Cope, June /Papers

This collection formed part of June Cope's personal collection, the majority of which constitutes material concerning the Abortion Reform Action Group (A.R.A.G.). A.R.A.G. was founded on 16th July 1972 by Cope who, together with her colleagues, sought to promote early, safe, legal abortions. Material in this collection does not reflect A.R.A.G.'s attempts to do so, but rather details Cope's work in South Africa's neighbouring territories (or "bantustans") of KwaZulu, Lesotho, and the Transkei. A.R.A.G. considered such action by Cope to be too radical and so, whilst Cope still headed the organisation, she embarked on work outside Natal in private and with the support of two American organisations with whom she had honorary posts. These were the Transnational Family Research Institute (T.F.R.I.) where she worked as their research associate in Southern Africa, and the International Women's Health Coalition (I.W.H.C.) where she was again appointed as the representative in Southern Africa. Although the work that Cope was doing under the auspices of T.F.R.I. and I.W.H.C. was more radical than that undertaken by A.R.A.G., the organisations still shared a common aim: that of improving women's health. This collection is particularly valuable in that it documents the KwaZulu government's attitude to and participation in abortion reform. It also reflects the advanced views and activities of African politicians and doctors, notably in Lesotho.