mums531 Valley Women's History Collaborative Records Finding Aid Penni Martorell Special Collections and University Archives
W.E.B. Du Bois Library University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA
2007

University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Penni Martorell. 2007-10-02 Finding aid written in English Valley Women's History Collaborative Valley Women's History Collaborative Records 1971-2008 MS 531 15 boxes (10 linear ft.) English. Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries During the early phases of second wave feminism (1968-1978), the Pioneer Valley served as a center for lesbian and feminist activity in western Massachusetts, and was home to over 400 hundred, often ad hoc, groups, such as the Abortion and Birth Control (ABC) Committee, ISIS Women's Center, the Mudpie Childcare Cooperative, and the Springfield Women's Center. The records of the Valley Women's History Collaborative document the activities of these groups as well as the efforts of the founders of the Women Studies program and department at UMass Amherst to preserve this history. Background Note

The Valley Women's History Collaborate (VWHC) was formed in 1998 by Susan Tracy, Joyce Berkman, and Kaymarion Raymond in order to preserve contemporary local women's history through a collaboration among those who participated in the history and those who had the resources to document it. The Pioneer Valley has served as a center for lesbian and feminist actvity in western Massachusetts, with over 400, often ad hoc, groups known to exist from 1968 to 1978, many continuing onwards with new groups ever forming.

The focus of the Collaborative is the history of feminist, lesbian, and progressive people's efforts to promote female equality and social justice as well as the freedom to express a variety of gender and sexual orientations. The VWHC seeks to document the period from 1968 to the present in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. With the passage of time, there is an increased urgency to preserve the early history of the women's movement in this region. The VWHC hopes to capture this history before there is a significant loss of these memories as members of the community begin to age and die, relocate to other parts of the country taking their knowledge and stories with them, or discard documents of value to researchers and activists.

In 1999 an oral history project was established at the Collaborative through grants from the MacArthur Foundation awarded by Hampshire College and from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. In recent years, the focus of the Collaborative has steadily shifted from collecting physical documents to actively pursuing oral history interviews of feminists. While there are various projects underway, the collection currently includes oral histories of women who provided abortion counseling pre-Roe vs. Wade, lesbian musicians and DJ's, pioneering therapists, several politicians, a rural lesbian "matriarch," and members of the Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League, a lesbian softball league. With the help of historian David Cline, the group has collected and transcribed 23 interviews with the women and men involved in reproduction rights activism from 1960-1990s.

The collection of the Valley Women's History Collaborative (VWHC) contains the group's organizational papers, including materials relating to events organized or sponsored by the VWHC, as well as the records of the Abortion and Birth Control (ABC) Committee, ISIS Women's Center, the Mudpie Childcare Cooperative, the Springfield Women's Center, Springfield Women's Union, and the Valley Women's Union. Also present are the personal papers of VWHC organizer Susan Tracy and of Collaborative partipants: Alice Dembner, Robin Dizard, and Lorna Peterson. The collection contains, too, background information on feminist theory, socialist feminism and women's health issues.

In addition, the collection offers brochures on women's health issues and newspaper clippings from the Amherst Bulletin and the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and full issues of the Valley Women's Voice. The 23 oral histories are preserved as audio recordings with both full transcipts and edited versions. Oral history interviewees include: members of the Amherst Women's Liberation Movement and Abortion and Birth Control Group, Jean Baxter, Merry Boone, Robin Dizard, Rev. Franklin A. Dorman, Ruth Fessenden, Lorraine Florio, Elaine Fraser, Dr. Robert Gage, Dr. Merritt F. Garland, Rev. Samuel Johnson, Rabbi Yechiael Lander, Leslie Tarr Laurie, Meridith Michaels, Elizabeth Myer, Lawrence Siddall, Springfield Women's Health Collective, Ellen Story, Sam Topal, Susan Tracy, Rev. Richard Unsworth, Carol Wall, Dr. Jane Zapka D.S.

Finally, the records of the Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League, a women's modified fast-pitch softball league based in Northampton, Massachusetts, are also part of this collection. Formed in 1976 to provide lesbians and their friends a feminist sports center for social activity in the Pioneer Valley, the league's primary goal is simply to offer women a chance to enjoy the game. The league's founders, Jean Grossholtz, Eileen Stewart, Susan Tracy, and Maryann Jennings, initially fielded six teams: Common Womon, Hot Flashes, Woman Rising, No Nukes of the North, and a team from College Church and from Hatfield. Under Mary Vazquez's organizing efforts and skills, the league grew from six teams to sixteen at its height. Each team has its own personality, level of competitiveness, variety of sexualities, and unique history, but all have the common goal of having fun on the field while improving softball skills and playing fair.

The collection is open for research.

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

Valley Women's History Collaborative Records (MS 531). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Acquired from Susan Tracy in August 2007 and 2009.

Collection processed by Penni Martorell, November 2007. Addition to collection processed by Kristen Johnson, 2009

Since the Valley Women's History Collaborative is an ongoing organization, additions to the collection are expected.

For additional material related to feminist activity in western Massachusetts in the Special Collections and University Arhives, see:

Valley Women's Union Records (MS 201) Social Change Periodicals Collection (MS 306) PFLAG Pioneer Valley Records (MS 397)

Websites:

Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League Valley Women's History Collaborative Women--Massachusetts--Pioneer Valley--Political activity--History Feminists--Massachusetts--Pioneer Valley--Political activity--History Feminism--Massachusetts--Pioneer Valley--History Birth control--Massachusetts--Pioneer Valley--History--20th century Abortion--Massachusetts--Pioneer Valley--History--20th century Oral histories Posters Oral histories 1999-2004 4 boxes 1 Abramson, Doris Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2001 1 Abramson, Doris and Johnson, Dorothy Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2001 1 Adams, Maurianne Interview by Gigl, Erik: transcript 2001 1 Amherst Birth Control Interview by Tracy, Susan: transcript 1999 1 Amherst Women's Liberation Interview by Tracy, Susan: transcript 1999-2001 1 Amherst Women's Liberation Interview by Fonsh, Judi and Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 1 Avakian, Arlene Interview by Cutler, Amy: transcript 2001 1 Baxter, Jean Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 1 Berkman, Joyce Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2000 1 Boone, Merry Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 2 Brown, Joanna Interview by Thorton, Mike: transcript 1999 2 Crosson, Pat Interview by Peters, Catherine: transcript 2002 2 Culley, Margo Interview by Mohan, Jen: transcript 2002 2 Demmin, Julia Interview by Mitchell, Betty: transcript 2002 2 Diamond, Arlyn Interview by Berkman, Joyce: transcript 2004 2 Dizard, Robin Interview by Smith, Marilyn: transcript 2001 2 Dizard, Robin Interview by Cline, David, Marilyn: transcript 2004 2 Dorman, Franklin Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 2 Dykewomon, Elana Interview by Hope, Tryna: transcript 2001 2 Edwards, Lee Interview by Whitehouse, Suzanne Judson: interview 2000 2 Ferguson, Ann Interview by Berkman, Joyce: transcript 2004 2 Fessenden, Ruth Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2002 2 Florio, Lorraine Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 2 Ford, Mary Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 2 Fraser, Elaine Interview by Cline, David: transcript 1999 2 Fraser, Elaine Interview by Fonsh, Judi: transcript 1999 2 Gage, Robert Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2002 2 Garland, Merritt F. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 3 Gorman, Cleo Interview by Hope, Tryna: transcript 1999 3 Green, Pat Interview by Fonsh, Judi: transcript 2000 3 Green Pat and Jones, Jeannie Interview by Fonsh, Judi: transcript 2000 3 Heath, Mary Interview by Pasternak, Stephanie: transcript 2000 3 Johnson, Samuel M. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 3 Lander, Yechiael, Rabbi Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 3 Laurie, Leslie Tarr Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2002 3 Laurie, Leslie Tarr Interview by Woll, Kris: transcript 2002 3 Lewis, Patricia Lee Interview by Berkman, Joyce and Tracy, Susan: transcript 2004 3 Lillydahl, Sandy Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2001 3 Lowenstein, Susan Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 3 McCord, Ann Interview by Raymond, Kaymarion: transcript 1999 3 Melcher, Dale Interview by Cutler, Amy and Haley, Sandra: transcript 2000 3 Michaels, Meredith W. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2000 3 Myer, Elizabeth Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2002 3 Nettler, Lydia Interview by Tager, Gina: transcript 2000 3 O'Brien, Judy Interview by O'Hara, Meghan: transcript 2000 3 Page, Anita Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2001 3 Power, Bet Interview by Hope, Tryna: transcript 1999 4 Pritchard, Marietta and Crowe, Frances Interview by Fonsh, Judi: transcript 2000 4 Raymond, Kaymarion Interview by Kaplowitt, Beth: transcript 1999 4 Rosel, Deliah Interview by Raymond, Kaymarion: transcript 2000 4 Rossi, Alice Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 4 Siddall, Lawrence, Dr. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 4 Stewart, Eileen Interview by Tracy, Susan: transcript 1999 4 Stewart, Eileen Interview by Tracy, Susan: transcript 2000 4 Story, Ellen Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 4 Topel, sam, Dr. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2004 4 Tracy, Susan Interview by Cline, David: transcript 1999 4 Unsworth, Richard, Rev. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 1999 4 Vazquez, Mary Interview by Raymond, Kaymarion: transcript 2000 Feb 12

Uncensored transcript and recording closed until 2025. Censored transcript open without restrictions.

 4 Vazquez, Mary Interview by Raymond, Kaymarion: transcript 2000 Apr 2 4 Wall, Carol C. Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2000 4 Wentworth, Mary Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 4 Wolff, Sara Starr Interview by Backes, Ruth: transcript 2000 5 Women's Health Counseling Service, Inc. Interview by Tracy, Susan: transcript 1999 5 Zak, Anne Interview by Gensler, Sharon: transcript 2000 5 Zapka, Jane Interview by Cline, David: transcript 2002 Series 2: Administrative 1999-2008 2 boxes 5 Abramson, Doris 2001, 2008 5 Advisory Board by-laws 2000 5 Advisory Board meeting 2001 5 American History Association Roundtable 2000 5 Correspondence 1999-2000 5 Correspondence: Miller, Marla 2000-2001 5 Curriculum vita: Berkman, Joyce 1999 5 Curriculum vita: Miller, Marla ca. 1999 5 Curriculum vita: Raymond, Kaymarion ca. 1999 5 Curriculum vita: Redmon, Sherrill ca. 1999 5 Curriculum vita: Seidman, Linda 1999 5 Curriculum vita: Tracy, Susan ca. 1999 5 Documentation project repository visitsurvey form ca. 1999 5 Finances 2000-2002 5 History brainstorm 2000 5 Grants 1999-2001 5 Grants: final report 2000-2001 6 Grants: interim report 2000 6 Guide to Donating Your Papers ca. 2000 6 Meetings 2000 6 Notes ca. 1999-2002 6 Oral history project 2001 6 Oral history training 1999-2002 2 folders 6 Photographs 2000 6 Planning documents 1999-2000 5 folders 6 Raymond, Kaymarion: cartoon ca. 1999 Series 3: Research Materials and Subject Files 1971-2008 4 boxes 6 Abortion and Birth Control (ABC) Committee 1971 6 Alliance for Economic Justice Protest and action flyer 1995 7 Bourne, Kristina The Paradox of the Green Street Shops 1999 7 Brown, Judith Toward a Female Liberation Movement 1968

Co-authored by Beverly Jones.

 7 Chodorow, Nancy Oedipal Asymmetries and Heterosexual Knots 1975-1978 7 Cline, David Creating Choice: A Community Responds to the Need for Abortion and Birth Control, 1961-1973 2000 7 Cline, David Public History and the Politics of Empowerment: the Public Historian as both Moderator and Activist 2000 7 Communism 1971-1981 7 Correspondence: Brown, Joanne 1972-1973 7 Cuba Review: Women in Transition 1976 7 Directory of Arts Activism 1984 7 Dizard, Robin Speeches and notes 1971-1987 7 Dudley, Barbara Wages for Housework? 1975 7 Ehrenreich, Barbara The Politics of Housework 1975 7 Ehrenreich, Barbara What is Socialist Feminism? 1976 7 Feminist theory 1975-1978 7 Greenfield Popular Union More of the Same: Millers Falls Tools Threatens to Runaway ca. 1977 7 ISIS 1980-1982 7 Kady Panhandling Papers 1981 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Acklesburg, Martha 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Babize, Mollie 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Carney, Maureen and Shaw, Linda 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Griffin, Pat 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Grossholtz, Jean 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Pisano, Linda 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Higgins, Mary Clare 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Jennings, Mary Ann 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Johnston, Lacey 2006 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Marchesani, Linda 2007 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: McClintock, Mary 2008 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Schmidt, Maxine 2006 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Sortino, Elaine 2006 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Tyler, Sue 2006 16 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League interviews: Vazquez, Mary 2007 7 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League: minutes and schedules 1985-1996 7 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League: photographs 1977-1987 8 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League: Team Common Womon I 1989-1997 8 Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League: Team Common Womon II 1983-1996 8 Morris, David Worker Self-Management 1978 8 Mudpie Childcare Cooperative 1973-1975 8 Newspaper clippings 1999-2000 2 folders 8 Newspaper clippings: Student Homophile League, UMass 1970-2000 8 Newspaper clippings: violence against women 1988-2001 3 folders 8 New Unity (Springfield, Mass.) 1973, 1975 8 Panel on Reproductive in the Valley: transcript 2003 8 O'Hara, Meghan Judy O, Dyke on the Mike 2000 8 O'Hara, Meghan Notes on Women in Radio in the Valley 1999 8 Pioneer Valley organizations and events 1987-2000 9 President's Interagency Council on Women America's Committment to Women 2000 2000 9 Queer Nation undated vol. 1, no. 2 9 Raymond, Kaymarion Notes on Wendell (Mass.) lesbian history 1998-2000 9 Raymond, Kaymarion Student Homophile League 2000 9 Slater, Miriam Keynote address, Alumnae Symposium, Hampshire College 1999 9 Social feminism 1967-1981 9 Social Feminism Conference 1975 9 Southwst Residential College course 1973-1976 9 Springfield Women's Center 1965-1975 9 Springfield Women's Union 1975 9 Stewart, Eileen 1999 9 Valley Women's Movement: a herstorical Valley Chronology ca. 1984 9 Valley Women's Union 1975-1976 9 Valley Women's Voice 1988 Jul-1992 Mar 9 Valley Women's Voice 1992 May-1993 Fall 10 Valley Women's Voice 1993 Dec-1995 Feb 10 Valley Women's Voice 1995 Feb-June 10 Wentworth, Mary What is Patriarchy and Why Is It the Most Powerful Force in the World Today>? 2008 10 Wingspan: Journal of the Male Spirit 1991 10 Wolff, Sara Starr Phenomenology of Feminism 1975 10 Women 1973-1976 10 Women's health: printed materials 1969-1976 2 folders 10 Women's Studies: Five Colleges 1978 Series 4: Audio 1999-2008 4 boxes 11 Abramson, Doris: audiocasette 2001 11 Adams, Maurianne: audiocasette 2002 11 Amherst Women Liberation, Reproduction Rights: audiocasette 1999 11 Amherst Women's Liberation: audiocassette 2000 11 Anderson, Kelly: audiocassette 2002 11 Avakian, Arlene: audiocassette 2001 11 Averett, Brett, on Isabell Arnorld: audiocassette undated 11 Berkman, Joyce: audiocassette 2000 11 Brown, Joanna: audiocassette 1999 11 Crosson, Pat: audiocassette 2002 11 Culley, Margo: audiocassette 2002 11 Demmin, Julia: audiocassette 2002 11 Diamond, A: audiocassette 2004 11 Dizard, Robin: audiocassette 2001 11 Dykewoman, E: audiocassette 2001 11 Edwards, Lee: audiocassette 2000 11 Ferguson, A: audiocassette 2004 11 Fessenden, Ruth: audiocassette 2002 11-12 Ford, Mary: audiocassette 2000 12 Fraser, Elaine: audiocassette 1999 12 Gage, Robert: audiocassette 2002 12 Gorman, Cleo: audiocassette 1999 12 Green, Pat, Abortion Clinic: audiocassette 2000 12 Green, Pat, Florence Health Care Project: audiocassette undated 12 Heath, Mel: audiocassette 2000 12 Laurie, Leslie: audiocassette 2002 12 Lesbian Bazaar: audiocassette 1998 12 Lewis, Patricia Lee: audiocassette 2004 12 Lewis, Sara: audiocassette 2000 12 Lillydahl, Sandy: audiocassette 2001 12 Lowenstein, Susan: audiocassette 2000 12 McCord, Ann: audiocassette 1999 12 Melcher, Dale: audiocassette 2000 12 Merrigan, Kate: audiocassette 2002 12 Nettler, Lydia: audiocassette 2000 12 O'Brien, Judy: audiocassette 1999 12 Page, Anita: audiocassette 2001 13 Pritchard, Marietta and Crowe, Frances re: Isabel Arnold: audiocassette 2000 13 Power, Bet: audiocassette 1999 13 Raymond, Kaymarion: audiocassette 1999 13 Rossi, Alice: audiocassette 2000 13 Redmon, Sherrill: audiocassette 2000 13 Slater, Miriam: audiocassette 1999 13 Smith, Helen on Isabel Arnold: audiocassette 2001 13 Stewart, Eileen: audiocassette 1999-2000 13 Springfield Women's Health Center: audiocassette 1999 13 Unworth, Richard, Original: audiocassette 2002 13 Vasquez, Mary: audiocassette 2000 13 VWHC, Interview with Amy Brown: audiocassette 2000 13 VWHC, Panel on Reproductive Rights in Pioneer Valley: audiocassette 2003 13 VWHC, Training: audiocassette 1999-2000 14 VWHC, Training: audiocassette 2002 14 Wenworth, Mary: audiocassette 2000 14 Wolff, Sara: audiocassette 2000 14 Zak, Anne: audiocassette 2000, 2008 14 Zapka, Jane: audiocassette 2002 Series 5: Memorabilia 1977-1997 1 box 15 "50 Berkshire Conference of Women Historians": t-shirt undated 15 "Amherst Food Coop: Financial Coordinator": t-shirt undated 15 "Common Womon: Every ball missed helps another womon": t-shirt 1997 15 "Common Womon": t-shirt 1997

Off-white t-shirt.

 15 "Common Womon": t-shirt 1997

Red t-shirt.

 15 "Common Womon": t-shirt 1997

Red t-shirt with flying baseball

 15 "Common Womon": t-shirt 1977

Picture: women eating a star

 15 "Girl Sleuth: an Original Musical Comedy": t-shirt 1977 15 "Honey, I Shrunk the Team": pillowcase undated 15 "Never Again": banner undated 15 "New England Learning Center for Women in Transition": t-shirt undated 15 "People Power: Unarmed Forces of the Philippines": t-shirt undated 15 "Radical History Review: Earn Big Money": t-shirt 1978 15 "Smith: School for Social Work": t-shirt undated 15 "Sojourn": t-shirt undated 15 "University of Massachusetts Amherst: Women's Studies": t-shirt undated 15 "Western Mass. Womens Softball League: M.V.P 10th Anniversary": ribbon 1986 15 "Women of the Quad": t-shirt 1980 15 "Womenrising": t-shirt undated

Blue t-shirt

 15 "Womenrising": t-shirt undated

Purple t-shirt

 15 "Womenrishing: From Victimization to Empowerment": t-shirt 1978

Maroon t-shirt

 15 "Womenrishing: From Victimization to Empowerment": t-shirt 1978

Blue t-shirt

 15 "Womenrishing: From Victimization to Empowerment": t-shirt 1978

Yellow t-shirt.

 15 "Yellow Fever": t-shirt undated 15 "Yellow Sun Natural Foods Co-Op-Amherst Mass.": t-shirt undated