Veteran Feminists of America
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization that preserves and honors the history of second-wave feminism.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Veteran Feminists of America (VFA) is a United States charitable organization devoted to recognizing, documenting, and preserving the history of the second-wave feminist movement. It brings together supporters and veterans of the movement, particularly people whose activism shaped the women’s movement from the 1960s through the 1970s. Rather than operating as a commercial consumer brand, VFA functions as a membership, historical, educational, and commemorative organization. The organization emerged from a reunion of feminist activists held in 1992. Jacqueline Ceballos, Dorothy Senerchia, and Mary Jean Tully subsequently worked together to establish VFA. The group’s original proposed name was “Veterans of Feminist Wars,” but that title was abandoned because its acronym could be confused with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The final name emphasizes continuity with the movement’s earlier activists while avoiding a direct institutional association with that organization. VFA’s work centers on honoring feminist pioneers, recording their recollections, educating the public about the social and political changes produced by the women’s movement, and ensuring that the movement’s history remains available to future generations. Its activities have included reunions, public programs, tribute ceremonies, intergenerational discussions, panels, and memorial events. Programs have recognized activists and leaders from areas including reproductive rights, employment equality, law, journalism, publishing, education, the arts, labor organizing, and political advocacy. A major historical initiative is the Pioneer Histories Project, which collects interviews and biographical information from feminist activists. The organization also supported the creation of Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975, edited by Barbara J. Love. Published in 2006, the reference work contains more than two thousand biographies of people whose activism contributed to the second-wave movement. This project reflects VFA’s broader role as a custodian of movement memory rather than simply an event organizer. VFA’s documentary legacy is also preserved through institutional archives. Its artifacts and collections are held by Duke University’s Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture. Additional organizational records are held at the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University. Recordings of VFA receptions and commemorative events are likewise available through archival collections, giving researchers access to both the organization’s activities and the testimony of participating feminists. The organization has maintained a national orientation while holding events in cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston-area locations, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Dallas, St. Louis, and other communities. Its events have honored figures such as Flo Kennedy, Martha Griffiths, Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, Kate Millett, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Helen Reddy, and many others. In 2021, VFA marked Betty Friedan’s centennial with an online webinar. As of 2026, Eleanor Pam is identified as the organization’s president, while Muriel Fox had chaired its board from 1994 through 2025.
History
Veteran Feminists of America was formed in the context of a growing effort to preserve the institutional and personal history of the second-wave feminist movement. Its first reunion took place in 1992, bringing together people who had participated in feminist organizing and advocacy during the movement’s formative decades. Jacqueline Ceballos then joined with Dorothy Senerchia and Mary Jean Tully to establish the organization. The founders considered calling it Veterans of Feminist Wars, but rejected that wording because the resulting initials could be mistaken for those of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The adopted name, Veteran Feminists of America, positioned the organization as a national community of movement veterans and supporters. In 1994, Muriel Fox became chair of the board, a role she held through 2025. During this period VFA developed a recognizable pattern of public reunions and tribute programs. Early events honored prominent leaders including Flo Kennedy, Martha Griffiths, Bella Abzug, and Gloria Steinem. Later programs expanded beyond individual tributes to examine the women’s liberation movement, feminist writing, feminist art, women’s studies, Title VII, law, labor, media, and intergenerational organizing. These events were held in cultural, academic, civic, and community venues across the United States. Historical documentation became one of VFA’s central activities. In 1998, board member Barbara Love began assembling a directory of feminist activists with assistance from VFA members. The work ultimately appeared in 2006 as Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975. Edited by Love, the book presents more than two thousand biographies and records the contributions of activists who worked in organizations, campaigns, professions, and local movements. It extended VFA’s commemorative mission into a substantial reference and preservation project. The Pioneer Histories Project further developed this archival purpose by collecting interviews with hundreds of feminist activists. Through oral histories, biographies, event recordings, and donated artifacts, VFA helped preserve first-person accounts of a movement whose participants were often dispersed among many organizations and local campaigns. The organization’s collections are held by Duke University’s Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture. Records from the organization’s activities are also held at the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University. VFA’s later programming continued to combine celebration, historical interpretation, and public education. Its 2012 events included a tribute to Kate Millett and an intergenerational discussion of women’s empowerment. Its 2013 anniversary program addressed women and media, while later gatherings considered labor and feminism, feminist law, and the continuing relevance of movement history. A 2014 lifetime achievement award recognized Muriel Fox, and the organization presented additional honors to several prominent public figures. In 2017, VFA organized a “We Won’t Go Back” feminist reunion and later held a memorial service for Kate Millett. During the COVID-19 era, it adapted at least one major commemorative program to an online format, honoring Betty Friedan in February 2021. The organization’s stated purpose is to honor, record, and preserve the accomplishments of women and men active in feminism; explain the importance of changes associated with the women’s movement; and protect that history for future generations. As of 2026, Eleanor Pam is identified as president. VFA remains an active nonprofit-oriented historical and educational body whose principal assets are its networks, oral histories, archival records, publications, and public programs.
- 2026
Eleanor Pam identified as president
[1]The organization’s president was identified as Eleanor Pam as of 2026.
- 2021
Betty Friedan centennial webinar
[1]VFA hosted an online program honoring Betty Friedan on the centennial of her birth.
- 2017
Kate Millett memorial service
[1]VFA organized a widely attended memorial service celebrating Kate Millett’s life and feminist work.
- 2006
Publication of Feminists Who Changed America
[1]The directory project was published as Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975, containing more than two thousand biographies.
- 1998
Pioneer biographical directory begins
[1]Barbara Love began compiling a directory of second-wave feminists with assistance from VFA members.
- 1994
Muriel Fox becomes board chair
[1]Muriel Fox assumed the chair of VFA’s board and remained in the position through 2025.
- 1992
First reunion and organizational founding
[1]VFA held its first reunion, after which Jacqueline Ceballos, Dorothy Senerchia, and Mary Jean Tully organized the association.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit historical and educational organization preserving the people, experiences, and achievements of the second-wave feminist movement.
oral history and archival project
Pioneer Histories Project
VFA’s principal documentation initiative collects interviews and historical testimony from feminist activists. The project is intended to preserve firsthand accounts of the people and campaigns that shaped second-wave feminism and to make those experiences available for educational and archival use.
reference publication · 2006
Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975
Edited by Barbara J. Love and published in 2006, this biographical reference work records the lives and activism of more than two thousand people associated with the second-wave feminist movement. It grew from a directory project initiated with VFA member participation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Betty Friedan centennial webinar
United States · Online
VFA used an online webinar to commemorate Betty Friedan’s one-hundredth birthday and discuss her significance to the women’s movement.
Outcome. The event extended VFA’s tribute and educational programming into a digital format.
- 1998Pioneer Histories Project
United States
The organization began a sustained effort to gather biographical material and oral histories from feminist activists.
Outcome. The work contributed to a large biographical publication and archival holdings at major research libraries.
- 1992Veteran Feminists of America reunions
United States
VFA established a recurring program of reunions that brings together veterans and supporters of second-wave feminism for networking, reflection, education, and recognition.
Outcome. The reunions became the organization’s principal public format and supported its broader historical-preservation mission.
Brand decisions
2021
Move a commemorative program onlineOtherBackground
VFA planned a program marking Betty Friedan’s centennial during a period when virtual events were an important way to reach participants.
Action taken
The organization held the February 4 Betty Friedan event as a Zoom webinar.
Aftermath
The program allowed VFA to continue its public commemorative work in an online setting.
1992
Adopt the name Veteran Feminists of AmericaStrategyBackground
The founders considered the name Veterans of Feminist Wars but believed its acronym could be confused with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Action taken
They selected Veteran Feminists of America as the organization’s name.
Aftermath
The adopted name became the organization’s continuing identity and emphasized its connection to feminist movement history.
Sources5 sources
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