Sonia Johnson audio-visual collection

Collection

Identifier: A0099

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the Sonia Johnson Collection is concerned with Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Dates

1976-1981

Creator

Johnson, Sonia (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

Biographical Note

Sonia Johnson (born 1936), who was a member of the LDS Church from birth, began speaking out in support of the ERA in 1977. National exposure occurred with her 1978 testimony in front of the U. S. Senate's Constitutional Rights Subcommittee, and she continued speaking and promoting the ERA and denouncing what she perceived to be her church's political activities against the amendment. After a well-publicized church trial in December 1979, Johnson was excommunicated. Afterwards, she continued promoting the ERA as president of the Mormons for ERA group. She spoke at numerous functions throughout the country and appeared on a number of television talk shows. Her book about her embrace of feminism, From Housewife to Heretic, was published in 1981.

Extent

22 Audiocassette

5 VHS

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The bulk of the Sonia Johnson collection is concerned with Johnson's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her campaign in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).