Greetings and happy upcoming holidays!
November 20, 2009
While digging around in the Archives recently I came across an LGBT community group’s newsletter from 1994 pleading for monetary donations. I thought their angle was honest and forthright and immediately thought of using it for this year’s annual PNLA letter. It said: “We need to get something off our chests. We are not rich. We need money so we decided to level with you and just ask for it.” See, now doesn’t that sound reasonable? Asking for what we need and being ready to receive it with open arms. YES!
In addition to being dug around in, The Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives has had a wonderful and engaging year. We had a relatively quiet winter and when spring rolled around we made our move to the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma, WA. This was quite an endeavor. Lots of boxes and, yes, a U-haul was involved. In July volunteers began processing collections in Tacoma. Records about Seattle's Dyke Action, Push Magazine and Verbena Health (and its predecessor organizations: Lesbian Health Network, Sisters Health Services, Sappho’s Health Services, and the Seattle Lesbian Cancer Project) will soon be available online through our website. Stay tuned for further updates about online access to collections.
This summer PNLA womaned our annual info booth at the Seattle Pride Festival where many Lesbians and our friends were met and gret. In September, I presented a workshop about preserving personal papers at the BOLD (Bold Older Lesbians & Dykes) Conference in Vancouver, BC and got to know some wonderful Canadian Lesbians. Many herstorical connections were made. Somewhere in here I won the “Archival Mover and Shaker” award associated with the Society of American Archivists for moving and shaking things.
October brought activist-archivist and film maker Madeline Davis to Seattle’s Lesbian & Gay Film Festival for an intriguing Q & A after PNLA co-presented “Swimming With Lesbians” the story of the LGBT archives Madeline started in Buffalo, NY. Also in October, representatives from the Archives attended Dyke Community Activist’s fantastic 21st birthday celebration where more herstory was made and captured. There was an interactive timeline on the wall where women could place themselves and their political involvement and we were entertained for hours with a wonderful showcase of local music, poetry and performances and were fed delicious homemade entries from the Dyke Community Activists themselves!
In 2010, the women of the Archives are regrouping to look at our priorities and goals and to really cultivate a Pacific Northwest Lesbian community around collecting, documenting and providing access to Lesbian primary source materials. Members of PNLA and the Puget Sound chapter of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) are in the midst of forming a partnership where contacts for archival materials and candidates for oral herstories can easily be identified strengthening the missions of both groups.
Now is a great time to donate whatever you can spare for the future of the Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives. You not only get a tax write off, you get the satisfaction of knowing your money really helps the Lesbian community by sponsoring initiatives to save precious lesbian herstory from basement floods and attic & closet critters. Your contribution will also help volunteers be able to continue traveling to and from the Historical Society to make these community treasures available to researchers, friends and family to see, use and enjoy. It’s SIMPLE: Just click on the “DONATE” button on the right. Or you can surprise us and send a check to our PO Box: 27671, Seattle, WA 98165.
If you can’t commit to giving this year, you can help by spreading the word about PNLA. Everyone can do that!
You can visit our Facebook page and become a fan of the Archives to learn about recent happenings and see photos from our herstorical collections and events. If you are already a fan, THANK YOU. It’s wonderful to feel the love!
Tell friends and family how much you heart the Archives and advise them to sign up for our (low traffic) email list.
Help us find out what else is ‘out there’ in people’s attics, basements and closets and send us an email with relevant contact information.
Send us encouraging thoughts and wishes by email and/or phone. We want to hear from you.
Many blessings to you and yours this season!
Very Truly,
Lisa Cohen, Founder
Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives
GREAT BIG WONDERFUL NEWS!
The Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives has a HOME!
On Saturday, May 16th 2009 PNLA moved to the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) in Tacoma, Washington. The Archives, in cooperation with WSHS will continue to function. PNLA will scout out herstorical materials in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Southwestern British Columbia and make sure they are properly preserved and accessible for research and enjoyment at WSHS. When collections have been processed, an electronic record will be produced and available via the WSHS website telling you more about each collection in the Archives. The PNLA website and email contacts will continue to be up and running. On our website you will find current and past event information, announcements and subscription to our email list.
At this time we request that you wait until Autumn, 2009 to donate any herstorical materials to PNLA. We need a little time to get settled. Our voice mail phone number: (206) 654-4477 will continue to operate and you can leave messages as necessary. Any written correspondence and financial donations can still be sent to our PO Box.
If you are interested in helping cover moving expenses incurred, or you would like to sponsor a specific collection to be processed and fully available for research, now would be a great time to donate to PNLA. Your gift is always tax-deductible. Donations can easily be made online or sent to our PO Box: 27671, Seattle, WA 98165.
We still need volunteers to help process the collection. If you are available Tue-Fri 9-4 and have basic archival skills and an interest in preserving lesbian herstory, please contact PNLA. We do ask for a regular ongoing commitment.
When we’re settled we would like to offer a “house-warming” tour at WSHS in early 2010 so you can check out our new digs and see some of the amazing materials that make up the PNLA collection. We’ll keep you posted.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in PNLA.
Most Sincerely,
Lisa Cohen
Founder/Co-Director
Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives
PNLA in the Press
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Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives get international coverage! Check us out in Curve Magazine - Saving Our Herstory.
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Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives were featured in the March 2008 issue of Seattle Woman - Trailblazers: Four Women Leading the Way.
