Kathleen O'Connor grew up on the island of Trinidad in the West Indies, but emigrated to the United States after working as an au pair for relatives in New York, and meeting her future husband. They moved to Chicago, Illinois, and Kathleen became very active in social issues through the Catholic Church. She was Phyllis Schlafly's chief lieutenant in Illinois during the decade long struggle to pass the ERA in the state legislature. After Schlafly's Stop-ERA movement successfully blocked its passage, Sullivan worked on abstinence issues in Illinois, especially Project Reality. She also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1990 and 1992.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
The Today Show
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Growing up in the island nation of Trinidad
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Sullivan's views of American politics in 1960s
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
1968 and the emerging battles over abortion and women's rights
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Opening stages of the ERA fight in Illinois
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
ERA fight in Illinois from 1973-1977
Interview Session 06 (Audio)
ERA fight in Illinois from 1978 thru 1982
Interview Session 07 (Audio)
Sullivan's 1990 and 1992 Congressional campaigns
Interview Session 08 (Audio)
Project Reality and social issues of the 1990s and 2000s
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Jerry Sullivan with Chris and Kevin at the couple’s home in Kirkwood, Missouri in 1957.
Where:
Kirkwood, Missouri
When:
1957
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen and Jerry Sullivan relax during a vacation to the Smokey Mountains in 1962.
Where:
Smokey Mountains
When:
1962
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan, Harold Smith (Chairman of Barrington Township Republican Party), Jeb McGruder (of “Watergate” notoriety), and Illinois Congresswoman Marquerite Stitt Church at the opening of the Barry Goldwater Headquarters in Elk Grove Township.
Where:
Elk Grove Township
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
‘The Fighting Sullivans’ show their support for Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign, with t-shirts emblazoned with AU H2O, a periodic table translation for GOLDWATER. From L-R are Chris, Kerry, Kevin, Andy (2), Barry and Kathleen.
Where:
Chicago
When:
1964
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Scott, Kathleen Sullivan, and Jack Kiefer (a Mount Prospect businessman and the Township Chairman for Mr. Goldwater’s campaign), appear together at the headquarters opening during Goldwater’s campaign.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1964
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Brighton Camp in Trinidad, West Indies where Kathleen spent her formative years.
Where:
Brighton Camp in Trinidad, West Indies
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan and Jess Lehmann welcome Illinois Congresswoman Marguerite Stitt Church to the opening of the Goldwater Headquarters in Elk Grove Township in Illinois.
Where:
Elk Grove, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan talks with Barry Goldwater during Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1964
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Barry (Uncle Sam) and Kerry (Lady Liberty) dressed up for a school play, protecting Andy, age three, circa 1965.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1965
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen and Jerry Sullivan, circa 1969.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1969
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan at work in her home office in Glenview, Illinois, in the 1970s. Mrs. Sullivan maintained a very busy schedule which included church, civic and political activities.
Where:
Glenview, Illinois
When:
1970s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jerry and Kathleen posing with Kathleen’s father, Gerald O’Connor during his visit to Glenview, Illinois in 1971.
Where:
Glenview, Illinois
When:
1971
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
President Ronald Reagan posing with Kathleen Sullivan, Margaret Wiersen and Dan Preston (both of Park Ridge, IL) during a campaign trip to the state in 1976.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1976
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen met with Ronald Reagan in January, 1976 when she ran as a delegate pledged to Reagan in his first attempt at the presidency.
Where:
Unknown
When:
January, 1976
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan with her mentor and motivational leader, Phyllis Schlafly, taken in 1982 at the “End of an ERA” gala in Washington, D.C.
Where:
Washington, D.C
When:
1982
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A Sullivan family portrait taken at the family home in Glenview, Illinois in 1982 . From left to right are Barry, Liz, Lori, Kevin, Barb, Andy holding Duke, Chris holding Mary and Kerry. Kathleen and Jerry are holding Kathleen II and Megan.
Where:
Glenview, Illinois
When:
1982
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen and Phyllis Schlafly relax with Kathleen’s daughter Lori, along with five of Lori’s ten children. Back-Kathleen III, Michael, Brian and Patrick. Front- Grandma Kathleen, Lori, Meg and Phyllis Schlafly. Lori grew up in our Eagle Forum movement.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen posing with Secretary of State Jim Edgar in 1984. Kathleen was a member of the Electoral College in the 1984 election.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1984
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Kathleen and Jerry tour Rome in 1987 with Phyllis Schlafly and John Schlafly. They were in Rome for the ‘Synod of the Laity,’ representing lay organizations in the United States.
Where:
Rome
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Jerry and Kathleen Sullivan pose in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy during their visit there in 1987.
Where:
St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen Sullivan (on the right) poses with Senator Jeremiah Denton of Alabama during a fundraiser for Sullivan’s 1990 Congressional Campaign. Denton was a vocal supporter of Sullivan’s abstinence campaigns and social agenda.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Kathleen and Jerry Sullivan with their children and grandchildren at a ‘Primary Party’ in 1990.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Senator Jeremiah Denton and Kathleen posing for pictures at one of her Congressional fundraiser in 1990. Sullivan’s district ran along Lake Michigan north of Chicago.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
An example of Kathleen Sullivan’s campaign material from her 1990 campaign, emphasizing her key issues of national defense, tax relief, affordable health care and family values.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The grandchildren gathered for a family portrait with Jerry and Kathleen in 1991 at their Glenview, Illinois home. The photo was used to illustrate Kathleen Sullivan’s family values during her run for Congress in 1992.
Where:
Glenview, Illinois home
When:
1991
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Kathleen attended an Illinois AMVETs event in December 1991 with guest speaker Senator Jeremiah Denton, a Vietnam era POW for seven years, seven months, including four years in solitary.
Where:
Illinois AMVETs event
When:
December 1991
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The AMVET official Chairman in Wheeling with Senator Denton and Kathleen Sullivan in 1991.
Where:
Sterling, Illinois
When:
1991
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
This campaign brochure for Kathleen Sullivan was produced for her 1992 Congressional campaign in an attempt to unseat the liberal Republican, John Porter.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1992
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The second page of Sullivan’s 1992 campaign brochure prominently connects Sullivan with two of the country’s most prominent conservative Republicans, President Ronald Reagan, and Senator Jeremiah Denton.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1992
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
An interior page for Sullivan’s 1992 campaign literature where she articulates her conservative agenda, and the reasons to remove Republican John Porter from Congress.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1992
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A page from the 1992 campaign brochure listing the reasons to vote against John Porter, and for Kathleen Sullivan.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1992
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A family portrait of Kathleen Sullivan, her husband Jerry, their six children with their spouses, and grandchildren, taken in 1993 at their 40th wedding anniversary.
Where:
40th wedding anniversary
When:
1993
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Project Reality Newsletter in November, 2002. Kathleen Sullivan was a vocal advocate for Abstinence Education.
Where:
Project Reality Newsletter
When:
November, 2002
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Sullivan spent decades fighting to include abstinence education as part of the curriculum in Illinois schools. Kathleen Sullivan with Miss Illinois 2003, Erika Harold and Vivienne Dawkins, Dir. of Abstinence Programs for Ill. Dept. of Human Services.
Where:
The Homecoming Gala for Miss America
When:
Late 2002
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Jerry and Kathleen Sullivan celebrate both Jerry’s 90th birthday, and also their 58th wedding anniversary, in August, 2011, in their new hometown of Naples, Florida.
Where:
Naples, Florida
When:
August, 2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo