Collection Guide
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Finding Aid to the Cecilia Kuhn Frightwig Collection
1977-2014
SFH 668
SFH 668
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Cecilia Kuhn Frightwig Collection
Creator:
Kuhn, Cecilia (1955-2017)
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 668
Physical Description:
3 legal-size manuscript boxes, 2 oversize flat boxes, 8 letter-sized folders (photos), 1 map folder, 1 tube
(3 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1977-2014
Date (bulk): (bulk 1984-1988)
Abstract: The
Cecilia Kuhn Frightwig Collection
contains material relating to Frightwig and to Cecilia Kuhn. The collection dates between 1977-2014, with the bulk of material
being from 1984-1988. The bulk of this collection is made up of show fliers, newspaper and magazine clippings, magazines,
newspapers and zines. Band photographs, tour journals, a few legal documents, and ephemera make up the rest of the collection.
Frightwig is a feminist punk band founded in 1982 by Deanna Mitchell and Mia d'Bruzzi. Frightwig is credited with inspiring
bands like Hole, Bikini Kill, L7, and Lunachicks. Cecilia Kuhn was the drummer for Frightwig for many years. Cecilia Kuhn
died in 2017.
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in
English
with a small amount of material in German, Dutch, Flemish, Danish found in Series 4: Events: European tour ephemera, 1985.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Cecilia Kuhn Frightwig Collection (SFH 668), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public
Library.
Donation, 2018.
Researchers are encouraged to see also the
San Francisco Punk Archive, SFH 666
located in the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library, currently being processed.
This collection was processed by Freya Channing with assistance by Mckenzie (Mac) Reed.
The following items have been separated from this collection and can be found in the San Francisco Public Library's catalog:
Strip for Frightwig [videorecording],San Francisco : Ace Video, © 1986.
;
Frightwig : the girls [videorecording].
;
Cat Farm Faboo, LP.
;
From the edge of the world : California punk 1977-81 / photography by Ruby Ray; signed by author.
Cecilia Kuhn (1955-2017) was born in Sacramento and raised in Arkansas. In 1978, Kuhn moved to San Francisco. She was skilled
at shorthand, typing, and copy-editing and worked as a temp in San Francisco. She was an accomplished musician (piano, guitar,
and singing) and took drumming lessons when Frightwig needed a drummer in 1984. She spent several years with Frightwig and
became a driving force of the band. Cecilia Kuhn died in 2017 due to complications with cancer.
Frightwig is a feminist punk band that was started in San Francisco by bassist/singer Deanna Mitchell and guitarist/singer
Mia d'Bruzzi in 1982. Frightwig, an all-female band through the 1980's and 1990's, inspired bands like Hole, Bikini Kill,
L7, and the Lunachicks. Frightwig made its mark in the male-dominated hardcore scene of the 1980s. Band members have also
included Rachel Thoele, Paula Frazer, Susan Miller, Lynn Perko, Bambi Nonymous, Rebecca Sevrin and Eric Drew Feldman. Kuhn
left the band a few years before the band broke up in 1994 and rejoined when Frightwig reformed in 2012. As of this writing
in 2022, Frightwig is still playing.
References:
The
Cecilia Kuhn Frightwig Collection
contains material collected by longtime member Cecilia Kuhn relating to Frightwig and Kuhn, who also went by "Cecilia Koon",
"Cecilia Lynch", and "Cecilia Frightwig". The collection dates between 1977-2014 with the bulk of material being from 1984-1988.
The collection contains show fliers, photographs, posters, newspaper and magazine clippings, magazines, newspapers and zines,
set lists, tour journals, and ephemera. The bulk of material can be found in
Series 4: Events,
largely consisting of fliers documenting shows that Frightwig played and
Series 5: Printed material,
primarily press coverage of Frightwig. Also present is a small collection of legal documents and correspondence written to
Cecilia Kuhn and Frightwig.
Of note is the 31-page journal entry documenting Frightwig's European tour with D.O.A in 1985 found in
Series 3: Writings
and
Series 6: Photographs
which contains both studio shots and photographs of live shows.
The collection is arranged in 6 series: Series 1: Legal documents; Series 2: Correspondence; Series 3: Writings; Series 4:
Events; Series 5: Printed material; and Series 6: Photographs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Punk culture -- California -- San Francisco.
Punk rock music -- California -- San Francisco.
Punk rock musicians -- California -- San Francisco.
Rock groups -- California -- San Francisco
Punk rock music.
Women rock musicians.
Women punk rock musicians.
Rock music -- California -- San Francisco.
Feminism and music.
Post-punk music. -- California -- San Francisco.
Fliers (printed matter).
Riot grrrl movement.
Frightwig (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Castro, Bobby, -2018
Macioce, Michael