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{{Short description|Second-wave feminist publication}}
{{AfC submission|||ts=20220910153951|u=Kim Kleinert|ns=118}}
{{Infobox magazine
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{{Short description|Second wave feminist publication}}
| title = The New Women's Survival Catalog
{{Draft topics|women|literature|media}}
| logo =
{{AfC topic|soc}}
| logo_size = <!-- default is 180px -->
{{AfC submission|||ts=20220910132248|u=Kim Kleinert|ns=2}}
| image_file =
'''The New Women's survival Catalog''' is the collective outcome of an influential survey of the [[Second-wave feminism|second wave feminist]] network activities across the US <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The New Woman’s Survival Catalog {{!}} Primary Information |url=https://primaryinformation.org/product/the-new-womans-survival-catalog/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=primaryinformation.org}}</ref>. It was published in 1973, assembled in only five month by Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie <ref name=":0" />.
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| image_alt =
"At the time, the book was billed as the “feminist [[Whole Earth Catalog]],” Stewart Brand’s famed counterculture magazine that focused on ecology, DIY, and holism during its 1968-1972 reign" <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Meg |date=2018-08-16 |title=Behind the Making of the "Feminist Whole Earth Catalog" |url=https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/behind-the-making-of-the-feminist-whole-earth-catalog/ |url-status=live |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=AIGA Eye on Design}}</ref>.
| image_caption =
| editor = <!-- up to |editor5= -->
| editor_title = <!-- up to |editor_title5= -->
| previous_editor =
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| photographer =
| category = Catalog
| frequency =
| format =
| circulation =
| publisher = Published by Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./Berkley Publishing Corporation
| paid_circulation =
| unpaid_circulation =
| circulation_year =
| total_circulation =
| founder = Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie
| founded =
| firstdate = {{Start date and age|1973}}
| finaldate =
| finalnumber =
| company =
| country = United States
| based =
| language = English
| issn =
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}}
{{Italic title}}
'''''The New Women's Survival Catalog''''' is a 1973 book, the collective outcome of an influential survey of [[second-wave feminist]] network activities across the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The New Woman's Survival Catalog {{!}} Primary Information |url=https://primaryinformation.org/product/the-new-womans-survival-catalog/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=primaryinformation.org}}</ref> It was assembled in five months by Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie.<ref name=":0" /> The book was promoted as a "feminist ''[[Whole Earth Catalog]]''", referring to [[Stewart Brand]]'s famous 1968–1972 counterculture magazine.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Meg |date=2018-08-16 |title=Behind the Making of the "Feminist Whole Earth Catalog" |url=https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/behind-the-making-of-the-feminist-whole-earth-catalog/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=AIGA Eye on Design}}</ref> The book was reissued by art book publisher Primary Information in September 2019.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Meg|title=The Hitchhiker's Guide to Second-Wave Feminism|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/style/new-womans-survival-catalog.html|date=3 June 2020|work=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=20 October 2022}}</ref>


== Content ==
== Content ==
The New Woman’s Survival Catalog, styled as a typical sales catalog, contains listings, close descriptions, articles, contact information to a variety feminist initiatives and activism nationwide during the Women’s Movement, as well as a "Making the Book" section, showing the publication's research and production process <ref name=":0" />.
The New Woman's Survival Catalog, styled as a typical sales catalog, contains listings, close descriptions, articles, and contact information for feminist organizations and resources in North America. Another section details the publication's research and production process.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie's The New Woman's Survival Catalog: A Woman-made Book |first=Carmen |last=Hermo |url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/kirsten-grimstad-and-susan-rennies-the-new-womans-survival-catalog-a-woman-made-book/ |date=December 16, 2019 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=BOMB Magazine}}</ref>


⚫
The publication's content focusses on nine subjects, each marking its own chapter.
In the introduction, the editors clarify that the book catalogs and supports women-led businesses across the US and Canada, that have been there already. But more specifically it intents to outline the players, publishers, activists, and everyday women engaged in “the development of an alternative woman’s culture”—and to make it easy for readers to connect with them <ref>{{Cite web |title=BOMB Magazine {{!}} Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie’s The New Woman’s… |url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/kirsten-grimstad-and-susan-rennies-the-new-womans-survival-catalog-a-woman-made-book/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=BOMB Magazine}}</ref>.


⚫
The book opens with "I Communications", listing, amongst others, feminist presses, radios and publications. "II Art" marks the second subject, summarizing galleries, collectives, theatre and other feminist artistic approaches. "III Self-Health" and "IV Children" follow with information about the body, medical care, single parents and liberating literature examples. The fifth chapter is called "V Learning" summarizing liberation schools, feminist studies and women in history. "VI Self Defense" and "VII Work and Money" mark the next subjects, giving self help advice and contacts on both issues. The last two chapters "VIII Getting Justice" and "IX Building the Movement" state information about discrimination, legal sources, women's rights, women's organizations and centers, and are more focussed on the active fight for women's rights in terms of the second wave feminist movement and politically contextualizing the before mentioned subjects.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grimstad, Rennie |first=Kirsten, Susan |title=The New Woman's Survival Catalog |publisher=Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation |year=1973 |edition=1st |location=New York |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
The publication's content focusses on nine subjects, each marking it's on Chapter.


⚫
== Making the book ==
⚫
Starting with "I Communications" listing amongst others feminist Presses, Radios and Publications. "II Art" marks the second subject, summarizing Galleries, Collectives, Theatre and other feminist artistic approaches. "III Self-Health" and "IV Children" following with information about the body, medical care, single parents and liberating literature examples. Going on from that, the fifth Chapter is called "V Learning" summarizing Liberation Schools, Feminist Studies and Women in History. "IV Self Defense" and "VII Work and Money" marking the next subjects, giving self help advices and contacts on both issues. The last two chapters "VIII Getting Justice" and "IX Building the Movement" stating information about discrimination, legal sources, Women's Rights, Women's Organizations and Centers, are more focussed on the active fight for Women's Rights in terms of the second wave feminist movement and politically contextualizing the before mentioned subjects <ref>{{Cite book |last=Grimstad, Rennie |first=Kirsten, Susan |title=The New Woman's Survival Catalog |publisher=Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation |year=1973 |edition=1st |location=New York |language=en}}</ref>.
⚫
The ''New Woman's Survival Catalog'' originally started as a [[women's studies]] bibliography from the [[Barnard College]] Women's Center. Kirsten Grimstad was an alumna of Barnard at that time and had the task to put it together. She thought "the bibliography needed to have an activist dimension to it, otherwise it wouldn't be feminist".<ref name=":1" /> Together with Susann Rennie, who was at the board of the Women's Center, they conducted a nationwide survey to gather information and sold the concept as "the woman's ''Whole Earth Catalog''" to the publisher, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.<ref name=":1" />


⚫
During summer 1973 Grimstad and Rennie set out on a two-month roadtrip, covering 12,000 miles across the country, to speak directly with groups and get information on site. On July 13, Grimstad and Rennie returned and began sorting the material. The following August, production of the book began. Fanette Pollack and Ruth Bayard Smith helped the authors with copywriting and page layouts. Mark St. Giles was responsible for the typesetting, which she did on an [[IBM Selectric typewriter|IBM Selectric Composer]].<ref name=":1" />
⚫
== Making the Book ==
⚫
The New Woman's Survival Catalog originally started as a women's studies bibliography from the [[Barnard College]] Women's Center. Kirsten Grimstad was an alumna of that Barnard at that time and had the task to put it together. She thought "the bibliography needed to have an activist dimension to it, otherwise it wouldn’t be feminist" <ref name=":1" /> . Together with Susann Rennie, who was at the board of the Women's Center, they generated a nation wide survey to gather information and sold the concept as “the woman’s Whole Earth Catalog” to the publisher Coward, McCann & Geoghegan <ref name=":1" />.


⚫
On September 15 the [[paste up]] began with help from Peggy Lyons and Leslie Korda Krims. On October 3 the [[camera-ready]] copy was delivered to print.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Grimstad, Rennie |first=Kirsten, Susan |title=The New Woman's Survival Catalog |publisher=Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation |year=1973 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=216–219 |language=en}}</ref>
During summer 1973 Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie set out for a two month roadtrip, covering 12,000 miles across the country, to directly speak with groups and get information on site.


⚫
The whole catalog was put together in five months, two of which Rennie and Grimstad spent on the road.<ref name=":1" /> According to the editors reflection in the last section of the book "The book was therefore made under terrific pressure,"<ref name=":2" />{{according to whom|date=October 2022}} which is one factor for the catalog appearing with an aesthetic between DIY culture and a commercial sales catalog.<ref name=":1" /> Reasons for working so fast were, amongst others, the fast aging character that is implicit to the kind of information that is presented, as well as seasonal commercial timing.<ref name=":2" />
On July 13th Kirsten and Susan return, and begin with sorting the material.


⚫
== Resulting works and projects ==
⚫
In the following August, the production of the book begins. Fanette Pollack and Ruth Bayard Smith are helping the Authors with copy writing and page layouts. MS Marks St. Giles is responsible for the Type setting, which she does on an [[IBM Selectric typewriter|IBM Selectric Composer]] <ref name=":1" />.

On September 15th the [[paste up]] begins with help of Peggy Lyons and Leslie Korda Krims.

⚫
On October 3rd the [[Camera-ready]] Copy is delivered to print <ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Grimstad, Rennie |first=Kirsten, Susan |title=The New Woman's Survival Catalog |publisher=Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation |year=1973 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=216-219 |language=en}}</ref>.

⚫
The whole Catalog was put together in five month, from which Susan and Kirsten spent two on the road <ref name=":1" />. "The book was therefore made under terrific pressure <ref name=":2" />", which is one factor for the catalog appearing with an aesthetic between DIY culture and commercial sales catalog <ref name=":1" />. Reasons for working so fast were amongst others, the fast aging character, thats implicit to the kind of information that is presented, as well as seasonal commercial timing. The New Woman's survival Catalog should appear in stores before this years Christmas season, so that "people would have an extra incentive for buying it - it could be bought for daughters by mothers; for wives, daughters, sisters, woman friends by men <ref name=":2" />".

== The Authors ==
Kirsten Grimstad was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She received a BA at Barnard College and an MA at Columbia University and after that earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute & University (Cincinnati). Her current occupation is being Co-Chair of Undergraduate Studies at Antioch University, Los Angeles, after a sixteen-year career at Vermont College, where she served as core faculty advisor and co-director of the Master of Arts Program and being Chair of the Getty Villa Council.

Part of her senior year in high school Kirsten spent in a northern German village, where " life-long interest in German literature began as well as her continuing preoccupation with the Germans’ postwar amnesia about the crimes of the Nazis <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2016-12-10 |title=Kirsten Grimstad, PhD › Antioch University |url=https://www.antioch.edu/faculty/kirsten-grimstad/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>".

In her research she focusses on German literature and public memory about the Holocaust. Kirsten Grimstad is the author of The Modern Revival of Gnosticism and Thomas Mann’s Doktor Faustus (Camden House, 2002) <ref name=":0" />. Kirsten also teaches courses, amongst others in literary modernism <ref name=":3" />.

Susan Rennie received her BA at Barnard College and a Ph.D in Political Philosophy from Columbia University. She taught Social Sciences at Union Institute & University and worked as a women’s health activist. Susan now lives in Venice, California <ref name=":0" />.

⚫
== Resulting Works and Projects ==
'''Chrysalis'''
'''Chrysalis'''


[[Chrysalis (magazine)|''Chrysalis: A Magazine of Women’s Culture'']] was an influential feminist publication. It was collectively produced by artists and writers from the Los Angeles feminist movement and published from 1977 to 1980 by Susan Rennie and Kirsten Grimstad <ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Second Life: Chrysalis Magazine |url=https://eastofborneo.org/articles/second-life-chrysalis-magazine/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=East of Borneo |language=en-US}}</ref>. Continuing the DIY feminist publishing culture, they got together with [[Sheila Levrant de Bretteville]] who did the magazins Graphic Design<ref name=":1" />.
[[Chrysalis (magazine)|''Chrysalis: A Magazine of Women's Culture'']] was an influential feminist publication. It was collectively produced by artists and writers from the Los Angeles feminist movement and published from 1977 to 1980 by Susan Rennie and Kirsten Grimstad.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Second Life: Chrysalis Magazine |first=Jenni |last=Sorkin |date=October 31, 2011 |url=https://eastofborneo.org/articles/second-life-chrysalis-magazine/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=East of Borneo |language=en-US}}</ref> Continuing the DIY feminist publishing culture, they got together with [[Sheila Levrant de Bretteville]] who did the magazins Graphic Design<ref name=":1" />


Chrysalis was placed in the [[Woman's Building (Los Angeles)|Woman’s Building]], a radical arts community that existed in a spacious building near downtown L.A. <ref>{{Cite web |title=The Joyful Road Trip that Created the New Woman's Survival Catalog, a Survey of 1970s Feminist Activism |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dygvyq/in-the-70s-two-women-embarked-on-an-epic-road-trip-to-find-other-feminists |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=www.vice.com |language=en}}</ref>. Throughout the 1970s, self-publication was critical to the success and maintenance of feminist communities. Highlighting itself from other similar publications of the time Like [[Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics|''Heresies'']]'','' Chrysalis reached and engaged a broader audience with more progressive issues. With its collaged articles on women’s health, movement politics, as well as commissioning new fiction, poetry, and art portfolios, the Chrysalis magazine covered not only art world politics but rather brought up issues that affected the whole women's community.
Chrysalis was placed in the [[Woman's Building (Los Angeles)|Woman's Building]], a radical arts community that existed in a spacious building near downtown L.A.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Feminist Zines Have Have Been Around Longer Than You Thought—Here's Where One Began |first=Anna |last=Merlan |date=January 9, 2020 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dygvyq/in-the-70s-two-women-embarked-on-an-epic-road-trip-to-find-other-feminists |access-date=2022-09-10 |work=Vice |language=en}}</ref> Throughout the 1970s, self-publication was critical to the success and maintenance of feminist communities. Highlighting itself from other similar publications of the time Like [[Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics|''Heresies'']]'','' Chrysalis reached and engaged a broader audience with more progressive issues. With its collaged articles on women's health, movement politics, as well as commissioning new fiction, poetry, and art portfolios, the Chrysalis magazine covered not only art world politics but rather brought up issues that affected the whole women's community.


The Chrysalis bureaucracy was based on consensus, editorial decisions were outcome of a collective process.
The Chrysalis bureaucracy was based on consensus, editorial decisions were outcome of a collective process.


Intended as a quarterly publication, the collective produced only ten issues, before they had to resign in 1980, due to lack of funding <ref name=":4" />.
Intended as a quarterly publication, the collective produced only ten issues, before they had to resign in 1980, due to lack of funding.<ref name=":4" />

'''Reprint'''

The New Woman's survival Catalog was reprinted by art book publisher ''Primary Information'' and published in September 2019.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 63: Line 71:
* Listen to an Interview Susan Rennie and Kirsten Grimstad by Barbara Cady on [[iarchive:pacifica_radio_archives-KZ1223|Internet Archive]]
* Listen to an Interview Susan Rennie and Kirsten Grimstad by Barbara Cady on [[iarchive:pacifica_radio_archives-KZ1223|Internet Archive]]
* Read Meg Millers full Article "Behind the Making of the Feminist Whole Earth Catalog" on [https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/behind-the-making-of-the-feminist-whole-earth-catalog/ AIGA Eye on Design]
* Read Meg Millers full Article "Behind the Making of the Feminist Whole Earth Catalog" on [https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/behind-the-making-of-the-feminist-whole-earth-catalog/ AIGA Eye on Design]

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Woman's Survival Catalog}}
[[Category:1973 books]]
[[Category:Second-wave feminism in the United States]]
[[Category:Feminist literature]]
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 06:03, 17 November 2023

The New Women's Survival Catalog
CategoriesCatalog
PublisherPublished by Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./Berkley Publishing Corporation
FounderKirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie
First issue1973; 51 years ago (1973)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The New Women's Survival Catalog is a 1973 book, the collective outcome of an influential survey of second-wave feminist network activities across the United States.[1] It was assembled in five months by Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie.[1] The book was promoted as a "feminist Whole Earth Catalog", referring to Stewart Brand's famous 1968–1972 counterculture magazine.[2] The book was reissued by art book publisher Primary Information in September 2019.[3]

Content

[edit]

The New Woman's Survival Catalog, styled as a typical sales catalog, contains listings, close descriptions, articles, and contact information for feminist organizations and resources in North America. Another section details the publication's research and production process.[1][4]

The publication's content focusses on nine subjects, each marking its own chapter.

The book opens with "I Communications", listing, amongst others, feminist presses, radios and publications. "II Art" marks the second subject, summarizing galleries, collectives, theatre and other feminist artistic approaches. "III Self-Health" and "IV Children" follow with information about the body, medical care, single parents and liberating literature examples. The fifth chapter is called "V Learning" summarizing liberation schools, feminist studies and women in history. "VI Self Defense" and "VII Work and Money" mark the next subjects, giving self help advice and contacts on both issues. The last two chapters "VIII Getting Justice" and "IX Building the Movement" state information about discrimination, legal sources, women's rights, women's organizations and centers, and are more focussed on the active fight for women's rights in terms of the second wave feminist movement and politically contextualizing the before mentioned subjects.[5]

Making the book

[edit]

The New Woman's Survival Catalog originally started as a women's studies bibliography from the Barnard College Women's Center. Kirsten Grimstad was an alumna of Barnard at that time and had the task to put it together. She thought "the bibliography needed to have an activist dimension to it, otherwise it wouldn't be feminist".[2] Together with Susann Rennie, who was at the board of the Women's Center, they conducted a nationwide survey to gather information and sold the concept as "the woman's Whole Earth Catalog" to the publisher, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.[2]

During summer 1973 Grimstad and Rennie set out on a two-month roadtrip, covering 12,000 miles across the country, to speak directly with groups and get information on site. On July 13, Grimstad and Rennie returned and began sorting the material. The following August, production of the book began. Fanette Pollack and Ruth Bayard Smith helped the authors with copywriting and page layouts. Mark St. Giles was responsible for the typesetting, which she did on an IBM Selectric Composer.[2]

On September 15 the paste up began with help from Peggy Lyons and Leslie Korda Krims. On October 3 the camera-ready copy was delivered to print.[6]

The whole catalog was put together in five months, two of which Rennie and Grimstad spent on the road.[2] According to the editors reflection in the last section of the book "The book was therefore made under terrific pressure,"[6][according to whom?] which is one factor for the catalog appearing with an aesthetic between DIY culture and a commercial sales catalog.[2] Reasons for working so fast were, amongst others, the fast aging character that is implicit to the kind of information that is presented, as well as seasonal commercial timing.[6]

Resulting works and projects

[edit]

Chrysalis

Chrysalis: A Magazine of Women's Culture was an influential feminist publication. It was collectively produced by artists and writers from the Los Angeles feminist movement and published from 1977 to 1980 by Susan Rennie and Kirsten Grimstad.[7] Continuing the DIY feminist publishing culture, they got together with Sheila Levrant de Bretteville who did the magazins Graphic Design[2]

Chrysalis was placed in the Woman's Building, a radical arts community that existed in a spacious building near downtown L.A.[8] Throughout the 1970s, self-publication was critical to the success and maintenance of feminist communities. Highlighting itself from other similar publications of the time Like Heresies, Chrysalis reached and engaged a broader audience with more progressive issues. With its collaged articles on women's health, movement politics, as well as commissioning new fiction, poetry, and art portfolios, the Chrysalis magazine covered not only art world politics but rather brought up issues that affected the whole women's community.

The Chrysalis bureaucracy was based on consensus, editorial decisions were outcome of a collective process.

Intended as a quarterly publication, the collective produced only ten issues, before they had to resign in 1980, due to lack of funding.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "The New Woman's Survival Catalog | Primary Information". primaryinformation.org. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Miller, Meg (2018-08-16). "Behind the Making of the "Feminist Whole Earth Catalog"". AIGA Eye on Design. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  3. ^ Miller, Meg (3 June 2020). "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Second-Wave Feminism". New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ Hermo, Carmen (December 16, 2019). "Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie's The New Woman's Survival Catalog: A Woman-made Book". BOMB Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  5. ^ Grimstad, Rennie, Kirsten, Susan (1973). The New Woman's Survival Catalog (1st ed.). New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b c Grimstad, Rennie, Kirsten, Susan (1973). The New Woman's Survival Catalog (1st ed.). New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc./ Berkley Publishing Corporation. pp. 216–219.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b Sorkin, Jenni (October 31, 2011). "Second Life: Chrysalis Magazine". East of Borneo. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  8. ^ Merlan, Anna (January 9, 2020). "Feminist Zines Have Have Been Around Longer Than You Thought—Here's Where One Began". Vice. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
[edit]
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