Corvallis Lesbian Avengers Collection, 1990-2000
The Corvallis Lesbian Avengers Collection documents the activities of the Corvallis chapter of the Lesbian Avengers throughout the 1990s. The Corvallis Lesbian Avengers were a local chapter of the national Lesbian Avengers organization. Originally formed in 1992 in New York City, the Lesbian Avengers were a direct-action group focused on issues vital to lesbian survival and visibility.
The bulk of the collection is made up of photo albums and scrapbooks containing photographs, news clippings, flyers, artwork, poetry, and other paper material. The collection also includes a small collection of artifacts, an annotated calendar, and 3 issues of the Necessary Friction zine produced by the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers.
The entire collection is digital and fully available upon patron request.
Oral history interviews of several founding members of the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers containing additional information can be found in the OSU Queer Archives Oral History Collection (OH 034). These include interviews with DJ Travers, Julie Derrick, and Brian Parks.
Container List
- Series 1: Albums, Scrapbooks, and Photographs, 1990-2000 Add to Shelf
The materials in this series, spanning a variety of formats, document the history of the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers, including their activism, actions, social activities, and cultural environment. This series includes 5 photo albums and 2 scrapbooks.
The material in this series is accompanied by post-it notes supplied by the donor, transcribed into one document, which provide additional context to the material.
Please be aware that the photo album folders are derived from the personal albums of one of the donors. These folders represent material that was selected by the donor, and do not necessarily represent the full contents of the original albums.
- Extent: 5747.27 MB, 355 files
- Digital Folder 1: Photo Album, 1990-1992 Add to Shelf
- Material in this folder includes but is not limited to, photographs, scholarship information, news clippings about protest actions against the ROTC's presence at a women's center event, news clippings about protest actions against 1992 Oregon Ballot Measure 9, a program for the Harvey Milk Awards Dinner, and a program for OSU Gay Pride Week.
- Extent: 330.64 MB, 14 files
- Digital Folder 2: Photo Album, 1991-1993 Add to Shelf
- Material in this folder includes but is not limited to photographs and news clippings. The material is particularly focused on protests against Playboy magazine, and an attack on the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Alliance's (LGBA) tent during OSU Gay Pride week.
- Extent: 355.6 MB, 24 files
- Digital Folder 3: Photo Album, 1995-1996 Add to Shelf
- The material in this folder includes but is not limited to photographs and ephemera documenting the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers' activist actions and social events from 1995 to 1996.
- Extent: 2209.83 MB, 140 files
- Digital Folder 4: Photo Album, 1998 Add to Shelf
- The material in this folder includes but is not limited to photographs and ephemera documenting the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers' activist actions and social events in 1998.
- Extent: 869.4 MB, 76 files
- Digital Folder 5: Photo Album, 1998-2000 Add to Shelf
- The material in this folder includes but is not limited to photographs and ephemera documenting the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers' activist actions and social events from 1998 to 2000.
- Extent: 1607.87 MB, 92 files
- Digital Folder 6: Scrapbook, circa 1995-1997 Add to Shelf
- This scrapbook documents the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers from late 1995 through early 1997. Materials in the scrapbook include but are not limited to: promotional materials, photographs, artwork, poetry, news clippings, and other ephemera. The original size of this scrapbook is 14in (length) x 11in (height). This folder contains 4 files: the entire scrapbook in a PDF file, a word document containing additional contextual information provided by the donor, a standalone scan of a flyer contained within the scrapbook, and a Word document providing information on that flyer.
- Extent: 131.26 MB, 4 files
- Digital Folder 7: Scrapbook, circa 1997-1998 Add to Shelf
- This scrapbook documents the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers from mid-1997 through early 1998. Materials in the scrapbook include but are not limited to: photographs, artwork, news clippings, poetry, promotional materials, and other ephemera. The original size of this scrapbook is 12in (length) x 14in (height). This folder contains 2 files: the entire scrapbook in a PDF file, and a Word document providing additional contextual information supplied by the donor.
- Extent: 242 MB, 2 files
- Digital Folder 8: Photographs, undated Add to Shelf
- This folder contains additional photographs not contained with the photo albums.
- Extent: 0.67 MB, 3 files
- Series 2: Artifacts, circa 1990s Add to Shelf
- This series contains 6 photographs of 3 Lesbian Avengers t-shirts, as well as a recruitment flyer.
- Extent: 13.09 MB, 8 files
- Digital Folder 1: T-Shirts, circa 1990s Add to Shelf
- Extent: 10.69 MB, 7 files
- Digital File "We Recruit" Sign: circa 1990s Add to Shelf
- Extent: 2.4 MB
- Series 3: Annotated Calendar, 1998 Add to Shelf
- The annotated calendar, in the form of a weekly planner also used as a journaling space, dates from May through February, but no more entries are listed after October. As a planner, it contains information about Lesbian Avengers events and actions, social activity, collaborators, and members, giving insight into the life and activities of those affiliated with the Lesbian Avengers. In addition, the calendar is filled with annotations, photographs, artwork, quotes, erotica, and other ephemera relating to personal growth, queer activism, and queer culture.
- Extent: 47.2 MB, 1 file
- Digital File 1: Annotated Calendar, 1998 Add to Shelf
- Extent: 47.2 MB
- Series 4: Necessary Friction Zine, 1996-1997 Add to Shelf
- The Necessary Friction zine, produced by the Corvallis Lesbian Avengers, features art and writing in a variety of formats that relate to the experiences of queer people, and especially lesbian women, as well as the activities of the Lesbian Avengers. This material was written by members of the Lesbian Avengers, as well as solicited from the broader Corvallis community.
- Extent: 61.6 MB, 3 files
- Digital File 1: Necessary Friction Issue 1, 1996 Add to Shelf
- This issue includes information about the Lesbian Avengers and their actions, member profiles, erotic fiction, personal essays, poetry, photographs, artwork, and flyers.
- Extent: 14.2 MB
- Digital File 2: Necessary Friction Issue 2, 1996 Add to Shelf
- This issue includes information about the Lesbian Avengers and their actions, frequently asked questions about the Lesbian Avengers, educational material, advocacy and activism materials, and poetry.
- Extent: 11.7 MB
- Digital File 3: Necessary Friction Issue 3, 1997 Add to Shelf
- This issue includes information about the Lesbian avengers and their actions, educational material, advocacy and activism material, poetry, personal essays, photographs, and artwork.
- Extent: 35.2 MB