Collection: SC-0110
University Archives and Special Collections
Joseph P. Healey Library
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, Massachusetts 02125
library.archives@umb.edu
GRAY PANTHERS OF GREATER BOSTON RECORDS
1968-2002
Accession Number: 103-03
Repository: University of Massachusetts Boston. University Archives and Special Collections
Creator: Gray Panthers of Greater Boston
Title: Gray Panthers of Greater Boston records
Date [inclusive]: 1968-2002
Extent: 2 linear feet
Language: English
Citation: Courtesy of the University Archives and Special Collections Department, Joseph P.
Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston: Gray Panthers of Greater Boston records
Processing Information: Processed by Gregg Bouley in November 2004. Finding aid reviewed by
Jessica Holden in December 2016.
Conditions on Use and Access: This collection is open for research.
Copyright: Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Art Mazer donated the records of the Gray Panthers of Greater Boston to University Archives
and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts
Boston on June 4, 2003.
ARRANGEMENT AND PROCESSING NOTES
The original order of the folders was maintained except where it was necessary to move them
to the appropriate series or where they were misfiled. The papers within the folders are usually
in chronological order.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Maggie Kuhn founded the Gray Panthers national organization in 1970. The Gray Panthers
Greater Boston Chapter (GPGB) was established on August 2, 1975. The Gray Panthers is an
intergenerational and interracial group that seeks to affect social change to eliminate injustice,
discrimination, ageism, and oppression, with a focus on the elderly. The GPGB advocated for
state and national health plans, an end to age discrimination at work, accurate portrayals of
people in the media (especially women and the elderly), and the creation of intergenerational
housing projects. The GPGB sought to fulfill these goals and other concerns by promoting
University of Massachusetts, Boston University Archives and Special Collections Finding Aid
Collection: SC-0110
Gray Panthers
2 | Contact: library.archives@umb.edu
progressive legislation, monitoring public policy, and by organizing demonstrations. The GPGB
and the national organization often cooperated with other interest groups when advocating for
certain causes. Some of the causes that the Gray Panthers advocated for were such things as
asking for peace in the Persian Gulf in 1991 and speaking out against war toys in the 1980s.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The records date from 1968 to 2002 and include correspondence, minutes, reports, lists of people
and organizations, publications, clippings, membership forms, financial documents, newsletters,
manuals, project notes, copies of emails, surveys, postcards, and a bumper sticker.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
This collection is arranged into three series:
Series I. Administration, 1968-1999
This series includes documents that were used by or in the administration of the GPGB,
including files about the National Gray Panthers as a whole and about the GPGB’s relationship
with the National Gray Panthers. This includes meeting minutes, reports, financial records,
fundraising files, correspondence, manuals, historical background materials about the Gray
Panthers, records for Gray Panther events, and documents related to Maggie Kuhn. Information
about the founding of the GPGB can be found here from the earliest records, from original
meeting areas to the initial leadership.
Series II. Advocacy, 1973-2002
This series contains documents about the issues promoted by the Gray Panthers as part of their
political/social agenda. These files have information about the issues or the efforts to promote
the issues made by the Gray Panthers. Issues advocated for by the Gray Panthers included
peace in the Persian Gulf (1991), healthcare programs, banning war toys, an end to
discrimination against elders, and housing reforms.
Series III. Publications, 1975-1999
Newspapers, newsletters, fliers, and other published works issued by both the National Gray
Panthers and the GPGB primarily make up this series. Also included are newspaper clippings
with stories about the Gray Panthers. Folders in this series are organized such that publications
by the GPGB are placed before those issued by the national organization.
University of Massachusetts, Boston University Archives and Special Collections Finding Aid
Collection: SC-0110
Gray Panthers
3 | Contact: library.archives@umb.edu
CONTAINER LIST
Box: 1
Series I. Administration, 1968-1999
1. GPGB meeting minutes, 1975-1980
2. Steering Committee meeting minutes, 1976-1999
3. Steering Committee meeting minutes, 1976-1999
4. Annual meetings, 1968, 1980-1990
5. Pack meetings, 1976-1993
6. Pack meetings, 1976-1993
7. Correspondence, 1968-1992
8. Correspondence, 1968-1992
9. Correspondence, 1968-1992
10. Correspondence, 1968-1992
11. Correspondence, 1968-1992
12. History of the Gray Panthers, 1975-1990
13. History of the Gray Panthers, 1975-1990
14. Financial documents, 1976-1992
15. Intergenerational Celebration Informational Program, 1980 May 4
16. Fundraising (general), 1980-1990
17. Fundraising (Villers), 1979, 1983-1992
18. Fundraising (Haymarket), 1980-1991
19. Fundraising (Haymarket), 1980-1991
20. Gray Panther convention materials, 1986-1992
21. Maggie Kuhn, 1981-1992, 1997
22. Maggie Kuhn’s visit, 1988-1989
23. Gray Panther events publications, 1986-1992
24. Gray Panthers Manual Vol. II: Programs for Action, 1977-1981
25. Miscellaneous, 1978-1998
26. Miscellaneous, 1978-1998
Series II. Advocacy, 1973-2002
1. Health and human services, 1990, 1998-2002
2. Healthcare—dated correspondence, 1977-1992
3. Healthcare—flyers/publications, 1973-1991
4. Healthcare registration, 1979-1992
5. Healthcare—national health petitions, 1980-1991
6. Healthcare—reports, papers, 1981-1991
7. Healthcare—miscellaneous, 1979-1993
8. War toys, 1985-1989
9. Toys for Peace, 1997-1998
University of Massachusetts, Boston University Archives and Special Collections Finding Aid
Collection: SC-0110
Gray Panthers
4 | Contact: library.archives@umb.edu
10. Housing issues, 1977-1992
Box: 2
11. Peace and justice, 1990-1991
12. White House conference 1981, 1980-1981
Series III. Publications, 1975-1999
1. Newsletter, 1981-1998
2. Newsletter, 1981-1998
3. Panther Tracks, 1981-1998
4. Panther Tracks, 1981-1998
5. Gray Panthers newsletter, 1984-1998
6. Gray Panthers newsletter, 1984-1998
7. Panther Tracks, 1983-1999
8. Flyers, 1989-1992
9. Articles, 1977-1989
10. National Gray Panthers, 1983-1998
11. National Gray Panthers, 1983-1998
12. National Gray Panthers publications, 1981-1986
13. National Gray Panthers publications, 1981-1986
14. “Advocacy in this New Age,” by Maggie Kuhn, undated
15. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
16. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
17. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
18. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
19. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
20. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
21. Gray Panthers Network, 1975-1994
22. Boston Globe Magazine, 1980-1982
23. Gray Panthers Network, 1990-1991
