Finding aid to the Joanne Passet Research Material on Barbara Grier
Finding aid prepared by Tim Wilson
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4400
info@sfpl.org
2023
Title: Joanne Passet Research Material on Barbara Grier,
Date (inclusive): 1931-2014
Date (bulk): 2006-2013
Collection Identifier: GLC 222
Creator:
Passet, Joanne Ellen, 1954-
Physical Description:
1 Cubic Feet
(1 carton)
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4400
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The collection contains Passet's interviews and correspondence about the life and work of lesbian author and publisher Barbara
Grier. Grier was one of the editors of
The Ladder and one of the founders of Naiad Press. interviewees and correspondents include: Grier's life partner Donna McBride, Grier's
sisters, and Naiad published authors. The publication of
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence is well covered. Passet's collection also includes photocopies of some documents on Grier's parents.
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and literary rights are held by The San Francisco Public Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Joanne Passet Research Material on Barbara Grier (GLC 222), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public
Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Joanne Passet, June 10, 2016. In April 2014, Passet had previously donated: 2 calendars kept by Barbara Grier,
a copy of Grier's birth certificate (1933), Grier's father's divorce record (1931), and an interview of Grier by Mailda Tilchen.
Biographical / Historical
Joanne Passet is an American historian, teacher, librarian, and writer. She is a professor emeritus at Indiana University,
where she taught history, and previously, library and information science. She has two doctorates, and is best known for two
biographies, one of publisher Barbara Grier, and the other, of writer Jeannette Howard Foster. She has won several awards
during her career, including a Fulbright Scholarship and an award from the American Library Association.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains Passet's interviews and correspondence about the life and work of lesbian author and publisher Barbara
Grier. Grier was one of the editors of
The Ladder and one of the founders of Naiad Press. Interviewees and correspondents include: Barbara Grier, Grier's life partner Donna
McBride, Grier's sisters, and Naiad published authors. The publication of
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
is well covered, including photocopies of correspondence from 1981-1985. Passet's collection also includes photocopies of
some documents on Grier's parents. In 2016, Passet published the biography
Indomitable: the life of Barbara Grier (Tallahassee: Bella Books).
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series: Series 1. Correspondence and Interviews; Series 2. Grier Source Material; Series
3. Grier Family Material; and, Series 4. Books.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women publishers.
Lesbian authors -- United States -- Biography.
Lesbian publishers and publishing -- United States -- Biography
Passet, Joanne Ellen, 1954-
Grier, Barbara, 1933-2011
Series 1
Correspondence and Interviews
Correspondence between Barbara Grier and Joanne Passet,
2005-2011
Correspondence with Barbara Grier, Donna McBride, et al.; some lists and flyers,
2006-2014
Emails and interviews for
Indomitable
, A-G,
2007-2014
General
Includes audiocassette tape labeled "B J Bohan and N J Manahan."
Emails and interviews for
Indomitable
, H-W,
2011-2013
Correspondence between Donna McBride and Joanne Passet,
2012-2013
General
Also contains some photocopied letters from Barbara Grier to Donna McBride from the 1980s.
McBride, Donna. Interview notes,
2012, undated
O'Shea, Kathleen. Correspondence with Joanne Passet (2010), and with Nancy Manahan, Barbara Grier, Rosemary Curb, and Joanne
Marrow,
Lynch, Lee. Correspondence with Joanne Passet,
2013
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
Correspondence with authors / contributors,
2011
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
Readers Responses,
2008-2011
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
Contributors, Lists, Correspondence,
1985, 2010-2011
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
Informed consent,
2010-2011
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
newspaper publicity,
March-May, 1985
[
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence
] Forum,
1985, 2012
Nancy Manahan interview,
2008
Nancy Manahan Emails with Joanne Passet,
2008-2010
Interview with Rosemary Curb and Nancy Manahan,
November 2008
Correspondence between Rosemary Curb and Nancy Manahan,
1981-1983
Rosemary Curb memoir,
2010-2011
Rosemary Curb Emails with Joanne Passet,
2007-2011
Rosemary Curb Correspondence 1980s,
1983-1986
Rosemary Curb book tour journal,
1985
Rust, Pamela, writing as C. Barringer. Correspondence with Joanne Passet,
2012-2013
General
Includes copies of Rust's correspondence with Barbara Grier (1990s), with Jane Rule (1964), and of Rust's letters and articles
in the 1960s.
Tilchen, Maida. Correspondence with Joanne Passet (2010-2012), and photocopy of interview of Barbara Grier by Tilchen (1977-1978),
Tilchen, Maida. Interview of Barbara Grier in 1977 or 1978 for
Body Politic
,
1977-1978
Series 2
Barbara Grier Source Material
Grier writing [published in]
Arena Three
,
1964-1966
Calendar (kept by Barbara Grier) "Women of a Different Light,"
1991
Calendar (kept by Barbara Grier) "1991 Lunar Calendar: Dedicated to the Goddess in Her Many Guises,"
1991
Series 3
Grier Family Material
Barbara Grier's birth certificate (1933); Philip B. Grier's divorce record [Barbara's father] (1931)
Grier Family History (Penni and Diane),
2012-2013
General
Joanne Passet's correspondence with Barbara's sisters: Penelope Grier Martin (Penni), and Diane Grier.
Grier Family -- Detroit [research notes],
Sex Variant Women in Literature: a Historical and Quantitative Survey
by Jeannette H. Foster (New York: Vantage Press, 1956)
1956, 2015
General
First edition. Inscribed: "To Barbara Grier, this volume's first fan, Jeannette H. Foster, February 15, 1957." Bookplate:
"Ex Libris Helen Bennett and Barbara Grier." Inscribed: "Helen and Barbara, February, 1957." Includes letter from Donna McBride
to Joanne Passet, June 21, 2013, in which Donna gives Jo this copy from Barbara's library. Also includes newspaper clippings.
Pencilled note on Foreword page reads: "Title underlined in text means owned or read."
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Joanne Passet sent the book to SFPL on August 25, 2015.
Two Women Revisited: the poetry of Jeannette Foster and Valerie Taylor
(Austin, Texas: Banned Books, 1991)
1991
General
Joanne Passet noted the dates of Foster's poems on the Contents page.
