A couple of weeks ago when the restrictions let up and Glaswegian’s could travel again I drove my friend and I to Wigtown: Scotland’s National Book Town. It was on this journey that we went into Reading Lasses and found a copy of The Daughters of Karl Marx which I snatched up immediately. It wasn’t until I was looking through it later that night that I found old newspaper clippings of more history from the Marx family and was transported back to the Women’s Library archives. A true kinder surprise for lovers of women’s history everywhere!
I’ve been volunteering with the library now for a few years and although I’m relatively new to archiving, I’m not necessarily new to the archives. I have already been in the privileged position of partaking in days out to the library with my university class where we spent whole afternoons looking through the libraries amazing collection. I’ve been lucky enough to flick through copies of Harpies & Quines, Spare Rib, Women’s Liberation Newsletters and Shebang magazine and I adore every second I spend doing so.
Anyway, I’ve decided that in this blog I am going to list my top three favourite things about the women’s archive at GWL. I hope this inspires you – when the time is right – to make a trip to the library and explore the archives. Whether you’re a student, academic or just someone who’s interested to know more about the diverse range of women’s history that you won’t get in any other Scottish museum then you’ve come to the right place.
- History & Herstory
One aspect of the archives that never fails to amaze me is how the discourse around certain topics such as abortion, immigration and racism have changed very little from the days of the Women’s Liberation Movement and before. I know… you’re not exactly shocked but stay with me.
I first learned about Southall Black Sisters whilst studying anti-racist, feminist movements within my gender studies course at university but it wasn’t until I was reading through a Shebang’s magazine that I got to thinking about women rising up and speaking out about racism and domestic violence that I thought about what happens to women who do that today.
Maybe it’s because the breath of activism today is more accessible and widely recognised because of social media, but I feel like when groups are formed and people protest social injustice that they are often slammed for being ‘the woke left’ or ‘political correctness has gone nuts’ with ‘people protesting anything these days’… but the thing is, this is not a new phenomenon. We are not a pedantic generation. The truth is if you think that TV show would get cancelled because it’s ‘considered sexist nowadays’ then it was sexist then too. What I’m trying to say is that, as a millennial I can often feel the judgement in how I view the world and its injustices but when I’m sat with the archives and I see how people were fighting for causes some 50 years ago I’m reminded that this is important work and to not let myself be put off by outdated notions.
Times are changing and they’re changing because of groups that formed to speak out against social injustices. In the case of the SBS: racism and domestic abuse. We owe an incredible amount of the rights we have today (and hope to have tomorrow) because of groups like these and their members. I’ve attached a copy from Shebang’s Issue 2 above which demonstrates this point and I feel it is still incredibly important today.
2. “Women aren’t funny”
Well actually, they are. Like I say, a trip to the archives can be quite hard hitting when you’re reading about the issues I discussed above and it can be quite demotivating when you think of some of the topics that are still being debated today around women’s equality. However, that’s not all you’ll find in the archives. In fact, many of the magazines, newspapers and zines feature many cartoonists and comics and they’re – you guessed it – funny!
I’ve attached a couple of comic strips below, also from Shebang magazine to help women figure out what type of lesbian they are. Maybe you’re a lipstick lesbian? An sm dyke? A woolly jumper? The “I’ve made a political decision to be a lesbian as an extension of my feminism but I’m seeing a man at the moment” dyke? A closet lesbian? Or repressed? Maybe this comic taking the mick out of queer stereotypes can help you decide. Or if you’ve got this one covered and just love comics then I guarantee you an entertaining afternoon exploring the archives on the hunt for funnies. You will not be disappointed!
I’ve been a lover of comic strips since I found my Dad’s old Garfield comics as a young ‘un so I absolutely love coming across these during my archiving duties. I find it especially warming amongst all the history – that is really rather hard hitting and daunting – to be brought back to earth and be reminded that although these papers depict much of women’s history, that we have also been funny buggers for quite some time too. In fact, after hearing Kate Charlesworth discuss her time as a comic during Section 28 I have a new-found respect for all these amazing creators for content that is also important to our history.
3. The cats are adorable, so are the staff
Advertisements! I absolutely love finding old advertisements for liberation meetings, political rallies and protests, abortion and H.I.V support groups and of course, old shop listings. I love to know what groups were supporting which causes and which magazines they decided to advertise in. If you’re a history lover then you already know the archives are for you but it is these hidden gems that give us that extra something to take away. Yes, you’ll learn all about important movements in feminist and queer history but you’ll also learn what was playing at the theatre, cinema or where you can rent some bicycles. The archives don’t just depict our history, they’re a massive part of our culture.
And look… I’m not saying Shebang’s is the correct place to advertise for a cat themed shop… but I’m certainly not saying it’s the wrong place.
Sadly, my time at the archives is coming to an end for now as I begin a new chapter in my life and start a new job. I’ll be joining a large proportion of the population who have Saturday’s and Sunday’s off and while this is new for me, I’m sure you’ll still find me cuddled up with my cats reading my books and discovering more amazing aspects of women’s and LGBTQIA+ history! Luckily, I’m still able to attend events and do some writing for the Blog so you won’t get rid of me that easily.
Till next time!
Thanks for reading,
Ashley
xo
