Finding Aid for the National Lesbian Feminist Organization Records 1978-1979 LSC.1944
Finding aid prepared by Molly S. Jacobs, 2011; Jessica Tai, 2016.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 19 September 2017.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: National Lesbian Feminist Organization Records
Creator:
National Lesbian Feminist Organization (U.S.)
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1944
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
(1 document box)
Date (inclusive): 1978-1979
Abstract: The National Lesbian Feminist Organization (NLFO) was founded in 1978 as a grassroots organization in order to "act on a feminist
platform which deals with the oppression of lesbians in all its manifestations,including but not limited to discrimination
based on sexual preference, sex, race, age, class, and physical disability". As a grassroots organization concerned with accountability,
the NLFO committed itself to fighting racism and classism both inside and outside the organization. Membership was open to
all lesbians and women identified women whose beliefs aligned with the organization's mission. This collection contains an
organizational history, founding convention notes, correspondence, ad hoc and steering committee memos, financial statements,
and newsletters. The papers also contain information on local and state chapters, resources, and lesbian rights marches. Highlighted
are behind the scenes efforts to organize local chapters, the formation of the Lesbians of Color Caucus and statements, and
disagreements over the credibility of "representative organizations."
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], National Lesbian Feminist Organization Records (Collection 1944). UCLA Library Special Collections,
Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Provenance unknown. This collection is part of an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian
Archives, the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the UCLA Library.
Processing Information
Processed by Molly S. Jacobs, 2011.
Description enhanced and further physical processing completed by Jessica Tai in 2016.
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interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides
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General Note
The
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA is an outreach and collection-building partnership between the
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives , the
UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the
UCLA Library . These collections expand the pool of primary source materials available to researchers and to the community at large. This
partnership was initiated by CSW and is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to inventory, organize,
preserve, and digitize more than eighty Mazer collections pertaining to lesbian and feminist activism and writings.
General
History
According to their literature, the National Lesbian Feminist Organization (NLFO) was founded in 1978 as a grassroots organization
in order to "act on a feminist platform which deals with the oppression of lesbians in all its manifestations,including but
not limited to discrimination based on sexual preference, sex, race, age, class, and physical disability. There is a need
to achieve equal rights and legal protections for all lesbians...a need for developing lesbian culture." An Ad Hoc Committee
formed in Los Angeles and took on the responsibility for the planning of the national convention to be held in July of 1978.
A nationally based steering committee was selected at the convention, whose responsibility was to guide the organization through
the first crucial months.
As a grassroots organization concerned with accountability, the NLFO committed itself to fighting racism and classism both
inside and outside the organization. The group called for a "minimum of 50% of all the women involved in the level of planning
and decision making to be women of color of various backgrounds and 50% of all white women of various class backgrounds."
Membership was open to all lesbians and women identified women whose beliefs aligned with the organization's mission. The
structure of the NLFO consisted of local memberships known as the "locals," whose representatives were sent to state and national
conventions. The Los Angeles chapter was named the Alice Paul Chapter.
Scope and Content
The National Lesbian Feminist Organization Records contains organizational documents, including meeting minutes, financial
statements, and documents relating to the founding convention, and information on the Women of Color Caucus. It also contains
correspondence and newsletters.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this collection are arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
National human rights institutions -- Archives.
National Lesbian Feminist Organization (U.S.) -- Archives
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA
box 1, folder 1
NLFO History
1978
General Physical Description note: press release (no date); newspaper article (1978 April-May); organizational documents
Scope and Contents note
Contains background and scope of collection from Mazer Archives (undated); press release reporting on founding convention
written by Mary Spottswood Pou (1978); three page article from an unknown source reporting on founding convention; information
sheet on NLFO; and resolutions from the founding convention.
box 1, folder 2
Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes
1978
General Physical Description note: meeting minutes; organization structure outline
Scope and Contents note
Contains minutes from four meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee totaling 38 pages; notes from "Workshop 3"; mandate from the Southern
region delegate, Linda J Lorell; count of number of women of color in the delegation; motions and agenda items with vote tallies
by region; proposal for a national steering committee; list of topics to be considered at the state conference.
box 1, folder 3
Written Record of Founding Convention
1978
General Physical Description note: organizational documents; member lists
Scope and Contents note
Written record of the proceedings from the founding convention, including: rules of the convention; agenda; accountability;
dues; founding; local exemption; membership; name; purpose; steering committee; structure; transexuals; wimin of color. Also
contains delegate list (7 pages); mailing list (6 pages); registered observers; list of press, staff, and miscelaneous observers;
national delegates; and an unofficial written record of motions and resolutions (20 pages).
box 1, folder 4
NLFO Founding Convention Packet
1978 March 17-20
General Physical Description note: information packet; convention pass
Scope and Contents note
Contains local information, including maps and guide to local businesses and emergency contacts; agenda; convention rules;
and a convention pass for Kerry Lobel.
box 1, folder 5
Founding Convention Responses
1978
General Physical Description note: letters; attendee list; convention report
Scope and Contents note
Contains letters to the Ad Hoc Committee in response to the founding convention; "incomplete list" of Jewish lesbians at the
convention; report from the convention with handwritten notes updating progress on proposed actions.
box 1, folder 6
Lesbians of Color Caucus
1978
General Physical Description note: press releases; letters; caucus report
Scope and Contents note
Contains Lesbians of Color Caucus Statement; Lesbian Latina Alliance Statement; Affirmative Action Committee Report from Houston
(1978 July); Affirmative Action Committee correspondence; mini biographies of Yolanda Retter and Carmen Vazquez.
box 1, folder 7
Feedback on Organization Restructuring
1978
General Physical Description note: letters
Scope and Contents note
In the NLFO Newsletter, number 2, a restructuring of the NLFO was proposed and members were asked to provide feedback through
a survey included in the publication. This folder contains three responses (no date).
box 1, folder 8
NLFO Correspondence
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: letters
Scope and Contents note
Contains letters written to the NLFO, primarily requesting information about the organization, and letters from NLFO to members.
Also contains one article from an unaffiliated publication, The Wishing Well, requesting information on placing an advertisement
in the NLFO News.
box 1, folder 9
Correspondence with Rosalie Nichols
1979
General Physical Description note: letters; news editorials
Scope and Contents note
Contains a letter submitted to the NLFO News (1979 April) and Off Our Backs (1979 May) by Rosalie Nichols (aka "Teleli") disputing
the openness and acceptance of the NLFO and a response by Jeanne Cordova, NLFO News co-editor, directly to Nichols (no date)
and to the NLFO Steering Committee (1979 May 11). Also contains several letters written to "Off Our Backs" and Nichols following
the letter's publication.
box 1, folder 10
Steering Committee
1978
General Physical Description note: meeting minutes; memoranda; committee reports
Scope and Contents note
Contains minutes and memos from March 1978 convention; minutes from Denver meeting (1978 May 27-29), Washington D.C. meeting
(1978 July 9), and Knoxville meeting (1978 July 15); list of steering committee members (1978 June); affirmative action committee
report (1978 July 19); and Minnesota Convention planning documents (1978 July 1978)
box 1, folder 11
Steering Committee
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: memoranda; letters; letterhead
Scope and Contents note
Contains memo regarding grievance hearing procedures; letters requesting more wimmin of color for the Steering Committee from
the Affirmative Action Committee; memos pertaining to the newsletter and appointment of a scribe; and memos regarding fundraising
and working with other organizations. Also contains press release letterhead.
box 1, folder 12
Fundraising Committee
1978
General Physical Description note: reports; flyer
Scope and Contents note
Contains fundraising reports (1978 March - May) and an expense report (1978 May 10), a request for donations (no date), and
a flyer for a fundraiser titled the "1st Annual Anita Bryant Barbeque" held in Los Angeles (1978 April 30).
box 1, folder 13
Financial Statements
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: financial reports; checks; accounting book
Scope and Contents note
Contains four financial reports (1978 May 30; 1978 July 1978; 1979 May 6; 1979 July 15); an accounting book (partially filled);
two blank checks for the NLFO News; one NLFO expenditure report (1978 July 18); and one revenue report (1978 July 18).
box 1, folder 14
Mailing Lists
circa 1978-1979
General Physical Description note: mailing labels; member and delegate lists
Scope and Contents note
Contains mailing labels (11 pages); new member mailing list; list of southern regional delegates (with names, addresses, age,
and race/ethnicity); and Great Lakes Region addresses and telephone numbers.
box 1, folder 15
Chapters and Affiliated Organizations
1977-1979
General Physical Description note: memoranda; press releases; reports; correspondence; flyers
Scope and Contents note
Contains guidelines for state conferences; press release on the formation of a Southeastern Regional Conference; reports and
letters from local chapters, including Iowa City (1978 June 16), Madison (1978 July 6), Milwaukee (1979 January 8), and Baton
Rouge (1979 February 20); a Milwaukee member mailing list; a Madison member mailing list; a Colorado Springs mailing list;
a report from the Wisconsin NLFO statewide conference (held 1978 Novement 10-12); and several letters from individuals interested
in forming local chapters. Also contains correspondence from other organizations, including Women's Community Center in Eau
Claire, WI and the Lesbian Resource Center in Elmira, NY; responses from NLFO representatives to organizations and individuals;
a proposed structure for a planning meeting in San Jose for a proposed California Lesbian Feminist Federation (1978 February
18-20); information about the Lesberadas, a lesbian-feminist organization, and the Lesbian-Feminist Organizing Committe (LFOC).
Includes minutes of a general membership meeting of LFOC (1977 August 14) and a flyer for an LFOC event, as well as correspondence
between NLFO and SLPAC, a Michigan-based organization (1979).
box 1, folder 16
NLFO Newsletter Drafts
1978
General Physical Description note: newsletter drafts
Scope and Contents note
The first publication of the National Lesbian Feminist Organization, originally titled "NLFO." This folder contains original
drafts of NLFO articles and letters. The content includes a report on the founding convention, steering committee updates,
letters to the editor, updates from lesbians of color, a report from the Eastern Regional Lesbian Conference (held 1978 April
1-2), request for assistance from the Tri-City National Defense Fund, updates from local chapters, and an issues forum.
box 1, folder 17
NLFO News Original Drafts
1979
General Physical Description note: newsletter drafts; letters
Scope and Contents note
The NFLO News was the official publication of NFLO and was published in Los Angeles. This folder contains original drafts
of articles and letters to be published in the newsletter, including a letter from the NLFO News staff; updates from local
chapters, including Milwaukee, Madison, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Tucson, Baton Rouge, Alice Paul (the chapter in Los Angeles),
Denver, and Colorado Springs; letters to NFLO News; Lesbians of Color outreach; information on the National Gay Rights March
in Washington, D.C. (to be held 1979 October 14); information from the Steering Committee; letters regarding Rosalie Nichols's
editorial printed in "Off Our Backs." Also includes letter and member roster from Baton Rouge, a letter requesting information
from Wisconsin-based NFLO chapters, and an editorial coordinating sheet for the first issue (1979 April-May).
box 1, folder 18
NLFO Newsletter Subscriptions
1978
General Physical Description note: letters; newspaper clippings
Scope and Contents note
Contains letters from individuals and organizations requesting subscriptions to the NLFO's newsletter, "It's About Time."
The folder also contains requests for newsletter exchanges from other organizations and a list of newsletters NLFO exchanged
with and a list of newsletter distributors. Also contains a pamphlet from the Naiad Press, Inc. listing their publications.
box 1, folder 19
NLFO News Correspondence
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: letters
Scope and Contents note
Contains correspondence to and from the NLFO News, the NLFO's second publication. Letters include requests for subscriptions,
contributions, change of address requests, and letters between members of NFLO News staff.
box 1, folder 20
NFLO News Memos
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: memoranda; meeting minutes
Scope and Contents note
Contains memos to NFLO News Staff; NFLO News Staff Minutes; and memos from NFLO News Staff to other committees, including
the finance committee.
box 1, folder 21
NLFO News Budgets
1979
General Physical Description note: memoranda; financial reports
Scope and Contents note
Contains a memoranda outlining expenses (1979 May 17), a financial report from the NLFO News to the NLFO Treasurer (1979 June/July),
and expenditures from the first issue of NLFO News (1979 April 21).
box 1, folder 22
NLFO Publications
1978-1979
General Physical Description note: organization publications
Scope and Contents note
Contains original issue of NLFO no. 2, D.C. March (undated); NLFO News no. 3 (1979 April/May), no. 4 (1979 June/July), no.
5 (1979 September/October), no. 6 (1979 October/November); and the Wisconsin NLFO Networker volume 1, no. 1 (1979 February).
box 1, folder 23
Proposal for Gay Rights March on Washington
1978
General Physical Description note: committee letters; questionaire
Scope and Contents note
Contains a letter from the Committee for the March on Washington presenting the idea for the march with a proposed date of
May 6, 1979, which includes a completed questionaire suggesting ideas (1978).
box 1, folder 24
Ephemera, Press releases, and flyers
circa 1970's
General Physical Description note: photos, comics, letterhead, stickers, directory, newsletters
Scope and Contents note
Contains bumper stickers; several comics, some hand drawn, others from newspapers (most have Anita Bryant as the subject);
request form to join NLFO; NLFO letterhead; directory of women's periodicals, labeled 'presslist'; newsletters and flyers
from other organizations, including National Organization for Women, Tribe, Tri-City National Defense Fund, Seabrook Safe
Energy Walk, and Mobilizer; and two photos.
