The Women’s Liberation Movement was a major factor in social change, from the groups and demonstrations of the 1970s to the activist policy work of the 1980s and 1990s. The 21st century feminist revival is a strong and vibrant force today. In our collections you can find out where ideas began, and how feminist politics were put into practice. The Feminist Archive has the original sources.
Our archive contains a wealth of contemporary material in local, regional, national and international collections donated by individuals and organisations. There are personal and organisational papers, conferences, pamphlets, journals, newsletters, dissertations, oral history interviews, audio tapes, films, posters, badges, tee-shirts and banners. They cover all the issues raised by and responded to by the feminist movement.
Our aim is to spread information and develop current and further activism.
Feminist Archive North (FAN) was created in the 1980s, when some material from the Feminist Archive South, our sister archive founded earlier in the South-West, was relocated to the North of England. FAN was housed first in the University of Bradford, and then in Leeds Metropolitan University. During this time the collection grew. In 2001 FAN moved to Special Collections in the Brotherton Library at the University of Leeds, whose support we gratefuly acknowledge.
The Feminist Archive is a registered charity and is run entirely by volunteers.