Taylor (Polly) papers, 1879-2017, bulk (1943-2015)

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Summary

Title:
Polly Taylor papers
Dates:
1879-2017, bulk (1943-2015)
Creators:
Taylor, Polly I. (Polly Irene), 1929-2016
Abstract:
Polly Taylor (1929-2016) was a lesbian activist who dedicated her life to social justice. Born into a Quaker family, she pursued careers as a psychological social worker and therapist in Buffalo, New York, and was involved in anti-draft and anti-Vietnam War efforts. Disillusioned with therapy work, she moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s. Taylor and Mickey Spencer launched Broomstick, a self-published radical feminist magazine for women over forty, which ran from 1978-1993. Despite health issues and a COPD diagnosis at age 65, Taylor remained an activist. She was the first out lesbian to secure low-income senior housing at Coleridge Senior Housing in San Francisco, paving the way for other lesbian activists. Taylor was an active member of many support and writing groups including OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing Change) and a Lesbian Memoir writing group. Polly Taylor passed away on July 26, 2016. The collection includes oral histories, work as a psychiatric social worker and therapist, Broomstick magazine, correspondence, Taylor's published and unpublished writings, a large collection of photographs, and a t-shirt and a political button collection.
Extent:
7 cartons, 2 manuscript boxes, 2 oversized flat boxes, and 2 oversized folders (11 cubic feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Polly Taylor papers (GLC 212), James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes material related to Polly Taylor's family and personal history, correspondence, her work as co-editor of Broomstick magazine, published and unpublished writings, materials relating to support groups and other associations, a large collection of photographs, and a collection of t-shirts and political buttons.

Noteworthy are the oral histories, the folders on the International Grenfell Association in Labrador, and the Framingham Women's Reformatory in Massachusetts found in Series 1. Rich descriptions of Taylor's early life in San Francisco and the beginnings of Broomstick are found in Series 2, folder 1: Outgoing and notes. Series 5 contains over 500 pages written in a Lesbian Memoir writing group. Also of note are the photographs in Series 6, which document her activities with civil rights movements, including Yvonne Wanrow.

Biographical / historical:

Polly Irene Taylor (1929-2016) was a lesbian activist for feminism, peace, and social justice. Born into a Quaker family in Haverford, Pennsylvania, she embodied the Quaker principles of peace, equality, and social justice throughout her life.

She experienced the loss of her mother at the age of 13, which led her to attend a Quaker boarding school. Between college and graduate school, she worked at the International Grenfell Association in North West River, Labrador, Canada, serving as a house mother for students who traveled from the northern regions for schooling. Her father picked her up for her summer break after her second year there. On the way home they were in an auto accident that killed her father and left Polly with many injuries.

After graduating from Wellesley College, she pursued a master's degree, setting the foundation for her career as a psychological social worker and therapist. Following graduate school, she worked in a child-welfare agency in Buffalo and developed a private therapy practice in 1961. She eventually became disenchanted with therapy and left Buffalo with Marge Nelson on a mission seeking an older women's movement. They traveled around the United States in an RV and went to many locations, including Washington DC, where they collaborated with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). During their travels, they supported Joan/Joanne Little and Yvonne Wanrow before finally settling in San Francisco in 1978. Together with Mickey (Maxine) Spencer, she launched Broomstick magazine, a radical feminist publication for women over 40, which they co-published for 15 years.

She was a member of Old Lesbians Organizing Change (OLOC) and was involved with several support and writing groups. At age 65, she became the first openly lesbian individual to obtain low-income senior housing at Coleridge Senior Housing in San Francisco and helped other senior lesbians find housing there as well. She was also a member of a group known as the "Wild Old Women" who successfully managed to shut down their local bank for an hour every Thursday for five years. Motivated by her personal battles with asthma and COPD, Polly was also an active participant in the disability rights movement. Polly Taylor passed away on July 26, 2016.

Acquisition information:
Gift.
Processing information:

During processing, the entire collection was foldered and housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples remain. A selction of the day planners received in Series 1 were kept in the collection. One day planner was selected for every year (with the exception of 2016, all were kept for this year) as a representation of the material.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 8 series: Series 1: Biographical Material, Series 2: Correspondence, Series 3: Broomstick magazine, Series 4: Writings and journals, Series 5: Associations, Series 6: Printed material and VHS, Series 7: Photographs, and Series 8: Realia (T-shirts and buttons).

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid composed by Freya Channing. Content in the Biography and Abstract notes were adapted from writing by Carol Seajay.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-04 19:33:42 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

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. All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Polly Taylor papers (GLC 212), James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website