The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York
The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York
The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
anti-abortion movement, but also because these leaders helped bra<strong>in</strong>storm <strong>and</strong> develop<br />
the national organizations themselves, as early as the 1960s.<br />
Yet the root of MCCL’s propulsion <strong>in</strong>to the national spotlight started small, as<br />
stated previously, <strong>in</strong> 1968 <strong>in</strong> George <strong>and</strong> Alice Hartle’s liv<strong>in</strong>g room by Lake Harriet <strong>in</strong><br />
M<strong>in</strong>neapolis, M<strong>in</strong>nesota. 55 <strong>The</strong>re, the future founders, presidents, chairmen, board<br />
members, writers, editors, <strong>and</strong> treasurers of future national anti-abortion organizations,<br />
who have been traced extensively <strong>in</strong> this work, met to create one of the nation’s first antiabortion<br />
groups. <strong>The</strong>se future leaders were anonymous <strong>and</strong> typical <strong>in</strong> title <strong>and</strong><br />
occupation at the time; yet they would soon be recognized nationwide for their positions<br />
<strong>and</strong> efforts. <strong>The</strong> very first document MCCL produced, its Articles of Incorporation,<br />
highlighted the tactics adopted by other state <strong>and</strong> national groups. MCCL, as well as<br />
those groups modeled after it, was formed<br />
“[t]o engage <strong>in</strong> educational, charitable, scientific or literary activities <strong>and</strong> projects<br />
or purposes, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g…[t]o improve <strong>and</strong> further personal <strong>and</strong> social<br />
responsibility for human life…[t]o <strong>in</strong>form the public on abortion <strong>and</strong> related<br />
subjects…[t]o foster high st<strong>and</strong>ards of medical care <strong>in</strong> the State of<br />
M<strong>in</strong>nesota…[t]o cause to be published <strong>and</strong> to distribute treatises, articles,<br />
addresses, reports <strong>and</strong> other publications on any or all subjects related to those<br />
above…[<strong>and</strong> t]o aid <strong>and</strong> assist <strong>in</strong>dividuals, corporations, associates or <strong>in</strong>stitutions<br />
now or hereafter engaged <strong>in</strong> further<strong>in</strong>g any one or more of the aims set forth<br />
55 Kathryn Boardman, “Chance Meet<strong>in</strong>g Led To Anti-Abortion Drive,” St. Paul Dispatch, 4 July<br />
1973, ACCL Records, Box 27, Folder: Adm<strong>in</strong> File: M. Mecklenburg 1973-76 (1), Gerald R. Ford Library.<br />
40