Collection

Huffey, Jean Papers

Span Dates: 1989-2006
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 10 linear inches

Description

The Jean Huffey papers date from 1989 to 2006 and measure 10 linear inches. The bulk of the papers consists of materials related to Huffey's work to secure greater social and legal rights for homosexuals, and especially to raise awareness within the Lutheran church. The papers include brochures distributed by PFLAG, the American Psychological Association, and Lutherans Concerned; correspondence concerning gay issues between Jean Huffey and various people, including one folder of correspondence with elected officials; letters to the editor, many written by Huffey; and newspaper clippings concerning gay issues. Also included are the March 1995 issue of Lutheran Woman Today, which reprinted an article by columnist Deb Price about Jean Huffey's struggle to come to terms with her child's homosexuality, and the June issue, in which readers responded to the Price article. Description from finding aid.

Hist/Bio Note

Jean Boess Huffey, a school teacher, farm wife, and gay rights activist, was born to Delia and George Boess in rural Hawkeye, Iowa, in 1932. Jean Boess was raised on a farm and attended country schools. She received a teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teacher's College (now the University of Northern Iowa). In 1953, she married George Huffey, and, over the next ten years, the couple had six children. The Huffey family lived on a Century Farm in northeast Iowa near Waterville, Iowa. Jean Huffey was active in many organizations, including her Lutheran church, Old East Paint Church. After Huffey learned that one of her children was gay in the mid-1980s, she began to educate herself about homosexuality. The Huffeys became active in both Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and Lutherans Concerned, a group that advocates civil and social justice within the church. A major focus of Huffey's work has been to end discrimination against gays and lesbians within the Lutheran (and other Protestant) churches. In March 1996, Jean Huffey founded a chapter of PFLAG in Waukon, Iowa. Later, she joined Soulforce, an interfaith group working to end discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgendered individuals within religious organizations. In 2001, Huffey attended the Lutheran Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis where she and other Soulforce members engaged in direct action protests against the Lutheran church's policy requiring gay clergy to take a vow of celibacy. Biography is taken from finding aid.
https://collguides.lib.uiowa.edu/?IWA0303

Finding Aid

An online finding aid is available.
https://collguides.lib.uiowa.edu/?IWA0303

Location

This collection is housed at the Iowa Women's Archives 100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242 Phone: 319-335-5068 Curator: Kären Mason Email: lib-women@uiowa.edu
https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

Tags

Activist (religious institutions) | PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) | Soulforce | Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned)