Contents


Collection Overview

Administrative Information

Project History

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project, 2010- 2011

Finding Aid

2010

Collection Overview

Title:Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project
Dates:2010-2011
Abstract: Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project is a collection of life histories of women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, woman-identified-woman, queer, or who prefer not to identify with sexuality categories. The project provides a complex and nuanced collective story of American lesbian history and experience. Narrators include grassroots activists and political organizers; educators and academics; musicians, writers, and artists; as well as community and religious leaders. They come from a variety of class, ethnic, racial, social, and geographic backgrounds. Interviews cover childhood and growing up experiences; education and employment; activism and politics; family, identity, relationships and community.
Extent: 8 boxes(5 linear ft.)
Language: English
Identification: MS 661

Administrative Information

The Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project was donated to the Sophia Smith Collection in 2010, and additional materials in 2011.

The Sophia Smith Collection The SSC holds the papers of the following: Martha Ackelsberg; Carole Oglesby; Judith Plaskow; Ellen Shumsky; and Women's Music Collection (June Millington).

Additional Formats

Videotapes have been copied to DVD for research use. Full transcripts are available on the SSC Website.

Processed by Burd Schlessinger, July 2010.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

The oral histories are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection, with the following exceptions: Small portions of the interview of Jay Toole are closed and have been removed from the transcripts. The audiovisual portions of these interviews are closed. The transcripts of Wendy Essery, Andrea Hairston, Holly Richardson, Cody Penotte, Catherine Pittman, Bet Power, Ellen Shumsky, and Laura Sullivan, and are not available online. Researchers may contact the SSC for a copy. The interview of Laura Sullivan is closed except with permission.

Original videotapes and master copies are closed. Viewing copies are available on DVD for all except Sullivan.

Partially restricted access - contact the Sophia Smith Collection for more information.

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to all of the oral histories. 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.

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Project History

Interviews were conducted by Smith College students in Kelly Anderson's "Documenting Lesbian Lives" course in the spring of 2010 and 2011. Students were trained in both United States lesbian history and oral history techniques and protocols.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

Documenting Lesbian Lives Oral History Project is a collection of life histories of women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, woman-identified-woman, queer, or who prefer not to identify with sexuality categories. The project provides a complex and nuanced collective story of American lesbian history and experience. Narrators include grassroots activists and political organizers; educators and academics; musicians, writers, and artists; as well as community and religious leaders. They come from a variety of class, ethnic, racial, social, and geographic backgrounds. Interviews cover childhood and growing up experiences; education and employment; activism and politics; family, identity, relationships and community.

Narrators include:

Martha AckelsbergMichelle BaraleTerry BoggisChris CollierAlix DobkinDeborah EarleyWendy EsseryJan EverhartDeborah FaisonJulie FlachsPeggy GillespieAnn HacklerAndrea HairstonLori HarrisAnnie LanzillottoRebecca LukensJune MillingtonBetty MorningstarCarole OglesbyCody PenotteCatherine PittmanJudith PlaskowBet PowerHolly RichardsonPeggy ShawEllen ShumskyLaura SullivanRabbi Toba SpitzerJay TooleJennifer WaltersKate Wolfe

View full transcripts online at the project Web site.

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