Illinois Birth Control League

The Illinois Birth Control League (IBCL) was an organization created by the Chicago Citizens' Committee and the Chicago Woman's Club,[1] to provide information and education about birth control. Later, the organization helped create the first birth control clinic in Chicago.[2] The early birth control clinics run by IBCL often had staff members on hand who were fluent in several languages, in order to better serve immigrant communities.[3] The IBCL also sponsored discussions about issues relating to family planning and birth control.[4]

History[edit]

In 1916, Margaret Sanger visited Chicago to give a speech against Comstock laws and in support of birth control clinics.[5] The speech drew around 1,200 people and "inspired the creation of the Illinois Birth Control League."[5] By 1919, the league had been set up and was advertised in the Birth Control Review.[6] In 1923, the IBCL opened its first birth control clinic, which was directed by Rachelle Yarros.[5] This clinic was the second of its kind in the United States.[2] The clinics enabled women who could not afford a private physician to receive practical family planning advice.[7] Originally, the clinics were meant to be free clinics, but the city would not grant them the necessary license from the health commissioner.[7] Because of this, the IBCL charged a "nominal fee" to give out oral information about birth control.[8] In 1924, the IBCL was again denied a permit for the clinic to operate as a public clinic where information could be given out for free.[9] IBCL opened a second birth control office in 1925.[10] By 1937, over 20,000 women had been seen by the several clinics run by IBCL.[7]

The IBCL and other women continued to fight against laws preventing the dissemination of information about birth control in Illinois during the late 1920s.[11] In 1934, the IBCL, along with the Chicago Woman's Club, the Birth Control League and the Social Hygiene League of Chicago created a resolution, backed by three hundred women, to allow social workers to discuss family planning and to refer clients to birth control clinics.[12][13]

IBCL incorporated in April 1924 with the name, "Illinois Birth Control League" with the mission of philanthropic and educational work relating to family planning.[14] The IBCL became the Planned Parenthood League of Illinois in 1946, and then later, the Planned Parenthood Association, Chicago Area in 1947.[14] Peggy Carr was the last president of the IBCL and oversaw the transition to Planned Parenthood.[15]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Hajo, Cathy Moran (2010). Birth Control on Main Street: Organizing Clinics in the United States, 1916-1939. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. p. 37. ISBN 9780252035364.
  2. ^ a b Haslett, Diane C. (2001). "Rachelle Slobodinsky Yarros". Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. ^ Holz 2012, p. 40.
  4. ^ "Planned Parenthood Topic for Birth Control League". Chicago Tribune. 26 April 1940. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Holz, Rose. "Family Planning". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  6. ^ Sanger, Margaret (November 1919). "Birth Control Organizations". Birth Control Review. 3: 20.
  7. ^ a b c De Young, Ruth (6 June 1937). "Illinois Birth Control League is Vital Social Agency". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Chicago Ordinance is Named Against Birth Control". The Catholic Advance. 8 November 1924. Retrieved 18 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Birth Control League Establishes Office in Charge of Director". Springfield Missouri Republican. 24 October 1924. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Scott, O.L. (16 February 1925). "Birth Control Clinic Doing Big Business". The Bee. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Aids Attack on Laws". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. 13 May 1929. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Birth Control For People on Relief Urged". Ames Daily Tribune. 4 December 1934. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Demand to Be Made for Birth Control". The Sedalia Democrat. 4 December 1934. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Planned Parenthood Association Chicago Area records, 1920-1975". Chicago Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  15. ^ Megan, Graydon (27 November 2016). "Peggy Carr, Active With Organizations That Help Women and Children, Dies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 January 2017.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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