JSON API · Datatype

Letters

Pro-life organizational letters scored against the abolitionist standard (type: "letter"), the organizations that signed them (type: "letter-organization"), and the people who signed (type: "letter-person"). 55 letters, 482 organizations, 525 people, 1299 signature rows. One file per record, no tiers.

A record, end to end

One real published record of each type, abridged. Every field is documented below.

letters/<id>.json

{
  "schema": "abhortion.org/letter.v1/v1",
  "id": "pl-2002-001",
  "dataset_id": "PL-2002-001",
  "type": "letter",
  "no": 1,
  "title": "Letter to President George W. Bush urging a comprehensive ban on human cloning",
  "date": "2002-01-14",
  "date_label": "January 14, 2002",
  "letter_type": "coalition_letter",
  "letter_type_label": "Coalition letter",
  "lead_org": "Coalition of 25+ pro-life leaders and academics",
  "recipient": "President George W. Bush",
  "topic": "Human cloning / embryo research",
  "shortfall_type": "incrementalist_by_implication",
  "shortfall_type_label": "Incrementalist by implication",
  "scores": {
    "D1": 0,
    "D2": 0,
    "D3": 1,
    "D4": 0,
    "D5": 0,
    "D6": 2
  },
  "composite": 3,
  "composite_max": 12,
  "rationale": {
    "D3": "Seeks regulation/defunding/enforcement rather than abolition; takes no position on equal protec…",
    "D6": "Argued on fiscal, legal, medical or political grounds rather than Scripture/Gospel."
  },
  "key_language": "urged a comprehensive ban on all human cloning",
  "verification": "secondary",
  "verification_label": "Secondary coverage only",
  "completeness": {
    "status": "incomplete_letter_not_recovered",
    "status_label": "Signature block not recovered",
    "signers_reported": "25+",
    "signature_rows": 0
  },
  "sources": {
    "primary": {
      "name": "lifesitenews.com/news/major-pro-life…",
      "href": "https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/major-pro-life-campaigns-launched-in-us/"
    },
    "secondary": [
      {
        "name": "lifesitenews.com/news/lifesite-daily…",
        "href": "https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lifesite-daily-news-for-monday-january-14-2002/"
      }
    ]
  },
  "notes": "Signature block not recovered; Washington Times original. No signature rows.",
  "links": {
    "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2002-001.html",
    "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2002-001.md",
    "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2002-001.json"
  }
}

The scorecard (scores, composite, rationale), the signature rows as printed, and references to every organization and person on the letter.

{
  "schema": "abhortion.org/letter-organization.v1/v1",
  "id": "o001",
  "dataset_id": "O001",
  "type": "letter-organization",
  "no": 1,
  "name": "Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America",
  "aliases": [
    "SBA Pro-Life America",
    "… +2 more items"
  ],
  "names_as_printed": [
    "Susan B. Anthony List",
    "… +3 more items"
  ],
  "org_type": "advocacy_or_other",
  "org_type_label": "Advocacy or other",
  "is_us": true,
  "letter_count": 19,
  "signer_count": 1,
  "active_years": [
    "2017",
    "… +8 more items"
  ],
  "profile": {
    "scored_letters": 19,
    "mean_composite": 4.2,
    "composite_max": 12,
    "fault_line_letters": 3,
    "by_shortfall_type": {
      "explicit_opposition_to_tenet": 3,
      "incrementalist_endorsement_explicit": 2,
      "incrementalist_by_implication": 14
    }
  },
  "letters": [
    {
      "id": "pl-2017-001",
      "dataset_id": "PL-2017-001",
      "title": "Letter: Pro-life groups urge Congress to redirect Planned Parenthood funding via reconciliation",
      "date": "2017-03-31",
      "letter_type": "coalition_letter",
      "shortfall_type": "incrementalist_by_implication",
      "composite": 3,
      "links": {
        "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2017-001.html",
        "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2017-001.md",
        "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2017-001.json"
      },
      "…": "+1 more key"
    },
    "… +18 more items"
  ],
  "people": [
    {
      "id": "i0001",
      "dataset_id": "I0001",
      "name": "Marjorie Dannenfelser",
      "links": {
        "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.html",
        "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.md",
        "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.json"
      },
      "titles_as_printed": [
        "President"
      ],
      "letter_count": 17
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.html",
    "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.md",
    "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.json"
  }
}

Every letter the organization signed, who signed for it, a scoring profile derived from those letters, and inferred affiliates.

{
  "schema": "abhortion.org/letter-person.v1/v1",
  "id": "i0001",
  "dataset_id": "I0001",
  "type": "letter-person",
  "no": 1,
  "name": "Marjorie Dannenfelser",
  "primary_organization": {
    "id": "o001",
    "dataset_id": "O001",
    "name": "Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America",
    "org_type": "advocacy_or_other",
    "links": {
      "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.html",
      "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.md",
      "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.json"
    }
  },
  "signed_in_own_name": false,
  "letter_count": 17,
  "org_count": 1,
  "active_years": [
    "2017",
    "… +7 more items"
  ],
  "titles_as_printed": [
    "President"
  ],
  "signatures": [
    {
      "row": 1,
      "letter": {
        "id": "pl-2017-001",
        "dataset_id": "PL-2017-001",
        "title": "Letter: Pro-life groups urge Congress to redirect Planned Parenthood funding via reconciliation",
        "date": "2017-03-31",
        "…": "+4 more keys"
      },
      "name_as_printed": "Marjorie Dannenfelser",
      "title_as_printed": "President",
      "org_as_printed": "Susan B. Anthony List",
      "organization": {
        "id": "o001",
        "dataset_id": "O001",
        "name": "Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America",
        "org_type": "advocacy_or_other",
        "…": "+1 more key"
      }
    },
    "… +16 more items"
  ],
  "organizations": [
    {
      "id": "o001",
      "dataset_id": "O001",
      "name": "Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America",
      "org_type": "advocacy_or_other",
      "links": {
        "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.html",
        "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.md",
        "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/orgs/o001.json"
      },
      "letter_count": 17
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "html": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.html",
    "markdown": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.md",
    "json": "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people/i0001.json"
  }
}

Every signature row for the person, with title and organization exactly as printed, so role changes show up in the record.

Lines in this colour are elisions made for this page, not part of the format.

Conventions

Minified	JSON is emitted minified (single line). Pretty-print it locally if you need to read it.
Single file	No summary/full/verbose tiers — one file per letter, organization, or person holds everything.
Three record types, one network	Letters, organizations, and people reference each other through compact reference objects (`id`, `dataset_id`, a few identifying fields, and `links`). Follow `links.json` to fetch the full record.
Distance, not verdict	The rubric records distance from the standard published by Abolitionists Rising, not a moral verdict; every organization scored here regards itself as pro-life. Scores are judgment calls applied consistently by the published rubric.
As printed vs. normalized	Every `*_as_printed` field is a verbatim transcription; the `organization` / `person` references beside it are the normalization layer. Keep them apart if you need the political arm and the c3 separate.
Heuristic fields	`org_type`, `state`, and `parent` are heuristics for filtering, not authoritative registrations.
Absent = not applicable	Empty values (`null`, `""`, `[]`, `{}`) are omitted. A missing key means "not present / not applicable" — an unscored letter simply has no `composite`.
Absolute cross-links	The `links` block uses absolute `https://www.abhortion.org` URLs.

Files

Letters index: https://www.abhortion.org/letters.json — also carries a dataset block: title, generated date, the rubric text, shortfall types, verification levels, scope notes, and the standard's source URLs.
Per letter: /letters/<id>.json
Organizations index: https://www.abhortion.org/letters/organizations.json
Per organization: /letters/orgs/<id>.json
People index: https://www.abhortion.org/letters/people.json
Per person: /letters/people/<id>.json

Index items carry the identifying fields of each record type (letters: id, dataset_id, no, title, date, letter_type, lead_org, recipient, topic, shortfall_type, composite, verification, signature_rows; organizations: name, aliases, type, state, parent, counts; people: name, variants, primary organization, counts) and links.

The rubric

Six dimensions, each scored 0 (none), 1 (implied) or 2 (explicit); composite is their sum, maximum 12. D2 and D4 are the fault line the abolitionist critique cares most about.

Key	Dimension	0	1	2
`D1`	Exceptions	None	Implied — backs a bill known to contain them	Explicitly supports rape, incest or health exceptions
`D2`	Immunity for the mother (fault line)	None	Implied	Explicitly opposes prosecuting or criminalizing women
`D3`	Incrementalism	None	By implication — a funding, drug, research, Hyde or Title X letter that takes no abolition position	Explicitly endorses a regulatory or gestational bill instead of abolition
`D4`	Opposition to abolition or equal-protection bills (fault line)	None	Implied, or support withheld	Explicitly opposes or lobbies against one
`D5`	Framing	None	Implied	Explicit leave-it-to-the-states, court-viability or electoral-pragmatism framing
`D6`	Secular framing	Explicitly Gospel-centred or biblical	Mixed — mentions prayer or faith, or mixed religious signers	Wholly secular, legal, fiscal, medical or political argument

Letter record fields

Field	Type	Description
`schema`	string	Always `abhortion.org/letter.v1/v1`.
`id`	string	URL stem, the dataset id lower-cased (e.g. `pl-2022-001`).
`dataset_id`	string	The id as authored in the dataset (`PL-YYYY-NNN`).
`type`	string	Always `letter`.
`no`	integer	Chronological number, 1 = oldest.
`title`	string	Title of the letter or statement.
`date`	string	As known: `YYYY-MM-DD`, `YYYY-MM`, `YYYY`, or a `YYYY-YYYY` range for a standing position.
`date_label`	string	The date rendered at its known precision.
`letter_type`	string	Kind of document. `coalition_letter` Coalition letter `coalition_statement` Coalition statement `single_org_statement` Single-organization statement `single_org_letter` Single-organization letter `model_legislation` Model legislation `religious_body_statement` Religious-body statement
`letter_type_label`	string	Human label for `letter_type`.
`lead_org`	string	Lead organization as recorded (free text; may be descriptive, e.g. "Pro-life coalition").
`lead_organization`	object	Present when `lead_org` resolves to a dataset organization. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, `org_type`, `state`, and `links`.
`recipient`	string	Addressee.
`topic`	string	Subject of the document.
`shortfall_type`	string	How the document falls short of the abolitionist standard (or why it is a control). `explicit_opposition_to_tenet` Takes a position directly contrary to an Abolitionists Rising tenet (exceptions, mother-immunity, opposing an abolition bill). `incrementalist_endorsement_explicit` Explicitly endorses a regulatory/gestational bill or exceptions as policy. `incrementalist_by_implication` Coalition letter on funding, drugs, research or related policy that takes no abolition position; scored D3=1. `exceeds_standard_contrast` Record that meets or exceeds the standard on the dimension at issue; kept for contrast, scores null or low. `out_of_scope_international` Non-US coalition; kept for signatory network only, not scored.
`shortfall_type_label`	string	Human label for `shortfall_type`.
`scores`	object	Rubric scores `D1`–`D6`: exceptions, immunity for the mother, incrementalism, opposition to abolition or equal-protection bills, framing, secular framing. Each 0–2. `0` None. `1` Implied. `2` Explicit.
`composite`	integer	Sum of D1–D6. Absent for unscored records (contrast and international).
`composite_max`	integer	Always 12 when `composite` is present.
`rationale`	object	One line per non-zero dimension, keyed `D1`–`D6`: the editor's reason for that score.
`key_language`	string	A short quotation (under 20 words) that carries the position.
`verification`	string	How the text was obtained. `primary` Letter/statement text read from the organization’s own document. `primary_archive` Text preserved by a third party (e.g., Free the States repost, archive.org). `primary_repost` Full text reposted by another outlet with signature block intact. `secondary` Only press coverage located.
`verification_label`	string	Human label for `verification`.
`completeness`	object	`status` (see below), `status_label`, `signers_reported` (the letter's own count, when stated), `signature_rows`, `source_file`. `complete_from_letter_text` Full signature block transcribed from the letter itself. `incomplete_letter_not_recovered` A letter record exists but the signature block was not located; no signature rows. `n/a_single_org_or_statement` A single-organization record; the spokesperson row is illustrative, not a signature block.
`signatures`	array	One entry per signature row, in printed order: `row` (global row number in the dataset), `name_as_printed`, `title_as_printed`, `org_as_printed`, and resolved `organization` / `person` references when normalization matched them. Organization-only lines have no `person`; people signing in their own name have no `organization`.
`organizations`	array	Distinct organizations on the letter after normalization. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, `org_type`, `state`, and `links`.
`people`	array	Distinct named individuals on the letter. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, and `links`.
`sources`	object	`primary` — one `{ name, href }`; `secondary` — an array of `{ name, href }`.
`legacy_ids`	array	Ids used in the earlier research report (e.g. `L01`).
`notes`	string	Editorial notes on sourcing and transcription.
`links`	object	Absolute URLs: `html`, `markdown`, `json`.

Organization record fields

Field	Type	Description
`schema`	string	Always `abhortion.org/letter-organization.v1/v1`.
`id`	string	URL stem, the dataset id lower-cased (e.g. `o001`).
`dataset_id`	string	The id as authored (`ONNN`).
`type`	string	Always `letter-organization`.
`no`	integer	Position in the index (most letters signed first).
`name`	string	Canonical name after normalization of renamed and affiliated entities.
`aliases`	array	Every other spelling encountered.
`names_as_printed`	array	Every `org_as_printed` value on this organization's signature rows.
`org_type`	string	Heuristic classification. `right_to_life_group` Right-to-life group. Heuristic, for filtering. `family_policy_council` Family policy council. Heuristic, for filtering. `religious_body` Religious body. Heuristic, for filtering. `legal` Legal. Heuristic, for filtering. `medical` Medical. Heuristic, for filtering. `political_party_or_office` Political party or office. Heuristic, for filtering. `academic` Academic. Heuristic, for filtering. `media` Media. Heuristic, for filtering. `advocacy_or_other` Advocacy or other. Heuristic, for filtering.
`org_type_label`	string	Human label for `org_type`.
`state`	string	Two-letter US state, inferred from the name; absent for national bodies.
`is_us`	boolean	Whether the organization is US-based.
`parent`	object	Present for state Right-to-Life / Citizens-for-Life bodies linked to NRLC by naming pattern. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, `org_type`, `state`, and `links`. Plus `inferred` — true when the link is a naming heuristic, not a verified affiliation.
`affiliates`	array	Organizations whose `parent` is this one; same shape as `parent`.
`letter_count`	integer	Distinct letters signed.
`signer_count`	integer	Distinct named individuals who signed for this organization.
`active_years`	array	Years of the letters signed, ascending.
`profile`	object	Derived from the letters signed, not a rating of the organization: `scored_letters`, `mean_composite`, `composite_max`, `fault_line_letters` (letters scoring D2 ≥ 1 or D4 ≥ 1), `by_shortfall_type` (counts keyed by shortfall type).
`letters`	array	Letters signed, oldest first. Each: A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `title`, `date`, `letter_type`, `shortfall_type`, `composite`, and `links`. Plus `signed_as` — the signature rows on that letter for this organization (`row`, `name_as_printed`, `title_as_printed`, `org_as_printed`, `person`).
`people`	array	Named signers. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, and `links`. Plus `titles_as_printed` and `letter_count`.
`links`	object	Absolute URLs: `html`, `markdown`, `json`.

Person record fields

Field	Type	Description
`schema`	string	Always `abhortion.org/letter-person.v1/v1`.
`id`	string	URL stem, the dataset id lower-cased (e.g. `i0001`).
`dataset_id`	string	The id as authored (`INNNN`).
`type`	string	Always `letter-person`.
`no`	integer	Position in the index (most letters signed first).
`name`	string	Canonical name: honorifics and credentials stripped, known variants merged.
`name_variants`	array	Other forms of the name encountered.
`primary_organization`	object	The organization most associated with this person. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, `org_type`, `state`, and `links`.
`signed_in_own_name`	boolean	True when at least one signature row carries no organization.
`letter_count`	integer	Distinct letters signed.
`org_count`	integer	Distinct organizations signed for.
`active_years`	array	Years of the letters signed, ascending.
`titles_as_printed`	array	Every distinct `title_as_printed` across the person's rows.
`signatures`	array	One entry per signature row, oldest letter first: `row`, `name_as_printed`, `title_as_printed`, `org_as_printed`, `organization` (reference, when matched), and `letter` (reference). A person can appear twice on one letter when they signed for two organizations.
`organizations`	array	Organizations signed for. A compact reference: `id` (URL stem), `dataset_id`, `name`, `org_type`, `state`, and `links`. Plus `letter_count` for that organization.
`links`	object	Absolute URLs: `html`, `markdown`, `json`.