Mae Nan Ellingson Interview, July 12, 2002

Mae Nan Ellingson describes what brought her to Montana and the University of Montana in 1967. She talks about her experience as an environmental activist with GASP [Gals Against Smog and Pollution] and as a women’s rights activist. Ellingson discusses serving as the youngest of 19 women delegates in the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention of 1972. She recalls how the convention was organized, the Equal Rights Amendment initiative, the anti-partisan atmosphere, and the role of women during the event. Ellingson describes the International Women’s Year Conference in Montana. She discusses attending law school at the UM during the 1970s and the challenges of being one of seven women in a class of 75. She also recalls the difficulty of finding a job because of her gender. Ellingson concludes by elaborating her views on contemporary women’s issues such as health care and child care and her distaste for feminist jargon and labeling.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtfeminist/1038/thumbnail.jp