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Feminist Bookstall collection Papers of Sue McGrath and Annette Hodgins c.1970 - 1984

By: Contributor(s): Series: Series 1: Feminist Bookstall records (Sue Mcgrath’s Papers), 1982-83; Series 2: Feminist Bookstall (Sue Mcgrath’s Papers) Newspaper clippings, 1980; Series 3: Feminist Bookstall (Sue Mcgrath’s Papers) Newsletters, leaflets and journals, 1971-82; Series 4:Feminist Bookstall records (Annette Hodgins Papers), 1982-84Description: 0.09 linear metres Manila folders with paper contents ½ x T1 Box = H)25cm x (W)9cm x (D)40cm ½ standard archive box 0.09 linear metresSubject(s): Production credits:
  • PRODUCTION CREDITS NOTE: Library permission and acknowledgement required.
Summary: ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY The Feminist Bookstall established in July 1982 was an idea that “never got off the ground” [Letter from Sue McGrath and Annette Hodgins dated 22 July, 1982 published in August-September 1982 edition of ‘Wimminews’]. The Bookstall was housed in Canberra at the Women’s Centre at Lobelia Street, O’Connor, ACT. The main reason for its foundation was to provide an important public face for the women’s movement. The Bookstall was a place where Canberra women could make contact with feminists, get involved with feminist activities and gain access to feminist writing and music [Op cit]. The Bookstall was open at the Women’s Centre on certain days. It was taken to the Civic shopping area in Canberra each Saturday and to other venues for specific occasions such as rallies, meetings, and fairs [Ibid]. Sue McGrath and Annette Hodgins hoped that the Feminist Bookstall could work on a non-profit basis keeping the mark-up level as low as possible. The Bookstall sold feminist books, pamphlets, magazines, journals, jewellery badges, stickers, posters, cards, records and crafts. It was a site where women’s writing and music could gain exposure. The Feminist Bookstall was seen as “a way of fighting the ‘rip-off’ of women and the movement by capitalist patriarchs going under the guise of ‘alternative bookshops’” [Ibid]. There were several reasons for its failure. Both Annette Hodgins and Sue McGrath gained full time employment during the period they were trying to set up the enterprise. Annette Hodgins gives a second reason stating, “in retrospect we felt it was too much for just two of us” [ibid].
Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode
Archives - Collection Archives - Collection Jessie Street National Women's Library Archives Feminist Bookstall Collection 1/1/4/4 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available for reference in the library

CONTENTS

BOX 0019

Series 1. Feminist Bookshop records (Sue McGrath’s papers) 1982-1983:
This series contains papers held by Sue McGrath that were generated during the establishment of the Feminist Bookstall. It comprises minutes of the group, which met irregularly from July 1982 until September 1982, correspondence of Feminist Bookstall, concerning the establishment of the bookstall and fundraising issues. It also includesnotes and working papers pertaining to government grants and fundraising activities of the Feminist Bookstall.
File 1.

Series 2. Feminist Bookstall (Sue McGrath’s papers) Newspaper clippings 1980:

This series comprises Australian newspaper clippings referring to issues of sexism and women’s issues held by Sue McGrath that were generated during the establishment of the Feminist Bookstall.
File 2.

Series 3. Feminist Bookstall (Sue McGrath’s papers) Newsletters, leaflets and journals 1971-1982:

This series comprises a collection feminist leaflets newsletters and journals acquired by Sue McGrath.
Newsletters, leaflets and journals 1971-1982,
Women Decide produced by the NSW Regional Policy Collective of the Australian Union of Students.(Undated.)
What Every Woman Should Know, Working Women’s Group Women’s Liberation, November 1971.
Refractory Girl, a women’s studies journal winter no. 9 1975.
Vashti A Women’s Liberation Magazine issue 25, Winter 1979.
NSW Regional Women’s Survival Manual AUS NSW Region publication 1979.
Directory Of Government Resources For Women, Office of Women’s Affairs, Department of Home Affairs and Environment, Australian Government Publishing Service Canberra, 1981.W
Womanspeak November-December 1982 Vol. 7 No. 3 Published by Womenspeak Spit Junction
Wimminsnews August-September 1982 no publishing details.
File 3.

Series 4. Feminist Bookstall records (Annette Hodgins Papers) 1982-84:

This series contains papers held by Annette Hodgins pertaining to the Feminist Bookstall. (Many of these papers are similar or duplicates of Sue McGrath’s papers.) Papers, which were contained in one file, have been kept in the order in which they were accumulated. There appears to be no discernable order. The file contains minutes, correspondence, fundraising information, notes & working papers, and pamphlets created during 1982 when the Feminist bookshop was being established. There is a document in the file titled “Postmortem” dated 26/4/84, which gives some insights into to why the idea of a Feminist Bookstall failed.
File 4.

RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLICATION:
Reproduction rights are owned by Jessie Street National Women's Library. Material may be saved or printed for private research, however, if it is to be used for any other purpose, a ‘Request Permission to Publish’ form should be completed.
RESTRICTIONS ON PHYSICAL ACCESS:
Available for research. Not for loan.

PRODUCTION CREDITS NOTE:
Library permission and acknowledgement required.

The papers were received by the Library in a type 1 archive box numbered 262 which was renumbered 0019.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Feminist Bookstall established in July 1982 was an idea that “never got off the ground” [Letter from Sue McGrath and Annette Hodgins dated 22 July, 1982 published in August-September 1982 edition of ‘Wimminews’]. The Bookstall was housed in Canberra at the Women’s Centre at Lobelia Street, O’Connor, ACT. The main reason for its foundation was to provide an important public face for the women’s movement. The Bookstall was a place where Canberra women could make contact with feminists, get involved with feminist activities and gain access to feminist writing and music [Op cit]. The Bookstall was open at the Women’s Centre on certain days. It was taken to the Civic shopping area in Canberra each Saturday and to other venues for specific occasions such as rallies, meetings, and fairs [Ibid].

Sue McGrath and Annette Hodgins hoped that the Feminist Bookstall could work on a non-profit basis keeping the mark-up level as low as possible. The Bookstall sold feminist books, pamphlets, magazines, journals, jewellery badges, stickers, posters, cards, records and crafts. It was a site where women’s writing and music could gain exposure. The Feminist Bookstall was seen as “a way of fighting the ‘rip-off’ of women and the movement by capitalist patriarchs going under the guise of ‘alternative bookshops’” [Ibid].

There were several reasons for its failure. Both Annette Hodgins and Sue McGrath gained full time employment during the period they were trying to set up the enterprise. Annette Hodgins gives a second reason stating, “in retrospect we felt it was too much for just two of us” [ibid].

RESTRICTIONS ON REPRODUCTION
Library permission and acknowledgement is required to copy material for research purposes.

1/1/1993
0.09 linear metres.

JSNWL

English

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