Margaret Sanger Is Dead at 82; Led Campaign for Birth Control

New York Times, September 7, 1966 Source: New York Times TUCSON,Ariz.,Sept.6MargaretSanger,thebirthcontrolpioneer,diedthisafternoonof arteriosclerosisintheValleyHouseConvalescentCenter.Shewouldhavebeen83yearsoldonSept. 14. Mrs.SangerwasthewidowofJ.NoahH.Slee,owneroftheThreeinOneOilmanufacturingconcern. SheissurvivedbytwosonsbyherpreviousmarriagetoWilliamSanger,Dr.StuartSangerandDr. GrantSanger,andeightgrandchildren. Afuneralservicewillbeheldat11A.M.onThursdayatSt.Philip'sintheHillsEpiscopalChurchhere. AmemorialservicewillbeconductedatSt.George'sChurchinStuyvesantSquare,NewYorkCity,at 11A.M.onWednesday,Sept.21.BurialwillbeinFishkill,N.Y. TowardWorldAcceptance Astheoriginatorofthephrase"birthcontrol"anditsbestknownadvocate,MargaretSangersurvived Federalindictments,abriefjailterm,numerouslawsuits,hundredsofstreetcornerralliesandraidson herclinicstolivetoseemuchoftheworldacceptherviewthatfamilyplanningisabasichumanright. Thedynamic,titianhairedwomanwhoseIrishancestryalsoendowedherwithunfailingcharmand persuasivewitwasfirstandforemostafeminist.Shesoughttocreateequalitybetweenthesexesby freeingwomenfromwhatshesawassexualservitude. AnactiveworkerfortheSocialistparty,herfriendsincludedradicalsofallshadesJohnReed,Mabel DodgeLuhan,BillHaywood,EmmaGoldman,AlexanderBerkman,andJessieAshley. Thephrase"birthcontrol"firstappearedin1914inhermagazine,WomanRebel,whichboretheslogan "NoGodsNoMasters!"onitsmasthead. Inherdaysonthebarricadesofthebirthcontrolmovement,Mrs.Sangerpresentedafigurenoteasyto forget.ManyapolicemanescortinghertothestationhadhisearswiltedbyIrishinvective. Trainedinthemethodsofpublicdemonstrations,shealsocouldcallattentiontoherselfandhercausein morerestrainedenvironments. LawrenceLader,oneofMrs.Sanger'sbiographers,toldofmeetingscalledbyawealthybirthcontrol advocatetodiscussthemovement.Whenherguestsweredeepindiscussionoftheproblem,shewould "telephoneMargaret."

"Wearingasimpleblackdress(themoreradicaltheideasthemoreconservativeyoumustbeinyour dress)Mrs.Sangerwouldarriveinthedoorway. "Andnowhereisthewomanwhocananswerallyourquestions.Withitwasadramaticentrancethat ledeasilyintoashorttalkonbirthcontrolandoftenwonnewconverts." MotherDiedYoung Mrs.SangerwasthedaughterofMichaelHennessyHiggins,atombstonecutterinCorning,N.Y.,who wasdescribedas"aphilosopher,arebelandanartist."Mr.Higginsspecializedinchiselingangelsand saintsoutofstone.HiswifeMrs.Sanger'stubercularmotherwasAnnePurcellHiggins,whodiedat 48afterbearing11children. Mrs.Sangerherselfwasaffectedwithincipienttuberculosisin1903,theyearafterhermarriagetoMr. Sanger,anartistandarchitect.TheSangersmovedtoSaranac,N.Y.,intheAdirondacks,fromaNew YorkCityapartmentthathadbeenagatheringplaceforSocialists. "Almostwithoutknowingityoubecamea'comrade,'"Mrs.Sangerlaterwroteherhusbandofthis periodoftheirlives. TheSangerlivingroomhadbecomeaplacewhereliberals,anarchists,SocialistsandWobblies (membersoftheIndustrialWorkersoftheWorld)couldmeet. "Myownpersonalfeelingsdrewmetowardtheindividualist,anarchistphilosophy...butitseemed necessarytoapproachtheideabywayofSocialism,"shelaterwrote. Trainedasanurse,shewaseducatedatClaverackCollegeinNewYork.ShealsostudiedatWhite PlainsHospitalandManhattanEyeandEarHospital. ServedasMaternityNurse Mrs.Sanger'slifeworkbeganshortlyaftershereturnedtoNewYorkin1912.Itresultedfromherjob asanurseformaternitycases,principallyontheLowerEastSide.Manyofherpatientswerewivesof smallshopkeepers,truckdriversandpushcartvenders.Otherswerefromalowerstratumofsociety. "Thesesubmerged,untouchedclasseswerebeyondthescopeoforganizedcharityorreligion,"she wrote."Nolaborunion,nochurch,noteventheSalvationArmyreachedthem." Theyoungnursesawthem,wearyandoldat35,resortingtoselfinducedabortions,whichwere frequentlythecauseoftheirdeaths. Mrs.Sangernursedonemother,closetodeathafteraselfinflictedabortion,backtohealth,andheard thewomanpleadwithadoctorforprotectionagainstanotherpregnancy.

"TellJaketosleepontheroof,"thephysiciansaid. Themotherdiedsixmonthslaterduringasecondabortion. Mrs.Sangersoonrenouncednursingforever. "Icametoasuddenrealizationthatmyworkasanurseandmyactivitiesinsocialservicewereentirely palliativeandconsequentlyfutileanduselesstorelievethemiseryIsawallaboutme." MagazineWasSpearhead Fornearlyayeartheexnursereadeveryscrapofmaterialoncontraception.In1913,shewentto FranceandScotlandtostudybirthcontrolconditions,returningthefollowingyear. Hermagazine,WomanRebel,wasthespearheadofhermovement.Inanearlyissueshespecified sevencircumstancesinwhichbirthcontrolshouldbepracticed:wheneitherspousehasatransmittable diseasewhenthewifesuffersatemporaryinfectionoflungs,heartorkidneys,thecureofwhichmight beretardedinpregnancywhenamotherisphysicallyunfitwhenparentshavesubnormalchildrenif theparentsareadolescentsiftheirincomeisinadequate,andduringthefirstyearofmarriage. ThearticlesadheredtoNewYork'sComstocklaw,whichmadeitacrimetooffercontraceptive information.Nevertheless,mostoftheissuesoftheWomanRebelwerebannedbytheNewYorkPost Office. FledtoEurope InAugust,1914,Mrs.Sangerwasindictedonninecountsofsendingbirthcontrolinformationthrough themailsandwasmadeliabletoaprisontermof45years. Shestoodvirtuallyalone.Evenprogressivewomen,Socialistsandphysiciansofferedhernoassistance. Fightersforwomen'ssuffrageseemedmoreconcernedwiththevotethanwithMrs.Sanger'simmediate problem. Ontheeveofhertrial,Mrs.SangerfledtoEuropewithoutthecourt'spermission.There,shemetH.G. WellsandbecameafriendofHavelockEllis,theauthorofthepioneerstudy"PsychologyofSex." Duringherabsence,AnthonyComstock,secretaryoftheNewYorkSocietyfortheSuppressionof Vice,wenttoMrs.Sanger'shome,representedhimselftoMr.Sangerasanimpoverishedfatherin searchofaidandboughtabirthcontrolpamphletfromMr.Sanger.Forthissale,Mr.Sangerserveda monthinjail. OpenedBrooklynClinic Theindictmentwasquashedin1916,shortlyaftershereturnedtothiscountry.ButMrs.Sangerfound thattheindictmenthadarousedworldwideinterestinthemovementandshedecidedtotakeastep 3

beyondthepropagandizingthencarriedonbytheNationalBirthControlLeague. Mrs.Sangerandasister,Mrs.EthelByrne,atrainednurse,openedabirthcontrolcliniconOct.16, 1916,intheBrownsvillesectionofBrooklyn.Theclinic,at46AmboyStreet,wasthefirstbirthcontrol clinicintheUnitedStates. Thelegislativeapproach,Mrs.Sangerwrote,"seemedaslowandtortuousmethodofmakingclinics legalwestoodabetterandquickerchangebysecuringafavorablejudicialinterpretationthrough challengingthelawdirectly." Mrs.Sangerserved30daysinjail,butthecaselaidthegroundworkforsubsequentcourtrulings enablingphysicianstogivecontraceptiveadvice"forthepreventionorcureofdisease." HersisterwentonaneightdayhungerstrikeinBrooklyn'sRaymondStreetJailafterherarrest. Despitecontinuedlegalharassment,Mrs.Sanger'sworkwasincreasinglyaccepted.In1937,ayear aftertheComstocklawwasreinterpretedtoprovidefordistributionofcontraceptiveinformation,the AmericanMedicalAssociationadoptedareportthatrecognizedbirthcontrolaspartoflegitimate medicalpractice. Inaddition,shewastheauthorofanumberofbooksonbirthcontrol,including"WhatEveryGirl ShouldKnow." Mrs.Sanger'softenpicturesquestruggleswiththepoliceandherdifferenceswiththeRomanCatholic hierarchyfurnishedthebirthcontrolmovementwithamplepublicity.OnNov.14,1921,whenMrs. SangerarrivedatTownHallonWest43dStreettotakepartinthediscussion,"BirthControl:IsIt Moral?"shefoundthepoliceclosingthemeeting. Intheangrypulling,shovingandshoutingthatfollowed,Mrs.Sangerlefttheplatformwithtwo policemen.Adisorderlyconductchargeagainstherwasdismissedthenextday.TheNewYorkTimes accountoftheinterruptedmeetingstatedthatthepoliceinterventionwas"broughtaboutattheinstance ofArchbishopPatrickJ.HayesofthisRomanCatholicArchdiocese." HonorsCameLater FifteenyearslaterTownHallwasthesceneofaceremonyinwhichtheTownHallClubgaveMrs. SangeritsannualAwardofHonorforthemostconspicuouscontributionoftheyeartotheenlargement andenrichmentoflife. ThreemonthsagoheryearsofbirthcontroladvocacyappearedtobemakinganinroadinRome. ReportsfromtheVaticanindicatedthatamoreliberalRomanCatholicpositionwaspossibleasaresult ofathreeyearVaticanstudyoftheproblem. Amajorityofthe60clericalandlaymembersofacommissionoriginallyappointedin1963byPope 4

PaulVIwasreportedtohaveacceptedapositionofleavingthematterofspecificbirthcontrol techniquestotheindividualCatholicconscience. Lastmonth,agroupofmothers,childrenandcollegestudentsdemonstratedinfrontofSt.Patrick's CathedralinNewYorktoprotesttheRomanCatholicChurch'sbanonartificialmethodsofbirth control.IncontrasttopoliceactionatmanyrallieswhenMrs.Sangerandhersupporterswerechased, therewerenohecklersoutsidethecathedral.Amongthemutterersandheadshakersweremanywho acceptedleafletswithsmiles. Sheandheradherentswonanotablevictorywhen,onJan.6,1936inthefamouscaseof"TheUnited Statesv.OnePackage,"UnitedStatesDistrictCourtJudgeGroverMoscowitzdecidedthatDr. HannahStone,aphysician,couldlegallyreceiveacontraceptivedevicesenttoherbyaphysicianin Japan.Subsequentinterpretationsofhisdecisiongreatlybroadenedthescopeofthecirculationofbirth controldevicesandartificialbirthcontrolinformation. DuringoneofMrs.Sanger'svisitstoEuropetheNationalBirthControlLeaguewasreorganizedunder theleadershipofMaryWareDennettandClaraStillman.Mrs.SangerretainedcontroloftheNew YorkStateBirthControlLeagueandlaterbecamethepresidentofPlannedParenthood. Mrs.Sanger'sAmericanBirthControlLeague,establishedin1921,becamethePlannedParenthood FederationofAmericain1946andledtotheestablishmentofmorethan250PlannedParenthood Centersin150citiesthroughoutthecountry.Themovementisnowworldwide,with38member organizationsandprojectsin88countries. WelcomedAbroad "ItwasshewhoconvincedAmericaandtheworldthatcontrolofconceptionisabasichumanrightand likeotherhumanrightsmustbeequallyavailabletoall,"saidDr.AlanF.Guttmacher,presidentofthe PlannedParenthoodWorldWideAssociation. OnavisittoJapan,Mrs.SangerwasreceivedwithgreatcordialitybymembersoftheJapanese Government.ShewasthefirstwomantoaddresstheJapaneseDiet.Shewasalsowarmlyreceivedby thelateJawarharlalNehruofIndia.Herviewsonbirthcontrolwerewidelycirculatedthroughoutthe FarEastandinAfrica. Mrs.Sangerwasheardfrominfirmtoneswhen,inSeptember,1958,acontroversyaroseinNew YorkovertherefusalofDr.MorrisA.Jacobs,thecity'sCommissionerofHospitals,tosanctionbirth controltherapyinthehospitals. InterviewedbytelephoneinherhomeinTucson,Mrs.SangercalledthepolicyupheldbyDr.Jacobs "disgraceful."Mrs.Sangerwasthennearingher75thyearandwasstillactiveaspresidentofthe InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederation. 5

OpposedKennedyin1960 FromherArizonahomeMrs.Sangerkeptupherfireofstatementsandletterstonewspapersinbehalf ofbirthcontrol.HerdisagreementwiththeRomanCatholicChurchledhertosayin1960thatif SenatorJohnF.KennedywaselectedPresidentshewouldleavetheUnitedStates.SheopposedMr. Kennedybecauseofhisreligion. InaninterviewsomeweekslaterMrs.SangersaidthatshehadbeeninformedthatSenatorandMrs. Kennedywereboth"sympatheticandunderstandingtowardtheproblemofworldpopulation.Iwillwait outthefirstyearofSenatorKennedy'sAdministrationandseewhathappens." Duringherlongcareermanyinstitutionshonoredherforherwork.ThedegreeofDoctorofLetterswas conferreduponherbySmithCollegein1949. Mr.andMrs.Sangerweredivorcedin1921afterhavingbeenseparatedforseveralyears. In1922,Mrs.SangerwasmarriedtoMr.Slee.Theindustrialist,whodiedin1941,contributedlarge sumstothebirthcontrolmovement.DuringhermarriagetoMr.Slee,shecontinuedtousethenameof MargaretSanger.