The Lesbian Calendar Records, 1985-1994
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-06-05
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Lesbian Calendar Records
Creation of Lesbian Calendar Records
Time of Creation of Lesbian Calendar Records
Lesbian Calendar
Biographical History for: Lesbian Calendar Records
Historical Note The Lesbian Calendar, founded in 1987, has its origins in Lesbians of Greater Springfield (LOGS), an organization and publication founded in Springfield, MA by Marie Louise Francoise (formerly Marie Patten) in 1985. After only one year in print, Francoise discontinued LOGS. In 1987, she relocated to Northampton, MA, a town later dubbed "Lesbianville, USA" by a 20/20 news report. There she joined with Pamela Kimmell to launch a new publication, The Calendar, later that year. Although there was editorial continuity between the two publications, there are significant differences between them. The LOGS newsletter was several pages in length and included a calendar of events, poems, short articles, and political viewpoints that often revolved around themes such as parenting and "wimmin of color." LOGS also functioned as an organization that hoped to provide area "womyn" with "alternatives to the limited social resources available" in Springfield. After its first year of existence LOGS, both the newsletter and the organization, disbanded as a result of internal personal and political divisions. Perhaps to avoid the pitfalls of divisive differences of opinion, The Calendar had a policy not to print literary or political submissions from its inception. Originally, a one page fold-out monthly calendar of lesbian and women's events, advertisements, and announcements, The Calendar quickly grew into a more lengthy newsletter that included detailed descriptions of events, classified ads, and for a brief period in 1987-88, letters to and from the community. In 1994, it adopted a new name, The Lesbian Calendar (TLC). TLC Productions publishes the newsletter and sponsors many area events. The organizers co-founded the Northampton Area Lesbian and Gay Business Guild. Patten left TLC in the early 1990s but as of 1999, Kimmell remained the editor. The Calendar's masthead, August 1987
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Lesbian Calendar collection is 4.5 linear feet and dates from 1912 to the 1990s, with the bulk of the material concentrated between 1985 and 1994. Divided into three series, this collection contains the records and newsletters of LOGS and The Calendar as well as the personal subject files of Marie Patten, Pamela Kimmell, and local printer and activist, Willow Lamont. Types of material include newsletters, submissions, correspondence, periodicals, flyers, programs, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia. Throughout this collection, the original arrangement and labeling of files, if it existed, has been left intact in order to reflect the organizational methods and categories used by their creators.
Bisexuality-United States-History--20th century
lcsh
Feminism-United States-History-20th century
Gays--United States--History--20th century
Lesbianism--United States--History--20th century
Lesbians--Massachusetts--History--20th century--Sources
Lesbians of Greater Springfield (Mass.)--History--Sources
lcnaf
series
SERIES I. LESBIANS OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD (LOGS)
The LOGS series contains records of Administration and a complete set of issues, including material for a 1986 newsletter that was never published. Minutes, correspondence, publicity, and submissions to the newsletter reflect the internal structure of LOGS and the ways in which some members of the community responded to the publication. Creative work, including the drawings of Patten's daughter, Aimee Marie Patten, are also part of the administrative files. Marie Patten was also known to write poetry and it is likely that some of the poetry contained in the submissions file was written by her. Much of the correspondence documents LOGS' effort to build its community library and to defray the cost of that endeavor by trading subscriptions with lesbian newsletters from other localities. Newsletters from Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and other areas in Massachusetts can be found in SERIES III. SUBJECT FILES. Controversy erupted in March 1986 when the New Alexandria Lesbian Library (NALL), located in Northampton, accused LOGS of censoring events and discussions related to sado-masochism. Although this issue was not mentioned specifically, the LOGS collective voted to dissolve the organization, and hence discontinue the newsletter in August 1986 because of internal differences and lack of adequate financial support.
SERIES II. THE CALENDAR
The records of The Calendar are also divided into two subseries, Administration and Issues. The administrative files are comprised of correspondence, fundraising records, personal ad submissions, and the miscellaneous material of editor Pamela Kimmell. The Calendar newsletters in this collection date from the first issue in May 1987 to December 1989 and are arranged chronologically. With the exception of the personal ads, the advertisements, announcements, graphics, and other materials collected for the monthly publication are filed together, reflecting their original arrangement. There is very little material pertaining to the organizational structure or struggles of the newsletter, but the "Celebration of our Lesbian Sexuality" fundraising event is an exception. Organized, in part, by Kimmell and Patten, some people alleged that the event excluded sado-masochism from its range of topics. Another controversy revolved around The Calendar's lesbian separatist policy to only publish events and advertise businesses that were self-identified as lesbian. The policy sparked a heated debate over the role of the newsletter in the community that is evidenced in the summer and fall issues of 1988. Unlike LOGS, The Calendar was able to weather both controversy and financial peril and continues to be published as The Lesbian Calendar (TLC). Beginning in 1994 and continuing to 2000, a complete run of TLC is included in the periodical collection housed at the Sophia Smith Collection.
SERIES III. SUBJECT FILES
The subject files are the largest component of this collection and are arranged alphabetically. Containing publicity, articles, newspaper clippings, correspondence, programs, publications, resource material, and catalogs from a variety of business, organizations, locations, and time periods, the subject files are quite diverse. In addition to the more contemporary documents, there are several publications dating from the first decades of the twentieth century. Women of All Nations, an international ethnographic survey of women published in ten parts in 1912, is perhaps the most interesting example of this material. The bulk of the material pertains to women in the United States and emphasizes feminism, "herstory", local and national lesbian culture, sexuality, women's music festivals and retreats, and activism. The range of material offers insight into the ways in which "women's spaces" are established and maintained, the construction of a local community history, and the broader changes in feminist and queer identity politics over time.
Administration
Advertising: correspondence and financial records, 1985-86
Committee meetings: minutes and notes, 1985-86
Correspondence, 1973, 1985-86
Public relations: notes and publicity, 1985
Submissions
Correspondence and articles, 1985-86, n.d.
Poems, n.d.
Subscription lists, 1985-86
Aimee Marie Patten's (daughter) artwork, n.d.
Miscellaneous, n.d.
Issues
"The Log" newsletter, Jun 1985-May 1986
Materials for unpublished issue, 1986
Correspondence, 1987-88, 1993, n.d.
Fundraising
Celebration of our Lesbian Sexuality: correspondence, flyers, lists, and notes, 1988
Midsummer Night Dinner/Dance: flyers and newsletters, 1988
Personal ads, 1988-90
Pamela Kimmell, editor: miscellaneous material, 1993, n.d.
[See also Sophia Smith Collection Periodicals]
May-September 1987
October 1987-May 1988
June-December 1988
January-June 1989
July, October-December 1989
Anti-nuclear activism: articles, flyers, and reports, 1980, 1993, n.d.
Calendars, 1982-90
Daughters of Bilitis: calendar of events and correspondence, 1993
Domestic Abuse Awareness Project: correspondence, newspaper articles, and publicity (includes Living With the Enemy by Donna Ferrato), 1993
Erotica: articles, catalogs, flyers, newspaper clipping, and miscellaneous, 1975, 1986, 1992-93, n.d.
Fat liberation: brochures, newsletter, and newspaper clippings, 1981, 1992-93, n.d.
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR): correspondence, circa 1992
Feminism
Activities: brochures, bumper stickers, correspondence, and flyers, 1985-87, n.d.
Articles, 1970, 1992-93, n.d.
Merchandise: brochures, catalogs, and order forms, 1972-94, n.d.
Nationalism: news articles, 1992-93
Publications/presses: catalogs and publicity, 1973-93, n.d.
Festivals and conferences
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival: correspondence, directory, and program, 1987, 1991, n.d.
National Lesbian Conference: brochures, business cards, contact information, flyers, and program, 1991
New England Women's Music Retreat: correspondence, directory, programs, and publicity, 1987-93, n.d.
Sisterfire: correspondence, program, and publicity, 1987
Miscellaneous events: programs and publicity, 1984-94, n.d.
F.L.O.W.E.R. Foundation: correspondence, flyers, and grant application, 1 1984-86, n.d.
Fundraising: correspondence and guide, 1993
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD): Annual Report, 1992
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture
Authors/books: catalogs, newspaper clippings and publicity, 1988-93, n.d.
Coming out: articles and newspaper clippings, 1976,1993, n.d.
Gay Manifesto, circa 1970s
Merchandise: catalog, 1993
Relationships: articles, n.d.
Pride marches: guide and publicity, 1993-94
Politics: brochures, flyers, and newspaper clippings, 1993, n.d.
Miscellaneous publicity, n.d.
Help Open Women's Land (HOWL): flyers and newsletter, 1986, n.d.
HIV/AIDS: brochures, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, 1987-88, 1993
Homophobia: cartoons, articles, and newspaper clippings, 1986-93
King, Billie Jean: news article, 1981
Lesbian Avengers: flyers and newspaper clippings, 1993-94
Lesbian Herstory Archives: brochures, flyers, and newsletters, 1986-92, n.d.
Lesbians
Artists: newspaper clippings and publicity, 1986-90, n.d.
Businesses: business cards, catalogs, and publicity, 1986-88, n.d.
Cartoon(ist)s: drawings and newspaper clippings, 1993-94, n.d.
International: programs and reports, 1986
Jewish: newspaper clippings, 1989, 1992
Media coverage: newspaper clippings, 1992-93, n.d.
Parenting: article and newspaper clippings, 1989-94, n.d.
Resources: correspondence and flyers, n.d.
Travel: brochures and flyers, n.d.
Miscellaneous: flyers, 1994, n.d.
March(es) on Washington: newspaper clippings and publicity, 1987, 1993
National Herstorical Archives: brochures, correspondence, flyers, and programs, 1981-88, n.d.
New age: list and newspaper clipping, 1982, n.d.
New Alexandria Lesbian Library: correspondence, guidelines, flyers, lists, and notes 1977-88, n.d.
Newsletters
Craftwimmin's Mutual Aid Society, 1987-88
Harrisburg Area Women's News (HAWN), 1986-87
The Newsletter (New Haven), 1982, 1992, n.d.
Now Times, 1983-87
Separatists Eroding Patriarchy (SEPS), 1987-88
Women in Hartford, 1985-87
Words of Women, 1985-86
Miscellaneous publications, 1980-94, n.d.
Miscellaneous subscription renewals and advertisements: correspondence, and publicity, 1986-87, n.d.
Periodicals
Deneuve, 1994
Diversity: The Lesbian Rag, 1988
Hikane: The Capable Womon, 1993
Invert, 1992
Women Artist News, 1981
Teen Voices, 1993
Up from Under, n.d.
Out and About: flyer and news article, 1992, n.d.
Pioneer Valley (Western Mass.)
Community news: newspaper clippings, 1989-92, n.d.
Events: flyers, 1985-87, 1993, n.d.
"Herstory of the Valley Women's Movement": updated chronology, 1978-84
Lesbian Art Show: correspondence and program, 1987
Lesbian Home Show: correspondence, directories, flyers, lists, newspaper clippings, and notes, 1987-93
Northampton: brochures, flyers, newsletter, and newspaper clippings, 1992-93, n.d.
Northampton Lesbian Festival: newspaper clippings, programs, and publicity, 1991-94
Pride marches: flyers, newspaper clippings, and programs, 1987-94
Sadism/masochism
General: resource material, 1979, 1986-88, n.d.
Organizations
Bound and Determined: minutes and newsletters, 1987-88, n.d.
National Leather Association: Living in Leather conference materials, 1988
Shelix: correspondence, minutes, and resources, 1986-88
Sex: news articles, 1993
Steinem, Gloria: newspaper clippings, 1993
Stonewall, 25th Anniversary: correspondence, events, and publicity, 1994
WomanEarth Feminist Peace Institute: correspondence, 1987
Women
Centers: resource material, 1979
Clothing: catalogs and flyers, 1984-88, n.d.
Health: flyers, newsletter, and newspaper clippings, 1987, 1994
History: brochures, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, 1992, n.d.
Music
Catalogs, 1974-94
Labrys: correspondence and publicity, circa 1986
Marla B.B.: audiotape and publicity, 1993
Miscellaneous: flyers and programs, circa 1980-93, n.d.
Theatre: flyers, newspaper clippings and programs, 1986-93, n.d.
Women of All Nations, parts 1-10, 1912
Miscellaneous printed material, 1915-1993
OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Daily Hampshire Gazette, 1926
Color prints of women, n.d.
Event posters, 1985-94, n.d.
Photographs of unidentified concert, n.d.
Miscellaneous posters and printed material, 1975-94, n.d.
Club 616 Move-a-thon poster, 1987
Drawing of a woman, n.d.