The group was started by Ellen Willis and Shulamith Firestone in February 1969 after the breakup of New York Radical Women.[1] Other early members included Kathie Sarachild, Patricia Mainardi, Barbara Leon, Irene Peslikis,[2] and Alix Kates Shulman.[3] Shulamith Firestone soon split with the group to form New York Radical Feminists along with Anne Koedt.[4] Rita Mae Brown was also briefly a member during 1970. The group was mainly active in New York City, where most of the group's members resided, and later also in Gainesville, Florida. A group called Redstockings West was started in San Francisco in 1969, but was independent of the East Coast group.