This is one of hundreds of posters from the June Mazer 

Lesbian Archives Women’s Music Collection. So 

Many women have come to the Archives and told us that 

they attended this concert from all different locations

In California.

This was typical of images during the feminist 

movement of the 70’s and the Mazer Archives is

filled with this history. It was the first time women 

we’re in roles and jobs that were mostly held 

by men before.

This is a poster for a fundraiser with lesbian and feminist women singers who were big stars in their heyday.  We are sure that you have heard some of their names in recent days too.  The fundraiser was for WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women).  WAVAW is a collection of the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives. It was essential many women's groups at the time offer childcare and accessibility at every event. It's been in the Mazer's collections for decades.  Most of the collection is now at UCLA/ Special Collections.  Click here to see a list of other items in the collection in more detail.  We are very grateful to Dani Adams for getting this to the archives so many years ago. Experts say that the amount of violence against women has never changed since this organization was first started, the only change is the services for women that started with groups like this.  So we still need great organizations just like WAVAW TODAY. 

Margaret Porter wrote journals for over 60 years.  She was many things, a poet, a musician, a life long lesbian,a linguist, a researcher and an activist.  She often wore pants in the days when it was not acceptable for women to wear them.  Sometimes she even did this in different countries like France and Mexico.  Often she would write in her journals about the reactions people in those countries had to her defiance of the pants rule.  She noted that children reacted differently than women and men. To see more about Margaret and her fascinating collection click here. Margaret's book collection of lesbian expats in Paris at the turn of the century is on display at the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives. 

                               

                                                             Barbara Grier (By Bunny Mac Culloch)

This is a photo of Barbara Grier from inside the Mazer. She was a friend of this archive. Here she is speaking at the Mazer in 1989. Barbara, who was a founder of Naiad Press, made a commitment to the Mazer to donate one of every single book Naiad published. She did indeed make good on this promise.  She was a pioneer in the lesbian community but not without drama.  You can read more about her in a fantastic biography by Joanne Passet by clicking here.