Barbara Moxon Papers
Collection
Identifier: SCU-SCPC-028
The Barbara Moxon Papers consist of 4 linear feet of material, 1964 to 2006, arranged in six series:
General, Biographical, Topical Files, Speeches, Clippings, and Audiovisual. Much of the
information in this collection is related to different organizations in which Mrs. Moxon participated.
Documents provide information on the organizations’ missions and members, and include newsletters, supportive literature, meeting minutes, and letters requesting support of the designated
organization’s cause.
Biographical files consist of résumés, Who’s Who award literature, and letters about her Newberry College honorary doctorate. The résumés give a detailed look at Moxon’s roles within the different organizations.
Topical Files form the bulk of the collection and touch on each of the primary organizations and causes in which Moxon was involved. The Advocates for Comprehensive Health Education files include House and Senate Journals, mailing lists of recruited supporters, activities logs, and letters to and from politicians such as Senators Strom Thurmond and Ernest F. Hollings. SC Coalition for Choice contains newsletters, fliers of related events, and meeting minutes. One flier advertises, “Learn the Truth about Reproductive Choice,” with guest speaker Judith Widdicombe, founder of Reproductive Health Services in St. Louis, Missouri.
A substantial portion of the topical files is comprised of papers relating to Equal Rights Amendment SC. ERASC files contain papers detailing the group’s strategies and actions, correspondence with legislators on the issue, meeting minutes, newsletters, brochures, bumper stickers, and other materials.
Most of Moxon’s speeches are filed under the relevant topical headings; however, the remainder are included in the folder “Speeches, 1973-1999.” This folder includes drafts of speeches that provide insight into some of Moxon’s views on Christianity, as well as her commitment to increasing people’s involvement in the democratic process and supporting the causes she believed in. The clippings include folders containing items about the organizations with which Moxon was involved. There are, in particular, a number of items relating to the Equal Rights Amendment. Other folders in this series contain items discussing broader, topical issues, such as abortion, education, sexual harassment, and feminism.
The audiovisual series is comprised of photographs, videocassettes, and film. There are three photographs in the collection: a posed photograph of Barbara Moxon and Mrs. Stondemayer holding an ERA sticker; a candid photo of Governor McNair at his desk proclaiming “League of Women Voters Week” in 1969 alongside Deborah Page, State P.R. Director, Barbara Moxon, State Organization Chair, and Keller Bumgardner, State President of the League of Women Voters; and finally, a 1917 shot of the Equal Suffrage League of Aiken County conducting the first suffrage parade held in South Carolina.
There are two VHS tapes in the collection, “One Woman One Vote,” and “In Search of the Savannah River Plantations,” as well as a ¾” videocassette titled “A Simple Matter of Justice with Jean Stapleton.” A film, titled “How We Got the Vote” is also present, and appears to have been used by ERASC.
Biographical files consist of résumés, Who’s Who award literature, and letters about her Newberry College honorary doctorate. The résumés give a detailed look at Moxon’s roles within the different organizations.
Topical Files form the bulk of the collection and touch on each of the primary organizations and causes in which Moxon was involved. The Advocates for Comprehensive Health Education files include House and Senate Journals, mailing lists of recruited supporters, activities logs, and letters to and from politicians such as Senators Strom Thurmond and Ernest F. Hollings. SC Coalition for Choice contains newsletters, fliers of related events, and meeting minutes. One flier advertises, “Learn the Truth about Reproductive Choice,” with guest speaker Judith Widdicombe, founder of Reproductive Health Services in St. Louis, Missouri.
A substantial portion of the topical files is comprised of papers relating to Equal Rights Amendment SC. ERASC files contain papers detailing the group’s strategies and actions, correspondence with legislators on the issue, meeting minutes, newsletters, brochures, bumper stickers, and other materials.
Most of Moxon’s speeches are filed under the relevant topical headings; however, the remainder are included in the folder “Speeches, 1973-1999.” This folder includes drafts of speeches that provide insight into some of Moxon’s views on Christianity, as well as her commitment to increasing people’s involvement in the democratic process and supporting the causes she believed in. The clippings include folders containing items about the organizations with which Moxon was involved. There are, in particular, a number of items relating to the Equal Rights Amendment. Other folders in this series contain items discussing broader, topical issues, such as abortion, education, sexual harassment, and feminism.
The audiovisual series is comprised of photographs, videocassettes, and film. There are three photographs in the collection: a posed photograph of Barbara Moxon and Mrs. Stondemayer holding an ERA sticker; a candid photo of Governor McNair at his desk proclaiming “League of Women Voters Week” in 1969 alongside Deborah Page, State P.R. Director, Barbara Moxon, State Organization Chair, and Keller Bumgardner, State President of the League of Women Voters; and finally, a 1917 shot of the Equal Suffrage League of Aiken County conducting the first suffrage parade held in South Carolina.
There are two VHS tapes in the collection, “One Woman One Vote,” and “In Search of the Savannah River Plantations,” as well as a ¾” videocassette titled “A Simple Matter of Justice with Jean Stapleton.” A film, titled “How We Got the Vote” is also present, and appears to have been used by ERASC.
Dates
- 1964 - 2006
Creator
- Moxon, Barbara (Author, Person)
Access
Library Use Only
Extent
4 Linear Feet
Abstract
Speaker, motivator, mentor, recruiter and leader, Moxon dedicated her life to service. She knew citizen groups could accomplish their goals through cooperation, hard work, and perseverance. Moxon was involved in and held positions in organizations and campaigns such as Advocates for Comprehensive Health Education (ACHE), SC Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Common Cause of SC, Constitutional Convention Repeal Campaign, Equal Rights Amendment of SC (ERA), SC Advocates for Women on Boards and Commissions, League of Women Voters of SC, Planned Parenthood of SC, SC Commission on Women, SC Coalition for Choice, and the SC Christian Action Council.
Biographical Note
Barbara Wischan Moxon was born May 2, 1921, in Philadelphia, PA. She was raised in Drexel Hill,
part of Philadelphia, and completed her high school education at Upper Darby High School in Upper
Darby, PA. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received
her B.A. in Psychology in 1942 and her M.S. in Education in 1943. In 1944, she married Dr. Robert
K. Moxon, and they moved around the U.S. as his assignments with the U.S. Navy changed. They
lived in Portsmouth, VA, Annapolis, MD, and Honolulu, HI, before settling in South Carolina in
1963, by which time they had three children, Peter, Christopher, and Laurel.
Moxon’s first job as an executive secretary for the Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania from 1942 to 1943 was a reflection of her appreciation for education. Working as a social caseworker for Family Service of Main Line Federation of Churches in Ardmore, PA, from 1943 to 1947, she began a career dedicated to issues affecting women and children that would continue through her lifetime of commitment to civic and political organizations. Moxon was involved in and held positions in organizations and campaigns such as Advocates for Comprehensive Health Education (ACHE), SC Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Common Cause of SC, Constitutional Convention Repeal Campaign, Equal Rights Amendment of SC (ERASC), SC Advocates for Women on Boards and Commissions, League of Women Voters of SC, Planned Parenthood of SC, SC Commission on Women, SC Coalition for Choice, and the SC Christian Action Council. As a Sunday school officer and teacher, choir member and leader, and president of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Women, Mrs. Moxon has been an extremely active member within her church, as well.
Speaker, motivator, mentor, recruiter and leader, Moxon has dedicated her life to service. She knew citizen groups could accomplish their goals through cooperation, hard work, and perseverance. In 1987-88, Moxon spearheaded the organization of a coalition of 57 diverse groups to publicly support and lobby for passage of the Comprehensive Health Education Act. It passed in May 1988. When bills to weaken or repeal the Act came before the General Assembly in 1998, she testified in its defense before a SC House committee and alerted supporters to contact their legislators.
Moxon has received numerous awards for her efforts. In 1999, Governor Hodges presented her with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed by South Carolina, for her leadership in many civic organizations and activities at the local, state, and national levels. The same year, the state chapter of the AAUW named for her a national AAUW Educational Foundation Endowment, and the South Carolina Education Association awarded her their Retired Distinguished Service Award. Laurel Moxon Suggs has continued her mother’s tradition of service through leadership in the League of Women Voters of SC, records held by SCPC.
Moxon’s first job as an executive secretary for the Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania from 1942 to 1943 was a reflection of her appreciation for education. Working as a social caseworker for Family Service of Main Line Federation of Churches in Ardmore, PA, from 1943 to 1947, she began a career dedicated to issues affecting women and children that would continue through her lifetime of commitment to civic and political organizations. Moxon was involved in and held positions in organizations and campaigns such as Advocates for Comprehensive Health Education (ACHE), SC Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Common Cause of SC, Constitutional Convention Repeal Campaign, Equal Rights Amendment of SC (ERASC), SC Advocates for Women on Boards and Commissions, League of Women Voters of SC, Planned Parenthood of SC, SC Commission on Women, SC Coalition for Choice, and the SC Christian Action Council. As a Sunday school officer and teacher, choir member and leader, and president of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Women, Mrs. Moxon has been an extremely active member within her church, as well.
Speaker, motivator, mentor, recruiter and leader, Moxon has dedicated her life to service. She knew citizen groups could accomplish their goals through cooperation, hard work, and perseverance. In 1987-88, Moxon spearheaded the organization of a coalition of 57 diverse groups to publicly support and lobby for passage of the Comprehensive Health Education Act. It passed in May 1988. When bills to weaken or repeal the Act came before the General Assembly in 1998, she testified in its defense before a SC House committee and alerted supporters to contact their legislators.
Moxon has received numerous awards for her efforts. In 1999, Governor Hodges presented her with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed by South Carolina, for her leadership in many civic organizations and activities at the local, state, and national levels. The same year, the state chapter of the AAUW named for her a national AAUW Educational Foundation Endowment, and the South Carolina Education Association awarded her their Retired Distinguished Service Award. Laurel Moxon Suggs has continued her mother’s tradition of service through leadership in the League of Women Voters of SC, records held by SCPC.
Provenance
Donated by Barbara Moxon.
Copyright
Copyright of the Barbara Moxon Papers has been transferred to the University of South Carolina.
Processing Information
Processed by Ashley Knox, 2009; additions by Laura Litwer, 2010.
- American Association of University Women. South Carolina Division
- Equal rights amendments -- United States.
- League of Women Voters of South Carolina
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- South Carolina -- Politics and government -- 1951-
- South Carolina Christian Action Council
- South Carolina Commission on Women
- Voter registration -- United States.
- Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States.
- Women -- Political activity -- United States.
- Women -- Societies and clubs.
Creator
- Moxon, Barbara (Author, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the South Carolina Political Collections Repository
Contact:
Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library
1322 Greene St.
University of South Carolina
Columbia SC 29208 USA
803-777-0577
scpc@mailbox.sc.edu
Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library
1322 Greene St.
University of South Carolina
Columbia SC 29208 USA
803-777-0577
scpc@mailbox.sc.edu
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