Women’s Cultural Collective records
Scope and Contents
The Women’s Cultural Collective records date from 1980 to 2012 and measure 1 linear foot (3 boxes). Because the newsletter material appears throughout the collection, it has been arranged at the file level. The collection primarily consists of issues of the Women’s Cultural Collective newsletter (1980 -2012), a periodical compiling information about community events and resources, art, and LGBTQ news. Alongside the newsletters themselves, the records also include subscriber correspondence, editorial notes, records of and responses to a subscriber survey, logos, and layout mock-ups. The scrapbook (1980-1992) includes 1980s issues of the WCC newsletter as well planning notes and posters for WCC events. The collection also includes a small amount of promotional material for various musicians, an amicus brief in favor of same-sex marriage in Iowa, and event photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1980 - 2012
Creator
- Women's Cultural Collective (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The records are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.
Copyright status for collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives as the source of the material. For further information, visit the Special Collections and Archives website.
Biographical / Historical
Growing out of the radical community associated with the Little Red Book Store in Des Moines, Iowa, the Women’s Cultural Collective (WCC) was officially founded in 1979. The WCC was created to provide a safe atmosphere for lesbians and other women who had experienced exclusion from the mainstream feminist movement at the time to engage in conversation and enjoy each other’s company. The WCC hosted monthly coffeehouse events to highlight local and regional musical acts. As audiences grew, the coffeehouses began to feature poetry readings, comedy, and other types of performances. The organization also sponsored a variety of social activities including movie nights, camp retreats, bike-rides, and sports gatherings. The WCC promoted these events via a newsletter, which was originally printed and distributed by mail, and later digitally as an email newsletter. In 2003, the WCC launched a website, which can be found at https://www.iowawcc.com.
Full Extent
1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Women's organization aimed to promote community building and to provide a safe atmosphere for lesbians in Central Iowa.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The records were donated by Jan Bellucci (donor no. 1768), Sandy Gahn (donor no. 1767), Susan Jellinger (donor no. 1738), and Morgan Rivers (donor no. 1766) in 2025.
- Author
- Michelle Garcia, 2025.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)
lib-women@uiowa.edu