Lewin, Julie

Julie Lewin Papers, 1947-2003
11 boxes (5.5 linear feet).

Julie Lewin began her career as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist, and went from writing articles about sexual abuse of children and women’s prison reforms to lobbying for the protection and treatment of animals. The collection documents Lewin’s efforts to uphold the rights of animals, and in particular focuses on her opposition to the pet industry and to the use of animals in research.

Biographical Note

A resident of Connecticut, Julie Lewin began her career as a freelance writer and journalist after obtaining degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University. Always politically active, she went from writing articles about the sexual abuse of children and women’s prison reforms to becoming an important advocate for the protection and treatment of animals. Beginning with the Fund for Animals from 1986 to 2000, Lewin led an expose of the Connecticut Humane Society’s donation policy, revealing the world of inhumane practices in the pet industry from puppy mills to illegal pet acquisition and kennel management, and she lobbied for new laws to protect animals in research.

Since 1990, Lewin has been the Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Human Education, an organization that both educates the public about animal rescue and rescues inner-city animals. She has also been involved in establishing new, politically-aware organizations to advance animal rights. In 2001, she founded Animal Advocacy Connecticut to lobby state officials on animal issues, and in the following year, she founded The National Institute For Animal Advocacy (NIFAA), an organization that trains activists to win strong state and local laws for animal protection through political action. Reflecting the evolution in Lewin’s thought, NIFAA was established specifically to create a political culture among animal rescue and rights advocates; to train advocates how to form voting blocs for animals in their towns, cities, counties and states; and to develop local political leadership among animal advocates to lead these voting blocs.

While much of Lewin’s lobbying effort has centered on issues such as hunting, the pet industry, gun control, greyhound racing, dog chaining, rodeos, circuses, marine life, pet overpopulation, and animal research, she has increasingly emerged as an important political strategist, writing about how best to work within the system to effect concrete change. Her book, Get Political For Animals and Win the Laws They Need: Why and How to Launch a Voting Bloc for Animals in Your Town, City, County or State (2007), is a how-to manual for animal rights and rescue advocates. It outlines simple steps that anyone can take to launch a voting bloc, locally or nationally, and it was sponsored or endorsed by a number animal rights organizations, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Trust, Animal World USA, Best Friends Animal Society, Coalition For Animals, Compassion in Entertainment, Connecticut Humane Society, Dogs Deserve Better, Farm Sanctuary, Fox Memorial Clinic, Fund for Animals, Humane Society of the US, Lapin Foundation, and the League of Humane Voters of New York City.

Scope and contents of the collection

The Lewin Papers contain materials on animal advocacy collected by Julie Lewin from 1966 to 2003, with the bulk dating from 1975-1995. In addition to articles written by and about Lewin, the collection includes some background information on Lewin, and a large suite of documents focused both on upholding the inherent rights of animals and on lobbying efforts for the protection and treatment of animals. The majority of the collection was gathered by Lewin’s attorneys in relation to their protracted legal battle with United States Surgical Company over opposition to the use of live animals in medical testing.

The collection is organized chiefly as it was when Lewin presented it to her lawyer, preserving the paper trail she established over the years as she documented the pet industry.

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection: Julie Lewin Papers (MS 454). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

History of the Collection

Acquired from Julie Lewin in January 2006.

Processing Information

Processed by Jen Ditkoff, 2007.

Additional Information

Language

English

Series Descriptions


Series 1: Animal Research	1982-1993
This series contains a full range of information about the use of animals for research, including materials concerning Draize testing, proposed bills to ban cosmetics testing, and bills to limit the use of animals for research and testing. Articles and pamphlets on alternatives to animal testing are provided as well as cosmetic company information. There are also facility inspection records, information about medical testing, and articles and information concerning a University of Connecticut’s professor animal research. The rest of series contains information about United States Surgical Company, a company using dogs for medical demonstrations of surgical staplers. In particular, Lewin collected newspaper clippings documenting the case against animal rights activist Fran Trutt, who was charged with the attempted murder of Leon Hirsh, chairman of U.S. Surgical, when she planted a bomb near his parking space. According to Trutt, it was Mary Lou Sapone who first suggested the idea of murdering Hirsch. When it was later revealed that Sapone was hired by Hirsch to infiltrate the animal rights movement, it became clear that Trutt had been entrapped by U.S. Surgical in their effort to discredit the animal rights activists who objected to the company’s practices. The series contains, too, information about the legal case between U.S. Surgical and Julie Lewin.


Series 2: Connecticut Humane Society	1983-1991
Series 2 contains information gathered by Lewin before, during, and after the time that the Fund for Animals filed a complaint against the Connecticut Humane Society. The Fund wanted the Connecticut Humane Society to be considered a public agency both because of its size and its law enforcement privileges. The series contains essential background information about the Humane Society’s programs, fundraising activities, law enforcement cases, facility inspections, policies, and copies of early CHS records.


Series 3: Animal Welfare	1976-2003
The bulk of Series 3 consists of material that connects puppy mills with pet stores, including the unethical practice of purchasing animals from shelters or pet stores, the practice of stealing pets to sell to research facilities, and issues surrounding the unregulated transport by breeders of animals to be sold in Connecticut pet stores. Among other materials in the series are facility inspection information, U.S. Agricultural Department news on animal transportation and facilities, and background information on breeders and pet stores. Other parts of this series touch on a variety of animal welfare issues from balloons to fairs to zoos.


Series 4: Biographical and Financial	1966-2003
Even though this series does not provide extensive details about Lewin’s education and professional activities, it does include some of her published articles, articles written about her and her work, and materials relating to her campaign for State Representative. Also of significance are the materials she has used to train others as activists, which reveal the underlying thoughts and principles upon which she has based her own success both as an activist and as a lobbyist.

Contents List


Series 1: Animal Research	1982-1993
Draize Testing	1988-1991	Box 1:1
Facilities: Articles	1983-1989	Box 1:2
Facilities: Bibliographies	1988, undated	Box 1:3
Facilities: Legal	1987-1991	Box 1:4
Facilities: Marketing for Research Animals	1985	Box 1:5
Facilities: Reports	1984-1987	Box 1:6
Medical	1986-1992	Box 1:7
University of Connecticut	1985-1992	Box 1:8
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Articles	1988	Box 1:9
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Articles	1989	Box 1:10
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Articles	1990-1992	Box 1:11
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Lewin, Julie	1982-1988	Box 1:12
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Lewin, Julie	1989-1993	Box 2:1
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Trutt, Fran Stephanie	1988-1989	Box 2:2
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Trutt, Fran Stephanie	1988-1989	Box 2:3
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Trutt, Fran Stephanie	1988-1989	Box 2:4
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Trutt, Fran Stephanie	1988-1989	Box 2:5
U.S. Surgical Corporation: Trutt, Fran Stephanie	1991	Box 2:6


Series 2: Connecticut Humane Society	1983-1991
Articles	1988-1990	Box 2:7
Correspondence	1985-1991	Box 3:1
Legal	undated	Box 3:2
Legal	1983-1987	Box 3:3
Legal	1988-1991	Box 3:4
Legal	1988-1991	Box 3:5
Legal	1988-1991	Box 3:6
Legal	1988-1991	Box 3:7
Notes	1988-1989	Box 3:8
Publications and Mailings	1983-1989	Box 3:9


Series 3: Animal Welfare	1976-2003
Animal Activism	1985-2002	Box 3:10
Animal News	1985-2003	Box 4:1
Balloons	1988-1989	Box 4:2
Beardsley Zoo	1985-1991	Box 4:3
Bird Control	1986	Box 4:4
Breed Specific Legislation	1988-1997	Box 4:5
Breed Specific Legislation	1988-1997	Box 4:6
Charity/Lottery	1987-1992	Box 4:7
Connecticut Land Trust	1985	Box 4:8
Cow Chip Bingo	1990-1991	Box 4:9
Dog Racing	1981-1991	Box 4:10
Dog Racing	1981-1991	Box 4:11
Environmental Education	1986	Box 4:12
Facility Inspections	1982-1990	Box 4:13
Fairs	1980-1990	Box 4:14
Farming	1989-1991	Box 4:15
Hazardous Waste Act	1984	Box 5:1
Hunting: Birds	1977, 1983-1988	Box 5:2
Hunting: Birds	1989	Box 5:3
Hunting: Birds	1990-1991	Box 5:4
Hunting: Birds	1998, 2003	Box 5:5
Hunting: Deer	1974, 1987-1989	Box 5:6
Hunting: Deer	1990	Box 5:7
Hunting: Deer	1991-1997	Box 5:8
Hunting: Hunter Harassment Act	1983-1992	Box 5:9
Hunting: Trapping	1985-1988	Box 5:10
Hunting: Trapping	1986-1998	Box 6:1
Legislation	1987-1991	Box 6:2
Marine Life	1984-1989	Box 6:3
Maritime Aquarium	1988	Box 6:4
Organizational Information	1988-1989	Box 6:5
Pet Protection Act	2002-2003	Box 6:6
Pet Sales	1982-1985	Box 6:7
Pet Sales	1986	Box 7:1
Pet Sales	1987	Box 7:2
Pet Sales	1987	Box 7:3
Pet Sales	1988	Box 7:4
Pet Sales	1989	Box 7:5
Pet Sales	1990-1991	Box 7:6
Pet Sales	1992-1998	Box 7:7
Pet Sales: Esposito, Samuel	1976-1986	Box 7:8
Pet Sales: Esposito, Samuel	1987-1988	Box 8:1
Pet Sales: Research	1986-1989	Box 8:2
Pet Theft Act	1987-1990	Box 8:3
Pulling Contests	1980-1987	Box 8:4
Pulling Contests	1988-1990, 2001	Box 8:5
Rabies	1986-1991	Box 8:6
Rocky Memorial Act	2001-2002	Box 8:7
Rodeos	1987-1998	Box 8:8
Spay-Neuter Bill	1988	Box 8:9
Transportation	1978-1989	Box 8:10
USDA News	1981-1985	Box 9:1
West Rock Nature Center	1988-2002	Box 9:2
Zoos	1983-1990	Box 9:3


Series 4: Biographical and Financial	1966-2003
Articles About Lewin	1987-2001	Box 9:4
Articles By Lewin	1967-2003	Box 9:5
Articles By Lewin: Prison Reform	1977-1982	Box 9:6
College Essays	1966	Box 9:7
Education for Activists	1981-2002	Box 9:8
Finances: Fund For Animals	1986-1987	Box 9:9
Finances: Fund For Animals	1988	Box 9:10
Finances: Fund For Animals	1989	Box 9:11
Finances: Fund For Animals	1990	Box 10:1
Finances: Fund For Animals	1991	Box 10:2
Letters: Fund For Animals	1987-1990	Box 10:3
Notes	1988	Box 10:4
Photographs	2001, undated	Box 10:5
Resume and Cover Letters	1985-1992	Box 10:6
State Representative Campaign	1996	Box 10:7
State Representative Campaign	1996-1998	Box 10:8

Subjects

Animal rights--Activism.
Animal rights--Advocates.
Animal rights--Law and legislation.
Animal welfare--Rescue.
Connecticut Humane Society.
Greyhound racing.
Hunting.
Pet industry.
Trapping--Leghold.
Vivisection-Animal research.

Contributors

Lewin, Julie.

Call no.: MS 454

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One Response to “Lewin, Julie”

1
Julie Lewin Says:

“Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need, a comprehensive how-to manual by Julie Lewin, printed 2007 by nifaa.org.
Lewin founded the non-profit National Institute for Animal Advocacy. NIFAA teaches animal rights and rescue advocates WHY to form local and state political organizations that endorse political candidates and HOW to do it. In 2007 NIFAA published her highly-praised 276-page comprehensive how-to manual, “GET POLITICAL FOR ANIMALS AND WIN THE LAWS THEY NEED: Why and How to Launch a Voting Bloc for Animals in Your Town, City, County or State–and the simple steps it takes to do it.” It’s importance and potential t help animals is profound. A leading animal rights law professor compared it to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “Brown v Board of Education,” and “Tear Down This Wall.” Please order through nifaa.org.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:45 am

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Lewin, Julie

Julie Lewin Papers, 1947-2003
11 boxes (5.5 linear feet).

One Response to “Lewin, Julie”

Special Collections & University Archives : UMass Amherst Libraries

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Lewin, Julie

Julie Lewin Papers, 1947-200311 boxes (5.5 linear feet).

One Response to “Lewin, Julie”

Special Collections & University Archives : UMass Amherst Libraries

Julie Lewin Papers, 1947-2003
11 boxes (5.5 linear feet).