Finding aid for the Elaine Mikels papers, 1967-2004 LSC.1954

Finding aid prepared by Stacy Wood, 2011; Sabrina Ponce, 2017; Eric Olsen, 2022; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 19 December 2022.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu


Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Elaine Mikels papers
Creator: Mikels, Elaine
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1954
Physical Description: 1.6 linear feet (4 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1969-2004
Abstract: Born in Los Angeles in 1921, Elaine Mikels spent her early life in California attending UCLA, UC Berkeley, and USC, later receiving a Master's in Social Work. During this time, Mikels' struggles with expressing and living out her lesbian identity began as she grappled with forming healthy relationships and finding queer community amid the conformist atmosphere of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. Documented by over two-hundred photographs in the collection, Mikel's political activism on a national scale began in the late 1960s and continued throughout her life as she organized demonstrations for the anti-war movement, created lesbian-feminist communities, and participated in pacifist and civil disobedience actions. The collection includes materials related to the publication of Elaine Mikels' autobiography, as well as a copy of the final published version. Also included are personal papers, journals, correspondence, and various personal materials.
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 Use and Reproduction

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.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9969568603606533 

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 .

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Elaine Mikels Papers (Collection 1954). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Processing Information

Processed by Stacy Wood, 2011. Description enhanced and further physical processing completed by Sabrina Ponce in 2017. Further desciption enhancement by Eric Olsen in 2022.
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.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections. 

Biography

Elaine Mikels was born in 1921 in Los Angeles, and she spent much of her early life in California. Although raised Jewish, she attended Flintridge, a Catholic boarding school. As a closested lesbian, Mikels spoke about her early relationships with women who identified as straight and later went on to get married. Similarly to other closeted women living in the 1940s, she had little concept of how to deal with her own relationships much less build community though shared interests. During this period she suffered from depression and was hospitalized.
After WWII, Mikels worked in Germany with the Quakers through the State Department. She was expelled from the program because of her psychiatric records naming her as a lesbian. She returned to the United States and settled briefly in New York, later traveling for the next several years throughout Europe and the Middle East. In 1951 she settled in San Francisco and pursued social work.
In San Francisco, she became active in the Mattachine Society and ONE magazine. It was also during this period, in 1959, that she established the Conard House. The Conard House was the first halfway house in San Francisco, specifically conceived as a transitional community for people with mental illness who were returning to San Francisco from Napa State Hospital.
Beginning in the late 1960s, Elaine Mikels underwent a period of politicization, "when I broke away from the system. I went through an amazing personal transformation, not unlike many others during this time of civil strife and the war in Vietnam. I was no longer afraid of authority figures." Afterwards, Mikels left her professional social work career for full-time activism. During the 1970s and 1980s, Mikels help found lesbian-feminist communities, organized demonstrations for the anti-war movement, participated in peace actions and walks, and documented lesbian events across the nation. Later in life, Mikels' activism shifted focus to highlight the accomplishments and stories of older women through creating networks such as the Older Lesbians Organizing for Change and publications such as the Older Women's Network. These organizations brought together older feminists and lesbian women who share resources and support for activist goals, housing, employment, and networks of care. In the early 1990s, Mikels wrote the autobiography Just Lucky I Guess: From Closet Lesbian to Radical Dyke which documents her life's struggles, accomplishments, relationships, and global travels.

Chronology

Missing Title

1921 Elaine Mikels born
1951 Elaine Mikels moves to San Francisco
1959 Elaine Mikels founds Conard House
1976 Founding of OWN (Older Women's Network)
1977 Women's Gathering in Ashland, OR.
1981 Women's Pentagon Action
June 12, 1982 Nuclear Disarmament Rally
June 3 - July 4, 1983 PeaceWalk from Durham, N.C. to Seneca Peace Camp
1983 Dyke Olympics
1984 PeaceWalk from Gainesville, FL to Key West, FL.

Scope and Content

The Elaine Mikels papers are comprised of photographs taken by Elaine Mikels in several different locations and with different groups of people. Included are photographs of lesbian activist gatherings, lesbian social gatherings and sports clubs, lesbian writing groups, and self-published newsletters. The collection also includes materials related to the publication of Elaine Mikels' autobiography, Just Lucky I Guess: From Closet Lesbian to Radical Dyke, as well as a copy of the final published version. Also included are personal papers, journals, correspondence, and various personal materials. The pictures contained in the Mikels collection of Feminary writers, producers, and supporters reflect a new political imperative in Mikel's work. The most prominent participant in the Feminary editorial collective was Minnie Bruce Pratt; photographs of her are contained within the collection. Also represented in the collection are photographs documenting the Women's Pentagon Action, a two-thousand-woman protest that surrounded the Pentagon in 1981. Eventually, Mikels settled in Santa Fe, but most of her photographic collection represents her time in Oregon and North Carolina.

Organization and Arrangement

Photographs arranged in chronological order are first in the collection. Thereafter, materials are arranged chronologically with the exception of materials about Just Lucky I Guess that, as a continuous project, are kept together.

Online Items Available

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online: Elaine Mikels papers (14 items). 

Related Materials

Old Lesbians Organizing for Change records (Collection 2203).  Available at UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. Papers of Cynthia Rich and Barbara Macdonald  Available at Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Papers of Barbara Deming Available at Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Photographs.
Social workers -- California -- San Francisco.
Older lesbians -- United States -- Archives.
Lesbian activists -- United States -- Archives.
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA
Mikels, Elaine

box 1, folder 1

Older Women's Network (OWN) 1976 - 1982

Older Women's Network (OWN) 1976-1982

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

45 Miscellaneous photos of the Older Women's Network (OWN). Also includes a note from Elaine Mikels concerning the founding of OWN.
box 1, folder 2

Women's Gathering 1977

Women's Gathering 1977

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

7 photos of the Women's Gathering in Ashland, OR.
box 1, folder 3

Carpentry Collective 1978-1980

Carpentry Collective 1978-1980

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

17 photographs of the women's carpentry collective in Eugene, OR, with some annotations.
box 1, folder 4

Softball League 1978-1980

Carpentry Collective Softball League 1978-1980

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

36 photos of the Carpentry Collective's softball league, in game and out.
box 1, folder 5

Eugene, Oregon 1978-1980

Eugene, Oregon - 1978-1980

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

26 photographs from Mikels' time in Eugene, Oregon.
box 1, folder 6

Feminary 1981-1984

Feminary

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

57 photographs of fundrasing activities, a costume party, candid group photos, and promotional photos for the publication Feminary.
box 1, folder 7

Protests 1981-1982

Protests

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

5 photographs of protesters outside of the trial of the men accused of killing Ronald "Sonny" Antonevitch, Durham, N.C., 1981 April 17. 4 photographs of a rally in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, Raleigh, N.C.
box 1, folder 8

Women's Pentagon Action 1981

Women's Pentagon Action

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

35 photos of the Women's Pentagon Action.
box 1, folder 9

Nuclear Disarmament Rally 1982 June 14

Nuclear Disarmament Rally

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

11 photos of the Nuclear Disarmament Rally in Central Park in New York, New York.
box 1, folder 10

Peace Walk: Durham, North Carolina to Seneca Peace Camp 1983 June 3 - July 4

Peace Walk: Durham, NC to Seneca Peace Camp

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

5 photographs of the Peace Walk from Durham, N.C. to Seneca Peace Camp. Organized by Elaine Mikels and Mandy Carter.
box 1, folder 11

Dyke Olympics 1983

Dyke Olympics

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

55 photos of the Dyke Olympics outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. One-day, one-time event on a woman's land, lesbians only.
box 1, folder 12

Peace Walk: Gainsville, Florida to Key West, Florida 1984

Peace Walk: Gainesville, FL to Key West, FL

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size

Scope and Contents note

53 photos of the Peace Walk from Gainesville, FL to Key West, FL.
box 1, folder 13

Note to Degania and photographs circa 1984 - 1993

General Physical Description note: photographs of varying size, notes, cards

Scope and Contents note

1 note by Elaine Mikels to Degania detailing her intentions to donate materials to the archive, 27 photos, one flyer, and one card.
box 1, folder 14

Published Photos 1969-1991

General Physical Description note: photos, photocopies

Scope and Contents note

Contains clippings, photos taken by Elaine Mikels, duplicate prints, publications in which her work was featured, and mock-ups.
box 1, folder 15

Personal notes circa 1977 - 1992

General Physical Description note: handwritten and printed notes

Scope and Contents note

Personal notes about various subjects such as conferences, poetry, and gay pride.
box 2, folder 1

Our OWN 1977 October - 1981 Summer

General Physical Description note: stapled, photocopied pamphlets

Scope and Contents note

21 issues of the newsletter Our OWN, the newsletter for the Older Women's Network.
box 2, folder 2

Published Materials : Lesbians in the Media 1981-1999

General Physical Description note: newsprint, printed paper, photocopies, magazine

Scope and Contents note

Various articles about lesbians in popular culture, the legal system, politics and activist communities.
box 2, folder 3-6

Journals 1984 Christmas - 1988 September 7

General Physical Description note: bound jounral

Scope and Contents note

Elaine Mikels' personal journals, given as a gift to "Elana." Mikels was sometimes known as "Elana" and "Elana Freedom." Six journals included.
box 3, folder 1

Assorted programming materials circa 1987 August - 1999 Summer

General Physical Description note: printed paper, photocopies, clippings

Scope and Contents note

Assorted flyers, brochures, postcards, and programming materials.
box 3, folder 2

Address books circa 1989 - 1995

General Physical Description note: four bound address books

Scope and Contents note

Four bound, differently sized address books containing personal, professional, and activist contacts.
box 3, folder 3

Correspondence: Publishers 1989 March 8 - 1993 March 2

General Physical Description note: typewritten letters

Scope and Contents note

Letters from and to publishers concerning the publication of Just Lucky I Guess, Elaine's autobiography.
box 3, folder 4

Profiles and Coverage of Elaine 1989 May - 1999

General Physical Description note: newspaper clippings

Scope and Contents note

Profiles and articles about Elaine Mikels, mostly focused on her lifelong activism.
box 3, folder 5

Correspondence: Elaine and Jean 1990 October 30 - 1993 November 7

General Physical Description note: typewritten letters, handwritten letters

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence between Elaine and her good friend Jean.
box 3, folder 6

Sonia Johnson materials 1991 August 10 - 1994 February

General Physical Description note: printed paper, photocopies

Scope and Contents note

Materials related to Reactionary Lesbianism theorist Sonia Johnson, including editorials, opinion pieces, promotional materials.
box 3, folder 7-8

Just Lucky I Guess: Notes and drafts circa 1984 - 1993

General Physical Description note: handwritten notes, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Notes and drafts of Just Lucky I Guess, Elaine Mikels's autobiography.
box 3, folder 9-10

Just Lucky I Guess: Production 1991 August - 1994 March 22

General Physical Description note: receipts, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Documentation regarding the production of Just Lucky I Guess. The first folder contains printing and binding costs and receipts while the second folder contains distribution information.
box 4, folder 1

Just Lucky I Guess: Copyright information 1993 April - 1994 March

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Documents related to copyright and attributions related to Just Lucky I Guess.
box 4, folder 2

Just Lucky I Guess: Published copy 1993

General Physical Description note: bound book

Scope and Contents note

Final published, bound copy of Just Lucky I Guess.
box 4, folder 3

Just Lucky I Guess: Book reviews 1993 March 2 - 1995 May

General Physical Description note: printed paper, photocopies, clippings

Scope and Contents note

Reviews of Just Lucky I Guess from various publications.
box 4, folder 4

Just Lucky I Guess: Promotional materials 1993 March 2 - 1994 March

General Physical Description note: printed paper, flyers

Scope and Contents note

Promotional materials for the book Just Lucky I Guess, including materials related to readings and signings.
box 4, folder 5

Just Lucky I Guess: Manuscript undated

General Physical Description note: bound printed paper with handwritten notes

Scope and Contents note

Manuscript and acknowledgements page of Just Lucky I Guess.
box 4, folder 6

Submissions circa 1992 - 1994

General Physical Description note: printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Materials submitted to different journals and newspapers for publication.
box 4, folder 7

Workshop materials circa 1993 - 2001

General Physical Description note: printed paper, handwritten notes

Scope and Contents note

Questionnaires, articles, exercises designed for meditation, and materials on self-help workshops.
box 4, folder 8

Journal: Costa Rica 1995 March - April

General Physical Description note: individual handwritten sheets of paper, envelope

Scope and Contents note

Personal journal documenting Elaine Mikels' travels in Costa Rica and photocopy of the envelope in which it was contained.
box 4, folder 9

Clippings circa 1995 September - 1997 July

General Physical Description note: newsprint, photocopies, printed paper

Scope and Contents note

Clippings of Elaine Mikels' editorials, articles, and other writings.
box 4, folder 10

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe, New Mexico 2000-2002

General Physical Description note: printed paper, flyers, bound directories

Scope and Contents note

Church directories, programs and other information for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe, New Mexico, of which Elaine Mikels was a member.
box 4, folder 11

Obituaries 2004 February - March

Scope and Content

Programs for the funeral services for Elaine Mikels and Selma Mikels Lofgren.