Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
type: FindingAid
type: Document
conforms to: General International Standard for Archival Description
publisher: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
encoded as: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
topic: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
subject: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
has part: Biographical History for: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
topic: SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
subject: SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
topic: SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
subject: SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
topic: SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
subject: SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
topic: SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
subject: SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
topic: SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
subject: SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
topic: SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
subject: SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
topic: SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
subject: SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
topic: SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
subject: SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
topic: SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
subject: SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
topic: SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)
subject: SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)

General International Standard for Archival Description
type: Standard

Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: Repository
type: Organization
type: Agent
country code: US
maintenance agency code: mnsss
is publisher of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
administers: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
provides access to: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
provides access to: SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
provides access to: SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
provides access to: SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
provides access to: SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
provides access to: SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
provides access to: SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
provides access to: SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
provides access to: SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
provides access to: SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
provides access to: SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)

Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: SpatialThing
is administered by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
type: EAD
type: Document
description: Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2003-07-02
created: 2003-07-02
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
encoding of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)

Encoded Archival Description
type: Standard

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
type: Standard

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
type: ArchivalResource
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: collection
identifier: MS 371
date: 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
date created accumulated string: 1928-2009 (PPFA II)
extent: 526 boxes
extent: (509.25 linear ft.)
language: eng
origination: Planned Parenthood Federation of America
has biographical history: Biographical History for: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
scopecontent: Scope and Contents of the Collection The records of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America are divided into two sections, PPFA I and PPFA II, this being section II. PPFA I consists of the earlier records of the Federation (1918-74) and is completely organized and open to research. PPFA II consists of the central files of PPFA from the 1950s through 1981, with scattered earlier items dated as early as 1921, so there is some overlap in the dates. Miscellaneous accessions received from miscellaneous departments from 1988 through the 1990s are also included in a separate list following the central files. PPFA II records are unprocessed; the original order established by PPFA has been retained. For ease of access, restricted materials (1975 to the present and selected earlier records) have been segregated from those that are open to research (see Information on Use). The inventory lists both open and closed materials. The bulk of post-1974 publications are open. Researchers may have access to closed records only if they obtain PPFA's permission. The records, in categories established by the central offices, are organized into ten series, including Chronological files, Classified files, Publications, Subject files, Affiliates, Regions, Minutes, Foreign, Guttmacher, and Restricted. These records document the work of PPFA nationally and internationally in the areas of advocacy; medical services and research; legislation; public relations; and the specific work of affiliates, departments, and committees. Types of materials include correspondence, reports, minutes, memos, publicity, publications and other printed material, audiotapes, reference files, and financial and legal material. The PPFA filing system was designed to suit the organization's internal operations and presents complications for the researcher. The classification system used by PPFA is sometimes not very descriptive and obscures the nature of the material. Related material may be located in several pla…
associated with: Abortion--Law and legislation-United States--History--Sources
associated with: Abortion services--History--Sources
associated with: Birth control clinics--United States--History--Sources
associated with: Birth control--History--20th century--Sources
associated with: Birth control--Developing countries--History--20th century--Sources
associated with: Contraceptives--Research--History
associated with: Hygiene, Sexual--History--20th century
associated with: Human reproduction--Political aspects
associated with: Population policy--History--20th century
associated with: Reproductive health--Statistics
associated with: Sex instruction--History
associated with: Women--Health and hygiene--United States--20th century
associated with: Women's health services--United States--20th century
associated with: Best, Winfield
associated with: Guttmacher, Alan Frank, 1898-
associated with: McCormick, Katherine Dexter, 1876-1967
associated with: Rose, D. Kenneth
associated with: Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
associated with: Wattleton, Faye
associated with: Alan Guttmacher Institute--History
associated with: American Birth Control League--History
associated with: Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau (New York, N.Y.)--History
associated with: Birth Control Federation of America--History
associated with: International Planned Parenthood Federation--History
associated with: Planned Parenthood Federation of America--History
associated with: Planned Parenthood-World Population (U.S.)--History
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
aggregates: SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
has part: SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
aggregates: SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
has part: SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
aggregates: SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
has part: SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
aggregates: SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
has part: SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
aggregates: SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
has part: SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
aggregates: SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
has part: SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
aggregates: SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
has part: SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
aggregates: SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
has part: SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
aggregates: SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
has part: SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)
aggregates: SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)

collection
type: Level
type: Concept

526 boxes
type: Extent
archbox: 526
label: (509.25 linear ft.)

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
type: Agent
is origination of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records

Biographical History for: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
type: BiographicalHistory
type: Document
type: DocumentPart
body: Historical Note In 1921 Margaret Sanger founded the national lobbying organization, American Birth Control League (ABCL) which in 1942 became Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Between 1921 and 1942 the organization underwent two transformations. In 1923 Sanger opened the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau (BCCRB) for the purposes of dispensing contraceptives under the supervision of licensed physicians and studying their effectiveness. The ABCL provided institutional backing for clinics. The BCCRB merged with the ABCL in 1939 to form the Birth Control Federation of American (BCFA). In 1942 the name of the BCFA was changed to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The name change reflected a redefinition of the organization's goals from family limitation to family planning. While PPFA continued to function as the largest birth control organization in the country, it sought to position itself as a more mainstream and moderate organization committed to a broad range of programs related to reproductive health. Under the leadership of National Director D. Kenneth Rose, the PPFA expanded its programs and services through the 1940s, adding affiliate organizations throughout the country. By the end of World War II, the Federation was no longer solely a center for birth control services or a clearing house for contraceptive information but had emerged as a major national health organization. PPFA's programs included a full range of family planning services, including marriage education and counseling, and infertility services. The leadership of the PPFA, largely consisting of businessmen and male physicians, endeavored to incorporate its contraceptive services unofficially into regional and national public health programs by emphasizing less politicized aspects such as child-spacing. During the 1950s, the Federation further adjusted its programs and message to appeal to a family-centered, more conservative post-war populace, while continuing to func…
topic: Planned Parenthood Federation of America
subject: Planned Parenthood Federation of America
is biographical history for: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records, 1928-2009 (PPFA II)

Abortion--Law and legislation-United States--History--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

lcsh
type: ConceptScheme

Abortion services--History--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Birth control clinics--United States--History--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Birth control--History--20th century--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Birth control--Developing countries--History--20th century--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Contraceptives--Research--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Hygiene, Sexual--History--20th century
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Human reproduction--Political aspects
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Population policy--History--20th century
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Reproductive health--Statistics
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Sex instruction--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Women--Health and hygiene--United States--20th century
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Women's health services--United States--20th century
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh

Best, Winfield
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: Best, Winfield

lcnaf
type: ConceptScheme

Best, Winfield
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

Guttmacher, Alan Frank, 1898-
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: Guttmacher, Alan Frank, 1898-

Guttmacher, Alan Frank, 1898-
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

McCormick, Katherine Dexter, 1876-1967
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: McCormick, Katherine Dexter, 1876-1967

McCormick, Katherine Dexter, 1876-1967
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

Rose, D. Kenneth
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: Rose, D. Kenneth

Rose, D. Kenneth
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966

Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

Wattleton, Faye
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: Wattleton, Faye

Wattleton, Faye
type: Person
type: Agent
type: E21 Person

Alan Guttmacher Institute--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: alanguttmacherinstitute--history

American Birth Control League--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: americanbirthcontrolleague--history

Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau (New York, N.Y.)--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: birthcontrolclinicalresearchbureaunewyorkny--history

Birth Control Federation of America--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: birthcontrolfederationofamerica--history

International Planned Parenthood Federation--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: internationalplannedparenthoodfederation--history

Planned Parenthood Federation of America--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: plannedparenthoodfederationofamerica--history

Planned Parenthood-World Population (U.S.)--History
type: Concept
in scheme: lcnaf
focus: plannedparenthood-worldpopulationus--history

SERIES I. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES (1964-80)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 29.25 linear feet
scopecontent: This series consists primarily of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence, the bulk of which is from the national office, 1960s-70s. It is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the author of the letter. Each individual's correspondence is arranged in reverse chronological order. The authors of this correspondence include many significant PPFA staffers, including Alan Bloebaum, Hans Blaise, Eve Paul, Alan Guttmacher, John C. Robbins, Fred Jaffe, and Jerim Klapper. Researchers may find it useful to consult administrative files first (SERIES II. CLASSIFIED), determine pertinent departments and staffers, and then consult the Chronological Files. See appendix for list of selected PPFA staff and their positions.

SERIES II. CLASSIFIED FILES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921-80)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 83 linear feet
scopecontent: Materials in this series relate to the administration of PPFA. It consists of records of the board of directors, executive committee, standing and special committees, and the various divisions and departments of the Federation. The records include correspondence, memos, by-laws, procedures, standards, press releases, reports, statistics, reference materials, and minutes. This series is the core record of Federation activities and policy development. The series is roughly arranged as follows: general policies and histories; committees, bylaws, and handbooks; annual meetings; administrative staff; and then departments and related organizations. Major departments and organizations are as follows: Center for Family Planning Program Development (which was called the Alan Guttmacher Institute beginning in 1975); Community Affairs (later known as Youth and Student Affairs); Field Department, which includes material on abortion; Financial Management; Communications (at times known as Education, Information and Education, or Public Affairs Department); Fund Raising/Resources; Medical (includes material on abortion and contraception); Research (includes clinic statistics); Family Planning International Assistance (includes reports on international family planning projects); and International Planned Parenthood Federation.

SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1930-80)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 15 linear feet
scopecontent: The bulk of this series is arranged alphabetically by title. Much of this material is published by PPFA and written by its staff. Many items are reprints from a variety of journals and newspapers. Some are miscellaneous reprints or are written by outside organizations and authors. The publications cover a variety of topics of interest to PPFA, such as abortion, population, contraceptives, marriage counseling, and poverty as it relates to population. There are legal briefs, bibliographies, and catalogs as well as articles, pamphlets, and books. Two boxes at the end are arranged alphabetically by author, and one box has no discernible order.

SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES (1925-80)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 35 linear feet
scopecontent: The files in this series relate to organizations, individuals, conferences, grants, and a variety of topics of interest to PPFA, such as contraceptives. The materials, which include correspondence and printed material, are arranged in one alphabetical sequence. Note that there are inconsistencies in the filing system; for example conference files appear under "C," but files related to the National Conference on Social Welfare are under "N". The Abortion subject files are located in Accession 01S-42. Major subject categories include Associations and agencies (outside organizations), Conferences, Contraceptives, Foundations and Funds, Grant applications and proposals, Alan Guttmacher, and U.S. Government. Researchers are encouraged to check their topics alphabetically and to check under all pertinent headings. A box of material pertaining to Margaret Sanger follows the alphabetical files. It contains miscellaneous biographical material, publications, and correspondence.

SERIES V. AFFILIATES (Part 1 and Part 2) (1921, 1939-1981)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 65 linear feet
scopecontent: This series contains the national office's records on affiliate activities and includes minutes, affiliation materials, copies of correspondence, clippings, publicity, reports, and financial material. The bulk of the material is arranged alphabetically by state. The first set of state material is local affiliates' minutes. This is followed by minutes and meeting material from regional offices; it is unclear whether this duplicates material contained in SERIES VI. REGIONS. Next comes general administrative material, which includes files on services offered by affiliates, including birth control methods and sexually transmitted disease education. The remainder of material, the bulk of this series, is from affiliate offices and filed by state. General state programs such as anti-poverty and migrant worker programs are filed first within a state, and then local and metropolitan affiliates are listed. Files include affiliate reports, statistics, publicity, and correspondence. There are some inconsistencies: New York City comes before New York State, but there is also New York City material within New York State and some at the end of the series. The state of Connecticut is filed last. It contains a significant amount of information regarding Griswold vs. Connecticut and the fight to disseminate birth control and contraceptive information. The New York State files contain some material pertaining to the relaxation of abortion laws in the early 1970s. The end of the series includes miscellany and histories of the regions.

SERIES VI. Regions (1964-80)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 12.5 linear feet
scopecontent: This series consists of the national office's records on the various regional offices of PPFA and includes the following types of materials: minutes, affiliation materials, correspondence, memos, reports, publicity, committee files, workshop files, project files, financial materials, and subject files. Regional offices oversee affiliate activities and report to the national office. The regions are as follows: Mid-Atlantic; Great Lakes; Midwest; Southwest/ South-Central; Western; Southeast; and North Atlantic/Northeast.

SERIES VII. Minutes (1935-39, 1957-81)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 9.25 linear feet
scopecontent: This series consists of minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Association of Planned Parenthood Physicians, National Medical Committee, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and annual membership. It also includes annual reports. The series includes microfilm, audiotape, and typed transcripts.

SERIES VIII. Foreign (1952-79)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: 5 linear feet
scopecontent: Correspondence; and conference, reference, and subject files related to international planned parenthood issues make up this series. An IPPF conference is included as well as alphabetical subject files (including abortion). International family planning projects, most administered by Family Planning International Assistance (a PPFA sub-organization with an international focus), are filed alphabetically by country.

SERIES IX. Guttmacher (1947-70)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: .5 linear foot
scopecontent: This series contains reprints of publications, most of which were authored or co-authored by Alan Guttmacher. They are arranged alphabetically by title.

SERIES X. RESTRICTED (1953-74)
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
is aggregated by: Planned Parenthood Federation of America Records
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
extent: .75 linear foot

series
type: Level
type: Concept

29.25 linear feet
type: Extent

83 linear feet
type: Extent

15 linear feet
type: Extent

35 linear feet
type: Extent

65 linear feet
type: Extent

12.5 linear feet
type: Extent

9.25 linear feet
type: Extent

5 linear feet
type: Extent

.5 linear foot
type: Extent

.75 linear foot
type: Extent