Papers of Susan B. Echo, ca.1870-2010 (inclusive), 1970-2000 (bulk)
Overview
Correspondence, diaries, artwork, photographs, course work, and collected feminist and lesbian ephemera and memorabilia of feminist Susan B. Echo.
Dates
- Creation: 1870-2010
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1970-2000
Creator
- Echo, Susan B., 1955- (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Researchers are required to sign a special permission form for access to folders #24.1-31FB.4m, FD.1-FD.9, F+D.1, OD.1-OD.8, SD.1, PD.13-PD.32sl, and audiotapes #T-408.9 - T-408.15. An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.
Series I (folders #1.1-23.5, PD.1-PD.12, audiotapes #T-408.1 - T-408.8, and videotapes #Vt-230.1 - Vt-230.2) is closed until the death of Susan B. Echo.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. Copyright in the papers created by Susan B. Echo is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Schlesinger Library. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.
Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
13.8 linear feet ((28 + 1/2 file boxes, 1 carton, 1 folio box) plus 9 folio folders, 2 folio+ folders, 9 oversize folders, 1 supersize folder, 25 photograph folders, 4 folio photograph folders, 2 folio+ photograph folders, 1 oversize photograph folder, 1 supersize photograph folder, 76 slides, 17 audiotapes, 2 videotapes)Additional material was added to the collection in August 2020 and is located in F+D.2, OD.9, and PD33f-PD.34f+.
Series I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND PERSONAL, ca.1900-2010 (#1.1-23.5, FD.1, PD.1-PD.12, T-408.1 - T-408.8, Vt-230.1 - Vt-230.2), includes correspondence, diaries, address books, appointment books, course work, poetry, therapy notes, sketch books, biographical material, photographs, audiotapes, videotapes, etc. Folder titles were created by the processor. The series is arranged alphabetically by folder title followed by photographs, audiotapes, and videotapes. This series is closed until the death of Susan B. Echo.
Series II, COLLECTED EPHEMERA AND MEMORABILIA, 1909-2005 (#24.1-31FB.4m, FD.2-FD.8, F+D.2, OD.1-OD.7, OD.9, SD.1), includes flyers, brochures, posters, catalogs, invitations, minutes, and other items of an ephemeral nature collected by Susan B. Echo. This material documents feminist and lesbian-related activities and organizations, the bulk of which took place in Missouri or Colorado, although several topics are national in scope. Topics documented include feminism, women and the arts; women's health, women's music; women and religion; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender organizations and events, etc. Folders with very specific titles such as the names of organizations or events, originally containing only one or two documents were reorganized under larger topic areas such as "women's music" to bring similar material together. Other material consists of buttons; stickers and bumper stickers; patches and ribbons; jewelry; etc., documenting the same or similar topics to those documented by collected ephemera. The bulk of the buttons in this series were created by Ferne Sales and Manufacturing Company of West Orange, New Jersey, which appears to be no longer in operation; Donnelly/Colt Progressive Resources based in Chicago, Illinois which has been in continuous operation since 1975; and White Mare, a much smaller company founded by Liza Cowan (who was also a co-founder of Dyke: A Quarterly) who created the buttons to sell at women's music festivals. Also included in this series are two assemblage pieces created by Susan Echo. Newsletters and commercially produced music phonograph discs and cassettes were removed and transferred to the Schlesinger Library's Printed Materials Division. See Series III for photographs collected by Echo. The series is arranged with ephemera appearing before memorabilia and alphabetically therein. Most folder titles were created by the processor. Those appearing in quotes were created by Echo.
Series III, PHOTOGRAPHS, AUDIOTAPES, AND OVERSIZED, ca.1870-1999 (#FD.1-FD.9, F+D.1, OD.1-OD.8, SD.1 PD.13-PD.34f+, T-408.9 - T-408.15) includes photographs, negatives, slides, audiotapes, and videotapes. Photographs document Susan Echo's time at various Christian summer camps and a Girl Scout camp. Also included are photographs and slides taken by Susan Echo at poetry readings, protests, women's music events, feminist gatherings, etc., and include Margie Adam, Jill Johnston, Barbara Corr, Barbara Hammer, Alive!, Adrienne Rich, Linda (Tui) Tillery, Bernice Johnson Reagon, a United Farm Workers protest, a Take Back the Night march, and a Revive America Crusade tent revival (several of which were published), as well as photographs and slides of her assemblages. Echo also collected vintage photographs of cross-dressing men and women, women in intimate poses, and famous female musicians, actors, feminists, women in sports, etc., and those photographs are included in the series. Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be digitized and available online. Audio material in this series consists of recordings of women's music festivals and other musical performances by women; several women's studies classes (one taught by Joyce Trebilcot); lectures on homosexuality and religion; a workshop entitled "Women and Dignity" held at Washington University. Oversized folders include oversized material such as a newsletter, sketches, posters, etc., removed from folders in previous series and oversized folders already described in previous series. Their inclusion here serves as a shelf list. Folder and audiovisual titles were created by the processor. The series is arranged by format, with photographs appearing first, followed by audiovisual material, and finally oversized material.
BIOGRAPHY
Susan B. Echo was born in 1955 in the rural Midwest. She had two brothers and one sister. In her youth she attended a number of Christian summer camps, most notably Camp Aurora in Missouri. From 1974 until 1981 she attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, supplementing her course work at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and completing her degree at Webster College in 1982. During her college years she became interested in the culture and politics of feminism, attending women's community events such as music festivals, concerts, plays, workshops, symposia, etc. She took the name Susan B. Echo presumably as part of her identity as a feminist artist; Susan B. in homage to Susan B. Anthony and Echo as a more poetic version of her surname. She was an avid photographer and artist, publishing several photographs in feminist journals and having at least one photograph show in Missouri. She also entered a number of assemblages in shows in Colorado. She also wrote poetry, having several pieces published in feminist journals and newsletters. She volunteered at the Women's Eye, a local feminist book store (1977-1983), served on the Washington University's Women Studies Steering Committee (1977-1978), and was elected as a member of the Coalition Council of the United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns (1986-1991). In the early 1990s she worked for the Colorado AIDS Project.
ARRANGEMENT
The collection is arranged in three series:
- Series I. Biographical and personal, ca.1900-2010 (#1.1-23.5, FD.1, PD.1-PD.12, T-408.1 - T-408.8, Vt-230.1 - Vt-230.2)
- Series II. Collected ephemera and memorabilia, 1909-2005 (#24.1-31FB.4m, FD.2-FD.8, F+D.2, OD.1-OD.7, OD.9 SD.1)
- Series III. Photographs audiotapes, and oversized, ca.1870-1999 (#FD.1-FD.9, F+D.1, OD.1-OD.8, SD.1, PD.13-PD.34f+, T-408.9 - T-408.15)
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers: 2006-M81, 2006-M102, 2009-M45, 2009-M129, 2010-M241, 2011-M148. Accession number 2020-M44 was added to the collection in August 2020. Accession 2023-M123 was added to to folder PD.25f+ in October 2023.
The papers of Susan B. Echo were acquired by the Schlesinger Library from Susan B. Echo between May 2006 and September 2023.
SEPARATION RECORD
Donors: Susan B. Echo
Accession numbers: 2006-M81, 2006-M102, 2009-M45, 2009-M129, 2010-M241, 2011-M148
Processed by: Mark Vassar
The following items have been removed from the collection and transferred to the Schlesinger Library Printed Materials Division:
- Adult Newsletter (Empowerment Program Services for Women), 1993
- The Alternative (Central Missouri State University), 1973
- The Alternative (University of Missouri, St. Louis), 1976, undated
- Athena Protects, 1975
- Black Newsletter, undated
- CAP Update (Colorado AIDS Project), 1992
- Center Lines (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Colorado), 2004
- CLOUTreach (Christian Lesbians Out Together), 1993-2000
- Commitment (United Nations), 1974
- Common Helps for Leaders (United Church of Christ Coordinating Center for Women in Church and Society), 1984-1985
- Common Lot (United Church of Christ Coordinating Center for Women in Church and Society), 1987
- Career Women's Communique (Rocky Mountain Career Women's Association), 1986
- Council Communique (National Association of Women Religious), 2001
- Currents (Rocky Mountain Conference for the United Church Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns), 1988
- Denver News and Views (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Denver), 1995
- Focus, 1977
- Gatherings, A Newsletter About Women (Washington University), 1980-1983
- The Gay News-Telegraph (Gay and Lesbian Advocates), 1982
- History and Report (Rape and Violence End Now), 1980
- Images (Conference for Catholic Lesbians), 1985-1986
- IGLA Bulletin (International Gay and Lesbian Archives), 1994-1995
- In Unity (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches), 1975
- Keeping in Touch (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches), 1988
- Legislative Bulletin (Gay Rights National Lobby), undated
- The Lesbian and Gay News-Telegraph (Kansas City, MO), 1993
- Liberation News Service, 1969-1970
- Linc (Lesbians in Colorado), 1995
- Little Known Mammals (Ladyfest Out West), 2003
- Marantha Newsletter (Marantha of the Riverside Church), 1981
- Mattachine Review (Mattachine Society), 1959
- Men (Colorado Men's Network), undated
- The Monthly Bulletin of the St. Louis Branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1976
- Montrose Voice, 1982
- NAWR Trends (National Assembly of Women Religious), 1975
- National Update (Women's Caucus for Art), 1985-1986
- News (Community of Women Artists), 1978
- News and Views (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Denver), 1987
- Newsletter (At the Foot of the Mountain), 1982
- Newsletter (Colorado Domestic Violence Coalition), 1990-1991
- [Newsletter] (Colorado Men's Network), undated
- Newsletter (Community of Women Artists), 1976
- [Newsletter] (Congregation Tikvat Shalom), 1981
- [Newsletter] (Dignity St. Louis), 1987-1988
- Newsletter (Gay and Lesbian Inter-Religious Coalition), 1988
- [Newsletter] (The Matrix, Inc.), 1981
- Newsletter (St. Louis Abused Women's Support Project), 1981
- Newsletter (St. Louis Archdiocesan Council of Religious Women), 1975
- Newsletter (Pacific Society for Women in Philosophy), 1975
- Newsletter (Women's Caucus for Art, St. Louis Chapter), 1979
- Newsletter (Women's Caucus - Religious Studies), 1977
- Newsletter (Women's Theological Center), 1984-1985
- One, The Homosexual Viewpoint (Los Angeles, CA), 1959, 1966
- Open Hands (Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian/Gay Concerns, Inc.), 1989
- Perspectives (National Women's Studies Association), 1986
- Phoenix Midwest Homophile Voice, 1966
- Probe (National Assembly of Women Religious), 1976
- The Rapporter (East Bay Metropolitan Community Church, Oakland, California), 1975
- St. Louis Men's Projects Newsletter, 1978
- Social Action (Council for Christian Social Action), 1967
- Supporters of Silkwood (Karen Silkwood Public Education Fund), 1978
- Themes: A Newsletter of the New Women's Religion (Susan B. Anthony Coven, Los Angeles, California), 1980
- Update: Colorado AIDS Project News, 1989
- Update (Colorado AIDS Project), 1996
- Vector (Society for Individual Rights), 1966
- Virgina Woolf Miscellany, 1977
- Waves (United Church Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns), 1994, 1996
- Weird Sisters (Fort Collins, CO), 2002
- Weird Sisters West (Fort Collins, CO), 2004
- Women as Women as Women (Kansas City Women's Liberation Union), 1975-1976
- Women Energy: A Feminist Literary and Art Journal, 1976
- The Women's Eye News (Clayton, Missouri), 1978
- Women's Sports Connection (St. Louis, Missouri), 1980-1983
- The Women's Voice in Saint Louis (St. Louis, Missouri), 1993-1994
- Works in Progress (Rocky Mountain Women's Institute), 2001
- Worksheet (Women's Center for Theologizing), 1975
The following item has been removed from the collection and transferred to the National Organization for Women chapter newsletter collection (Pr-1):
- Keepin' the Thing Goin', (North St. Louis County NOW), 1977
The following phonograph albums, 45 rpm phonograph disks, and cassette tapes were removed from the collection and transferred to the Schlesinger Library Printed Materials Division.
- Ain't No Where You Can Run/Take It With You Wherever You Go (45 rpm), Jasmine, 1982
- Bar I/Angry At This (45 rpm), Maxine Feldman and "Sisterhood," undated
- Telephone Line/Raise Yourself (45 rpm), Holly Near, 1979
- The Judge Said/Young Moon (45 rpm), Malvina Reynolds, undated
- ALIVE! (33 1/3 rpm), Alive!, 1979
- Call it Jazz (33 1/3 rpm), Alive!, 1979
- Debutante (33 1/3 rpm), Willie Tyson, 1977
- From Women's Faces (33 1/3 rpm), Therese Edell, 1976
- "I'm Looking for Some Long-time Friends..." (33 1/3 rpm), Ginni Clemmens, 1976
- More Than Friends (33 1/3 rpm), Robin Flower, 1979
- On the Edge (33 1/3 rpm), BabaYaga, 1978
- Oregon Mountains (33 1/3 rpm), Woody Simmons, 1977
- Rock Follies (33 1/3 rpm), Charlotte Cromwell, Julie Covington, and Rula Lenska, 1976
- [Self-titled] (33 1/3 rpm), Hazel & Alice, 1976
- [Self-titled] (33 1/3 rpm), Jade and Sarsaparilla, 1973
- [Self-titled] (33 1/3 rpm), Jasmine, 1981
- [Self-titled] (33 1/3 rpm), Linda Tilley (Tui), 1977
- The Ways a Woman Can Be (33 1/3 rpm), Teresa, 1977
- City Life (cassette), Alive!, undated
- I'd Rather Be Cute (cassette), Lynn Lavner, 1986
- Michigan Live '85 (cassette), Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, 1985
- "Songs of Struggle and Celebration" (cassette), Jeanne Mackey and Mary Trevor, 1975
- Unwrapped (cassette), Marilyn T., 1987
Processing Information
Processed: April 2015
Updated and additional material added: August 2020
By: Mark Vassar with the assistance of Dan Bullman
Additional material added: October 2023
By: Johanna Carll
Genre / Form
- Appointment books
- Audiotapes
- Baby books
- Bumper stickers
- Buttons
- Diaries
- Drawings
- Fliers
- Matchbooks
- Photographs
- Poems
- Posters
- Sketchbooks
- Videotapes
Topical
- Camps--Missouri
- Christian women--Missouri
- Depression in women--United States
- Equal rights amendments--United States
- Feminism and art--United States
- Feminists--Missouri--Saint Louis
- Lesbians--Missouri--Saint Louis
- Mothers and daughters--United States
- Psychotherapy--United States
- Religious camps--Missouri
- Reproductive rights--United States
- Sex discrimination against women--United States
- Sexism--United States
- Women and peace--United States
- Women's music
- Women--Violence against--United States
Creator
- Echo, Susan B., 1955- (Person)
- Title
- Echo, Susan B., 1955- . Papers of Susan B. Echo, ca.1870-2010 (inclusive), 1970-2000 (bulk): A Finding Aid
- Author
- Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- sch01494
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.