Bumper stickers with messages for and against Washington's Referendum 20, 1970. From Angie Weiss, "Washington's 1970 Abortion Reform Victory: The Referendum 20 Campaign," The Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, UW (2013). Photo courtesy of Museum of History and UW Library Digital Collections.
HSTRY 498 A, Spring 2025
BEFORE ROE: REPRODUCTIVE POLITICS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, 1967-73
Wednesdays 1:30 PM to 3:20 PM, Denny 256
Prof. Lynn M. Thomas (she/her)
lynnmt@uw.edu (best way to contact me)
office: 212B Smith
office hours: Mondays 12:30-1:30 and by appointment (happy to schedule alternative times)
Zoom link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/8953579053
Our course in Canvas: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1801318
Our library research guide: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/researching-abortion/home
This research seminar will explore a period in U.S. history that is very similar to our own, a period when abortion laws varied dramatically by state. In January 1973, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Roe v. Wade that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion across the United States until 2022 when that decision was overturned. In the six years prior to the Roe decision, 18 states – including Washington – loosened restrictions on accessing legal abortion care. This course will examine why and how those legal changes took place, and who were the people and organizations who supported and opposed them.
This course is devoted to hands-on historical research and writing. You’ll design research projects and write 15-page essays focused on some aspect of the campaigns in Washington or another state. At the end of the quarter, you’ll deliver a 15-minute research presentation. For many topics, you’ll have the opportunity to do hands-on research in the rich and wonderful archives located in UW Special Collections in the Allen Library. Projects will explore how abortion debates in the late 1960s and early 1970s were shaped by broader political shifts and struggles around healthcare, sexuality, family, religion, and women's rights.
The UW History Department is home to the online Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History consortium, a set of website projects. Students in some earlier history 498 seminars have been involved in producing these projects and there may be an opportunity for some students in this class to publish their research papers. You will find the projects here:
https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/research_reports.htm
This is a writing (W) credit course.
COURSE POLICIES
Readings and Library Research Guide
All common readings for this course are available through embedded links to public websites or UW Libraries. See links below in the week-by-week class schedule and in modules on Canvas.
Librarians Aubrey Williams and Theresa Mudrock have created an enormously helpful library research guide for selecting your research topics, and locating secondary and primary sources on them. We’re indebted to their great work!
In-Person Meetings and the Importance of Class Participation
This class will meet in person once per week, Wednesdays 1:30-3:20 (except for May 28th when I’d like us to go to 5 pm so we can hear all presentations in one session). Your participation is essential to the success of this course. You are expected to come to class on-time and prepared to participate. This means being ready to discuss assigned readings and report out on your research and writing process. Your participation grade will be based on your contributions during our class meetings. It will count for a maximum of 10 points out of the course total of 100 points.
Please let me know in advance if a situation arises that requires you to miss class. As a teacher, I’m committed to working with you to ensure your success at UW. If something comes up in your life that makes it challenging to participate in class or complete assigned work, please see me during my office hour (M 12:30-1:30) or, if that time doesn’t suit your schedule, email me (lynnmt@uw.edu) to set up an alternative time to meet. Successful teaching and learning depends on clear and consistent communication between all of us so let’s make that happen!
Graded Assignments, Prohibition on AI, and Policy on Late Work
Graded assignments will count for a maximum of 90 points of the course total of 100 points. Below and on our Canvas site, you’ll find more information on assignments. To pass this course, all assignments must be completed, whether they are for points or just credit.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is prohibited when writing assignments. AI includes programs based in large language models used to generate text and images, including ChatGPT, GPT4, Bing Chat, and “Write with AI” in Google Docs. Suspected use of AI will be referred to the Office of Community Standards & Student Conduct for possible disciplinary action. If you’d like to incorporate AI into your research – as opposed to writing – process, please see me so we can discuss and ensure that your planned usage would not contravene course and university policies.
Except in cases where I’ve authorized exceptions, late out-of-class assignments will receive a 10% deduction for each day after the due date. If challenges arise and you find it difficult to meet a due date, please let me know in advance or as soon as possible to determine whether an exception might apply.
For your final course grade, your point total will be converted to the 4.0 scale according to this chart:
|
100-95 = 4.0 |
88 = 3.3 |
81 = 2.6 |
74 = 1.9 |
67 = 1.2 |
|
94 = 3.9 |
87 = 3.2 |
80 = 2.5 |
73 = 1.8 |
66 = 1.1 |
|
93 = 3.8 |
86 = 3.1 |
79 = 2.4 |
72 = 1.7 |
65 = 1.0 |
|
92 = 3.7 |
85 = 3.0 |
78 = 2.3 |
71 = 1.6 |
64 = .9 |
|
91 = 3.6 |
84 = 2.9 |
77 = 2.2 |
70 = 1.5 |
63 = .8 |
|
90 = 3.5 |
83 = 2.8 |
76 = 2.1 |
69 = 1.4 |
62 = .7 |
|
89 = 3.4 |
82 = 2.7 |
75 = 2.0 |
68 = 1.3 |
<.7 = 0 |