
Box   5 Folder   4	Institutional and Legal, 1979-1982
Box   5 Folder   5	Local and State Agencies, 1982
Box   5 Folder   6	undated
Box   10 Folder   1	Child Sexual Abuse Court Case, Family Court Petition, 1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   5 Folder   7	Correspondence, 1982-1983, 1993
Box   5 Folder   8	Evaluation of the Legal and Existing Social Services System, undated
Box   5 Folder   9	Experience of the Incest Survivor, Workshop at UWM, 1982
Box   5 Folder   10	Flyers, 1982-1983
Box   5 Folder   11	Grant Proposal and Progess Report to the Common Council Task Force on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, 1982
Box   5 Folder   12	Inservice Training Handouts on Child Sexual Abuse to Family Court Commissioners and Counselors, 1982
Box   5 Folder   13	Institutional Changes Required Within the Family Court System for the Fair Adjucation of Abuse, Assault, and Neglect Complaints, 1983
Box   5 Folder   15	Manslaughter, Book Report, undated
Box   5 Folder   16	Meeting Minutes, 1982-1983
Box   6 Folder   1	News Clippings, 1979-1984, 1992
Box   6 Folder   2	Political Platform, Election, 1980
Box   11 Folder   7	Why "Joint Custody" is Not in the Child's Best Interest, Bulletin, 1983
	Flyers
	1979-1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Folder03\	Digital Physical Description: 55 digital files (5.43 GB)
Box   6 Folder   3	Physical
Box   11 Folder   2	1982
	The Four Elements of Prevention: An Abuse and Assault Prevention Program for Children and Adults
	Draft and Corrections, 1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Folder04\	Digital Physical Description: 116 digital files (2.85 GB)
Box   6 Folder   4	Physical
	Volume 1: Awareness, 1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Volume01\	Digital Physical Description: 148 digital files (5.04 GB)
Box   6	Physical
	Volume 2: Protection Skills, 1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Volume02\	Digital Physical Description: 97 digital files (3.38 GB)
Box   6	Physical
	Volume 3: Empowerment, 1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Volume03\	Digital Physical Description: 129 digital files (4.31 GB)
Box   6	Physical
	Volume 4: Resocialization, 1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Volume04\	Digital Physical Description: 170 digital files (5.83 GB)
Box   6	Physical
	Grant Proposals
	1981-1983
Electronic Folder     \Box06\   Folder05\	Digital Physical Description: 131 digital files (3.14 GB)
Box   6 Folder   5	Physical
Box   7 Folder   1-2	Campaign for Human Development, 1981-1983
Box   7 Folder   3	How to Organize a Protective Association, undated
Box   7 Folder   4	Job Descriptions, undated
Box   10 Folder   2	Lawsuit Against Policeman from the Milwaukee Police Department, 1980 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   11 Folder   3	Letter to the Editor on Joint Custody, 1986
Box   7 Folder   5	Long-Term Goals, 1980-1982
Box   7 Folder   6	Meeting Minutes, 1979-1983
	News Clippings
Box   7 Folder   7	1979-1991
	undated
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder01\	Digital Physical Description: 32 digital files (2.18 GB)
Box   8 Folder   1	Physical
Box   8 Folder   2	News Releases and Public Service Announcements, 1980-1983
Box   8 Folder   3	Newsletters, 1980-1983
Box   8 Folder   4	Organizational Structure and Principles, 1980
Box   8 Folder   5	Outline for a WAR Speech, undated
Box   8 Folder   6	Pamphlet, undated
Box   9 Folder   1	Personnel Information, 1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   10 Folder   3	Petition to Stop Release of Rape and Murder Suspect, 1981 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   8 Folder   7	Photographs, undated
Oversize Folder   1	Posters, undated
Box   9 Folder   2	Rape and Murder Cases, 1979-1981 Access Restrictions: Restricted
	Report of the Committee to Study Human Growth and Development/Human Sexuality, 1982
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder08\	Digital Physical Description: 47 digital files (1.86 GB)
Box   8 Folder   8	Physical
	Report to the Members, 1980-1983
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder09\	Digital Physical Description: 22 digital files (586 MB)
Box   8 Folder   9	Physical
	Retreat, 1982
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder10\	Digital Physical Description: 11 digital files (256 MB)
Box   8 Folder   10	Physical
	Sex Education in the Milwaukee Public Schools, 1982
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder11\	Digital Physical Description: 18 digital files (444 MB)
Box   8 Folder   11	Physical
	Simon Says Yes, Simon Says No: A Coloring Book, 1981
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder12\	Digital Physical Description: 25 digital files (617 MB)
Box   8 Folder   12	Physical
	Speaker and Supporter Lists, 1979
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder13\	Digital Physical Description: 10 digital files (244 MB)
Box   8 Folder   13	Physical
Box   8 Folder   14	Speeches, undated
	Survivor Information
Box   9 Folder   3	Assault and Rape Cases, 1981 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   4-5	Assault and Stalking Cases, 1981-1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   6	Child Abuse Case, 1982-1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   7	Child Assault Prevention Project, Evaluations by Students, 1982 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   8-9	Child Sexual Abuse Court Cases, 1979-1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   10	Child Sexual Assault Case, MPS, 1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   8 Folder   15	Feminist Consciousness Raising Materials, 1979-1980, 1984
Box   9 Folder   11	Juvenile Delinquency Court Case, 1996 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   9 Folder   12	Questionnaires, 1983 Access Restrictions: Restricted
Box   8 Folder   16	Take Back the Night, Questionnaire Results, 1979
Box   12	T-shirts, undated
Box   8 Folder   17	Therapist Directory, 1982
	Treatment Training in Child Sexual Abuse Cases, 1982
Electronic Folder     \Box08\   Folder18\	Digital Physical Description: 109 digital files (2.61 GB)
Box   8 Folder   18	Physical
Box   11 Folder   6	Victimization Questionnaires, 1979