Description
Ann Valliant (8/13/1945-8/4/2022) was a lesbian writer, mother, small-business owner, friend to photographer Cathy Cade, Siddha
Yoga ashram devotee, community leader and activist who spent the last fifty years of her life living in the San Francisco
Bay Area. Her most influential writing was the Womancraft Guide Manual in 1974, which was an early touchstone in second wave
feminism. The collection contains various creative writings by Ann, journals, business documents, photographs, scrapbooks,
a vast amount of correspondence (in the form of letters and cards), and personal documents (ranging from Gurumayi/Ashram,
music, wedding planning notes and substance abuse recovery).
Background
Ann Valliant, born Margaret Ann Valliant, spent her early years in Arkansas and Oklahoma, where she learned carpentry skills
that would serve her and her community for her whole life. She was also an intellectual, publishing The Womancraft Guide Manual
in 1974, which would inform feminist theory and writing.. After recognizing her identity as a lesbian while living in the
Boston area, she moved to Oakland, CA. In 1981, she had her son Loren via sperm donation with her partner Bobbi LaNoue, who
remained her friend and co-parent after breaking up.
She was the leader of the gardening team at her ashram, the Yoga Siddha Ashram.. She spent twenty years living within a five
minute walk of her ashram and went to sister ashrams in South Fallsburg, NY and India to absorb the teachings of her guru
Gurumayi. Her spiritual journey was also informed by her connection to God and her path out of addiction. She was friends
with noted feminist photographer, Cathy Cade, and was part of her A Lesbian Photo Album collection, a work that looked into
the lives of several lesbians, their communities, activism, and families. She met Marilyn in 2001 at a women’s dance event,
and would later marry her. Marilyn, also known as John, was a butch dandy and longtime Berkeley school teacher. They eventually
split up, and Ann spent the last years of her life with her partner Mariko. Ann became a grandmother in September 2004. Ann
started several business ventures, including selling blue green algae, and spent the bulk of her professional career as a
bookkeeper, accountant, and operations consultant. She kept in touch with friends and family around the country through letters
and yearly holiday cards.She eventually was diagnosed with ALS.She invited close friends, family and community members to
her end of life celebration, and passed peacefully on August 4, 2022.