Hamburg, Alice

Background Information

The women's peace movement coalesced in the Bay Area around the founding of the San Francisco Women for Peace (WfP) by women from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) in 1961. The national "parent" organization of WfP, known as Women Strike for Peace (WSP), was established at the same time. The San Francisco branches of WfP and WILPF have maintained a joint office, the Women's Peace Office ("the WPO") since 1962. The two group's membership and activities often overlapped, and the organizations often joined forces on numerous yearly and extended campaigns.

Many of the women in these groups developed their organizing skills working in labor and civil rights battles of the 1930's and 1940's, as well as defending against leftist witch-hunts by the federal and California governments in the 1940's and 1950's. WSP successfully defended itself against the United States Congress Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) in 1962.

WfP began by campaigning intensely to stop aboveground atomic testing, and succeeded in only two years. Since that time, the group has struggled to achieve a Comprehensive Test Ban. The women have maintained continuous opposition to nuclear arms, holding annual Hiroshima vigils and campaigning against U.C. Berkeley's management of the Livermore and Los Alamos nuclear weapons labs. The women were among the first to protest at the Nevada nuclear weapons test site.

In the Vietnam era, WfP was continuously involved in protest throughout the war. WfP founded several coalitions and took action on their own. They planned programs, fundraised, and participated in marches, rallies and vigils. They aided draft resisters, fought for amnesty after the war, and worked for full diplomatic relations for post-war Vietnam. The San Francisco women influenced national coalitions, insisting that the entire spectrum of political affiliations be included in efforts opposing the war.

WfP has worked for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East since the late 1960's and protested U.S. intervention in Chile, Central America, and other countries. WfP were the first to participate in what became known as "citizen diplomacy" by exchanging visits with women in Vietnam and the USSR.

In the 1970's and 1980's WfP fought to redirect money from military to civilian use, and protested US intervention in Central America and Lebanon. They expanded the anti-nuclear protests to include nuclear power, supported SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks) and demonstrated against the US Navy's plan to "homeport" the cruise missile armed Missouri battleship in San Francisco.

Still active in the 1990's, although many of the women involved are octogenarians, WfP demonstrated against the Gulf War, supported housing for the homeless and fought for welfare rights, senior rights, and universal health care. The group continues to advocate for disarmament, responsible care of nuclear waste, social welfare and environmental policies.

Throughout the years, the women campaigned for progressive ballot measures and candidates in local, state, and national elections and were involved in neighborhood and city issues. WfP organized regular delegations to meet with elected officials in San Francisco and Sacramento, and maintained correspondence with their representatives and the administration in Washington. The organization has played a pivotal role in campaigns for peace, social justice, and the environment since 1961.

From the guide to the San Francisco Women for Peace records, 1943-[on-going], (The Bancroft Library)