Feminist Publications collection

Identity elements

Reference code

US US kmk U2015.15

Level of description

Collection

Title

Feminist Publications collection

Date(s)

  • 1970–1984 (Creation)

Extent

5.00 Linear Feet, 4.00 Boxes

Post-Fire Oversize Extent:
Box 5 (16.5x20.5): 509: 20/23/5

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This collection of feminist publications includes newspapers, newsletters, and magazines from state and national organizations from 1970 to 1984. The materials were mailed to the K-State Women's Resource Center and sociology faculty member Cornelia Flora.
The Feminist Publications include fifty-four newspapers published between the years of 1970-1985 focusing on the issues of importance to activists in the later years of second-wave feminism. They confront hegemonic ideology and societal issues with an intersectional feminist lens. The overall theme of the publications is equality for women and ending the oppressions attached to the social constructions of gender, race, class, and sexuality. The publications have news about political activism, reviews of feminist works, poetry, artwork, and a letter written by Angela Davis to Ericka Huggins. Articles like “Jail is no solution, jobs and housing will end Prostitution”, “Slavery in America”, “Kiss and Tell Campaign”, “Health and Medical Care in North Vietnam”, “20,000 families going hungry in Seattle”, and “no more kids in chemical straight-jackets” can be found in this collection. The publications promote the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), Roe vs. Wade and reproductive justice, economic freedom, civil rights, gay and lesbian liberation, healthcare, welfare, free 24 hours child-care, and medical self-help material for women. These publications are fighting against systematic oppression, sexual assault, injustices of welfare and healthcare, anti-reproductive justice movements, domestic abuse, racism, classism, ableism, sexism, capitalism, heteronormativity, colonialism, militarism, and fascism.
In addition to the Feminist Publications includes three newspapers: the furies: lesbian/feminist monthly, off our backs, and N.O.W Times published between the years of 1972-1985 focusing on the issues of importance to activists in the later years of second-wave feminism. These publications confront hegemonic ideology and societal issues with an intersectional feminist lens. The furies dissect heteronormativity and male supremacy. N.O.W Times fights against patriarchal values. Off our backs examines gender, class, race, and international issues.
We have one copy of the furies: lesbian/feminist monthly, vol. 1 Jan. 1972. The furies publication lasted 2 years focusing on lesbian issues and male supremacy. The furies publication we have includes works like "Roxane Dunbar: how a female heterosexual serves the interest of male supremacy", "Lesbians in Revolt", "Male Supremacy Quakes and Quivers", "Queen Christina Lesbian Ruler of Sweden", and "Nixon's Solution".
Off our backs (OOB) is a nonprofit organization that published news journals from 1970-2008 by, for, and about women. Our collection of OOB highlights various women's issues including civil rights, health, reproductive justice, imprisonment, labor, and violence during 1981-1985. OOB also provides readers international feminist news, an example, March 1982's issue discusses Encuentra Feminista (1st Latin American Feminist Conference), March Against Women Abuse in the Virgin Islands, Lavendar Komono: Lesbian Feminism in Japan, and the imprisonment of feminist Lu Hsiu Lien in Taiwan and a review of her work New Feminism. OOB includes reviews of feminist writings like articles by Audre Lorde and publishes poetry and other written works.
N.O.W Times the National Organization of Women's Publications is concentrated on feminist activism and informing women of their rights. N.O.W. Times promotes political change and informs about the political news that affects women in the U.S. There are articles about Roe vs. Wade, pro-choice rallies, the Parental and Disability Leave Act in Congress, supporting the Marvel boycotts, and protesting Reagan's administration. N.O.W Times emphasizes the ongoing struggle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and follows the women in politics during the late 70's-mid '80s.

System of arrangement

Alphabetically by publication title and then by volume and issue number within title.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No access restrictions: All materials are open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

  • English
  • Spanish

Scripts of the material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

It received accession number U2015.15, and the collection was received at least as early as 1997.

Immediate source of acquisition

Acqusition Source: Unknown
Acqusition Date: 20150512

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

We examined WorldCat entries for all titles and found few that were widely held and many that were not represented. They document a historically-significant national movement and should be retained. Of note are the newsletters from Topeka (Behold the Woman and successors).

Accruals

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Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Specialized notes

  • Citation: Preferred Citation: [Item title], [item date or volume and issue number], Feminist Publications Collection, Box [number], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.

Alternative identifier(s)

Archon Collection ID

187

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Sources used

Archivist's note

Finding Aid Author: Abby Kopp, Jenna Roberts, and Cliff Hight
Processing Info: Student assistant Abby Kopp processed the collection and university archivist Cliff Hight reviewed it in May 2015.
Publication Date: 2015-05-12

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