The Kenosha NOW records are a small, incomplete collection. Basic organizational documentation such as chapter minutes, a constitution, officers' correspondence, financial records, and membership records are almost entirely missing, but the collection does include a large number of newsletters and other publications published or distributed by the local chapter, newspaper clippings, and activity files. Together, these materials provide good coverage of the organization's history. The primary exception is the absence of records from the early years. As a result, there is very little information on the circumstances that led to the chapter's formation in 1972. Furthermore, the earliest newsletter is the November, 1973 issue and the next in the file is dated May, 1975. Thereafter, the newsletter coverage is relatively complete through 1987. Coverage in the clippings is also spotty. Other publications include pamphlets printed or distributed by the local chapter. Of special interest is “The Personal Side of...,” which includes personal biographies by several members written during the early 1970s. Basic organizational records that are present include by-laws, meeting agendas (1982-1985 only), and fragmentary officers' correspondence.
The activity files include handouts for the Advance weekends of 1976 to 1978 and other retreats for planning and consciousness raising. This file also contains a survey about the attitudes of Kenosha NOW members taken at an undated Advance meeting. There are also scripts, an 8mm film, clippings, and publicity materials concerning the 1976 Mr. Equal Rights Beauty Pageant, and correspondence with the La Crosse NOW chapter about how to conduct such an event. Also included are mayoral proclamations for several equal rights days. Photographs received with the collection include color snapshots of participation in various unidentified rallies.
On tape is a talk by Mary Jean Collins-Robson of the national NOW organization regarding NOW's actions in opposing the discriminatory employment policies of the Sears company. This talk is undated but it appears to have been presented to an audience that included Kenosha area NOW members. Also included on 6 tapes is a 1975 institute on women's issues held at Mount St. Mary College in Milwaukee. The relationship of the Kenosha organization to this conference is unknown.
