Browse Items (716 total)
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Sharon Noteboom Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Sharon Noteboom discusses growing up on a farm in the Midwest in a religious family, the influence of conservative religion through her life, her coming out process in the late 70s, her involvement with the civil rights movement and various communities in San Francisco, and teaching as an out Lesbian.
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Marlene Michelson Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Marlene Michelson discusses Her early realizations of her sexuality, her work at the Oakland tribune starting in 1962 which began her 30 year career as journalist, her marriage to a man and experience raising two children, her ultimate separation from her husband, and her subsequent introduction to the lesbian scene in the Bay Area. She also discusses her late coming out after she arrived at Rossmoor and the start of the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club. -
Lynn Gold Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Lynn Gold discusses being married right out of college, raising two children, their divorce after 20 years, and a second marriage to a man during which time she fell in love with a woman. She also discusses coming out later in life around the same time Ellen DeGeneres came out and that point of culture helping her come out. Despite the shifting cultural views she discusses issues that she had with some friends and family members over her sexuality and eventual marriage to a woman. She also discusses her relationship with her mother in regards to her sexuality and her mothers sexuality. -
Jade Martner Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Jade Martner discusses her discusses her coming out process, both to herself at age 15, and to her mom when she was 17 which led to Jade being kicked out of the house. Moving to the Bay Area in 1988 from Arizona and finding a women’s group and community with the Palo Alto Lesbian Rap Group and in Lesbian Bars. Her work in IT management and being a Lesbian in a professional setting and starting an LGBTQ resource group at her company. -
Andrea Gilbert Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Andrea Gilbert discusses her coming out process later in life and in relationship to her marriage to a man, her divorce, and her relationship to her children; as well as her family’s reaction to her coming out as a lesbian. She also discusses the impact of living at Rossmoor and the Rossmoor community on her life and her work in advocacy for the families of LGBTQ people. -
Andrea Gourdine Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Andrea Gourdine discusses growing up conservative in the bay area and the racial discrimination and segregation she and her family faced in 1940s in Richmond, CA. Her coming out process and the response from her mother. She discusses her career in HR which lead her to be the first black woman working in HR for the City and County of San Francisco where she ultimately become the director and the closeted environment of her professional work. She touches on her experience with the lesbian community in San Francisco and finding herself through that community, and later, through the Rossmoor community. -
Cecelia Wambach Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Cecelia Wambach discusses her realization her being a lesbian after being married to a man, her experince of being in a convent for 10 years, teaching at a women’s college, her involvement with the civil rights and anti-war movement and her move to the west coast with her small family. She also talks about her involvement with the LGBTQ communities once she moved to San Francisco, finishing her PHD and working as a college professor at San Francisco State for 30 years, and her life long pursuit of painting.
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Deb Mayer Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Deb Mayer discusses her coming out process and finding lesbian community, her seven-year marriage to a navy pilot which brought her to the Bay Area, and her work in the juvenile justice system as a probation officer. She talks about her involvement in marriage equality and AIDS activism in San Francisco and also discusses moving to Rossmoor and the development of the Lesbian Social Club and the importance of friendship and community at this point in her life.
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Ann Biderman Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Ann Biderman discusses her early feelings for other girls, her coming out process and mixed reactions that led her to be fearful of coming out to people. She talks about her relationship with her parents, looking for a Jewish Lesbian community in Austin, TX and eventually moving to San Francisco in 1987. Ann discusses her involvement with Bay Area Career Women, her Temple, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. -
Bev Lyon Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Bev Lyon discusses her family background and history, her early feelings for other girls in High School and her coming out in her early 40s. She speaks about getting married to a man in her senior year of college and their adoption of a child together. She discusses her her first relationship with a women and breaking into the lesbians and feminist world, and her later coming out to her family amf her reations. Bev talks about her life long ilness and how that affecter her life as well as the misogyny that she encoutered in law school. She speaks about meeting her partner and her involvement with the Bay Area Career Women group. -
Liz Salen Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Liz Salen discusses her early feelings of attraction to girls, her experience having girlfriend at her Hebrew high school, remaining closeted through college and the beginning of law school and her ultimate coming out process and her family's reaction after her sister had also come out as a lesbian. She speaks about her work in her private law practice counseling non-profit activist organizations including OUT Week, ACT UP, and other queer focused organizations, becoming a mother with her partner's biological child, her own pregnancy journey and complications, and adopting a son. She discusses her daughters coming out to her as non-binary and moving to Rossmoor with her partner.
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Jean Lerner Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Jean Lerner discusses being raised Jewish by very politically active communist parents, her realization in college she was in love with her girl friend, and her disillusionment with the Communism that she was raised with. She talks about being closeted in her work as a chiropractor even though she loved her job, her decision to get pregnant and raise a daughter on her own after a struggle to find a partner who also wanted to raise a child, and then meeting her partner when she was pregnant and their family growing as they adopting their son. -
Kathryn Poethig Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Kathryn Poethig discusses growing up in the Philippines due to her parents work through the Presbyterian church and her positionality being raised there as a white person in a minority privileged position that affected the rest of her life. She talks about moving back to America and feeling uncomfortable at first with the culture as well as how sexualized things were in the US which lead to her further questioning her sexuality, her first feelings of attraction to women as an adult and her coming out process within a theological community. she talks about her feeling about various lesbian and women's groups she found herself in and moving to Rossmoor with her partner. -
Victoria Rue Interview
In this oral history conducted by the Rossmoor Lesbian Social Club, Victoria Rue discusses growing up Catholic and her time in Catholic School and in the Convent for a short time. She talks about her first sexual encounter with a woman, living LA and then moving to New York City in 1977 to work in theater. Vitoria discusses getting a Master's of Divinity at Columbia and then a PHD in Berkley, CA and her focus on religion and the arts and exploring her identity as a Christian and a Lesbian. She talks about theater as activism, her involvement in the Women's Music Movement, and her relationship with her partner. She speaks about her relationship to both her family and her partners family. -
Ruth Berman, Connie Kurtz , and Deborah Dickson Interview with Bay Area Reporter, 2001
In this interview with an unknown reporter, Ruth Berman and Connie Kurtz discuss their lives in context with the recent documentary about their life directed by Deborah Dickson, who is also interviewed.
Ruth and Connie discuss how they met, their early activism within their communities, being married to men and having families, and their eventual falling in love with one another and coming out as Lesbians. They discuss their relationships with their families then and now, and the importance of coming out of the closet.
Deborah talks about her process when working in this film, and how she tried to make the film for both gay and striaght audiences -
Ruth Berman & Connie Kurtz interview with Rose Jordan, 1984
This episode of "The Lesbian Radio Show" on WBAI is an interview of Ruth Berman and Connie Kurtz by Rose Jordan. The women discuss the importance of Coming Out, the adverse reactions people might have to that news, and the reaction that one might have to their own Coming Out. They talk about working on themselves and about how doing the inner work of acceptance makes it easier for them to live in a society that might not fully accept them. Ruthie and Connie share about their practice of Co-Counseling, in which people can provide emotional support for each other by deep listing. They discuss self esteem, pride, shame, and the connection between emotion and the health of our physical bodies. They encourage people to seek help should they need it.
Ruth and Connie discuss issues with unprocessed trauma and how being triggered can cause a trauma response, unconditional love and the importance of not weaponizing love, and take calls from listeners. They talk about upcoming workshops and counseling that they offer.
Songs played during the show include "I Am What I Am" by Gloria Gaynor and "She" by Holly Near
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First Black Lesbian Conference
Scan of letter distributed by planning committee members of First Black Lesbian Conference, San Francisco, 1980 -
Lesbian Style Project: Anonymous Interviewee
The interviewee recounts her experiences growing up lesbian and intersex in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She discusses the lesbian community, the ballroom scene, workplace and school bullying, and her experiences working at an urban clothing company.
The interviewee's name has been withheld at her request. -
Lesbian Style Project: Fumio Ichikawa (Disc 1)
Alaina Zulli interviews Fumio Ichikawa, part one. First she reflects on her experiences across her childhood and adolescence; she grew up in a small town in Kanagawa outside of Tokyo, and recounts her experience of class and gender in Japan. She also describes her difficulties adjusting to the culture and language in America as a young adult after her family moved to New York when she was 17 years old. -
Lesbian Style Project: Fumio Ichikawa (Disc 2)
Alaina Zulli interviews Fumio Ichikawa, part two. She reflects on her experiences of xenophobia and colonialism, particularly in the context of the six month university exchange program that she spent in London. Then, she reflects on how she came to understand her lesbian identity, the tensions between Japanese cultural norms and gendered expectations and her identity as a lesbian, and how her identity is reflected in her style. -
Lesbian Style Project: Mariya Gorkhover
Alaina Zulli interviews Mariya Gorkhover. They discuss her family, coming out to her parents, how her style has evolved with her sexuality, how she believes she is perceived, and how she would like to be perceived (based upon her looks). -
Audition Tape
Collected Auditions for Radio Free Women: Interview with Robin Morgan, Interview and poetry readings with [???] and Rita May Brown, discussion of D.C. rape hearings with selected poets from Washington D.C. Rape Crisis center, Excerpt from 1972 Radio Free Women Collage show "Waitresses". Excerpt from 1973 Collage show "Advertising"
Audio fades out and in at several points. -
Cris Williamson, Singer
Cris Williamson talks about her music and plays some songs on guitar.
Note: The tape suffers from water damage which has made parts difficult to hear and which causes some drop-outs. -
Irene Young Demo Tape
Irene Young music demo tape. Vocals by Stefanie Saldana and Judith Skolnik. Track Listing: 1. The Lie / 2. Sad Song / 3. It's Good to Meet You / 4. Pleasin' ManTags Music -
Union of Democratic Filipinos
Interview with Representatives of the Union of Democratic Filipinos at protest against Miss Universe pageant being held in the Philippines as well the Marcos regime and increasing US involvement in Filipino affairs -
Women In Athletics (Tape 1)
Women are interviewed about their experiences in sports, feminism in spots, and the struggles that women face when playing sports seriously at any level. This includes brief interview with Olympic swimmer Melissa Belote following 1972 Olympic wins, and ends with Althea Gibson introduction. -
Women In Athletics (Tape 2)
Audio opens with live coverage of women's tennis, moves on to women's athletics discussion with Billie Jean King. Discrimination against women in tennis and athletics overall is a main focus, centering specifically on pay disparities and lack of social support for participation in sports at all ages. -
Coalition of Labor Union Women #2
This interview/discussion opens with "Frontier" by Cris Williamson. Pat Strand and Linda Osbourne are interviewed about the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) conference. They talk about how the women's unions and the coalition got their start. The effects of the conference on local unions is also talked about. The CLUW episode ends at 27 minutes. Note: At 27:20 the audio cuts to the middle of a conversation about women in music and the different challenges that are faced in male-dominated music spaces. -
Timeless Teachings of Tarot
John Cox introduces a radio show on KCRW in which psychic Tamara Hearsay [sp?] gives an astrological forecast for Aries and answers letters from the audience. -
Women's Businesses
An episode of Radio Free Women in which four businesswomen discuss their work. Interviewees include (but are not limited to) Susan Sojourner of First Things First, a fe-mail order house for books for women and Sue Sasser, an auto mechanic. -
Back Alley Theatre
Elaine Heffernan (director) and Jo Meyer (lighting design) are interviewed about their work with Back Alley Theatre on "The Independent Female, or A Man Has His Pride" and "Eve Has Not Been in Paradise Yet." They discuss the state of theater in relation to feminism, politics, and social consciousness.
Note: Some parts of this tape suffer from water damage and are difficult to hear. -
Women's Political Education Coalition with Carol Rogers
Carol Rogers is interviewed on the broad goals and current policy interests of the Women's Political Education Coalition. Discussed topics include the 1974 Washington D.C. mayoral election, childcare, employment, the minimum wage, Crime, Women's Health, and Title 34. -
Coalition of Labor Union Women #1
This is the same discussion as CoalitionofLaborUnionWomen_2, but without the additional music conversation. The CLUW interview also has additional questions (at around minute 21): "How can women get in touch with you?" and "How many women are involved in the DC chapter of CLUW?"
Note: Audio has static throughout -
From an Old House in Char[?]
Live performance of a variety of songs, including covers of "Imagine my Surprise" by Holly Near and "Take it Easy" by the EaglesTags Music -
Drunk Tape
Radio Free Women episode about "class and culture and how it applies to the women's movement". Opens with "Good Morning Heartache" by Diana Ross. Actual audio is an interview of performing duo. A majority of the audio is consists of casual conversation amongst friends. -
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Sophie's Parlor
Radio Free Women/ Sophie's Parlor episode about rape in terms of legal representation and shortcomings, poor and prejudiced treatment of rape victims. Audio is poor at times. The discussion focuses on the need to implement legal changes to how rape is understood through hearings and testimonies that are very difficult experience for the rape victims. They point out the sexist, classist, and racial discriminations against victims of sexual assault (such as victims having to pay for their medical expenses after forensic collection). They talked about the availability of the Rape Crisis Center to help women in need. -
Leadership and Class
A discussion about the differences and challenges of the women's movement by various women. Personality, class tension, diversity, stereotyping, group identity, ideas of leadership are debated. The tension between lower class women and middleclass women is described in terms of leadership styles. Lower class women have a strong female role models to grow up with, this lacks completely for the middle class women. Action is perceived as a negative male trait by the middle class women, who are not used to take action but rather prefer moderation and security. -
Robin Morgan
Robin Morgan talks about the creation of the New York Radical Women group in 1967 (20-25 women), the male Left, working on the Atlantic city pageant demonstration 1968, and publishing the "Sisterhood Is Powerful: An Anthology of Writings from the Women's Liberation Movement" in 1970. She then reads a poem and uses poetry as a political tool, as well as asserts that the Women's Movement is fostering relations between different strata of US society. Morgan advocates for women to take control legally, health-wise, and become an international force. She states that rape and pornography affect all women and she depicts women as the largest and longest subjugated people. The Women's Movement will continue to prosper. -
Unused Portion of Health Show
Discusses health administrations and hospitals disregarding women's wishes when giving birth, and taking the newborn away leaving the mother to wait for days to see the baby. The show also highlights women being rushed through birth, the instrumental nature of nurses, and complications with doctors. It focuses on connecting medicine with feminist ideology to insure legal change and rights protection. -
Kathy Bonk and Whitney Adams, Co-Coordinators of N.O.W. Fair (August 24, 1974)
Kathy Bonk and Whitney Adams from the National Organization for Women discuss the upcoming N.O.W. Fair on Radio Free Women. The fair will feature feminist activism, panels, political discussions, and interviews. Bonk and Adams go on to talk about other aspects of feminist political activism such as income inequality and racial discrimination. -
Lesbian Pride Week '77
Discussion at Lesbian Pride Week '77 that covers topics such as political activism.
Note: This recording suffers from poor sound quality. -
Channel 26 Show, November 30, 1971
Two radio excerpts from the Channel 26 Show.
Notes: The "right track" is muffled and indistinct, but appears to contain music and a comedy program. The "left track" contains a discussion on the topic of gay liberation. -
Learning to Fly, Women and Alcohol
This is a Radio Free Women episode about women and alcohol, including topics such as the societal pressures that might cause women to drink excessively. The different topics are also combined with the following songs: "Lilac Wine" by Nina Simone, "Red Wine" at Noon by Joy of Cooking, "Broke Down Girl" by Buffy Saint-Maire, "Shake Sugaree" by Elizabeth Cotten, "Leftover Wine" by Melanie, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Lynn Anderson, "Sweet Blindness" by Laura Nyro, and "Bye, Bye Baby" by Big Brother & The Holding Company & Janis Joplin. Nikki Giovanni's "All I Gotta Do" is also included. -
Advertisements
Opens with "Reasons" by Minnie Riperton and goes into an advertisement for Sophie's Parlor. A version of the advertisement repeats but is a blooper/is incomplete. Following this, another version of the advertisement plays. Includes sped-up song and an unknown ad, as well as "Check Out Your Mind" by Chaxayn. -
Megan Christian and Holly Near Concert (Side A)
Live recording of Meg Christian and Holly Near performing at 1976 LFF concert. Note: playback speed changes so there is a brief cut in audio around the 12 min mark; poor sound quality. -
Meg Christian and Holly Near Concert (Side B)
Live recording of Meg Christian and Holly Near performing at 1976 LFF concert. Note: Poor sound quality -
Women's Music Network Interview
Interview with Kay Gardner, executive director and co-founder of the Women's Music Network, and Lou Crimmins, performer. 1974 production of the Feminist Radio Network. Discussion of the nonprofit Women Music Network's ideals and operations supporting women in the music industry. including Lavender Jane.