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Title: North Dakota Right to Life Association Records
Dates: 1949-1982
Collection Number: 10410
Quantity: 12 feet
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the North Dakota Right To Life Association Records as a gift from the Association on February 21, 1984, and October 24, 1985. This collection was processed and the inventory prepared by Karen Mund, Grace Wanttaja, and Kari Rombs Kohlhoff in August 1988.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: The North Dakota Right to Life Association has dedicated such copyrights as it possesses in this collection to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the researcher.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Material:
30181 Governor Arthur A. Link Records, 1947-1981, 328 ft.
31439 Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health, Special projects of regional and national significance files, 1973-1980, 1 ft.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
A non-profit, non-sectarian organization committed to informing and educating the general public, the North Dakota Right to Life Association was organized in November of 1970. Its first officers were: Dr. Albert Fortman, chairman; Marty Lunch, vice-chairman; Karen Larson, secretary; and Frank Kadlec, treasurer. The Association was formed in response to a perceived need to reawaken the values of North Dakotans in regard to the value of human life and the abortion issue. Initial guidance and financial assistance for the Association came from the North Dakota Catholic Conference. Later the North Dakota State Council of the Knights of Columbus also aided the Association's cause.
As popular support for the Association's purpose grew in the early 1970s, local chapters were established across the state. In 1972 an initiated measure which would have allowed licensed physicians to terminate pregnancy, provided certain pre-conditions were met, was placed on the November ballot; the measure was rejected by approximately 77% of those voting. This pro-life victory was nullified by the United States Supreme Court in January 1973 with its decision in Roe vs. Wade.
Subsequent to the Supreme Court decision, the North Dakota Right to Life Association joined with similar organizations to form a national organization, the National Right to Life Committee. Dr. Albert Fortman, then chairman of the North Dakota association, participated directly in the formation of the National Right to Life Committee and served on its first Executive Committee. In the meantime the Association launched within the state "... a vast legislative program designed to protect the unborn to the fullest possible extent permitted..." by the Roe vs. Wade decision. The Association also supported efforts to pass a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, which would have restored to the federal government and to the various states the legal right to control the abortion procedure, and a Human Life Statute subject to Supreme Court review.
The Association's efforts were originally carried out by an Executive Secretary and two action committees: Education and Finance. A Legislative Committee was added later. An Advisory Committee, comprised of religious educators, attorneys, and physicians, was also formed to assist the Association. The North Dakota Right to Life Association is headquartered in Bismarck, with members representing all areas of the state.
Source: North Dakota Right to Life Association Records, 1949-1982, 7.5 ft., 10410.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The North Dakota Right To Life Association Records date from 1949 to 1982, the bulk of material dating from 1970 to 1972, and measure 7 ½ ft. This collection documents the organization of and activities pursued by the Association to fulfill its purpose of informing and educating the general public on questions related to the value of human life. The records relate primarily to the 1972 abortion initiative campaign.
The records of the North Dakota Right to Life Association consist of minutes and subject files. The minutes date from 1970 to 1973 and consist of three file folders. Containing minutes of the Board of Directors meetings, these three folders document the Association's concerns and activities, including campaign strategies, annual conventions, conferences, elections of officers, employment interviews, finances and fund raising, and public relations activities. Included with the minutes are agenda, memoranda, and financial reports. The minutes are arranged chronologically.
The subject files date from 1949 to 1982, the bulk of files dating from 1970 to 1972, and measure approximately 7.5 ft. An appointment book, several card files, clippings, correspondence, two desk calendars of the executive director, several legislative bills and court briefs, mailing lists, pamphlets, petitions, out-of-state publications, a questionnaire, speeches, surveys, and one oversize file make up the subject files. Subjects of interest include the 1972 abortion initiative; birth control; local chapters and memberships; legislative candidates' positions; public relations; the theological, medical, and legal aspects of abortion; and women's liberation. The subject files are arranged alphabetically by keyword.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Minutes
Box 1:
1 Board of Directors Minutes 1970-1972
2 Board of Directors Minutes 1970-1972
3 Board of Directors Minutes 1973
Subject Files
4 Abortion Clinic Regulations 1973
5 Abortion Initiative 1969-1972
6 Abortion Initiative 1970-1972
7 Abortion Initiative 1972
8 Abortion Initiative 1972
9 Adoption 1972
10 Appointment Book 1972
11 Arback, Dan 1972-1973
12 Attorneys 1971-1972
13 Bibliographies and Reference Meetings 1970
14 Bills and Receipts 1970-1972
15 Birth Control and Family Planning 1970-1973
16 Birthright 1971-1972
17 Bismarck Diocese CCD Teacher Training 1968-1969
18 Board of Directors Agenda and Memoranda 1972
19 Books and Tapes Lists 1970
20 Candidates' Positions on Abortion 1972
21 Candidates' Statements 1972
22 Catholic Conference 1972-1973
23 Catholic Parishes 1971-1972
24 Chapter and County Chairpersons 1972
25 Chapter Contacts 1971
26 Chapter Members, Various 1972-1973
27 Chapter Organization Information 1971
28 Chapter Organization Information
29 Chapters
30 Chapters Correspondence 1970
Chapters, Local
31 Beach
32 Berlin 1972
33 Bismarck 1972
34 Carrington
35 Center
36 Devils Lake 1972
37 Dickinson 1971-1972
38 Fargo 1972
39 Garrison 1972
40 Glen Ullin 1972
41 Grafton 1972
42 Grand Forks 1972
43 Jamestown 1972
44 Langdon 1972
45 Linton and Emmons County 1972
46 Minot 1972
47 Mott
48 Napoleon 1972
49 Park River 1972
50 Richardton 1972
51 Rugby 1972
52 Wahpeton 1972
53 Williston 1972
54 Chapters, Potential 1972
55 Circle of Life Bracelets 1973
Box 2:
1 Clergy Conference, General Information 1972
2 Clippings 1971-1972
3 Clippings 1972
4 Clippings 1961-1973
5 Clippings 1967-1974
6 Contributions 1970-1972
7 Contributions
8 Convention, National 1972
9 Convention, North Dakota, Attendance 1972-1973
10 Corporation, Legal 1970
11 Correspondence 1970-1971
12 Correspondence 1970-1972
13 Correspondence 1970-1972
14 Correspondence 1972
15 Correspondence 1974
16 Correspondence 1974
17 Democratic Party Platform 1976
18 Dentists 1971-1972
19 Desk Calendar 1972
20 Desk Calendar 1972
21 Desk Calendar 1972
22 Desk Calendar 1972
23 Dickinson Area Card File 58601
Box 3:
1 Dickinson Area Card File 58601
2 Dickinson Area Card File 58601
3 Directory, Right To Life, State
4 Editorials 1949-1971
5 Education Directory 1972
6 England, Abortion in 1969-1970
7 Euthanasia 1970-1971
8 Expense Books, Dan Arbach 1972
9 Expense Books, Russ Wilhelm 1972
10 Financial Data 1972
11 Fortman, Dr. Albert 1970-1972
12 History, North Dakota Right to Life 1972-1981
13 Hodgson, Dr. Jane Elizabeth 1970-1971
14 Hospital Administrators 1971
15 Humanizing the Abortion Issue 1969-1970
16 "Hymn of Life (The Song of the Unborn)" 1972
17 "In Defense of Life" 1970
18 Insurance 1971
19 Japan, Abortion in 1967-1970
20 Jaycees 1972
21 Judicial Opinion 1968-1971
22 Knights of Columbus 1972
23 Knights of Columbus Information Kit 1973
24 Knights of Columbus State Council 1972
25 Laws Concerning Abortion 1970-1972
26 Layouts 1970-1971
27 Leases, Contracts and Office Equipment 1972
28 Legal Action 1979-1982
29 Legal Action 1982
30 Legal and Legislative Action 1967-1970
31 Legal Aspects 1964-1971
32 Legislation 1973
Box 4:
1 Legislation Proposed 1967
2 Legislation, Various States' 1964-1971
3 Legislative Committee 1969-1971
4 Legislative Data 1967-1971
5 Legislators 1972
6 Liberalized Abortion 1970-1972
7 Long, John and Christine 1974
8 "Love for Life from Beginning to End"
9 Magill, Frank 1972
10 Mailing and Membership Information 1972
11 Mailing List
12 Mailing List
13 Mailing List, Bulk 1973
14 Mailing List, Parish 1971-1972
15 Mailing List, Removed from 1972
16 Mailing List to Parishes 1972-1973
17 Mailing List Updating 1972
18 Manuals on Action
19 "Maude" Television Episode 1973
20 Medical Aspects 1970
21 Medical Aspects 1967-1972
22 Members, Friends, and Telephone List 1971
23 Memberships 1972
24 Memberships 1972
25 Memberships by Locale A-H
26 Memberships by Locale I-U
27 Memberships by Locale V-Z
28 Memberships, New 1972-1973
29 Memberships, Paid 1972-1978
30 Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life 1968
31 Minot Area Card File, 58701
32 Minot Area Card File, 58701
33 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1970-1972
Box 5:
1 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1970-1972
2 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1971-1972
3 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1971-1972
4 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1971-1972
5 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1971-1972
6 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1972
7 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1970-1973
8 Miscellaneous Information and Handouts 1972-1973
9 Morality 1971
10 Name Lists 1971-1972
11 Name Lists, Master 1970-1971
12 National Right to Life Committee 1970-1972
13 National Right to Life Committee 1970-1972
14 National Right to Life Committee 1972
15 National Right to Life Committee 1972
16 New York, Abortion in 1970
17 News Media 1971
18 News Releases 1970-1971
19 News Releases 1972
20 Newsletters, Outside 1970
21 Newsletters, Outside 1971
Box 6:
1 Newsletters, Outside 1971-1972
2 Newsletters, Outside 1971-1972
3 Newsletters, Rough Copies 1976
4 Newspapers in North Dakota 1972
5 Nurses 1970-1972
6 Nurses 1972
7 Nurses, Burleigh County 1972
8 Nurses, Cass County 1972
9 Nurses, Registered 1970
10 Nurses, Registered 1970
11 Nurses, Ward County 1972
12 Officers, Board and Friends 1972-1973
13 Opponents 1970-1972
14 Organization of Action 1970
15 Organization of Action 1970-197
16 Organization of Action
17 Pamphlets 1969-1972
18 Pamphlets 1972-1982
19 Pennsylvania, Abortion in 1971-1972
20 Petitions 1970-1971
21 Petitions 1970-1971
22 Petitions 1971
23 Petitions 1972
24 Petitions 1972
25 Physicians 1971-1972
26 Political Activity 1972-1973
27 Politics, Action Course in Practical
28 Politics and Abortion 1971
29 Population 1967-1972
Box 7:
1 Population 1970-1972
2 Postal Regulations and Permits 1970-1973
3 Presentation Ideas 1969-1972
4 Presentations 1972
5 Priests, Bismarck Diocese 1972-1973
6 Priests, Fargo Diocese 1972-1973
7 Pro-Abortion Material 1971-1972
8 Professional Organizations 1972-1973
9 Protestant Clergy 1972-1974
10 Public Relations 1972
11 Public Relations Manual
12 Public Relations, Radio and Television 1972
13 Public Relations, Speeches 1972
14 Publications, Requests for 1970-1971
15 Questionnaire, State Organization 1973
16 Regional Centers 1970
17 Republican State Convention Delegates 1972
18 Similar Organizations 1969-1971
19 Similar Organizations, Other States
20 Slide Presentation Script 1972
21 Smith, Ted R. 1972
22 Social Workers 1971
23 SOUL (Save Our Unwanted Life) 1971-1972
24 Source List for Friends 1973
25 Speakers Bureau 1972
26 Speakers for April 17 Meeting 1972
27 Speakers, Request for 1972
28 Speaking Engagements
29 Speeches 1970
30 Speeches 1968-1972
31 Speeches 1970-1972
32 Speeches and Articles 1967-1970
33 Speeches and Articles 1968-1971
34 Speeches and Articles 1966-1972
35 Subscriptions to National Newspaper 1973-1974
36 Supreme Court of the U. S., Briefs 1970
37 Survey of Legislative Candidates 1972
38 Survey of Legislative Candidates 1972
Box 8:
1 Testimony 1968-1971
2 Theological Aspects 1960-1970
3 Theological Themes 1971;
4 Unwanted Children and Child Abuse 1970-1971
5 Volunteer Card File 1972
6 Volunteer Card File 1972
7 Volunteer Card File 1972
8 Volunteer Card File 1972
9 Volunteer Lists and Correspondence 1972
10 Volunteers, Office
11 Wald, Don 1973
12 Washington State Fight 1970
13 Washington State Referendum 20 1970
14 Wilhelm, Russ 1972
15 Williston Area Card File
16 Women's Liberation 1971
17 Women's Organizations, Area 1972
18 Women's Organizations, Bismarck 1971-1972
19 Zip Code 580
20 Zip Code 581
21 Zip Code 582
22 Zip Code 583
23 Zip Code 584
24 Zip Code 585
25 Zip Code 586
26 Zip Code 587
27 Zip Code 588
Box 9:
Cassette tape – Conrad, Tudor, Warren, 1/22/1971
Cassette tape – “Abortion: False Assumptions,” January 31, 1971
Cassette tape – January 12, 1972 (3)
Cassette tape – “Abortion,” Joann, Shirley, July 1972
Cassette tape – Morgan McHugh, James Merrill, n.d.
Cassette tape – Johnson and Kneight discussion, n.d.
Cassette tape – Dr. Fortman, n.d.
Cassette tape – Father Thomas E. Kramer and Father Charles Carroll, n.d.
Cassette tape – Father Charles Caroll and Father Thomas E. Kramer, n.d. (3)
Cassette tape – Judge Lynch, n.d.
Cassette tape – Dr. Fortman, n.d. (2)
Cassette tape – Calvin J. Eichhorst and David W. Louisell, n.d.
Cassette tape – Dr. and Mrs. Fred Mecklenburg, n.d. (6)
Cassette tape – “Catholic position of Abortion,” Father Gerald, n.d.
Cassette tape – TTO, Bob Schuller, Joyce Contrad, Dr. Tudor, etc., n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Mrs. Fred Mecklenburg, n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Dr. Fred Mecklenburg, n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Father Charles Carroll, Clergy Conference, July 6, 1972
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Dr. Fred Meckenburg, Clergy Conference, July 6, 1972
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Father Thomas Kramer, Clergy Conference, July 6, 1972
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Dr. David Louisell, Clergy Conference, July 6, 1972 (2)
Audio Reel to Reel tape – David W. Louisell, n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Father Thomas Kramer, n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Father Charles Carroll, n.d.
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Calvin J. Eichhorst, St. John, n.d. (2)
Audio Reel to Reel tape – Dr. Al Fortman, introductions and comments, n.d.
Oversize
990412 Miscellaneous 1969-1970
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