40th anniversary: Photos from our special issue

FFRF began as a volunteer, dining-room-table group. This photo, circa 1977, shows volunteers helping collate FFRF’s newsletter.

The founding meeting of FFRF as a national group in 1978.

FFRF airs its first TV show, “Freethought Forum” in 1982.

John Sontarck, FFRF’s original third founding member, dies in 1977.

FFRF’s first student essay contest is established in 1979.

The first FFRF office in 1980.

Anne Gaylor appears on CNN’s “Crossfire” in 1983.

FFRF’s St. Louis convention in 1987.

Ishmael Jaffee was FFRF’s first Freethinker of the Year.

FFRF sues and wins over UW-Madison religious recruiting.

Anne Nicol Gaylor and attorney Karen Julian.

Anne Gaylor appears on the “Phil Donahue Show” in 1978.

FFRF puts up its first bus ad: “The bible: A grim fairy tale.”

Annie Laurie Gaylor stops 122-year commencement prayer abuse at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Carol Callahan was part of the original TV crew.

The first issue of Freethought Today debuted in September of 1983.

Steven Weinberg shows off his Emperor Has No Clothes Award.

FFRF publishes Just Pretend: A Freethought Book for Children, by Dan Barker.

Plaintiffs in the Wisconsin challenge of Good Friday holiday in 1996.

Actress Butterfly McQueen became FFRF’s 22nd Lifetime Member in 1987.

Paul J. Gaylor

Lake Hypatia sign.

Anne Gaylor (pink coat) leads an FFRF contingent in an abortion-rights rally in Washington, D.C. in 1992.

Grand opening of auditorium at Lake Hypatia in 1999.

First Atheists in Foxholes Award was dedicated on July 4, 1999.

In 1991, the San Antonio Express News published “Portrait of an Atheist” about Catherine Fahringer.

Dan Barker’s Losing Faith in Faith book is published in 1992.

Anne Gaylor

Pat and Roger Cleveland of FFRF’s Alabama chapter sued Roy Moore in 1995.

Janeane Garofalo recorded an ad for FFRF in 2008.

FFRF sues over Ten Commandments monument at the Colorado state Capitol.

In 2013, the groundbreaking for FFRF’s five-story addition.

FFRF’s first TC commercial, starring Sheila (Thompson) Jensen.

Isaac Asimov speaks at the N.J. chapter event.

Dr. Oliver Sacks received the 2005 Emperor Has No Clothes Award.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali headlines the 2010 convention.

FFRF places its first billboards in 2007, after three decades of censorship.

FFRF bought Freethought Hall in 1990, thanks to generous donors, in downtown Madison, Wis.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian spoke at the 1990 national convention.

Dan Barker stands with former Arizona Republic cartoonist Steve Benson. The pair did a show called “Tunes ‘N Tunes.”

Dan Barker gives his first talk at an FFRF convention in 1984 as a “baby atheist.”

FFRF and its Sacramento chapter place 55 “Out of the Closet” billboards in 2013.

Actress Julia Sweeney performed her one-woman show “Letting Go of God” at the 2006 annual convention.

In 2009, FFRF runs its first bus signs in 20 years, “Sleep in on Sundays.”

Anne Gaylor dies in 2015.

The statue of Clarence Darrow was unveiled in 2017, at the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tenn. The bronze figure of Darrow was sculpted by Zenos Frudakis.

Stephen Uhl donates to help begin FFRF’s “Educate Congress” campaign.

Henry Zumach endows Freedom From Religious Fundamentalism Award in 2016, which is given to FFRF.

Freethought Hall in 2018 (with staffers out front).

40th anniversary: Photos from our special issue

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