Lems' is known music and musical performances, for advocating for the
Equal Rights Amendment, and for her work within the teaching of English as a second language.
Lems organized a local Womenfolk's Festival in Illinois that occurred on November 16, 1973.[4] After that she became lead organizer for the first National Women's Music Festival that was held on the campus of the University of Illinois in 1974.[5][6][7] Lems founded the festival because she wanted to provide more opportunities for women to perform,[8] and she was particularly motivated after attending a folk festival with no women artists[9] She continued as the lead organizer through 1978.[10][11]
Lems has performed in concerts around the United States, and is primarily known for the singing in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, most notably with her song the Ballad of the ERA.[12][13] In 1978 she described her goal of bringing music both to people who are politically motivated and women in general.[14]
Lems received the Humanist Heroine Award from the
American Humanist Association in 1994.[16] In 1996 the
Freedom from Religion Foundation awarded her with their Freethought Heroine Award.[17] In 2021, the Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/Bilingual Education awarded Lems the Elliot Judd Outstanding Teacher Award.[18]
^Lauerman, Connie (October 6, 1995). "MOVING AHEAD FOR KRISTIN LEMS, LIFE AND MUSIC ARE BOUND TOGETHER". Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]. p. 5 – via
ProQuest.
^Merli, Melissa (7 October 2007). "A fresh insight into the N-word". News Gazette; Champaign, Ill. [Champaign, Ill]. pp. F-1, F-2 – via
ProQuest.
^Basile, E. (1973, Nov.16). Women protest, set their own folk fest. The Daily Illini p. 22, 30
^Willis, E. (1974, June 24). Rock, etc. Women's Music. The New Yorker 95-97
^Schmitz, M. & Edelson, C. (1975, July) Music Festival. off our backs 6 (6), 1, 18.
^Marigold. (1974). National Women's Music Festival, 1. Paid My Dues Quarterly Journal of Women & Music 1(3), 14-29; Dean, D. (1975). The Second National Women's Music Festival. Paid My Dues a journal of women and music no. 5, 22-27.
^WORLAND, GAYLE (19 June 2008). "WOMEN'S FESTIVAL PICKS MADISON". Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, Wis. [Madison, Wis]. pp. B3 – via
ProQuest.