History of Planned Parenthood in Timeline

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health care, sexual health information and sex education in the U.S. and worldwide. As a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), it is a major provider of services including contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and abortion. Planned Parenthood has been the subject of considerable controversy and political debate in the United States, particularly regarding its abortion services and government funding.

October 16, 1916: First birth control clinic opened in the U.S.

On October 16, 1916, Margaret Sanger, her sister Ethel Byrne, and Fania Mindell opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S. in Brooklyn, New York. They were arrested for violating the Comstock Act by distributing birth control information, which led to the Brownsville trials and ultimately changes in laws regarding birth control and sex education.

1916: First birth control clinic opened

In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, located in Brooklyn, New York.

1921: American Birth Control League founded

In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League (ABCL).

1923: Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau Opened

In 1923, Margaret Sanger opened the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau (BCCRB) for dispensing contraceptives under the supervision of licensed physicians and studying their effectiveness.

1938: Citizens Committee for Planned Parenthood Organized

In 1938, a group of private citizens organized the Citizens Committee for Planned Parenthood to aid the American Birth Control League in spreading scientific knowledge about birth control to the general public.

1939: Birth Control Federation of America formed

In 1939, the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau merged with the American Birth Control League to form the Birth Control Federation of America (BCFA).

1941: American Birth Control League Operated 222 Centers

By 1941, the American Birth Control League was operating 222 centers and had served 49,000 clients.

1942: PPFA Focused on Strengthening Ties

From 1942, PPFA concentrated its efforts on strengthening its ties to affiliates, expanding public education programs, and improving its medical and research work.

1942: Birth Control Federation of America Rebranded

In 1942 the name of the Birth Control Federation of America was changed to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

1942: Planned Parenthood founded

In 1942, the American Birth Control League's successor organization became Planned Parenthood.

1952: International Planned Parenthood Federation Founded

In 1952, Planned Parenthood was one of the founding members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation when it was launched at a conference in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.

1955: National Conference of Medical Professionals Convened

In 1955, Planned Parenthood began to advocate abortion law reform, when the organization's medical director, Mary Calderone, convened a national conference of medical professionals on the issue.

1960: Federation Provided Family Planning Counseling

By 1960 the Federation had provided family planning counseling in hundreds of communities across the country.

1960: PPFA Centers Served Over 300,000 Visitors Per Year

By 1960, visitors to PPFA centers across the nation numbered over 300,000 per year.

1961: PPFA merged with the World Population Emergency Campaign

In 1961, the population crisis debate, along with funding shortages, convinced PPFA to merge with the World Population Emergency Campaign, a citizens' fund-raising organization to become PPFA-World Population.

1962: Alan Frank Guttmacher became president of Planned Parenthood

In 1962, Alan Frank Guttmacher became president of Planned Parenthood.

1962: PPFA Continued Strengthening Ties

Until 1962, PPFA concentrated its efforts on strengthening its ties to affiliates, expanding public education programs, and improving its medical and research work.

1966: Margaret Sanger Award Established

In 1966, PPFA began awarding the Margaret Sanger Award annually to honor individuals of distinction in recognition of excellence and leadership in furthering reproductive health and reproductive rights.

1969: Planned Parenthood Called for Repeal of Anti-Abortion Laws

In 1969, Planned Parenthood became an increasingly vocal proponent of liberalized abortion laws, culminating in its call for the repeal of all anti-abortion laws.

1970: Federal Funding Received

Planned Parenthood has received federal funding since 1970, when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act.

1973: Roe v. Wade Landmark Case

In 1973, Planned Parenthood played a key role in landmark abortion rights cases such as Roe v. Wade.

1974: Alan Frank Guttmacher left presidency of Planned Parenthood

Alan Frank Guttmacher served as president of Planned Parenthood until 1974.

1977: Guttmacher Institute Founded

In 1977, The Center for Family Planning Program Development, which was founded as a semi-autonomous division of Planned Parenthood, became an independent organization and was renamed the Guttmacher Institute.

1978: Faye Wattleton Became President

In 1978, Faye Wattleton became the first African American president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

1992: Faye Wattleton served in presidency until 1992

Faye Wattleton served as president of Planned Parenthood until 1992.

1992: Planned Parenthood v. Casey Landmark Case

In 1992, Planned Parenthood played a key role in landmark abortion rights cases such as Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

1994: Brookline Planned Parenthood clinic shooting

In 1994, John Salvi murdered receptionist Shannon Elizabeth Lowney and wounded three others at a Brookline, Massachusetts Planned Parenthood clinic. He then murdered Leane Nichols and wounded two others at another clinic.

1996: Gloria Feldt Led Planned Parenthood

In 1996, Gloria Feldt led Planned Parenthood and activated the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF).

1996: Founding of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund

In 1996, Gloria Feldt, then-president, founded the Planned Parenthood Action Fund to maintain supportive health rights and support political candidates with the same mindset.

2005: Planned Parenthood fined for violating parental consent law

In 2005, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota was fined $50,000 for violating a Minnesota state parental consent law.

February 15, 2006: Cecile Richards became president of Planned Parenthood

On February 15, 2006, Cecile Richards became president of Planned Parenthood.

2006: Gloria Feldt's term ended

In 2006, Gloria Feldt's term as the leader of Planned Parenthood ended.

2006: Phill Kline releases Planned Parenthood's patient records

In 2006, Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline released sealed patient records obtained from Planned Parenthood to the public, leading to a controversy and scrutiny from the state Supreme Court.

2006: Indiana Court of Appeals rules on medical records case

In 2006, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that Planned Parenthood was not required to turn over its medical records in an investigation of possible child abuse.

2007: No criminal charges filed after Planned Parenthood investigation

In 2007, Kline's successor, Paul J. Morrison, notified the clinic that no criminal charges would be filed after a three-year investigation, as an unbiased examination showed no wrongdoing.

2008: Planned Parenthood Endorses Obama

In 2008, Planned Parenthood endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential election.

May 2010: Largest Facility Completed

In May 2010, the largest Planned Parenthood facility, a $26 million, 78,000-square-foot structure, was completed in Houston, Texas.

2012: Cecile Richards Voted One of Time Magazine's Most Influential People

In 2012, Cecile Richards was voted one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World.

2012: Planned Parenthood Endorses Obama

In 2012, Planned Parenthood endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential election.

2012: Criminal charges dropped against Planned Parenthood in Kansas

In 2012, a Kansas district attorney found that the practices of the Kansas City-area Planned Parenthood clinic was "within accepted practices in the medical community" and dropped all of the remaining criminal charges.

2012: Grand Chute Planned Parenthood clinic bombing

In 2012, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, was bombed by an unknown individual.

2012: Planned Parenthood Action Fund's prominence in election cycle

In the 2012 election cycle, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund gained prominence due to its effectiveness in spending on candidates.

2013: 2.7 Million Patients Served

In 2013, PPFA reported seeing 2.7 million patients in 4.6 million clinical visits.

2014: Services Provided by PPFA

According to PPFA, in 2014 the organization provided 3.6 million contraceptive services, 4.5 million sexually transmitted infection services, about one million cancer related services, over one million pregnancy tests and prenatal services, over 324,000 abortion services, and over 100,000 other services, for a total of 9.5 million discrete services.

2014: Planned Parenthood's political spending

In the 2014 election cycle, Planned Parenthood spent $6,587,100 on contributions to candidates and political parties, overwhelmingly to Democrats, and on independent expenditures.

September 2015: Cecile Richards testifies before Congress

In September 2015, Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, testified before Congress, stating that she did not manage the organization, even though the PPAF shared some leadership with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

November 27, 2015: Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting

On November 27, 2015, a gunman killed two civilians and a police officer at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The gunman, Robert Dear, was taken into custody and later deemed incompetent to stand trial due to a delusional disorder.

2015: Planned Parenthood Direct App Launched

In 2015, Planned Parenthood launched the Planned Parenthood Direct app.

2015: Pullman Planned Parenthood clinic arson

In 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pullman, Washington, was heavily damaged by arson.

2015: Center for Medical Progress Releases Secretly Recorded Videos

In 2015, the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released secretly recorded videos of Planned Parenthood. These videos, obtained by posing as biotechnology company representatives, depicted abortion providers discussing fetal tissue donation for research. Although investigations found no legal violations, the videos led to widespread media coverage and political attempts to defund Planned Parenthood at both the federal and state levels.

January 2016: Texas grand jury indicts CMP founder David Daleiden

In January 2016, a Texas grand jury, initially investigating Planned Parenthood, found no wrongdoing. Instead, it indicted Center for Medical Progress (CMP) founder David Daleiden and member Sandra Merritt for creating fake government IDs and attempting to purchase fetal tissue.

December 30, 2016: U.S. House Committee recommends defunding Planned Parenthood

On December 30, 2016, The Republican-controlled Select Investigative Panel released its final report recommending that Planned Parenthood be defunded. The report was heavily criticized as partisan and inaccurate by Democratic members of the committee, Planned Parenthood, and some news media.

March 2017: Daleiden and Merritt charged with felonies in California

In March 2017, David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were charged with 15 felonies in California for filming individuals without their consent and criminal conspiracy to invade privacy.

June 2017: Invasion of privacy charges against Daleiden and Merritt dismissed

In June 2017, all invasion of privacy charges against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were dismissed with leave to amend, but the conspiracy charge remained.

July 2017: California re-files amended charges against Daleiden and Merritt

In July 2017, the State of California re-filed amended charges against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt.

2017: Unionization Campaigns

Since 2017, frontline Planned Parenthood staff have been publicly engaged in unionization campaigns at many Planned Parenthood locations.

April 30, 2018: Cecile Richards' tenure as president ended

On April 30, 2018, Cecile Richards' tenure as president of Planned Parenthood ended.

September 12, 2018: Leana Wen to take over as president

On September 12, 2018, Planned Parenthood announced that Leana Wen would take over as president, effective November 2018.

November 2018: Leana Wen took over as president

In November 2018, Leana Wen took over as president of Planned Parenthood.

2018: Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains Agreed to Contract

In 2018, Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains eventually agreed to a contract after challenging the results of its union election.

July 16, 2019: Leana Wen removed as president

On July 16, 2019, Leana Wen was removed as president of Planned Parenthood by the organization's board of directors.

2020: Metropolitan Washington Branch Hacked

In 2020, the Metropolitan Washington branch of Planned Parenthood was hacked with donor and patient information compromised.

2020: Webby Award Won

Planned Parenthood won the 2020 Webby Award for Machine Learning and Bots for their Sex Education chatbot.

October 2021: Data Breach at Los Angeles Branch

In October 2021, a hacker gained access to the data network of the Los Angeles branch of Planned Parenthood and obtained the personal information of approximately 400,000 patients.

December 1, 2021: Los Angeles Branch Data Breach Reported as Ransomware Attack

On December 1, 2021, The Washington Post reported that the breach of the Los Angeles branch of Planned Parenthood was a ransomware attack.

2023: Planned Parenthood North Central States Agreed to Contract

In 2023, Planned Parenthood North Central States agreed to a contract after 37 bargaining sessions over the course of 16 months.

2023: PPFA's Annual Report

In its 2023 Annual Report, PPFA reported seeing over two million patients and performing a total of 9.13 million discrete services including 392,715 abortions.

2025: Planned Parenthood Direct App Focuses

As of 2025, Planned Parenthood Direct app focuses on delivering birth control pills, providing care for urinary tract infections (UTIs), and (in some states) delivering medication abortion pills directly to patients.