The Virginia Handley Papers consist of a wide range of documents and publications, as well as a few audio-visual materials and artifacts, pertaining to animal advocacy, animal rights organizations and animal welfare issues. The collection includes materials relating to animal protection legislation, especially in California; numerous ...
MoreThe Virginia Handley Papers consist of a wide range of documents and publications, as well as a few audio-visual materials and artifacts, pertaining to animal advocacy, animal rights organizations and animal welfare issues. The collection includes materials relating to animal protection legislation, especially in California; numerous animal rights organizations; and activist issues relevant to specific animal groups. Many of the items pertain to issues in California, where Handley lobbied for animal rights in Sacramento beginning in the 1970s. Virginia Handley (1946-2014) was a prominent animal advocate and animal rights activist in California, and was credited as one of the best animal activists in the state. In 1970, she and her mother Grace helped co-found Animal Switchboard, an information hotline on animal-related problems located in San Francisco. Beginning in the 1970s, Handley lobbied for animal protection laws in California and is credited for many of the state's present laws. She also coordinated the Fund for Animals based in San Francisco. When the Fund merged with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 2005, she continued as California lobbyist for HSUS. In 1980, Handley founded PawPAC, California's Political Action Committee for Animals for which she served on its board until her death.
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