Items · Herland Archive · Omeka S Demonstration Site

Interview with Pat Reaves

Pat Reaves discusses her involvement in the Legal Defense Fund. Pat explains how she and a group raised around $20,000 to assist Donnie in her legal battle to regain custody of her children. The money was used for legal expenses, but not for lawyer fees. Pat reflects on the significance of this effort as a key part of their legacy, noting the group's willingness to help despite limited resources.

Interview with Peggy Johnson

Peggy Johnson shares her experiences with Herland, a community center, where she contributed to physical renovations by texturing walls and tearing down a partition, alongside other volunteer work. She also served on the board in the late 1980s and early 1990s, helping with management and maintenance tasks. Peggy reflects on her journey to Oklahoma, explaining how she originally came from Georgia, was discharged from the Navy for being a lesbian, and, along with her girlfriend, ended up in Oklahoma after initially planning to go to San Francisco or New Orleans. She was drawn to Herland after seeing a flyer for a feminist bookstore and meeting the people involved. Although she had initially planned to leave, her personal circumstances led her to stay in Oklahoma, where she continued to connect with the Herland community.

Interview with Sally Blevins

Sally reflects on her long involvement with Herland, a community space that has been central to the lesbian and LGBTQ+ community in Oklahoma for over 20 years. She describes various roles she held within the organization, including serving on the board and organizing events such as retreats and open mic nights. Sally shares stories about Herland’s early days, from its humble beginnings in a small storefront to its later expansion and establishment as a welcoming place for queer folk to gather and support each other. Sally discusses how Herland was a refuge for lesbians, providing a space where people could express themselves freely, particularly in a time when being open about one’s sexual orientation was difficult. She recalls her own experience of coming out in a small town in Oklahoma, a place she describes as conservative and not accepting of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Herland, in contrast, was a place where people could "drop all their fake faces" and be their authentic selves, offering a sense of community that was not available in bars or other public spaces at the time. Sally also talks about the structure of Herland, which was organized around a rotating board with positions such as "first sister" and "second sister" instead of traditional titles like president or vice president. She highlights the active and vibrant nature of the community, with events like movie nights featuring lesbian-themed films and discussions around awareness during the AIDS Crisis in the early 1980s. Herland was not just a social space but also a platform for activism, as women fought for recognition and equality in a society that largely ignored or marginalized them.

Interview with Sheila Richards

This interview features an 82-year-old woman, Sheila Richards, reflecting on her journey as an artist, activist, and participant in lesbian feminist communities. She describes her transformative work creating body casts of women, which explored themes of self-image, body acceptance, and personal empowerment. She recounts the spiritual and emotional depth of these projects, which included exhibitions and workshops across North America and at international feminist gatherings. The interview also touches on her life in various lesbian land communities, her experience with women's organizations, and her efforts to balance personal values with practical decisions, such as providing for her daughter. The narrative captures her reflections on the political and social climates she encountered as a lesbian and a feminist in places like Arkansas, Massachusetts, and California during the 1970s-1990s. The interview highlights her creative endeavors and her role in fostering dialogues on gender, body image, and identity.

Interview with Sophia Estes

Sophia Estes describes her time as a lesbian activist in Arkansas, lesbian separatism, and social stigmas around lesbian parenting.

Interview with Susan Bishop

Susan shares her experiences with Herland and its founding by Barbara Cleveland in the late 1970s or early 1980s, offering a perspective on the organization’s history and significance. Although Susan was never officially part of Herland, she supported the space and recalls its early days in the Gatewood neighborhood of Oklahoma City. She discusses the importance of a women-only space for lesbians and how Herland became a refuge and a safe space for queer people to come together and share their experiences, especially in a time when lesbian visibility was limited. Susan reflects on her experience in Oklahoma, moving from Rhode Island in 1972 and adjusting to a more conservative atmosphere where she often felt isolated due to a lack of LGBTQ+ acceptance. She highlights the difficulties lesbians faced in public spaces, such as bars with hidden peepholes, and contrasts that with the open, accepting environment of Herland.

Interview with Terri Hoersch

Terri reflects on her involvement with Herland (a women-only community space in Oklahoma City) over the span of 25 years. Although she was not deeply involved in its leadership or operations, she engaged with Herland through music-related activities and attended various events. Terri shares her initial introduction to Herland, noting how she discovered the space after moving to Oklahoma City and becoming familiar with the local lesbian community. Terri describes the early history of Herland, which started as a women's bookstore before expanding into the community center it became. She mentions the consensus-based structure of the organization, where decision-making was done collectively rather than through a typical board of directors, with positions referred to as "sisters" rather than traditional titles like president or vice president.

Interview with Trella Laughlin

Trella Laughlin, a filmmaker and activist, reflects on her upbringing in Jackson, Mississippi, and her involvement in the back-to-the-land movement. She discusses her experiences living in Northwest Arkansas and Spinsterhaven, as well as her past feelings towards men. Trella addresses separatism, male supremacy, and its impact on activism. She shares her thoughts on how movements have evolved and her hopes for the future. Trella also recalls the most impactful moments from her activism and the people she’s met along the way. When discussing her romantic and erotic history, she reflects on queer dating life, bar culture, and the role they played. She and Marie, her partner, revisit their relationship journey, including how they met, broke up, and reconnected. Trella created the public broadcast network “Let the People Speak” through the Austin Community Channel. She interviewed people across the world, including activists and revolutionaries in countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Hungary.

Interview with Trella Laughlin and Marie Howard

Trella and Marie talk about what they value in relationships and how aging has influenced their understanding of them. They also touch on their acceptance of death and how it has shaped their connection. Trella opens up about her mental health struggles and how criticism has been crucial for her personal growth. As the interview concludes, she emphasizes the importance of accepting criticism for self-improvement.

Interview with Wahru Cleveland

In this interview Barbara Wahru Cleveland shares her personal experiences surrounding the founding of Herland, a feminist bookstore and resource center in Oklahoma City. The interview delves into her involvement in a collective effort to open the store, which began when a group of women, including Barbara, worked together to transform an old building into a community space for women’s literature, music, and activism. She recalls the challenges of getting the store started, such as negotiating with the building's owner, who was initially hesitant, and organizing work parties to renovate the space. The interview highlights the collective spirit of the project, with women contributing in various ways, including designing T-shirts, setting up book collections, and coordinating music resources. Barbara also reflects on the broader context of women's activism in the early 1980s, particularly the push for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the energy surrounding women's rights at the time. She recalls the involvement of local women’s organizations in addressing issues such as domestic violence and the lack of women in positions like police officers and doctors. Herland itself became an important center for feminist activism, hosting concerts, providing resources, and offering a space for women to organize and exchange ideas. While Barbara initially didn’t set out to run the bookstore, she ended up taking on the role, driven by the collective support and recognition of her contributions to the project. Throughout the interview, Barbara emphasizes the power of community and the importance of creating spaces that support women’s rights, empowerment, and activism.

Interview with Wanda Brewer-Stephens

Wanda Brewer-Stevens, an 89-year-old woman reflects on her life experiences, identity, education, activism, and career. Wanda discusses the complexity of defining her sexual identity, shaped by her long marriage, family life, and relationships with close women friends. She shares her educational journey, starting with a bachelor's in home economics in the 1950s and later earning a master's degree. Wanda talks about her career as a home economics teacher and her decision to leave the workforce to raise her children while remaining actively involved in civic and community organizations, such as the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters. She highlights her contributions to local initiatives like daycare centers and her ongoing interest in politics, which began in her teenage years. Wanda's narrative reveals a deep engagement with activism, from serving in leadership roles in community organizations to participating in international exchange programs like 4-H. Her story offers a perspective on the societal expectations of women in her era and how she navigated these while pursuing education, activism, and a balanced family life. The interview reflects Wanda's resilience, adaptability, and commitment to community service, making her a remarkable example of personal and social empowerment throughout her life.

Lavender Visions

Lavender Visions : v.1:no.2(1989:Jun./Jul.)

A lesbian feminist publication addressing spirituality, politics, culture, and other varied issues and topics.

Lavender Visions : v.1:no.3(1989:Aug./Sept.)

A lesbian feminist publication addressing spirituality, politics, culture, and other varied issues and topics.

Lavender Visions : v.1:no.6(1990:Feb./Mar.)

A lesbian feminist publication addressing spirituality, politics, culture, and other varied issues and topics.

Lavender Visions : v.2:no.1(1990:Apr./May)

A lesbian feminist publication addressing spirituality, politics, culture, and other varied issues and topics.

Lavender Visions : v.2(1990:Summer)

A lesbian feminist publication addressing spirituality, politics, culture, and other varied issues and topics.

Lesbian Literature Catalog : (1983)

This is the first Lesbian Literature Catalog by Giovanni's Room Bookstore of Philadelphia. The beginning of this issue details the contents of the catalog and offers a brief introduction by Victoria Brownworth entitled Some Reflections on Lesbian Literature. The rest of the catalog lists upcoming lesbian fiction, literary biographies, poetry, and plays. Some of the names from the catalog include: Linsey Abrams, Mercedes de Acosta, Sarah Aldridge, Ellen Bass, Marie-Claire Blais, Elizabeth Bowen, Paula Christian, Rosa Guy, Adrienne Rich, Jane Rule, and many more. This issue also features advertisements for lesbian-focused publications like Sappho: A New Translation and The Feminine Mystique.

LesbianPride Newsletter