Guide to the HerBooks Feminist Press Archive 1984-2002
Processed by donor.
The University Library
Special Collections and Archives
University Library
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California, 95064
Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu
URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
Area, Interdisciplinary, and Ethnic Studies--Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Guide to the HerBooks Feminist Press Archive, 1984-2002
Collection number: MS 37
The University Library
Special Collections
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Contact Information:
- Special Collections and Archives
- University Library
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz, California, 95064
- Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu
- URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/
- Processed by:
- UCSC OAC Unit
- Encoded by:
- UCSC OAC Unit
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: HerBooks Feminist Press Archive,
Date (inclusive): 1984-2002
Collection number: MS 37
Creator:
Reti, Irene
Extent:
5 cartons, 2 flats
6.75 linear ft.
Repository:
University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library.
Special Collections
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: This collection includes correspondence, business records, manuscripts, and ephemera on the subjects HerBooks has published.
Physical location: Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.
Preferred Citation
HerBooks Feminist Press Archive, MS 37, Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Irene Reti.
Agency History
HerBooks Feminist Press was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1984 by Irene Reti, a poet and creative nonfiction writer.
The emphasis of the press has been on publishing anthologies of creative writing, poetry, and other works by lesbians.
HerBooks is known for its groundbreaking collections, such as
The Lesbian in Front of the Classroom: writings by Lesbian Teachers (1988) and
Childless by Choice: A Feminist Anthology, both of which were the first anthologies published in the United States on these topics. Irene Reti's
Remember the Fire: Lesbian Sadomasochism in a Post Nazi-Holocaust World (1986) and
Unleashing Feminism: Critiquing Lesbian Sadomasochism in the Gay Nineties (1993) were outspoken critiques of s/m and pornography which put the press on the forefront of radical feminist inquiry.
HerBooks is also known for publishing innovative books about lesbian culture, such as
Cats (and their Dykes) and
Garden Variety Dykes: Lesbian Traditions in Gardening. Another strength of the press is Jewish feminism.
HerBooks published
Bubbe Meisehs by Shayneh Maidelehs: an anthology of poetry by Jewish Granddaughters about our Grandmothers,
A Transported Life: Memories of Kindertransport, the Oral History of Thea Feliks Eden, and
The Keeper of Memory: A Memoir.
HerBooks also distributed the first anthology of Pacific/Asian Lesbian writing,
Between the Lines (Dancing Bird Press, 1987). In 1994 HerBooks published
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc and Other Plays by Carolyn Gage, a finalist for the Lambda Book Award.
Bibliography
Lesbian Words: A Santa Cruz Anthology, edited by Irene Reti and Sue McCabe (1984).
Lesbian Words II: Photographs and Writing, edited by Irene Reti, Sue McCabe, and Terese Armstrong (1985).
To Live with the Weeds, Poetry by D.A. Clarke (1985).
The World Between Women: An Anthology, edited by Irene Reti, Sarah-Hope Parmeter and Abby Bogomolny (Bee) (1986).
Prepositions, poetry by Linda Hooper (1986). Distributed by HerBooks.
Nauseous in Paradise, poetry by Abby Bee (Bogomolny) (1986). Distributed by HerBooks.
Remember the Fire: Lesbian Sadomasochism in a Post-Nazi Holocaust World, an essay by Irene Reti (1986).
Past, Present, and Future Passions: poetry by Barbara Ruth. Distributed by HerBooks (1986).
The Lesbian in Front of the Classroom: Writings by Lesbian Teachers, edited by Irene Reti and Sarah-Hope Parmeter (1988).
Love Me Like You Mean It, poetry by Lesléa Newman (1987).
Between the Lines: An Anthology of Pacific/Asian Lesbians of Santa Cruz, California, edited by Alison Kim, Christy Chung and A.K. Lemeshewsky, distributed by HerBooks (Dancing Bird Press, 1987).
Love, Politics and "Rescue" in Lesbian Relationships, an essay by Diana Rabenold (1987).
Lizards/Los Padres, short stories by Bettianne Shoney Sien (1988).
Messages: Music for Lesbians by D.A. Clarke (1988).
Bubbe Meisehs by Shayneh Maidelehs: An Anthology of Poetry by Jewish Granddaughters about our Grandmothers, edited by Lesléa Newman (1989).
Cats (and their Dykes): An Anthology, edited by Irene Reti and Bettianne Shoney Sien (1991).
Sweet Dark Places: Poetry by Lesléa Newman (1991).
Childless by Choice: A Feminist Anthology, edited by Irene Reti (1992).
Unleashing Feminism: Critiquing Lesbian Sadomasochism in the Gay Nineties, an anthology edited by Irene Reti (1993).
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc and other plays, by Carolyn Gage (1994).
Garden Variety Dykes: Lesbian Traditions in Gardening, edited by Irene Reti and Valerie Chase (1994).
A Transported Life: Memories of Kindertransport, the Oral History of Thea Feliks Eden, edited by Irene Reti and Valerie Chase (1995).
The Keeper of Memory: A Memoir, by Irene Reti (2001).
Collection Scope and Content
The HerBooks Feminist Press Archive contains the general history of HerBooks, and materials related to the publication, promotion,
and distribution. There are also materials on the
Childless-by-Choice movement; lesbian feminism in the 1980's and 1990's; and materials on Holocaust studies, including on
Lesbian Daughters of Holocaust Survivors and the Kindertransport program (which rescued Jewish
children from Nazi-occupied Austria and Germany and brought them to England during 1938-1939); antipornography activism and
theory; and the Women In Print Movement. The archive also contains writings
by Irene Reti, including her memoir,
The Keeper of Memory (published by HerBooks in 2001), as well as work by other Santa Cruz women writers.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Reti, Irene
Herbooks Feminist Press--Archive
Lesbian feminism
Children of Holocaust survivors
Authors, American--California--Santa Cruz County
Related Archives
- Asian/Pacific Islander Lesbian Collection, MS 40
- Papier-Mache Press Archive, MS 27 (unprocessed)
- Shameless Hussy Press Archive, MS 92
Related Works
Sandra Martz: Papier-Mache Press and the Gentle Art of Consciousness Raising,
Date: 1984-1999
by the Regional History Project, University Library, University of California at Santa Cruz, 2001.
http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/martz.html
Collection Contents
Series 1
HerBooks Press, 1984-2000,
Physical Description:
Box 1, 5-7
Scope and Content Note
This series contains general correspondence, promotional materials, interviews, audio cassettes and press ephemera relating
to the business of HerBooks.
Arrangement
The material has been arranged by content.
Box-folder 1:2
General business & promotional materials (letterhead, bookmarks, business cards).
Box-folder 6:1
Irene Reti, 3/1/90 interview
Box-folder 1:7
Diaspora Distribution Company.
Box-folder 1:8
Alamo Square Distributors.
Box-folder 1:9
Community Printers of Santa Cruz
Box-folder 1:10
The Women in Print Movement.
Box-folder 1:11
Feminist publisher catalogs.
Box-folder 1:12
Feminist publishers correspondence.
Box-folder 1:13
The Lesbians and Gays in Print Movement.
Box-folder 1:15
Skills of Self-Publishing - proposed workshop.
Carton 5
Sinister Wisdom, misc. issues
Carton 5
Common Lives/Lesbian Lives, misc. issues
Carton 5
Lesbian Ethics, misc. issues
Carton 5
"So Precious a Place" on women-only space - video tape
Box 6-7
Audio Cassettes - a collection of interviews and business related tapes.
Series 2.
Publications, 1984-2002,
Physical Description:
Boxes 1-4
Scope and Content Note
This series contains publication correspondence, corrected manuscripts, production materials, publicity, reviews, promotional
materials, and archival copies of publications.
Arrangement
The material has been arranged by publication.
Box-folder 1:16
Lesbian Words: A Santa Cruz Anthology, edited by Irene Reti and Sue McCabe
Box-folder 1:17
Lesbian Words II: Photographs and Writings, edited by Irene Reti, Sue McCabe, and Terese Armstrong
Box-folder 1:18-21
The Lesbian in Front of the Classroom: Writings by Lesbian Teachers, edited by Irene Reti and Sarah-Hope Parmeter
Box-folder 1:18
Contributor Correspondence
Box-folder 1:22-26
To Live with the Weeds, by D.A. Clarke
Box-folder 4:3
Printed sheets - complete copy
Box-folder 1:25-26
1st ed. & 2nd ed. archive copies
Box-folder 1:27-33
Messages: Music for Lesbians, by D.A. Clarke
Box-folder 1:27
Lyrics and notes, and production notes.
Box-folder 1:29-33
Additional writing by D. A. Clarke.
Box-folder 1:32
Sinister Wisdom no.35, 38;
Lesbian Ethics, v.2:2
Box-folder 1:34
Distribution - Ladyslipper.
Box-folder 6:2
Messages: Music for Lesbians, archive copy of audio cassette.
Box-folder 1:36-39
The World Between Women: An Anthology, edited by Irene Reti, Sarah-Hope Parmeter and Abby Bogomolny
Box-folder 1:36
Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County grant
Box-folder 1:40-42
Nauseous in Paradise by Abby Bogomolny
Box-folder 1:40
HerBooks distribution and archive copy
Box-folder 1:41
Abby Lynn Bogomolny Collected Writing
Box-folder 1:42
Abby Bogomolny - misc. publications
Box-folder 1:43
Prepositions, by Linda Hooper, distributed by HerBooks
Box-folder 1:43
Research, distribution, and archive copy
Box-folder 1:44
Between the Lines: An Anthology of Pacific/Asian Lesbians of Santa Cruz, California, edited by Alison Kim, Christy Chung and A.K. Lemeshwsky, distributed by HerBooks.
Box-folder 1:45
Alison Kim - other writings
Box-folder 2:1-2
Lizards/Los Padres, by Bettianne Shoney Sien
Box-folder 2:3
Love, Politics and "Rescue" in Lesbian Relationships, by Diana Rabenold
Box-folder 2:4
Past, Present and Future Passions: Poetry by Barbara Ruth, distributed by HerBooks
Box-folder 2:4
Distribution & archive copy
Box-folder 2:5-8
Bubbe Meisehs by Shayneh Maidelehs: An Anthology of Poetry by Jewish Granddaughters about our Grandmothers, edited by Lesléa Newman
Box-folder 2:9-10
Love Me Like You Mean It: Poems by Lesléa Newman
Box-folder 2:11-15
Sweet Dark Places: Poems by Lesléa Newman
Box-folder 2:13
Publicity, Reviews, archive copy
Box-folder 2:16-19
Remember the Fire: Lesbian Sadomasochism in a Post-Nazi Holocaust World, an essay by Irene Reti
Box-folder 2:17
Manuscript, comments by D. A. Clarke
Box-folder 2:20-24
Unleashing Feminism: Critiquing Lesbian Sadomasochism in the Gay Nineties, edited by Irene Reti
Box-folder 2:25-29
Cats (And Their Dykes): An Anthology, edited by Irene Reti and Bettianne Shoney Sien
Box-folder 2:25
Contributor Correspondence
Box-folder 2:28
"Toward a Feminist History of the Cat" by Irene Reti - handwritten draft
Box-folder 2:29-33
Childless by Choice: A Feminist Anthology, edited by Irene Reti
Box-folder 2:29
Contributor Correspondence
Box-folder 2:34-37
Garden Variety Dykes: Lesbian Traditions in Gardening, edited by Irene Reti and Valerie Chase
Box-folder 2:35
Manuscripts w/corrections
Box-folder 2:38-46
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc and Other Plays by Carolyn Gage
Box-folder 6:6
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc, archive copy of audio cassette
Box-folder 2:45
"Radical Propositions" - draft
Box-folder 2:46
Other plays - not published in HerBooks collection
Box-folder 3:1-15, 5
A Transported Life: Memories of Kindertransport: The Oral History of Thea Eden, edited by Irene Reti and Valerie Jean Chase
Box-folder 3:2
Oral history - transcript
Box-folder 3:11
Kindertransport Association of America (KTA)- information & newsletter "Kinderlink", 1995-2001
Box-folder 3:12
Reunion of Kindertransport (ROK) -- Great Britain
Box-folder 3:13-14
Jewish Lesbian Daughters of Holocaust Survivors
Box-folder 3:15
Correspondence with women who didn't know they were Jewish until adulthood.
Box 5
A Holocaust Family Album (videotape)
Box-folder 3:16
Shards of Memory & other writing by Irene Reti
Box-folder 3:17-22
The Keeper of Memory: A Memoir, by Irene Reti
Box-folder 3:17
Background research notes
Box-folder 3:18
Draft, with comments by Gloria Anzaldua
Box-folder 3:19
Draft, with comments by Lori Klein
Box-folder 3:20
Draft, with comments by Barbara Wilson
Box-folder 3:21
Draft, with comments by Jeanne Freebody
Box-folder 3:23-25
Women runners : stories of transformation, edited by Irene Reti and Bettianne Shoney Sien
Box-folder 3:29
Lesbian community of Santa Cruz
Box-folder 3:32
Cottages at Hedgebrook Residency
