Who Was Who At The NWHN

I thought I would create a list of all the Network’s Executive Directors as a gift to history. Then I realized I could do even more. The Network’s co-founders are named in lots of places, as they should be. But as far as I know, there is no comprehensive list of everyone who worked at the Network. I wasn’t able to create that list, but I unearthed lots of great information by looking at copies of the Network’s newsletter. It’s been digitized back to the late 1990s. By the time I got back that far, I was determined to go all the way back to the beginning. I ended up submitting 26 inter-library loan requests to get copies of the early newsletter mastheads. It was really fun. At least for me. Maybe not for the librarians.

Five co-founders: Barbara Seaman, Phyllis Chesler, Belita Cowan, Alice J. Wolfson, Mary Howell. Here’s an interesting tidbit for historians – after the Network had been in existence for about 20 years, Barbara Seaman made me promise always to list the co-founders in this exact order. She told me they all agreed. As far as I know, the founders never took a group photo. The staff created the photo montage above during our 35th anniversary.

Eight Executive Directors: Belita Cowan, Carol Sheffer-Hartmann, Kathleen Glynn, Victoria Leonard, Beverly F. Baker, Cynthia (Cindy) Pearson, Mayra Jacqueline (Jacquie) Ferreira, Denise Hyater Lindenmuth. I was pretty sure there had been eight of us, but I had to look at old newsletter mastheads to get a couple of names. We’re listed in chronological order.

Dozens of staff including Policy Advocacy & Program Directors: Amy Allina, Sarah Christopherson, Elyane Clift, Lisa Cox, Coco Jervis, Denys Symonette Mitchell, Tracey Orloff, April Pace, Cindy Pearson. Even the newsletter mastheads didn’t list all the staff. I decided it was best to highlight the policy advocacy and program directors. They were instrumental in creating and carrying out the work that led to the Network’s victories. They’re listed in alphabetical order.

More than 100 members of the Board of Directors. The Network’s first board of directors was elected on May 23, 1976 at the conclusion of the organization’s first conference. Twenty-two women nominated themselves to serve on the board. Twelve were elected. Subsequent members of the Board were chosen via elections held by mail, and eventually online. Apologies in advance for anyone who may have been inadvertently omitted from this list.

And hundreds of interns.

A few photos

I wanted illustrate this section with lots of photos, but I only have a few. It’s frustrating, because I worked with hundreds of interns, board members and staff. But the NWHN archive at the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History includes lots of photos.

Board of Directors in the early 2000s

This is my favorite picture of a Network board of directors group. It was taken in the early 2000s, I think, when the Network held a meeting at the San Francisco Women's Building. Back row, left to right: Malika Redmond, Jane Zones, Nicole Winbush, Sonja Herbert, Ellen Shaffer, Susan Wood, Kim Lau, Lisalyn Jacobs, Judy Costlow. Front row: Angela Hooton, Bindiya Patel, Jyl Boline, Laura Kaplan, Susan Schewel.

Generations of Board Leaders

Here I am with generations of Network leaders, including former board chairs Anne Kasper (1970s), Adriane Fugh-Berman (1990s), and Bindiya Patel (2000s). Doris Haire, who was on the board in the 80s & 90s is standing between Bindiya (far left) and Adriane. Anne is on the far right.

Sarah Christopherson

Sarah Christopherson was the NWHN’s Policy Advocacy Director from 2016-2021. She is presenting the NWHN’s guidelines for protecting patient autonomy in family planning settings that encourage use of clinician-controlled methods like IUDs.

Vickie Leonard with Staff & Interns

Victoria Leonard was the Network's Executive Director for several years in the mid-late 1980s. Here she with staff at the Network's office. On the far left is Tracey Orloff. Tracey encouraged me to volunteer at the Network. When she left in 1987, Victoria hired me as the Program Director.

Beverly Baker at Board Meeting

Beverly Baker (pointy post-it) was the Network's ED for several years in the early 1990s. Here she is at a meeting of the Network's board of directors. To her left is Helen Rodriguez-Trias. To the right are Olivia Cousins and Leslye Orloff.

Belita & Barbara Celebrating

Belita Cowan and Barbara Seaman cutting the cake at the Network’s 30th anniversary party in the fall of 2006.

Cindy with Staff

I don't know what I'm holding, but we're all smiling proudly, so it must be something we published. From left to right, Stephanie Donne, Amy Allina, me, Beverly Thomas, Joy Washington. The painting on the wall to our right was given to the Network as a thank you for our work to stop a dangerous preterm labor drug. It was painted by the sister of a woman who died as a result of the drug.

The Book Writing Group

The Network’s book about menopause hormone therapy was a group project. Charlea Massion, who took this photo, hosted us at her home in northern California and we wrote the bulk of the book in one week. This was one of our very few breaks. From left to right, Amy Allina, me, Jane Zones, Nancy Worcester, Mariamne Whatley, and Adriane Fugh-Berman.

Amy Allina Holding the NWHN Banner

Amy Allina, shown here standing in front of the Network’s office at 514 Tenth Street, NW, was the Network’s Program Director from 2000 - 2014.

Envisioning Health Care for All

In 2004, the Network organized a Vision Meeting, where we developed our strategic approach to health care reform. Many current and former Network leaders took part, including Byllye Avery, Anne Kasper, Ellen Shaffer, and Amy Allina. Key allies joined us for the day, including Silvia Henriquez, far right. If anyone recognizes the woman standing next to Silvia, please let me know!

Alice Wolfson, Maxine Jo Grad & Stacey Zones

Alice came to DC in 2022 for my (belated) celebration dinner, more than 50 years after she & others from DC Women's Liberation disrupted the Senate Pill hearings. You can also see former board member Maxine Jo Grad and long-time supporter Stacey Zones sitting behind Alice.

Belita Cowan With Staff & Interns

Belita Cowan, the Network’s first ED (pointy post-it), posed with staff and interns for a photo that was used as a holiday card in the early 1980s.

Who Was Who At The NWHN

A few photos

nwhnlegacy.org