Skip to main content

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon records

 Collection
Identifier: Coll 1106

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of the records of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, an organization that advocated for women's reproductive rights from the late 1970s to the early 2020s. Contents of the collection include articles of incorporation and bylaws; administrative records, such as minutes, budgets, planning records, and reports to the Oregon secretary of state; correspondence about donations and grants; annual reports; and programs, cards, and other materials relating to fundraising galas and auctions from the 1990s to the 2010s. Other records include materials relating to opposition to anti-abortion judicial nominees; mailers opposing Gordon Smith's 2008 U.S. Senate re-election campaign; a 1996 issue of the newsletter Oregon NARAL News; a copy of Oregon House Bill 3391, which required insurance plans to cover no-cost birth control; records of the organization's disaffiliation from NARAL Pro-Choice America; and materials relating to a reception with Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt. The collection includes two photographs: one is of U.S. Senator Bob Packwood at the NARAL annual conference in 1987, and one is of Gloria Steinem at a house party in 1996. The collection also includes some materials, primarily event programs, of other people and organizations, including Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette.

Dates

  • Creation: 1977-2022

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative History

NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) Pro-Choice Oregon was an organization that advocated for women's reproductive rights. It was founded in 1977 as Oregon Affiliate, National Abortion Rights Action League; it changed its name to Oregon NARAL in the 1990s and then to NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon in 2003. In 2021, it disaffiliated with the national umbrella organization, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and rebranded as Pro-Choice Oregon. Pro-Choice Oregon dissolved in 2023.

Sources: Collection materials; registry records on the Oregon Secretary of State website (accessed October 21, 2025), https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=272450&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE; "Pro-Choice Oregon dissolves after 50 years," Oregonian, March 1, 2023, page A8.

Extent

0.54 Cubic Feet (1 letter document case; 1 slim letter document case)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Records of NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) Pro-Choice Oregon, an organization that advocated for women's reproductive rights. The collection includes administrative records, correspondence, and programs and other materials relating to fundraising galas and auctions. The organization was founded in 1977 as Oregon Affiliate, National Abortion Rights Action League. It disaffiliated from the national NARAL organization in 2021, rebranding as Pro-Choice Oregon, and dissolved in 2023.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Pro-Choice Oregon, October 2024 (RL2024-079).

Related Materials

Other materials at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library relating to NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon include an oral history interview with Mary Hefferman, SR 1183; and an oral history interview with Velma J. Jeremiah, SR 1239, which is available online in OHS Digital Collections at https://digitalcollections.ohs.org/sr-1239-oral-history-interview-with-velma-j-jeremiah

Processing Information

Collection was processed by Jeffrey A. Hayes in October 2025. In the course of processing, some original file folders were retained, but the majority of the materials were rehoused into archival folders.

Title
Guide to the NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon records
Status
Completed
Author
Jeffrey A. Hayes
Date
2025
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240