ROBERTA M. MADDEN PAPERS

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SUMMARY

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

Roberta Margaret Young was born November 9, 1936 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Mary and Theodore Young of Ames, Iowa. Referred to as “Bobby” by friends and family, she was the oldest of four children including Judy (b.1937), Sherry (b. 1942), and Charles (b. 1945). Because of Theodore’s history of unsuccessful business ventures and sporadic employment as an accountant after World War II, the Young family often faced financial difficulties which required Mary to work full-time at Rushing’s Supermarket in Ames, while also raising their four children. Roberta’s parents divorced in 1951 and she began working part-time at Rushing’s to help her mother and siblings make ends meet. These early years were influential on Madden, particularly an incident when her mother was passed up for a promotion to store manager in favor of a younger and less-experienced stock clerk because he was male.

In 1953, Madden received a scholarship to attend Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (now University of Northern Iowa) to become a schoolteacher. Two years later she met Jerry David Madden, known by his middle name, at the college radio station. Madden was a senior at the University of Tennessee and an aspiring writer whose progressive thinking helped inspire her later activism. He also gave her the nickname “Robbie” instead of “Bobby,” which she would continue to use throughout her career. Within a year of meeting each other she dropped her plans to become a teacher and on September 6, 1956, she was married to Madden in Knoxville, Tenn., with her mother’s reluctant blessing.

Over the next decade the Maddens relocated around the country as Jerry assumed various teaching positions, writing fellowships, and degree programs, while Roberta found work as a journalist and completed her education. David Madden finished his M.A. from San Francisco State College in 1958, taught English at Appalachian State Teacher’s College (now Appalachian State) in Boone, N.C. the following year, and then was awarded a fellowship at the Yale Drama School from 1959-1960. The Madden’s only child, Blake, was born in 1960. From 1960-1968, David Madden taught English and creative writing courses at Centre College (Danville, Ky.), the University of Louisville, Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio), and Ohio University (Athens, Ohio). During this time Roberta Madden worked as editor of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO’s Kentucky Labor News and finished her B.A. in Government from Ohio University. The Maddens relocated to Baton Rouge in 1968 after he accepted a position in the English Department at Louisiana State University.

That same year Roberta Madden’s long career as an activist began in earnest with her joining the Baton Rouge Council of Human Relations. Through the late 1960s and late 1970s she became involved in a number of national, regional, and state organizations focusing on a variety of progressive causes including equal rights for women and minorities, consumer protection, and increased political and financial enfranchisement of traditionally oppressed communities, particularly gay and lesbian groups, professional women, and housewives. During this time she initiated long-standing relationships with the Association of American University Women, the Louisiana Women’s Political

Caucus, the Women’s Equity Alliance League, and the Baton Rouge Mayor-President’s Commission on the Needs of Women, among others. She also developed ties to a growing network of women and civil rights leaders in Louisiana including Mary Metz, Sylvia Roberts, Pinkie Gordon Lane, and Lillian Walker.

After working as a freelance writer and as a book editor at the LSU Press from 1968 to 1972, Madden became the first director of the Baton Rouge Consumer Protection Center. Over the next three years she co-founded and served as vice-president of the Baton Rouge chapter of the National Organization of Women, initially working to eliminate discriminatory credit laws and bring attention to sexism in children’s books. Madden was a Louisiana delegate to the National Women’s Conference in Houston and emerged as one of the lead organizers of statewide efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1977 she became an independent agent with Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in Baton Rouge. As a businesswoman Madden advocated for economic independence and often held workshops and training sessions at LSU and throughout the community designed for women to sharpen financial and business skills.

In 1979 Madden parlayed her growing presence in the community into a run for the Louisiana Senate. She ran on a platform that promoted the needs of older citizens, accountable and open government, strengthening the public education system, environmental protection, and citizen interests over special interests. Though she was largely outspent and ultimately unsuccessful, she received 33% of the vote and was sought out by many candidates in subsequent elections for her endorsement and support.

Later that year she was hired as district manager for the 1980 U.S. Census in the greater Baton Rouge area. In 1981 she was appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Louisiana State Advisory Committee, a position she held for the next 24 years including serving as chair from 1999-2005. It was also in the early 1980s that Madden began her long association with the Baton Rouge Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), initially serving as the executive director from 1980-1983 and from 1994-2009 as women’s health and public policy director. In between terms at the YWCA, Madden was field director for Common Cause in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas from 1983-1990, and executive director of the American Diabetes Association Louisiana Affiliate, Inc., from 1990-1993, both based in Baton Rouge.

Madden’s personal life, professional career, and activism frequently overlapped and most of her public advocacy from 1990 onward was aimed at addressing racial inequities and health issues, particularly at the local level. At the Greater Baton Rouge YWCA she created the Dialogue on Race program, which was adopted by other YWCA chapters and organizations, and later worked on creating a virtual Center for Racial and Social Justice. As a member of the Civil Rights Commission, she was responsible for helping to asses the state of civil rights in Louisiana considering factors like environmental racism, voting rights abuses, and anti-gay violence.

In 1993 Madden was diagnosed with breast cancer. After being successfully treated, she launched the Greater Baton Rouge YWCA ENCOREplus program to raise awareness of

breast and cervical cancer among minority women who are especially susceptible to these diseases. Between 1995 and 2010 over 38,000 screenings of underserved women were performed as a result of Madden’s efforts to grow this program. In 2007 she received the YWCA’s national One Imperative Award for promoting racial justice, but this was only one of many honors Madden would accumulate prior to her retirement in 2009. Among these are lifetime achievement awards from the Early Risers Kiwanis Club and Leadership Greater Baton Rouge, and induction in the Louisiana Center for Women and Government Hall of Fame.

In 2010 Madden and her husband moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina to be closer to her son’s family.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Roberta M. Madden Papers consist of five series: Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Affiliations and Activities, Activism Subject Files, and Printed and Published Items. These are arranged into subseries (described below) that contain letters, memoranda, notes, invitations, reports, newspapers, newsletters, clippings, factsheets, writings, ephemera, photographs, and other materials related to Madden’s professional and political activities and interests from 1968-2010, with most records dating between 1970-1990. The collection documents her long professional career and progressive activism in areas including women’s rights (particularly the Equal Rights Amendment), minority, consumer, and working-class enfranchisement, political reform, poverty, health care, race relations, and discrimination. Her involvement in organizations such as the YWCA, Common Cause, and others is also documented here, as are her political activities both as a candidate for office and public figure. The records also illustrate the relationships between national, regional, state, and local offices of organizations like the National Organization of Women (NOW) and the League of Women Voters. Materials generated at multiple levels were interfiled without regard to office. The individual files retain this arrangement except in instances where reordering was necessary for clarity and accessibility.

LIST OF SUB-GROUPS, SERIES, AND SUBSERIES

Series I. Biographical Materials, 1970-2010

Subseries A. Profiles and Credentials, 1977-2010

Subseries B. Work History, 1970-2003

Series II. Correspondence, 1970-2008

Subseries A. Personal and Professional, 1970-2008

Subseries B. VIP Communications, 1970-1993

Series III. Affiliations and Activities, 1969-2007

Subseries A. Meetings and Events, 1971-2000

Subseries B. National Organizations, 1971-1995

Subseries C. State and Regional Organizations, 1971-2005

Subseries D. Local Organizations, 1969-2007

Series IV. Activism Subject Files, 1968-2007

Subseries A. Colleagues, Allies and Associates, 1969-1994

Subseries B. Issues, Causes and Campaigns, 1968-2007

Series V. Printed and Published Materials, 1969-2005

Subseries A. Newspaper Issues and Newsletters, 1970-2005

Subseries B. Newspaper Clippings by Subject, ca. 1970-2003

Subseries C. Magazine and Journals, 1969-1983

Subseries D. Reports and Grey Literature, ca. 1970-1993

Subseries E. Ephemera, ca. 1970-1990

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Biographical Materials, 1970-2010

The Biographical Materials series consist of records detailing Madden’s career, accomplishments, and activism within the Baton Rouge community and beyond. The primary focus is on her professional career outside of her activism, though often these overlapped.

Subseries A. Profiles and Credentials, 1977-2010

This subseries includes feature articles, newspaper clippings, and other press pieces written about Madden, that make mention of her activities, or are derived from Madden herself (letters to the editor, media releases, etc.). It also contains certificates of honor, official recognitions, and invitations from several local and state organizations with whom she shared an affiliation or working relationship.

Subseries B. Work History, 1970-2003

This subseries includes an assortment of records related to the various professional positions held by Madden after settling in Baton Rouge during the early 1970s. Of note are the records from her positions as director of the East Baton Rouge Consumer Protection Center, her 1979 Louisiana Senate election campaign, and her long association with the Baton Rouge YWCA.

Series II. Correspondence, 1970-2008

The Correspondence series consists primarily of letters, notes, and memoranda between Madden and associated activists, organizations, politicians, and community contacts.

Subseries A. Personal and Professional, 1970-2008

This subseries includes correspondence to and from colleagues, friends, and associates about various political, community, and women’s movement issues. Several letters are planning and follow up messages detailing workshops, presentations, and other events involving Madden.

Subseries B. VIP Communications, 1970-1993

This subseries includes correspondence between Madden and several noteworthy Louisiana political contemporaries such as Russell B. Long, Henson Moore, Gillis Long, and Louisiana AFL-CIO President Victor Bussie. Many of these address specific topics or legislation relating to Madden’s activism.

Series III. Affiliations and Activities, 1969-2007

The Affiliations and Activities series consists of records documenting major conferences, campaigns, and groups in which Madden was an active participant or part of the leadership. Most of these are associated with the women’s liberation and empowerment movement, but they also represent a broad range of progressive organizational activity dating back to the late 1960s, including minority, consumer, and working-class enfranchisement. Madden’s engagement in a variety of organizations and movements at the national, state, and local levels is reflected in these records.

Subseries A. Meetings and Events, 1971-2000

This subseries includes records relating to annual meetings for groups like the National Organization of Women (NOW) and the Southern Assembly, as well as one-time watershed events like the International Women’s Year conference in Houston in 1977 and the Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Women in Baton Rouge in 1976.

Subseries B. National Organizations, 1971-1995

This subseries includes records relating to Madden’s involvement in groups with a national organizing scope and mission. These are frequently umbrella organizations like the National Women’s Political Caucus, the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters who have regional, state, and local chapters. Of note is the extensive documentation of the NOW and Women In Politics (WIP), which was Louisiana-based but aimed at preparing women to hold public office from the local to the national level.

Subseries C. State and Regional Organizations, 1971-2005

This subseries includes records from state and regional affiliates of several national organizations, such as the Louisiana Women’s Political Caucus and the National Political Caucus of Louisiana. It also documents groups originating in Louisiana and with a focus on Louisiana political and social issues such as the Louisiana Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC), the Louisiana Consumer’s League, and the Louisiana Council on Human Relations. Of note is the extensive documentation of Madden’s tenure on the regional and state branches of Common Cause and the files relating to her service on the Louisiana State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Subseries D. Local Organizations, 1969-2007

This subseries includes records documenting Madden’s participation in political, civic, and issues-based organizations within the greater Baton Rouge community. Madden was particularly active in NOW, but also served on the Mayor-President’s Commission on the Needs of Women and other groups more in line with her professional interests like The Optimist Club of Downtown Baton Rouge and the Capital Area Affiliate of the International Alliance of Executive and Professional Women.

Series IV. Activism Subject Files, 1968-2007

The Activism Subject Files series consists of materials compiled by Madden on individuals, organizations, and topics that were relevant to her advocacy for women’s rights, social justice, and good governance.

Subseries A. Colleagues, Allies and Associates, 1969-1994

This subseries includes informational subject files on political candidates, community groups, and fellow activists with whom Madden was acquainted or

shared interest. Of note are materials on other Louisiana women leaders such as Pinkie Gordon Lane, Lillian Walker, and Gena Corea.

Subseries B. Issues, Causes and Campaigns, 1968-2007

This subseries includes topical files, filed chronologically, on subjects as they relate to women including abortion, violence, poverty, health, politics, race relations, economics, discrimination, and careers, among several others. It also contains files documenting organizations and individuals related to these issues, political races and candidates, and both official and informal campaigns for various progressive causes. Of note is the extensive documentation on the push to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) at the national and state levels.

Series V. Printed and Published Materials, 1969-2005

The Printed and Published Items series consists of reports, articles, flyers, pamphlets, artifacts, and other official, informal, or ephemeral records compiled by Madden which reflect her professional, political, and social activities and interests.

Subseries A. Newspaper Issues and Newsletters, 1970-2005

This subseries includes newsletter issues, newspaper clippings, and other publications primarily covering women’s issues and originating from women’s organizations. Of note are the run of Veteran Feminists of America newsletters and the publications from the Louisiana women’s prison system, Society of Forgotten Women and Voices from St. Gabriel.

Subseries B. Newspaper Clippings by Subject, ca. 1970-2003

This subseries consists of newspaper clippings from local, state, and national publications arranged by subject. Most of these relate to the women’s movement and other social and political causes of interest to Madden.

Subseries C. Magazine and Journals, 1969-1983

This subseries includes extracted articles, entire issues, and other printed items documenting feminism and the women’s movement in general and specific events like the National Women’s Conference.

Subseries D. Reports and Grey Literature, ca. 1970-1993

This subseries includes official government publications at the state and local levels and various fact sheets, reports, and writings relating to the women’s movement.

Subseries E. Ephemera, ca. 1970-1990

This subseries includes leaflets, pamphlets, bumper stickers, and artifacts related to a number of political causes and campaigns.

INDEX TERMS

Materials relating to these people, places, and things can be found in the series indicated, as represented by their numbers.

CONTAINER LIST