urn:taro:utsa.00028 A Guide to the WomanSpace Records, 1982-2007 Text converted by SPI Content Sciences Inc., July 2003. Finding aid written in English. June 7, 2004Edited in XMetal 3 by Traci JoLeigh Drummond according to instructions inTARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions29 February 2008Edited in XMetal Author by Nikki Lynn Thomas according to instructions inTARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions Descriptive SummaryWomanspaceWomanspace Records 1982-2007Materials are in English..83 linear feet (approximately 600 items) MS 42 University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special CollectionsWomanSpace is the longest continuously published women's community newsletter in San Antonio. The records consist mainly of newsletters, but also contain submissions to the newsletter and event planning materials. Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Womanspace Records, MS 42, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

 Historical Note

First published as theWomen's Community Journal in February 1986, WomanSpace is the longest continuously published women's community newsletter in San Antonio. TheWomen's Community Journal envisioned itself as an open forum for the women's community to discuss issues affecting women's lives, especially within the lesbian community. Men and women were encouraged to contribute to the newsletter on topics spanning health, politics, religion, art, and social issues. Submissions took the form of articles, letters to the editor, opinions, artwork, poetry, and creative writing. To further enhance communication within the women's community, newsletter staff initiated a regular event known as Tuesday Night for discussing topics affecting women's lives. Topics ranging from real estate law to rape/incest were prepared for each Tuesday session. As ties to related community resources and events increased, the Tuesday Night events were superseded in 1995 by other events and meetings for the lesbian and gay community.

In 1987 newsletter staff developed an idea for creating a physical as well as spiritual and intellectual place for women to share ideas, learn, and reinforce one another: a place called WomanSpace. Ultimately WomanSpace was envisioned as a women's community center where women and men could meet, socialize, educate, share poetry, and participate in events. In this spirit, theWomen's Community Journal was renamed and debuted in November 1988 as WomanSpace.

By April 1995 WomanSpace became a member of the Esperanza Network, a San Antonio organization dedicated to forming alliances to counteract bigotry and oppression. WomanSpace continues to be written and published by the women's community of San Antonio.

 Scope and Content Note

The Records consist mainly of newsletters, but also contain submissions to the newsletter and event planning materials. Collectively, the records document the difficulties and successes in the creation and evolution of a women's newsletter published for and by the women's community in San Antonio. The records also provide insight into topics of interest to women, and document the unique expression of women's thoughts and opinions concerning issues and events confronting them in daily life.

WomanSpace is divided into two series. TheWomen's Community Journal series contains six newsletters from 1986-1987 documenting the efforts involved with starting the newsletter, the philosophy behind its creation, and the initial response from readers. Submissions of articles, poems, letters to the editor, and notices of events provide a sense of the type of reader feedback received. Tuesday Night planning material includes recommendations for discussion topics as well as background materials on specific topics, and flyers advertising the events. These materials document topics that women wished to discuss at the time, as well as some of the points of view presented at the meetings.

WomanSpace consists of a nearly complete set of WomanSpace newsletters beginning in November 1988 through March 2007. As with its forerunner, WomanSpace documents topics of interest to the women's community and the unique expression of women's thoughts on issues affecting their lives. In particular, articles, advertising of events and community resource listings in WomanSpace show evidence of the increasing awareness of and cooperation with related community resources.

Acquisition Information

Materials originally donated in 1997 (Acc. 1997-002, 2001-037, 2003-084, 2004-003, 2005-001). Newsletters are a continually contributed.

 Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

 Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish from Womanspace Records must be obtained from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

 Processing Information

Processed by Toni Jeske, Processing Archivist, September 1998.

 Index Terms OrganizationsWomanSpace.WomanSpace (Organization). Topics Lesbians--Texas--San Antonio. Women artists. Women--Social networks---Texas--San Antonio. Women--Texas--San Antonio--Periodicals. Women's periodicals. LocationsSan Antonio (Tex.)--Periodicals.San Antonio (Tex.)--Women.Genres/formatsNewsletters.Periodicals. Local Subjects Activism/Activists Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resources Women's Groups Detailed Description of the Collection Women's Community Journal, 1982-1988

Contains six newsletters of the Women's Community Journal, which preceded WomanSpace. The newsletter was published in February, March/April, May, and summer of 1986, as well as twice in 1987. Also included are submissions to the newsletter in the form of letters to the editor, poetry, articles, and event notices. Tuesday Night planning materials document topic ideas for discussions, flyers advertising Tuesday Nights, and background materials. Several documents are not dated.

Arranged by type of material and organized chronologically

 1 1 Newsletters 1 2 Submissions 1 3 Tuesday Night Planning WomanSpace, 1988-2007

Contains a nearly complete run of the WomanSpace newsletter. Missing issues are February, August, and November 1991; January, April, May, September, and November 1992; and March, May, and June 1993.

Arranged chronologically.

1 4 November 1988-December1988 1 5 January 1989-December 1989 1 6 January 1990- December 1990 1 7 January 1991- December 1991 1 8 February 1992-December 1992 1 9 January 1993-December 1993 1 10 January 1994- December 1994 1 11 January 1995- December 1995 1 12 January 1996- November 1996 1 13 January 1997- 1 14 July 1998 - October 1998 1 15 July 1999-November1999 2 1 January 2000-December 2000 2 2 January 2001-December 2001 2 3 January 2002-December 2002 2 4 January 2003 - December 2003 2 5 January 2004 - December 2004 2 6 January 2005 - March 2007