Collections : [Barnard Archives & Special Collections]

This collection contains socialist and second wave feminist research files and publications including journal articles, pamphlets, transcribed speeches, and magazines.

Frances Whyatt (born 1945) is an American author, poet and activist. She has published poetry, short stories, and novels under the name Frances Whyatt as well as under the pseudonym Shylah Boyd. Her published works of fiction and poetry include American Made (1975), American Gypsy (1983), and A Real Man & Other Stories (1990). Her work focuses on themes of gender, sexuality, and feminism. The Frances Whyatt Papers (1969-2000) document Whyatt's personal and professional relationships, creative writing practice, and her activism in feminist organizations such as Women Against Pornography. Materials in this collection include drafts, manuscripts, and correspondence. The collection also contains ephemera and miscellaneous materials, such as journal entries, research notes, fashion sketches, and recipes.

Nancy Friday was an author and pop psychologist active from the early 1970s into the 2000s, whose work dealt with women's sexuality, gender roles, and family dynamics. She was known for her unabashed discussion of challenging topics, especially taboo sexual fantasies, and her insistence on showcasing women as autonomous sexual beings; Friday often faced backlash for her writing from feminists and conservatives alike. Most of the materials in the Nancy Friday collection cover her adult and professional life from 1970-2000s, including some materials from her early life and adolescence. In addition to the hundreds of letters sent to Friday about people's sexual fantasies, the collection also includes professional correspondence with publishing houses, book drafts, contracts, and recorded interviews.