*Post written by Josh Knecht, student assistant at the University Archives and Special Collections.
Front cover of Chrysalis magazine, 1980. Source: Roselia N. Meny collection (MSS 303-1-7)
The Rice Library Archives and Special Collections has decided to double down on the material we have to offer pertaining to women’s history. A previous post mentioned the “Heresies Magazine” that is a part of the Roselia N. Meny collection, https://amusingartifacts.org/2018/03/15/womens-history-month-heresies-magazines/. This post discusses another set of magazines from that exact same collection, Chrysalis: A Magazine of Women’s Culture.
Chrysalis’ publication period spanned from 1977-1980. According Sorkin (2011), Chrysalis was an:
“Influential feminist publication that was collectively produced by artists and writers active in the Los Angeles feminist movement. Chrysalis’ complete integration of art, literature, and cultural studies was distinct from other journals of the era, in particular, Heresies, which began the same year in New York. While Heresies remains the better-known publication, it is Chrysalis that engaged a broader public, covering progressive issues that affected the women’s community at large.”
Front cover of Chrysalis Magazine, 1980. Source: Roselia N. Meny Collection (MSS 303-1-4).
This quote is important, because it signifies that though both magazines were committed to the feminist cause, they reached different audiences in different ways. The Rice Library Archives and Special Collections has access to both magazines within the Roselia N. Meny collection; this affords students and the public the ability to not only read the magazines, but also recognize the context in which they originally existed.
Come to the Rice Library Archives and Special Collections to check out the Roselia N. Meny collection and reconnect with women and feminist heritage during the month of March. You can also check out any of the other cool old stuff we have available to students and the public.
References
Sorkin, J. (2011, October 31). Second life: Chryslis Magazine. Retrieved from https://eastofborneo.org/articles/second-life-chrysalis-magazine/
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