Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance Archives, Ca
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AAttllaannttaa LLeessbbiiaann FFeemmiinniisstt AAlllliiaannccee AArrcchhiivveess,, ccaa.. 11997722--11999944 From the holdings of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library Duke University Primary Source Media AAttllaannttaa LLeessbbiiaann FFeemmiinniisstt AAlllliiaannccee AArrcchhiivveess,, ccaa.. 11997722--11999944 Part I: Administrative Files Part II: Subject Files Part III: Archives From the holdings of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library Duke University Primary Source Media Primary Source Media 12 Lunar Drive, Woodbridge, CT 06525 Tel: (800) 444 0799 and (203) 397 2600 Fax: (203) 397 3893 P.O. Box 45, Reading, England Tel (+ 44) 1734 583247 Fax: (+ 44) 1734 394334 All rights reserved, including those to reproduce this book or any parts thereof in any form Printed and bound in the United States of America 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Collection Overview………………………………………………………….…………. v ALFA/Lesbian Timeline……………………………………………………………….. vii Introduction to the Collection…………………………………………………………… xv Editorial Note……………….…….....………………………………………………… xxii Reel Index……………………………………………………………………………… xxiv Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………….. xxix Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance Part I: Administrative Files …….……………………………………………… 1 Part II: Subject Files ………………………………………………………… 8 Part III: Archives …………………………………………………………… 27 COLLECTION OVERVIEW ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY The Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance (ALFA) was founded in 1972 by a group of radical lesbians, many socialist and all feminist, who broke away from Atlanta's Women's Liberation Center and the Gay Liberation movement because they felt that neither had adequately addressed issues of concern to women as lesbians and lesbians as women. ALFA initially worked to fill a social void for and to offer a political voice to Atlanta lesbians, publicizing its efforts through a self-produced monthly newsletter, the Atalanta. Over the years, as the political and cultural climate changed and lesbians created new avenues through which to pursue their interests, ALFA struggled to find a clear and unique sense of purpose; this historically telling struggle is well- documented by ALFA itself, in minutes and mailings to its membership. In spite of its eventual decision to disband, ALFA remains known as one of the oldest lesbian feminist organizations in the United States, and a pioneer in the fight for lesbian, gay, and women's rights. One of the activities of ALFA--deeply concerned from the outset with the preservation of lesbian herstory --was to build and maintain the Southern Feminist Library and Archives (SFLA). The library and archives, which provided a material link between ALFA and other progressive movements and organizations throughout the world, included the archival records of ALFA and several other southern feminist groups; a massive collection of feminist, lesbian, and activist periodicals; and a circulating library of feminist and gay and lesbian books. ALFA disbanded in 1994 after over 20 years of Southern feminist activism. SCOPE AND CONTENTS NOTE When ALFA disbanded in 1994, the archival collections and the bulk of the periodicals collection were transferred to Duke's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. The book collection and the remaining periodicals stayed in Atlanta, with books relating to feminist theory going to Emory University and the rest to a community library. The ALFA Archives and Periodicals Collections that were transferred to Duke are an incredibly rich source of information about feminist and lesbian activism and communities, especially in the Southeast, from the early 1970s to the mid 1990s. The ALFA Archives includes the organizational records of ALFA as well as other southern radical women's groups such as Lucina's Music/Orchid Productions; Radio Free Georgia (WRFG) women's programming; the womonwrites conference for lesbian writers and publishers; the Southern Women's Music festival; the Atlanta Socialist-Feminist Women's Union; and Dykes for the Second American Revolution (DAR II). The extensive subject files, which are a part of ALFA's archives, document scores of other feminist, lesbian, and activist organizations and events as well as provide information on a broad range of feminist and lesbian issues. Of particular note are ALFA's _Theory/Analysis (Women) files, as well as their collection of publications by KNOW, Inc.; using these primary materials, researchers can get a good sense of the issues that gave rise to the women's liberation movement and to ALFA in the late 1960s and early 1970s. v The ALFA Periodicals Collection contains literally hundreds of grassroots newsletters and journals, many of which are now ephemeral and not in any library. This extensive library of feminist, lesbian and gay, and activist periodicals is more fully described in a separate guide. PROCESSING NOTE For the most part, the original order of the ALFA Archives was maintained after being transferred to Duke. Several boxes, which had been in storage and never fully processed by ALFA, were organized upon arrival at the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. Minor rearrangement and consolidation of some of the ALFA records and subject files helped to reduce confusion and highlight areas of strength. vi ALFA AND RELATED LESBIAN COMMUNITY TIMELINE ¸ ALFA prepared the following timeline cataloging the events and milestones of the organization and related lesbian community through June 1984, at which time the organization apparently ceased updating the timeline. The remainder of the timeline was prepared by Ian Lekus, who wrote the Introduction to the Collection, and is based on the ALFA organization files and ALFA’s Atalanta newsletter. ¹ 1969 Great Speckled Bird’s Women’s Caucus forms 1970 Atlanta Women’s Liberation forms 1971 Gay Liberation Front forms and Womansong Theatre performs in Atlanta Dec. 1971 “Sleeping Beauty: A Lesbian Fairy Tale” printed by Sojourner Truth Press (a woman’s press collective) June 23, 1972 First ALFA meeting Nov. 1972 First ALFA fundraiser (talent show) at the Twelfth Gate Feb. 1973 Open House with MCC women March 1973 Gay Conference in Atlanta; dance at GLF building on Pine Street June 1973 First ALFA participation in Gay Pride March July 1973 WRFG show “Lesbian Woman” begins; hosted by ALFA member ALFA Pickets the Journal and Constitution in protest of their refusal to print info on ALFA events Aug. 1973 Scarlet, the ALFA Steering Committee, is set up Sept. 1973 First ALFA newsletter printed Oct. 1973 Last ALFA meeting at 1190 Mansfield Ave, the Original ALFA House Jan. 1974 First open lesbian participation in ERA Coalition and March Feb. 1974 First 2 ALFA Rap Groups established Susan B. Anthony Celebration, Rita Mae Brown reads from her new novel, Rubyfruit Jungle June 1974 ALFA sponsors Gay 90’s Carnival during Gay Pride Week July 1974 The first “out” lesbian softball team in the Atlanta City League, the ALFA Omegas, play their first league game Sept. 1974 Housewarming at the 2nd, and current, ALFA house Margaret Mead interviewed for ALFA newsletter Fall1974 ALFA Poetry Group begins Dec. 31, 1974 First performance of Red Dyke Theatre vii Jan. 1975 ALFA sponsors fundraiser (Woman’s Dance) for ERA coalition at Ball Recreation Center ALFA woman speaks at ERA Rally Feb. 1975 Maria Isabel, one of “The Three Marias,” interviewed for ALFA newsletter June 1977 Pokey Anderson (ALFA member in Houston, TX.) elected National Co-chair of the National Gay Task Force (NGTF) Atlanta’s Gay Pride Association attempts to form the Atlanta Gay Rights Association July 1977 Boogiewimmin created Charis expands and opens new Women’s Section Aug. 1977 Dykes Together, a lesbian AA group, forms Oct. 1977 Benefit for Vicki Gabriner’s legal fight at the Sweet Gum Head March 1978 Meg Christian and Teresa Trull in concert (Lucina’s) National Lesbian Organization founding Conference in Los Angeles Mid 1978 Article by 2 ALFA women appears in “Our Right To Love,” a book produced by NGTF women April 1978 ALFA women active in planning the Southeast Conference Of Lesbians And Gay Men out of which emerges the Southeast Lesbian Network and the initial planning for a Lesbian Writer’s Conference May 1978 “Lesbian Region” column in ALFA newsletter starts June 1978 Anita Bryant speaks at the Southern Baptist national Convention and ALFA women join pickets at the World Congress Center July 1978 First Antioch Intern placed with ALFA Piano donated to the ALFA house Sweet Honey & The Rock concert (Lucina’s) High Museum vetoes showing The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago Sept. 1978 Southeast Conference To Build The Matriarchy held at the Pagoda Oct. 1978 ALFA house painted and redecorated Feminist Chorus practices at the ALFA house Nov. 1978 ALFA Intern speaks at a Press Conference with representatives of First Tuesday and ACLU celebrating the defeat of the Briggs Initiative in California Alix Dobkin concert (Lucina’s) Council On Battered Women opens shelter viii Jan. 1979 First in a series of Community Sketches appears in the ALFA newsletter Feb. 1979 Library Committee starts organization of Archives Atlanta Gay Center starts functioning March 1979 Feminist writers Judith Mcdaniel and Maureen Brady of Spinsters Ink speak at the ALFA house April 1979 Margie Adam concert (Lucina’s) Aug. 1981 ALFA member, Margo George, receives the Gama “Humanitarian Award” for 1981 The Chamberpot performs at ALFA’s birthday party Nov. 1981 Southern Feminist Library & Archives is incorporated Matrix Music and Orchid Productions forms out