This collection contains records from the influential lesbian sadomasochism (SM) group, Samois. This collection does not represent the organization’s “official” records. Rather, it was assembled by several former members of Samois, many of whom were involved in the production of the group’s publications, What Color Is Your Handkerchief? (1979) and Coming to Power (1981). There are materials related to the two publications; organizational records; leaflets; Samois newsletters and a copy of “Cathexis,” an early lesbian SM newsletter; essays and stories; invitations to early women’s SM parties; and t-shirts.

For an organizational history of Samois, see anthropologist and activist Gayle Rubin’s history, “Samois,” in Marc Stein, ed., Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America, (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2003). Rubin’s article is reprinted in the “Leather Times: News from the Leather Archives & Museum,” Spring 2004: http://www.leatherarchives.org/resources/issue21.pdf

2 boxes (0.6 linear feet)

Copyright has not been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society.

The collection is open for research with the following restriction. Researchers may not publish or publically disclose names or identifying information about individuals for 20 years from the date of donation, unless those individuals have already themselves disclosed, in print or a public forum, their association with these organizations, or unless they are deceased. These restrictions will expire on July 19, 2023. Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).