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Voices of Feminism Oral History Project, 1990-2006
77 boxes (30.5 linear ft.)
Collection number: MS 535

Abstract:
Oral History Project documenting the persistence and diversity of organizing for women in the United States. Narrators include labor, peace, and anti-racism activists; artists and writers; lesbian rights advocates; grassroots anti-violence and anti-poverty organizers; and women of color reproductive justice leaders. Interviews cover childhood, personal life, and political work. Most oral histories consist of audiovisual recordings and transcripts, plus some background information.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

The oral histories are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection, with the following exceptions:

  • Small portions of the following interviews are closed and have been removed from the transcripts: Kathleen Casavant, Katsi Cook, Loretta Ross, and Miriam Schneir.
  • Researchers must have permission from the narrator to access these interviews: Brenda Berkman, Lora Jo Foo, and Jan Peterson.
  • Kathleen Casavant's interview transcript not available online. Researchers may contact the SSC for a copy.
  • Original audiovisual recordings are closed for preservation purposes. In-house use copies are available for most interviews.

Restrictions on use:

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to all of the oral histories except for these narrators who have retained copyright:

  • Dolores Alexander
  • Dorothy Allison
  • Dorothy Allison and Carmen Vazquez (joint interview)
  • Lora Foo
  • Ronnie Gilbert
  • Cherríe Moraga
  • Suzanne Pharr
  • Minnie Bruce Pratt
  • Meredith Tax
Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Requests for permission to publish quotations should be addressed to the Sophia Smith Collection and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Project History

The Voices of Feminism Archival Development Project, funded by the Ford Foundation from 2002 to 2008, aims to bring race, class, and sexual diversity to the holdings of the Sophia Smith Collection. The project consists of several parts: a) searching for personal papers and organizational records of women of color, grassroots organizers, and others marginalized in traditional historical accounts, b) conducting oral histories, c) collaborating with Gloria Steinem as she works in her own papers and identifies potential donors, and d) developing plans for a video documentary series based on these new materials. Project staff have included Joyce Follet, director and oral historian; Kelly Anderson, oral historian; Sheila Flaherty-Jones, editor; Kathleen Banks Nutter, oral historian; Loretta Ross, consultant and oral historian; Revan Schendler, consultant and editor; Kate Weigand, oral historian. Interviews were also conducted by Martha Ackelsberg, Nancy MacLean, and Evelyn C. White.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Voices of Feminism Oral History Project documents the persistence and diversity of organizing for women in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century. Narrators include labor, peace, and anti-racism activists; artists and writers; lesbian rights advocates; grassroots anti-violence and anti-poverty organizers; and women of color reproductive justice leaders. Interviews average 5-6 hours and cover childhood, personal life, and political work.

Each narrator's document box includes the recorded interview (on dvds or video tapes, plus audio CDs); the unedited and edited transcripts; correspondence between interviewer and narrator; a biographical survey; and the interviewer's guide. Some narrators' files include background materials and photographs.

Links to the full transcripts can be found in the Contents list. The SSC Web site also includes brief biographies and abstracts of interviews.

List of narrators:


Information on Use
Terms of Access and Use
Restrictions on access:

The oral histories are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection, with the following exceptions:

  • Small portions of the following interviews are closed and have been removed from the transcripts: Kathleen Casavant, Katsi Cook, Loretta Ross, and Miriam Schneir.
  • Researchers must have permission from the narrator to access these interviews: Brenda Berkman, Lora Jo Foo, and Jan Peterson.
  • Kathleen Casavant's interview transcript not available online. Researchers may contact the SSC for a copy.
  • Original audiovisual recordings are closed for preservation purposes. In-house use copies are available for most interviews.

Restrictions on use:

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to all of the oral histories except for these narrators who have retained copyright:

  • Dolores Alexander
  • Dorothy Allison
  • Dorothy Allison and Carmen Vazquez (joint interview)
  • Lora Foo
  • Ronnie Gilbert
  • Cherríe Moraga
  • Suzanne Pharr
  • Minnie Bruce Pratt
  • Meredith Tax
Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Requests for permission to publish quotations should be addressed to the Sophia Smith Collection and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Preferred Citation

Please use the citation format shown in the transcript's cover page for each oral history . The whole collection should be cited as follows: "Voices of Feminism Oral History Project, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass."

Additional Formats

Original video recordings of interviews have been copied to DVDs and audio CDs for research use. Transcripts are available in both paper and electronic (MS Word and PDF) formats.

History of the Collection
Accruals:

Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.

Processing Information

Processed by Joyce Follet, Revan Schendler, and Burd Schlessinger, 2007


Additional Information
Contact Information
Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: (413) 585-2970
Fax: (413) 585-2886

Email Reference Form: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/emailform.html
URL: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/

Language
English