IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
JO RABENOLD
PAPERS, 1965-1983
3.75 linear feet
|
ACQUISITION: |
The papers (donor no.
272) were donated by Jo Rabenold
through the Women’s Resource and Action Center in 1994. |
|
ACCESS: |
The papers are open
for research. |
|
COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa. |
|
PROCESSED BY: |
Marnie Schroer, 1995. |
Biography
Jo Rabenold lived in Iowa City during the
1970s and early 1980s. She was a
political activist interested in a variety of causes, especially those
regarding women and sexuality. She
participated in many groups in Iowa City, including the Women’s Resource and
Action Center and the Lesbian Alliance.
In fact, one acquaintance describes her as "a roving lesbian"
who devoted her time and energy wherever needed.
Scope and
Content Note
The Jo Rabenold papers date from 1965 to 1983 and measure 3.75 linear feet.
The papers are arranged in eight series: Action
Studies courses, Clippings and resource files, Conferences, Events and leisure,
Organizations, Publications, Political causes and Surveys.
Action Studies was a University of
Iowa program founded in 1968 to ensure variety within University course
offerings. The Action Studies
courses series (1965-1972) contains materials from courses in
African-American studies and from a women's poetry reading.
The Clippings and resource files
series (1972-1982) contains clippings files on various topics of interest to
Rabenold. Many of these files relate to
the subjects of female sexuality--especially lesbianism--and feminism. There are also files on discrimination,
disabilities and weight prejudice.
The Conferences series
(1974-1982) consists of materials related to a variety of conferences held
during the mid-1970s and early 1980s.
It includes handouts, promotional materials, and registration forms.
The Events and leisure series
(1976-1982) contains materials primarily related to local events. The series includes flyers and posters for
events such as book readings, dances and lectures. There are also clippings on subjects such as Billie Jean King and
local gay bars.
The Organizations series
(1972-1983) incorporates information on various, primarily women's,
organizations. It includes materials
about the Emma Goldman Clinic, the Gay Liberation Front, the Lesbian Alliance
(LA), a few lesbian support services, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP),
the Women's Coffeehouse and the Women’s Resource and Action Center (WRAC). A large number of Better Homes and Dykes, the Lesbian Alliance newsletter, is
included.
The Publications series
(1971-1983) primarily consists of issues from a variety of gay and women's
periodicals. The periodicals are
arranged alphabetically by title. Blank
lines have been left to indicate the separation between folders. Most of the periodicals are from the 1970s
and represent attempts at independent publishing, often by a collective. Many were short-lived with narrow
distribution. The series also includes
a few promotional materials about Common
Lives/Lesbian Lives, a journal published in Iowa City, and some poetry
chapbooks.
The Political causes series
(1975-1982) covers several issues of interest to Rabenold, including: the Equal
Rights Amendment, reproductive rights, and nuclear energy. Most of the folders are comprised mainly of
newspaper clippings; however, the protest letters and petitions folder contains
several complaints written by Rabenold.
These include letters to Ms.
magazine and to Lynn Watson, author of Alimony, or, Death of a Clock. Rabenold chastises Watson for using
thinly-disguised descriptions of people and events from the Women's
Coffeehouse.
The final series, Surveys
(1976-1980), contains surveys about a variety of women's issues. The lesbian health survey folder mainly
involves a survey done by a physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals. It includes a copy of the survey as well as
a copy of a paper prepared from the survey findings.
Related
Collections
Women's Resource and Action (WRAC) records
Box no. Description
Box 1
Action Studies courses
African-American studies
Bibliographies and handouts,
1965, 1968-1969
Readings, 1966-1971, and undated
Women's poetry reading, 1972
Clippings and resource files
Advertisement clippings,
1973, 1978-1981 and undated
Alternative resources and
women's businesses
General, 1977, 1979-1980,
1982
Non-traditional occupations,
1977-1978, 1980 and undated
Women's land groups,
1980-1982 and undated
Women's networks, 1978-1979
Consciousness-raising, 1982
and undated
Disabilities, 1978-1979,
1981 and undated
Feminist issues
General, 1972-1982
Discrimination
General, 1974-1982 and
undated
Female firefighters, 1979,
1981 and undated
Female sexuality, 1975,
1978, 1980-1981 and undated
Sexual harassment and
violence
General, 1979-1982 and
undated
Box 2
Rape, 1971, 1975-1981 and
undated
Joan Little, 1975 and
undated
Theater (Goona Goona), 1981
Youth, 1976, 1981
Women's liberation
scrapbooks (2 folders), 1968-1972
FBI, 1972-1973, 1978
Herstory (feminist history)
Gay and lesbian issues
General, 1970-1977,
1980-1981 and undated
Films, 1980-1982 and undated
Gay marriage, 1976
Gay rights legislation,
1976-1978 and undated
Lesbian health, 1975, 1982
Lesbian humor, 1979-1980 and
undated
Lesbian relationships
General, 1975-1980 and
undated
Butch/femme, 1981
Sado-masochism, 1979, 1981
Gay and lesbian issues
Student Senate
appropriations, 1973-1975
Transsexuals, 1971-1977 and
undated
Obituaries and memorials,
1981-1982 and undated
Alison Belding, 1981
Kathy Bertelson, 1981
Linda Knox, 1982
Jane Weiss, 1981
Box 3
People, 1977-1982
Rusty Barcelo, 1980-1982
Leona Durham, 1977
Barbara Ettleson, 1978
Susan Guenther, 1978
K.C. Lee, 1978 [Coralville Car salesperson]
Tracy Moore, 1979
Jane Viemeister, 1979 and undated
Barbara Yates, 1977
Weight prejudice, 1978-1979,
1981-1982 and undated
Conferences
Iowa Women’s Weekend, 1974
1974 Midwest Gay Pride Conference
1975 Midwest Gay Pride
Conference
Midwest Lesbian Conference,
1976
Midwest Human Rights
Conference, 1978
Women Against Racism, 1982
Women at Iowa, 1982
Miscellaneous (non-Iowa)
1981 and undated
Events and leisure
Dances, 1979, 1981 and
undated
Gay bars, 1976, 1978-1980
and undated
Speakers and readings,
1978-1979
Women's music, 1977-1981 and
undated
“Women producing Women”
handbook, 1976 [for producing benefits, cultural events, rallies, and
demonstrations]
Women's sports, 1976, 1979
and undated
Billie Jean King clippings,
1981-1982
Miscellaneous, 1979-1981 and
undated
Organizations
Emma Goldman Clinic
Clippings, 1973, 1975, 1978,
1981, 1983 and undated
Newsletters, 1979-1980
(scattered) and undated
Pamphlets and handouts, 1973,
1976, 1978, 1981 and undated
Gay Liberation Front,
1972-1974, 1977 and undated
Lesbian Alliance
General, 1978-1981 and
undated
Better Homes and Dykes
1973-1977
Box 4
1978-1980 (scattered)
1981-1983 (scattered)
Announcements and cover art,
1976, 1979-1981 and undated
Social committee surveys,
1978
Lesbian support services,
1975?, 1981-1982
Rape Victim Advocacy Program
(RVAP), 1975-1977, 1979-1982 and undated
Women's Coffeehouse
Minutes, 1980-1981
Organizational history and pledge
drives, 1981-1982 and undated
Signs, flyers, and
calendars, 1975-1982 and undated
Women’s Resource and Action
Center (WRAC)
General, 1980-1981 and
undated
Bijou complaint, 1981
Newsletters
1974-1975 (scattered)
Box 5
1976-1979 (scattered)
1980-1981
Political causes
Campaigns and events,
1980-1981 and undated
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
General, 1975-1977,
1979-1981 and undated
Phyllis Schlafly, 1977,
1980-1981 and undated
Nuclear energy, 1980 and
undated
Protest letters and petitions,
1980, 1982 and undated
Reproductive rights, 1975,
1979 and 1982
Surveys
General, 1976 and undated
Lesbian health, 1978-1980
Publications
Chap books, 1975 and undated
Common Lives/Lesbian Lives
Promotional materials, 1981
and undated
Periodical issues
Aphra,
v. 4:3, 1973
Broomstick, v. IV:1, 1982
Chicago Women's Directory, 1974
Chromo-Uri, Spring 1974
Country Women, no. 18, 25, 29; 1976-1978
Day Tonight/Night Today, March 1981
The Gay Alternative, no. 6, 9-10; 1974-1975
Gay-La,
no. 8, 1976
Hot Flash, v. 1:1, 1981
Hysteria, v. 1:1-2, 1980
The Ladder, v. 15-16 (scattered issues); 1971-1972
Box 6
The Lavender Express, v. 4:4, 1981
The Leaping Lesbian, v. 3:2-3, undated
Lesbian/Lesbienne, v. 1:1, 1979-1980
Lesbian Connection
1975-1976 (scattered issues)
1977-1983 (scattered issues)
September 1977-August 1983
(scattered)
The Lesbian Feminist, 1976-1978 (scattered)
The Lesbian Tide, August 1974, September/October 1979, May/June 1980
Lesbian Voices, v. IV:2, 1981
Monthly Cycle, v. 1:12, 1981
Motive,
v. 32:1, 1972
Mountain Loving, v. III:2, 1978
Otherviews, 1982
Prime Time, v. 4:1,3; 1976
So's Your Old Lady, no. 8, 1975
Telewoman, undated
The Tide, v. 3:7, 1976
Unicorn, v. 1:3, 1981
We Got It, v. 1:8, 1975
The Wishing Well, v. 7:1, 1981
Womanfire, v. II:3, 1976
Women as Women, December 1974
Women's Liberation: Notes from the Second Year, 1970
Women's Network, no. 11, 1981
Womynlovers, v. 1:2, 1981
Box 7
Oversize:
Publications (gay and women's)
Periodical issues
Amazon,
v. 7:2, 1978
Blazing Star, v. 4:3, 1978
Distaff, v. 1:4, 1973
Dykes and Gorgons, v. 1:1, 1973
Everywoman, v. II:10, 1971
The Feminist Connection, v. 1:10, 1981
The Feminist Voice, v. 1:4, 1971
Full Moon, no. 1, 1972?
The Furies, January 1972
Gay Liberator, no. 40, 1974
Gay Life, v. 3:33, 1978
Lesbians Rising, 1977
Majority Report, v. 4:9, 1974
New Directions for Women, v. 8:3, 1979
New Women's Times, no. 6, 1979
The Other Woman, v. 2:5-6, 1974
Pandora, May-June 1974
Plexus,
v. 6:6,1979
Rhinocerus, v. 1:1, 1974
Sister,
v. IV:4, v. V:12; 1975 and undated
Something About Women, v. II:3, 1981
Spectre-6, January-February, 1972
Whole Woman, v. 1:6, 1973
Women's Liberation, undated
Women's Press, v. 4:3, 1974
Box 8
Big Mama Rag, 1975-1978 and 1981-1982
Box 9
Gay Community News
1978-1981 (scattered)
1982 (scattered issues)
Box 10
Lavender Woman, v. 2:3, 5-6, v. 3:1, 4-5, v.
4:5; 1973-1975
Box 11
The Lesbian Insider/Insighter/Inciter, no. 4, 9, 11; 1981-1983
Box 12
RAT,
no. 16-24, 1970-1971