Finding Aid for the Robin Ruth Linden papers, 1976-1984 LSC.1957

Finding aid prepared by Stacy Wood, 2011 and Jessica Tai, 2016; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Online finding aid last updated 4 August 2017.


Title: Robin Ruth Linden papers
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1957
Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 1.5 linear feet (3 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1976-1984
Abstract: Robin Ruth Linden is a writer and sociologist whose research has explored women's health, the politics of technomedicine, the Holocaust, reflexive ethnography and life histories. She received the Helen Hooven Santmyer Prize in women's studies and was the Associate Dean of the Graduate School for Holistic Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, CA. Her major works include Against Sadomasochism: A Radical Feminist Analysis (editor), Making Stories, Making Selves: Feminist Reflections on the Holocaust (author) and AIDS on the Ground: Service Learning in a Global Epidemic (coauthored with Carolyn Laub). This collection contains working notes, manuscripts and drafts from the collection edited by Robin Ruth Linden, Against Sadomasochism. Also included are materials from the establishing years of the Women's Studies program at University of California at Santa Cruz, financial and distribution information for Olivia Records, and other Women's distribution outlets. Notes, release forms and funding for the production of Feminism and Science - a video produced by Robin Ruth Linden are also included, as are documents relating to the Feminism and the Philosophy of Science Conference which served as the video's inspiration. Letters, reviews and information relating to the Mary Daly Boston College controversy as well as miscellaneous articles and essays relating to a broad range of feminist topics are also represented.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical location: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator: Linden, Robin Ruth, 1956-

Conditions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Conditions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary 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.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robin Ruth Linden Papers (Collection 1957). 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 Note

Processed by Stacy Wood, 2011
Description enhanced and further physical processing completed by Jessica Tai in 2016.
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.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 6961327 

Biography

Robin Ruth Linden is a writer and sociologist whose research has explored women's health, the politics of technomedicine, the Holocaust, reflexive ethnography and life histories. She received the Helen Hooven Santmyer Prize in women's studies and was the Associate Dean of the Graduate School for Holistic Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, CA. She was born in 1956
Her major works include Against Sadomasochism: A Radical Feminist Analysis (editor), Making Stories, Making Selves: Feminist Reflections on the Holocaust (author) and AIDS on the Ground: Service Learning in a Global Epidemic (coauthored with Carolyn Laub).
Linden also founded the Holocaust Media Project with Lani Silver in 1983 which became the Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project (BAHOHP) whose mission is to gather oral life histories of Holocaust survivors, liberators, rescuers and eyewitnesses. The Project is developing and maintaining a catalogue database for public use. Their goal is to provide students, scholars, resource centers around the world and the general public access to their archives in 1997.
Much of Linden's work and politics were at the center of the Feminist Sex Wars of the 1970s and 1980s. The Feminist Sex Wars and Lesbian Sex Wars, or simply the Sex Wars or Porn Wars, were the acrimonious debates within the feminist movement and lesbian community in the late 1970s through the 1980s around the issues of feminist strategies regarding sexuality, sexual representation, pornography, sadomasochism, the role of trans women in the lesbian community, and other sexual issues. The debate pitted anti-pornography feminism against sex-positive feminism, and the feminist movement ended up deeply divided as a result. The Feminist Sex Wars are sometimes viewed as part of the division that led to the end of the second-wave feminist era.
Linden was also involved in distribution for Olivia Records, a collective founded in 1973 to record and market women's music. Olivia Records was the center of some controversy due to the involvement of Sandy Stone, a transgendered Academic theorist, media theorist, author and performance artist. Stone was the sound engineer for Olivia Records and drew criticism from a transphobic portion of the lesbian community as documented in the collection.
Linden was also heavily involved with Women Against Violence in Pornography and Media (WAVPM), a radical feminist anti-pornography activist group based in San Francisco and an influential force in the larger feminist anti-pornography movement of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Scope and Content

This collection contains working notes, manuscripts and drafts from the collection edited by Robin Ruth Linden, Against Sadomasochism. Also included are materials from the establishing years of the Women's Studies program at University of California at Santa Cruz, financial and distribution information for Olivia Records, and other Women's distribution outlets. Notes, release forms and funding for the production of Feminism and Science--a video produced by Robin Ruth Linden--are also included, as are documents relating to the Feminism and the Philosophy of Science Conference which served as the video's inspiration. Letters, reviews and information relating to the Mary Daly Boston College controversy as well as miscellaneous articles and essays relating to a broad range of feminist topics are also represented.

Organization and Arrangement

Materials arranged according to project.

Related Material

The Robin Ruth Linden Papers 1978-1983 are located at the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute. There are also materials related to Olivia Records between 1979-99 in the San Francisco LGBT Business Ephemera Collection 1960-2010 at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender HIstorical Society.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA.
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives.
Linden, Robin Ruth, 1956- -- Archives
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Sadomasochism--Social aspects.
Women sociologists--California--Archives.

Box 1, Folder 1

Against Sadomasochism Contributor's Notes and Biographies 1980

General Physical Description note: handwritten notes, typewritten pages

Scope and Contents note

Submitted short biographies for the author notes included in the collection Against Sadomasochism.
Box 1, Folder 2

Against Sadomasochism Correspondence with Authors 1980-1982

General Physical Description note: typewritten letters

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with contributing authors about pay rates, contract, deadlines, permissions and edits.
Box 1, Folder 3

Against Sadomasochism Correspondence with Publishers 1980-1982

General Physical Description note: tri fold flyers, brochures, letters, onion skin

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with publishers with regards to edits, publishing, contracts and history of the collection Against Sadomasochism.
Box 1, Folder 4

Against Sadomasochism Introduction Drafts 1981

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Drafts and notes from Against Sadomasochism.
Box 1, Folder 5

Against Sadomasochism Publicity Materials 1981

General Physical Description note: typewritten pages, onion skin

Scope and Contents note

Descriptions of the collection Against Sadomasochism for publishers, distributors and stores.
Box 1, Folder 6, Box 1, Folder 7

Against Sadomasochism Manuscript 1981

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Completed manuscript for Against Sadomasochism.
Box 1, Folder 8

Against Sadomasochism Original Gallies 1982

General Physical Description note: folded, taped, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Original gallies and mock ups for the Against Sadomasochism collection.
Box 1, Folder 9

Against Sadomasochism Reviews 1982-1983

General Physical Description note: photocopies of clippings, clippings, typewritten paper, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Reviews and profiles from various publications highlighting and discussing the release of Against Sadomasochism. Many are lengthier discussions concerning BDSM and pornography and some are short announcement blurbs.
Box 2, Folder 1

University of California at Santa Cruz Women's Studies Collective Minutes 1976

General Physical Description note: photocopies, carbon copies, printed and typewritten paper

Scope and Contents note

Minutes, agendas and contact information from the Women's Studies Collective at UCSC.
Box 2, Folder 2, Box 2, Folder 3

University of California at Santa Cruz Women's Studies Department Course Material circa 1976-1982

General Physical Description note: printed paper, photocopies

Scope and Contents note

Course listings and expanded descriptions as well as agendas and mission statements for the burgeoning Women's Studies department at UCSC.
Box 2, Folder 4

Women's Music Distributors Materials and Information 1976

General Physical Description note: photocopies, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Brochures, promotional materials and distribution details for distributors focused on women's publications and releases.
Box 2, Folder 6, Box 2, Folder 5

Olivia Records Accounting 1976-1978

General Physical Description note: receipts, printed paper, carbon copies

Scope and Contents note

Accounts payable and receivable.
Box 2, Folder 7

Olivia Records Correspondence 1976-1978

General Physical Description note: photocopies, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence regarding the stocking, release, pricing structures and issues around Olivia records products and efforts.
Box 2, Folder 8

Olivia Records Distribution Information circa 1976-1978

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Information about distribution practices for the Olivia collective, updates about difficulties and funding hiccups as well as disputes and challenges.
Box 2, Folder 9

Feminism and the Philosophy of Science Conference Materials 1979

General Physical Description note: handwritten notes, photocopies, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Notes, descriptions, schedules and programs from the conference.
Box 2, Folder 10

Feminism and the Philosophy of Science Release Forms January 6, 1979

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Release forms from attendees to the Feminism and the Philosophy of Science for inclusion in film project.
Box 2, Folder 11

Feminism and Science Video Fundraising and Financial 1978-1980

General Physical Description note: handwritten notes, photocopies, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with supporters and potential funding sources.
Box 2, Folder 12

Feminism and Science AAAS Rough Cut Preview Reactions October 29, 1980

Scope and Content

Cassette featuring American Association for the Advancement of Science rough cut preview reactions. Labelled "Feminism and Science" tape.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.
Box 2, Folder 13

Feminism and Science Videotape Correspondence and Information 1981-1983

General Physical Description note: envelopes, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence about production, funding and subject matter of the Feminism and Science Videotape from the Feminism and Philosophy of Science conference.
Box 3, Folder 1

Poetry circa 1970s

Box 3, Folder 2, Box 3, Folder 3

Article Reprints and Clippings circa 1975-1984

General Physical Description note: photocopies, original clippings, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Reprinted articles about feminist topics and community.
Box 2, Folder 4

Conference on Violence Against Women Program December 4-5, 1976

General Physical Description note: printed, bound paper

Scope and Contents note

Program guide for the Conference on Violence Against Women Program
Box 2, Folder 5

Women Against Violence in Pornography and Media Conference (WAVPM) Conference Materials November 17, 1978

General Physical Description note: photocopies, printed paper, handwritten notes

Scope and Contents note

Program guide, personal notes and printed materials relating to conference materials.
Box 3, Folder 6

Funding Feminist Materials circa 1978-1979

General Physical Description note: newspaper clippings, photocopies

Scope and Contents note

Materials related to Funding Feminist organization highlighting their mission statement, agenda and policies.
Box 3, Folder 7

Grant Applications 1978-1980

General Physical Description note: completed form applications

Scope and Contents note

NEH and Youthgrant applications, completed.
Box 3, Folder 8

Notes 1978-1982

Scope and Content

Includes an interview with Audre Lorde, correspondence with Jan Zimmerman, and other notes.
Box 3, Folder 9

Gyn/Ecology Reviews 1979

General Physical Description note: photocopies, newspaper clippings

Scope and Contents note

Reviews about Mary Daly's book Gyn/Ecology.
Box 3, Folder 10

Mary Daly Press Clips, Letters and Lists 1979

General Physical Description note: clippings, printed paper, correspondence

Scope and Contents note

Materials relating to the challenging and acadmemic difficulties of Mary Daly at Boston College. Included is literature from support groups and press releases.
Box 3, Folder 11

Voices and Visions: A Feminist Media Conference for Bay Area Women February 23-25, 1979

General Physical Description note: flyers, handwritten notes, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Flyers, notes and program materials for Voices and Visions conference.
Box 3, Folder 12

Ephemera circa 1980s

Scope and Content

Fliers, ephemera, and a photographic portrait.
Box 3, Folder 13

Women in Broadcasting 1981

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Materials advertising the services and membership opportunities for the Women in Broadcasting Organization.
Box 3, Folder 14

Jewish Feminist Conference Materials 1980-1983

General Physical Description note: printed paper, photocopies

Scope and Contents note

Flyers soliciting support, participation and feedback about and for the Jewish Feminist Conference.
Box 3, Folder 15

The Social Construction of Gender: A Methodological Analysis of the Gender Identity Paradigm June 1981

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Paper submitted by Robin Ruth Linden for the sociology department of UCSC for completion of the major.