Toni Carabillo (March 26, 1926 – October 28, 1997) was an American feminist, graphic designer, and historian. She was born Virginia Ann Carabillo on March 26, 1926, in

Jackson Heights, Queens Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the northwestern part of the borough of Queens in New York City. Jackson Heights is neighbored by North Corona to the east, Elmhurst to the south, Woodside to the west, and today northern Astoria ( Ditm ...

. She graduated from

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists, Middlebury w ...

in 1948 and earned her MA from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1949.

Career

She worked for

System Development Corporation System Development Corporation (SDC) was a computer software company based in Santa Monica, California. Initially created as a division of the RAND Corporation in December 1955 (under the name System Development Division) and established as an ind ...

as assistant manager of corporate communications for 11 years. She ended her job there after she participated in an unauthorized survey of women employees that showed sex discrimination in advancement and salaries. She joined the

National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...

(NOW) in 1966. She founded Women's Heritage Corporation in 1969. The business published a series of paperbacks on women like

Lucy Stone Lucy Stone (August 13, 1818 – October 18, 1893) was an American orator, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist and Suffrage, suffragist who was a vocal advocate for and organizer of promoting Women's rights, rights for women. In 1847, ...

and

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Elizabeth Cady Stanton ( Cady; November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was an American writer and activist who was a leader of the women's rights movement in the U.S. during the mid- to late-19th century. She was the main force behind the 1848 ...

as well as an almanac and calendar. In 1970, she formed graphic arts firm Women's Graphic Communications with her partner Judith Meuli in Los Angeles. The firm produced and distributed books, newspapers, political buttons, and pins. In 1977, she became an associate of the

Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP) is an American nonprofit publishing organization that was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1972. The organization works to increase media democracy and strengthen independent media. Basic informati ...

(WIFP). WIFP is an American nonprofit publishing organization. The organization works to increase communication between women and connect the public with forms of women-based media. Carabillo co-founded the

Feminist Majority Foundation The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is an American non-profit organization headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, whose stated mission is to advance non-violence and women's power, equality, and economic development. The name Feminist Maj ...

in 1987 with Meuli,

Eleanor Smeal Eleanor Marie Smeal ( Cutri; born July 30, 1939) is an American women's rights activist. She is the president and a cofounder of the Feminist Majority Foundation (founded in 1987) and has served as president of the National Organization for Wome ...

Katherine Spillar Katherine Spillar is the United States, American executive editor of ''Ms. (magazine), Ms.'' and co-founder and executive director of the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) and the Feminist Majority. Early life Katherine Spillar grew up in Tex ...

, and

Peg Yorkin Peg Yorkin (April 16, 1927 – June 25, 2023) was an American feminist activist, philanthropist, and fundraiser. She served as cofounder and chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Early life Yorkin was born Peggy Diem on April 16, 1927, in N ...

. Carabillo was national vice president for the organization. She helped to establish California chapters of NOW. She was the president of the Los Angeles chapter as well as a national board member (1968–1977) and vice president (1971–1974). She also co-edited NOW's national publications ''NOW Acts'' (1969–1970) and the ''National NOW Times'' (1977–1985). Carabillo also edited the National NOW publication ''Do it NOW'' with Meuli. They also created a line of feminist jewelry that raised money for NOW and the

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, United States Constitution that would explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. It is not currently a part of the Constitution, though its Ratifi ...

campaign. She co-wrote ''The Feminization of Power'' (1988) with Meuli and cowrote the women's studies textbook ''Feminist Chronicles, 1953-1993'' (1993) with Meuli and June Csida. ''The Feminization of Power'' grew out of a traveling exhibit that Meuli and Carabillo created for a twelve-city Feminization of Power campaign tour to empower women to run for office in 1988. Carabillo died of lung cancer on October 28, 1997, in Los Angeles. She had been working on ''The Feminist Chronicles of the 20th Century'' at the time of her death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carabillo, Toni 1926 births 1997 deaths American feminists American graphic designers 20th-century American historians Columbia University alumni Deaths from lung cancer in California Middlebury College alumni Feminist historians National Organization for Women people American women founders American founders