The collection is arranged as seven series.
Womanspace was a cooperatively run gallery in Los Angeles, California dedicated to showing and promoting work by female artists. It opened in January of 1973 and ran a large number of events and programs. When the Woman's Building opened its first location in late 1973, Womanspace moved in. Among its founding members were Wanda Westcoast, Max Cole, Eugenie Osmun, Gretchen Glicksman, Judy Chicago, and Lucy Adelman. The gallery closed in June 1974.
This collection is temporarily closed to researchers due to archival processing and digitization. For more information, please contact Reference Services.
The collection is available on 35 mm microfilm reels 1257-1259 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
The Womanspace Gallery records were donated to the Archives of American Art in January 1975 by Judy Fiskin, president of the West Coast Art Center.
Womanspace Gallery records, 1970-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection was minimally processed and a finding aid prepared by Rayna Andrews in 2017.
The Archives of American Art also holds the Woman's Building records, 1970-1992.
The records of Womanspace Gallery, a cooperative gallery for feminist activities in Los Angeles, California, measure 1.7 linear feet and date from 1970 to 1974. The bulk of the collection consists of exhibition files. Also found are administrative files, correspondence, publishing files, financial records, printed material, and photographic material.
Administrative files include personnel and volunteer records; committee files; a list of names for the Registry of Women Designers; calendars; public relations records; mailing list and guest book information; materials related to building renovations; materials related to summer courses; and notes.
Correspondence is primarily with artists and other arts organizations. Much of the correspondence in the early part of the series concerns the Registry of Women Designers.
Exhibition files include planning notes, correspondence, and loan agreements for Womanspace exhibitions. Some materials related to exhibition committees, proposals for exhibitions, and proposals for exhibitions that did not happen can be found in the administrative files.
Publishing files include materials related to the
Financial records include budget projections, billing information, cash records, donation information, and materials related to grants.
Printed material includes press releases, clippings, and printed material Womanspace sent out to membership.
Photographic material includes negatives, a contact sheet, color photographs, and slides.
Administrative files consist of personnel and volunteer records; committee files; a list of names for the Registry of Women Designers; calendars and lists of events; public relations records; mailing list and guest book information; materials related to building renovations; materials related to summer courses; and notes.
Correspondence is primarily with artists and other arts organizations. Much of the correspondence in the early part of the series concerns the Registry of Women Designers. Other topics include exhibitions, proposals, and membership.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Exhibition files consist of planning notes, correspondence, and loan agreements for exhibitions held at Womanspace Gallery. These files occasionally contain photographic material as well. Some materials related to exhibition committees, proposals for exhibitions, and proposals for exhibitions that did not occur can be found in the administrative files.
This series is arranged chronologically.
Oversized material housed in OV 4.
Publishing files include materials related to the
Oversized material housed in OV 4.
Financial records include budget projections, billing information, cash records, donation information, and materials related to grants and grant applications.
Printed material includes press releases, clippings, and printed material Womanspace sent out to membership.
Oversized material housed in OV 4.
Photographic material includes negatives, a contact sheet, color photographs, and slides. Also included are negatives of the Womanspace logo.