Consumer Reports. Esther Peterson papers, 1953-1997 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Consumer Reports (Firm)
Abstract:
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Esther Peterson (1906-1997) was a leader in consumer, labor and women's movements who served as the first Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs. The Consumer Reports Esther Peterson papers include correspondence, clippings, photographs, texts of articles and speeches, reports, white papers, and other printed materials. The bulk of the collection documents Peterson's work after leaving government in 1981, especially with the International Organization of Consumer's Unions (IOCU) through the 1980s and early 1990s as well as her involvement with consumer and women's movements. Key correspondents include Peter Hansen, Joan Claybrook, Ralph Nader, and Gus Yatron. Institutions represented include Aetna Insurance, American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI), Centre for Our Common Future, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Insurance Interest Group (CIIG), Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumers Union, IOCU, Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations, and the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs. Topics addressed include: consumer advocacy and protection, environmental regulation, particularly the regulation of pesticides, chemicals, and hazardous substances; insurance and health care, especially women's health and long-term care for the elderly; international development and trade; pharmaceutical exports; and transnational corporations. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
19.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and French.
Collection ID:
RL.11791

Background

Scope and content:

The Consumer Reports Esther Peterson papers include correspondence, clippings, photographs, texts of articles and speeches, reports, white papers, and other printed materials. The bulk of the collection documents Peterson's work after leaving government in 1981, especially with the International Organization of Consumer's Unions (IOCU) through the 1980s and early 1990s as well as her involvement with consumer and women's movements. Key correspondents include Peter Hansen, Joan Claybrook, Ralph Nader, and Gus Yatron. Institutions represented include Aetna Insurance, American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI), Centre for Our Common Future, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Insurance Interest Group (CIIG), Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumers Union, IOCU, Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations, and the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs. Topics addressed include: consumer advocacy and protection, environmental regulation, particularly the regulation of pesticides, chemicals, and hazardous substances; insurance and health care, especially women's health and long-term care for the elderly; international development and trade; pharmaceutical exports; and transnational corporations.

Biographical / historical:

Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Esther Peterson (1906-1997) was a leader in consumer, labor and women's movements who served as the first Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs.

Born in 1906 in Provo, Utah, Esther Peterson was a leader in the labor movement, women's movement, and consumer movement throughout her life.

Early in her career, Mrs. Peterson taught at Branch Agricultural College in Utah, Winsor School in Boston and Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers in Industry. Active in the labor movement since the 1930s, Mrs. Peterson was Assistant Director of Education of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers (1939-1944) and served as the union's representative (1945-1948). From 1957-1961 she was the legislative representative of the Industrial Union department of the AFL-CIO.

She held high-level posts under three United States Presidents. John F. Kennedy appointed her Director of the Women's Bureau in the Labor Department (1961), Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Standards (1961-1969), and Executive Vice Chair of the President's Commission on the Status of Women (1961-1963). In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her the first Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs, and Chair of the President's Committee on Consumer Interests (1964-1967). She served in this capacity again under President Jimmy Carter.

From 1970-1977, Mrs. Peterson was the Vice President of Consumer Programs and consumer advisor to the President of Giant Food Corporation. In the 1970s and 1980s she appeared on television and on radio talk shows to speak directly to consumers on current issues.

In 1984, Peterson was appointed to be the representative to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations in New York for the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU). In that role, she traveled extensively throughout the United States, Asia, South America, Europe, and Africa. She helped secure the passage of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection and the Consolidated List of Products Whose Consumption and/or Sale Have Been Banned, Withdrawn, Severely Restricted or Not Approved by Governments.

Later in life, she became active on issues related to health care and insurance for elder Americans. She was on the Board of Directors of the United Seniors Health Cooperative (USHC), and worked with Aetna on "Choice Time," a consumer education publication on long-term care for elder Americans. In 1987, Mrs. Peterson became Chairperson of the Consumer Insurance Interest Group (CIIG), which worked with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) to develop model standards and a "bill of rights" for insurance consumers during the liability insurance crisis of the late 1980's.

Peterson died in 1997, at the age of 91.

- Source: Biographical notes included in collection and her New York Times obituary, Dec. 22, 1997.

Acquisition information:
The Consumer Reports. Esther Peterson Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Ashton Merck and Isabella Costanzo, Feb. 2020.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: General Files; Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs; IOCU/UN; CIIG/PIA; Aetna; Health/Insurance; Printed Materials; Audiovisual Materials

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access restricted. Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Consumer Reports. Esther Peterson Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.