Document 12C: Alma Lutz to Pauli Murray, 29 December 1965, Pauli Murray Papers: Series II, 1935-1984, Box 97, Folder 1730, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.

Introduction

   Lutz revealed in this letter that she felt that the woman's movement was less divided about the Equal Rights Amendment than it had been in earlier decades when the League of Women Voters had championed protective labor legislation for women. The "case pending in Alabama" Lutz mentions in this letter was White v. Crook (see Document 11).

ALMA LUTZ
22 RIVER STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108

December 29, 1965

Dear Miss Murray:

The Christmas holidays have delayed my acknowledging your good letter. I do thank you for taking the time to tell me why you prefer to try to get a re-interpretation of the 14th Amendment rather than to press for the Equal Rights for Women Amendment.

I am of course most interested in the case pending in Alabama.

I do not believe that women's organizations are so hopelessly divided, regarding the Amendment. This was true during the years when the League of Women Voters were insisting on protective labor legislation for women. I do, however, believe that we have been lax and shortsighted about our educational work among women regarding the Amendment. When I think of the years of educational work necessary before the adoption of the 19th Amendment, I wonder that we did not learn that lesson.

Your comments on Blanche Crozier's article in the Boston Law Review in 1935 were especially interesting to me, as I knew Mrs. Crozier at the time this was written. She died some years ago. I look forward to reading your article in the George Washington Law Review.

I feel sure our objectives are the same. I sensed a zeal for freedom in you which is lacking in far too many women. I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely yours,

Alma Lutz