Ardella Tibby papers,
1941-1989
Finding aid prepared by Stacy Wood; 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
©2014 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Ardella Tibby papers
Collection number: 2167
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
7.0 linear ft.
(14 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1941-1989
Abstract: Ardy Tibby is a lesbian feminist activist and organizer as well as an entertainer and author. Her collection focuses on her
personal life and connections during her life in California and Phoenix, Arizona.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Creator:
Tibby, Ardy 1941-
Restrictions 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.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to 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: Special equipment or further processing may be required for viewing. To access
materials you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.
Collection contains 8 reels of 1/4-inch audio tape.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ardy Tibby Papers (Collection 2167). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Acquisition Information
Processing History
Processed by Stacy Wood, 2012.
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.
Biography
Ardella Tibby was born on May 4, 1941. She became a teacher in the late 1960s and after coming out as a lesbian, joined the
lesbian activist and cultural community. She began performing as a storyteller in festivals and community events, touring
with artists such as Chocolate Waters throughout the 1980s and participating in the Califia community. She was a co-founder
of the lesbian production group Delta Pi in 1984 which operated in Santa Rosa, California until 1989. She was the guest editor
of Sinister Wisdom 80 entitled "Willing Up and Keeling Over: a Lesbian Handbook of Death Rights and Rituals." She has been
and is currently involved with Older Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC), the Lesbian Archives and the Women's Circus. She
resides with her partner Jean Taylor in Victoria, Australia. She refers to herself as a "proud, loud, bearded lesbian."
Scope and Content
This collection contains materials relating to the life and activities of Ardy Tibby. The bulk of the collection represents
1970-1985, a time when Tibby was heavily involved in lesbian community organizations as an organizer, storyteller and participant.
A large part of the collections is made up of photographs, journals and scrapbook pages covering Tibby's early life. Also
included is a correspondence between Tibby and various friends and colleagues. Although there are some aspects of the collection
that deal with logistics of Tibby's touring schedule, the majority of the materials are personal and community oriented.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Tibby, Ardy
Lesbian activists--California--Los Angeles--Archives.
Box 1, Folder 1
Memorabilia (Postcards).
1980-1982.
Physical Description: postcards held together with a metal ring
Scope and Content Note
This box contains postcards from friends and lovers, mostly sent from travel destinations.
Box 1, Folder 2
Address books, diary.
1982.
Physical Description: two bound books
Scope and Content Note
Two bound books, one acted as an address book, the other is a daily calendar/diary that describes day to day activities and
emotions.
Box 1, Folder 3
Memorabilia.
1982.
Physical Description: handwritten notes, printed paper, drawings, brochures
Scope and Content Note
This folder includes information about camping and music festivals. Includes correspondence between participants as well as
promotional material for festivals.
Box 2, Folder 1
Memorabilia.
1983.
Physical Description: flyers, journals, handwritten notes/letters
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of this folder contains personal correspondence. Also included are flyers for feminist lesbian events and performers.
Box 2, Folder 2
Memorabilia.
1984.
Physical Description: postcards, bound diary, black and white photographs
Scope and Content Note
Contains memorabilia from 1984 including a bound daily diary kept by Ardy Tibby as well as photographs and some correspondence.
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence.
1984.
Physical Description: handwritten and typed paper held together by a metal ring
Scope and Content Note
Contains personal correspondence between Ardy Tibby and various friends.
Box 3, Folder 1
Storytelling.
1980-1989.
Physical Description: flyers, newspaper clippings
Scope and Content Note
Flyers for storytelling events featuring Ardy Tibby as well as newspaper clippings covering similar events.
Box 3, Folder 2
Address books, diaries.
1984.
Physical Description: one spiral, one library bound book
Scope and Content Note
Address books and daily diaries kept by Ardy Tibby.
Box 3, Folder 3
Correspondence.
1985.
Physical Description: postcards, handwritten and typewritten letters
Scope and Content Note
Contains personal correspondence between Ardy Tibby and various friends.
Box 3, Folder 4
Correspondence (2).
1985.
Physical Description: postcards, handwritten and typewritten letters
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence between Ardy Tibby and various friends.
Box 4, Folder 1
Photos.
1955-1972.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains photographs of various sizes. Some color, some black and white and a number of them are mounted or otherwise
framed. Most of the photographs depict vacations or celebrations.
Box 4, Folder 2
Calendars.
1962-1966.
Physical Description: spiral bound calendars
Scope and Content Note
Personal calendars for Ardy Tibby from 1962, 1962 and 1966.
Box 4, Folder 3
Calendars.
1968-1971.
Physical Description: spiral bound calendars
Scope and Content Note
Four calendars, all published by the Rand Corporation.
Box 4, Folder 4
Calendars.
1972-1975.
Physical Description: stapled and spiral bound calendars
Scope and Content Note
Three daily calendars for Ardy Tibby.
Box 4, Folder 5
Photos.
1960-1980 approximately.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of various sizes and formats. Occasional description on the back of individual photographs but no overarching
organization or thematic separation.
Box 5, Folder 1
Birth through junior high school.
1941-1955.
Physical Description: photographs, scrapbook pages, bound and typed manuscript
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains pages from a scrapbook featuring photographs with handwritten descriptions. Also contained are report
cards from elementary school and essays written for school credit.
Box 5, Folder 2
High school and college 1/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: black and white photographs, handwritten notes
Scope and Content Note
Contains family photos as well as photos with Ardy Tibby and friends. Written materials are personal reflections.
Box 5, Folder 3
High school and college 2/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: cassette tape
Scope and Content Note
The label on the cassette tapes states "Side 1 File 1 Birth - 59GR" and "Side 2 File 1 JHS - young lesbian, repressed"
Box 5, Folder 4
High school and college 3/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: scrapbook pages, photographs
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains scrapbook pages featuring photographs of teachers and classmates with accompanying descriptions.
Box 5, Folder 5
High school and college 4/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: scrapbook pages, photographs
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains scrapbook pages featuring photographs accompanied by descriptions. Most of the photos are of classmates
or teachers.
Box 5, Folder 6
High school and college 5/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: spiral bound calendar
Scope and Content Note
Spiral bound calendar with notes and activities described.
Box 5, Folder 7
High school and college 6/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains photographs of various sizes depicting Ardy Tibby and her sorority sisters from several events.
Box 5, Folder 8
High school and college 7/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: canvas
Scope and Content Note
Large piece of canvas with drawing on it, folded and in plastic.
Box 5, Folder 9
High school and college 8/9.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: handwritten notes
Scope and Content Note
Written materials including reflections and correspondence from Ardy Tibby's year spent in Spain.
Box 5, Folder 10
High school and college.
1955-1962.
Physical Description: printed calendars
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two different calendars containing notes on activities.
Box 5, Folder 11
Memorabilia and photos.
1970.
Physical Description: photographs, carbon paper
Scope and Content Note
Teacher evaluations for Ardy Tibby as well as vacation photographs.
Box 5, Folder 12
Newspaper clippings.
1970-1980 approximately.
Physical Description: newsprint
Scope and Content Note
Clippings regarding sports teams and miscellaneous items of interest. Clippings are removed from their original publications,
so dates and sources are not available.
Box 6, Folder 1
Personal materials.
1951-1967.
Physical Description: bound books, passport and plastic chips
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains miscellaneous personal materials including identification, Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety chips, autograph
books from elementary school and a daily diary from tenth grade.
Box 6, Folder 2
Flyers and brochures.
No date.
Physical Description: printed paper
Scope and Content Note
Flyers and brochures for various feminist lesbian events, gathering and services.
Box 6, Folder 3
Correspondence.
1973-1976.
Physical Description: handwritten paper, greeting cards
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence with a number of Ardy Tibby's friends and lovers.
Box 6, Folder 4
Year in Spain.
1976.
Physical Description: handwritten paper, spiral bound notebook
Scope and Content Note
This folder includes correspondence, diaries, calendars and hostel information from Ardy Tibby's travels to Spain.
Box 6, Folder 5
Miscellaneous.
No date.
Physical Description: handwritten notes
Scope and Content Note
Postcards and handwritten notes.
Box 7, Folder 1
Drawings.
No Date.
Physical Description: pencil drawings
Scope and Content Note
Pencil drawings of Ardy Tibby, unattributed.
Box 7, Folder 2
Photographs.
1969-1970.
Physical Description: photographs, newspaper clippings, handwritten notes
Scope and Content Note
Original label states "Summer 1969-Summer 1970 USA + Canada Trip Jimmy's 16th Birthday, Mom + Jim's New House, Yucca Valley
CAlifornia, Aunt Mattie Napa California - Book #4."
Box 7, Folder 3
Photographs.
1975.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Ardy Tibby and friends.
Box 7, Folder 4
Photographs.
1981-1983.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Ardy Tibby and friends.
Box 7, Folder 5
Photographs.
1979-1980.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Ardy Tibby and friends.
Box 7, Folder 6
Photographs.
1980-1985.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Ardy Tibby and friends.
Box 8, Folder 1
Flyers and brochures.
1970-1980.
Physical Description: printed paper, photocopies
Scope and Content Note
Flyers and brochures for various lesbian and women's events including readings, concerts and meetings. Some of the flyers
are advertising storytelling and/or appearances of Ardy Tibby.
Box 8, Folder 2
Woman rising.
1977.
Physical Description: bound printed, photocopies
Scope and Content Note
Includes four issues of Woman Rising, a women's periodical. Volume II No. 6 Nov-Dec 1977 Phoeniz, AZ Volume II No. 5 Sept-Oct
1977 Phoenix, AZ Volume II No. 4 July - August 1977 Phoenix, AZ Volume II No. 3 May - June 1977 Phoenix, AZ
Box 8, Folder 3
Newspaper clippings.
1977-1980.
Physical Description: newsprint
Scope and Content Note
Contains newspaper clippings collected by Ardy Tibby.
Box 8, Folder 4
Lesbian tide.
1977.
Physical Description: newsprint
Scope and Content Note
Contains two issues of The Lesbian Tide: A Feminist Lesbian Publication, written by and for the Rising Tide of Women Today
September/October 1977 November/December 1977 Also includes a photocopy and a few clippings.
Box 8, Folder 5
Correspondence.
1978.
Physical Description: handwritten letters, typed letters
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between Ardy Tibby and various friends and colleagues.
Box 8, Folder 6
Newsletters.
1979.
Physical Description: printed, bound newsletters
Scope and Content Note
Contains newsletters from various organizations including Demeter, the Lesbian Herstory Archives and Lesbian Connection.
Box 8, Folder 7
Collected writings.
1977-1980.
Physical Description: printed paper, photocopies, carbon copies
Scope and Content Note
Writings collected by Ardy Tibby including: A Radical Feminist's Response to Liberal Feminism by Mia Albright The Bearded
Woman's Exchange Country Western Fluff by Jean Johnson The Sweet Sting of Success by Rita Mae Brown from Mother Jones A Glance
at Oral Communication in the Lesbian Feminist Counter Culture by Sandra M. Anthony The Day American Turned into Woman by Mia
Albright In the Image of Woman by Mia Albright
Box 8, Folder 8
Festival materials.
1980-1981.
Physical Description: printed paper, photocopies, brochures
Scope and Content Note
Brochures, flyers, schedules and itineraries for various women's and lesbian festivals and pride events.
Box 8, Folder 9
Lavender morning.
1980-1981.
Physical Description: printed and stapled paper
Scope and Content Note
Contains issues of Lavender Morning (for Lesbians) Vol. 2 Issue 1 Vol. 2 Issue 2 Vol. 1 Number 1 Vol. 1 Number 2 Vol. 1 Number
3 Vol. 1 Number 4 Vol. 1 Number 5
Box 8, Folder 10
Womoon change - pacific coast tour.
1981.
Physical Description: flyers, handwritten notes, receipts, checks
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence, set lists, financial documentation and flyers for the Womoon Change tour featuring Ardy Tibby as
a storyteller.
Box 9, Folder 1
Correspondence.
1979.
Physical Description: handwritten letters, photos
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between Ardy Tibby and her friends and colleagues. Includes some memorabilia including paper dolls and handmade
photo frames.
Box 9, Folder 2
Correspondence.
1980.
Physical Description: handwritten letters
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between Ardy Tibby and her friends and colleagues. Also includes some hand drawings and some postcards.
Box 9, Folder 3
Correspondence.
1981.
Physical Description: handwritten letters
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between Ardy Tibby and her friends and colleagues. Also includes handmade calendars.
Box 10, Folder 1
Photographs.
1977-1978.
Physical Description: photographs, polaroids
Scope and Content Note
Photographs from vacation in Pismo Beach with Ardy Tibby and friends.
Box 10, Folder 2
Photographs.
1964-1966.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Both black and white and color photographs.
Box 10, Folder 3
Photographs.
1975-1982.
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Majority of the photographs in this folder are polaroids, but are also mixed in with other photographic formats.
Box 11
Ephemera.
1970-1980.
Physical Description: various clothing items, books and ephemera
Scope and Content Note
Inventory – Ardy Tibby Box 11 T-Shirts Helaine Victoria Press Shirty made for Ardy Tibby by Caryl DeGroot Tribad Productions
in Sonoma County shirt with air brushed portrait of Ardy Tibby made by Therese Bur Waikiki shirt shirt made by Amelia Glaser
by Ardy Tibby Miscellaneous Cap with drawing by Catherine Clinger during a dyke gathering at Magnolia Acres (locally known
as La Punta) Quilt made for Ardy Tibby by Dyke Witch and priestess Ffiona Morgan 1988 Logo for Delta pi, lesbian production
company made out of stained glass Punky Brewster converse shoes Rolodex Contents – Note on the bag "Probably 95% of these
are Lesbians. These were in my rollodex over an almost 10 year open ending in January 93" Guest book from Ardy's Guest Room
of Home/Dyke Center in Santa Rosa, CA "Not everyone signed it, but its a nice something. The household functioned as a dyke
space from Nov 1988-April 1944." Books Breast Cartoons by Yvonne Eldresse - signed by artist and given to Ardy Tibby 1988
Graphic Details by Bev Balliett and Patti Patton 1979 – includes photo of Ardy Tibby – signed by authors and given to Ardy
Tibby Take me Like a Photograph : Writings by Chocolate Waters 1977 signed by author and given to Ardy Tibby A Scrap of Royal
Need by Mia Albright 1980 Womyn/Friends a Book of Poems by Jean Sirius signed by author and given to Ardy Tibby 1979
Box 12, Folder 1
Midwest lesbian express tour with Chocolate Waters.
1980.
Physical Description: postcards, photographs, handwritten notes and printed flyers
Scope and Content Note
Flyers, correspondence, financial information, contact information and promotional material for the Midwest Lesbian Express
Tour featuring Ardy Tibby and Chocolate Waters.
Box 12, Folder 2
Resources.
No Date.
Physical Description: printed paper, photocopies
Scope and Content Note
Contact information for the Califia community as well as printed community resources.
Box 12, Folder 3
Miscellaneous.
No Date.
Physical Description: printed paper, hand drawings
Scope and Content Note
Miscellaneous materials including paper olls, ahnd drawings, printed paper and handwritten notes.
Box 13
Periodicals.
1984-1993.
Physical Description: published books and periodicals
Scope and Content Note
Container list contained in box: Sinister Wisdom Issues 36, 38, 39, 45, 47; Common Lives, Lesbian Lives Issues 12, 14, 27,
32, 34, 35, 37, 39, 46; Conditions Issues 11/12 and 16; The Lesbian Issue: Essays from Signs, 1985.
Box 14
Audio reel: Ardy Tibby in Sacramento at Lioness Bookstore.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Judy Freespirit in Sacramento at Lioness Bookstore.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Ardy Tibby in San Francisco.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Judy Freespirit in San Francisco.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Ardy Tibby in Santa Cruz.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Judy Freespirit in Santa Cruz.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Ardy Tibby at Clairelight Bookstore Santa Rosa.
1988.
Box 14
Audio reel: Ardy Tibby and Judy Freespirit at Clairelight Bookstore Santa Rosa.
1988.
