Feminist Archive North

Following government guidance on COVID-19, the University of Leeds has closed the Special Collections section of the Brotherton Library, where Feminist Archive North is based. As a result, FAN will also be closed for the foreseeable future. This follows a three-week closure of the archive because of a strike by University and College Union staff.

We regret that at present we are unable to reply to emails, including ones which may have been sent in the last three weeks. We will try to remedy this. In the meanwhile we hope that everyone stays safe, and we look forward to the time that FAN is open again.

Thank you to everyone who came to our exhibition for International Women’s Day, which focused on the seven demands of the Women’s Liberation Movement, the first four of which were discussed at the first conference in 1970. In the case of at least two of those demands – Free 24-Hour Childcare and End Violence Against Women – the situation is probably worse today than it was 50 years ago.

 

This year marks 50 years since the first national conference of the Women’s Liberation Movement. Feminist Archive North’s exhibition this year is centred around the seven demands of the WLM, looking at how much we have achieved and how far we still have to go. The display includes feminist journals, posters, badges, banners and t-shirts. We will also be showing a short film of the first conference in 1970 and the first WLM march in 1971.

Friday 6 March, 11am-4pm in the Sheppard Room, in the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Feminist Library has moved to Peckham following a successful crowdfunding campaign, and is reopening in February. The Library, which has one of the most important collections of feminist materials in the UK, has moved to the Sojourner Truth Community Centre, 161 Sumner Rd, Peckham, London SE15 6JL. There are two opening parties, one on Friday 31 January, the other on Saturday 2 November, with performers. music, food and drink. More information and tickets here.

Originally known as the Women’s Research and Resources Centre, the Feminist Library was set up in 1975, at the height of the Women’s Liberation Movement, a time of intense political campaigning and collective organising. Since the Library’s beginnings, it has provided a place where women could network and educate themselves, and has become a contact point for women locally, nationally and internationally.
feministlibrary.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Feminist Archive North recently worked with a group of students from Leeds University on a project looking at women’s peace camps. The students, from the School of Fine Art, History of Art, and Cultural Studies, explored our collections to create an exhibition on the topic. It can be seen in the foyer of Special Collections at the university until 22 January.