Series II. SUBJECT FILES, 1960-2013 (#30.11-58.5, 98F+B.1, OD.1-OD.2, SD.1, E.7-E.16)
Scope and Contents
Series II, SUBJECT FILES, 1960-2013 (#30.11-58.5, 98F+B.1, OD.1-OD.2, SD.1, E.7-E.16), includes correspondence, notes, printed material, etc., documenting Atkinson's involvement in feminist groups and social justice movements and her life as an academic. Files document Atkinson's involvement with feminist organizations, including National Organization for Women (NOW), The Feminists, Human Rights for Women, and Radical Women, as well as her close friendships with other feminists, particularly Flo Kennedy and Mary Eastwood. Materials relating to Atkinson's feminist activities also chronicle the tight-knit world of radical feminists in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, showing the emotional and financial support offered to feminists in need, as well as rifts that arose between feminists stemming from personal disputes and suspicions of alliances with the FBI. As an active participant in the radical, feminist, and lesbian rights movements, Atkinson frequently used her connections across movements to rally support for political prisoners, including Valerie Solanas, Susan Saxe, and Pat Swinton. Files on these individuals include correspondence with Atkinson, as well as financial documents, press releases, and correspondence with others concerning raising funds for prisoner defense funds.
In the early 2000s, Atkinson began considering selling her archive. At the urging of her friend, Arthur Danto, Atkinson began working with bookseller Glenn Horowitz. Files relating to Atkinson's archives, as well as those relating to Horowitz, document Atkinson's work to gather together her archive and organize it in preparation of selling it. Correspondence with Horowitz includes discussions of the scope of the archives, including interesting items Atkinson found, as well as potential buyers of the archives. Correspondence does not include details of negotiations with the Schlesinger Library for purchase of the archive. Due to financial difficulties, Atkinson was forced to sell parts of her archives, such as the Radical Feminist Questionnaire Project files, a draft of Women and Oppression, and her files on Valerie Solanas. In an effort to maintain a complete archive, materials were scanned and print-outs of the scans were added to Atkinson's archives. Files are arranged alphabetically.
Dates
- Creation: 1938-2013
Language of Materials
Materials mainly in English, with some materials in French.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Collection is open for research, with the exception of folders 13.1, 23.11, 23.13, 24.2, 25.1-27.4, and E.4-E.5, which are closed until the death of Ti-Grace Atkinson due to the presence of her Social Security number. An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.
Extent
41.41 linear feet ((95 file boxes, 2 half file boxes, 1 folio+ box) plus 2 folio folders, 3 oversize folders, 1 supersize folder, 21 photograph folders, 215 slides, 27 audiotapes, 2 CDs, 1 object)22.05 Megabytes (1120 files)
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Creator
- From the Collection: Atkinson, Ti-Grace (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.