Gender, Sexuality, and History (321-0-20)
Topic
Feminist & Queer Archival Research Methods/Project
Instructors
Amy Partridge
847.491.5872
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 3-410: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
In a recent article, historian Finn Enke points out that "1970s feminism has entered collective memory as an exclusionary thing, distinct from the experiences, labor, and critiques by feminists of color, trans and queer people of the same era" but challenges us to reconsider "feminism's deeply questioning, queer, coalitional and anti-imperialist past," or risk missing "some ways that feminist, lesbian, and queer of color and trans activists grappled hard to develop critical insights and knowledges that move us today." Much recent scholarship on this period has taken up Enke's challenge including histories that document the anti-imperialist, coalition politics of the "gay and lesbian left" (Lavender and Red, 2016), explore "the long history of transfeminist activism" (TSQ Special Issue: Trans/Feminisms, 2016), recuperate the critical contributions of Black feminist organizations in "broadening the scope of the women's movement" (Living for the Revolution: Black Feminist Organizations, 1968-1980, 2005), and chronicle "activism by, for, and about incarcerated domestic violence survivors, criminalized rape resisters, and dissident women prisoners in 1970s and early 1980s" (All Our Trials: Prisons, Policing and the Feminist Fight to End Violence, 2018).
Our goal in this seminar is to engage and contribute to this larger project through our own collective archival research. Our seminar, co-taught by NU archivist Jason Nargis, will meet regularly in Special Collections and a portion of each class will be devoted to working with archival materials. Course readings will include selections from these recent dissident histories of 1970s feminism. Together we will examine how they make use of new archives, reading strategies and research methods to offer a more nuanced account of second-wave feminism and practice using these research strategies through in-class assignments with (pre-selected) archival materials. Our final class project will be to collectively curate our findings in two forms—an exhibition in the Main Library and as an online exhibition. This seminar will introduce students to the practice of archival research as well as to the remarkable range of archival materials from this period housed in Special Collections at NU and will also include two lab sessions in the Media and Design Studio.
Learning Objectives
1) Develop skills of historical analysis, including working with archival materials
2) Identify and assess distinct methodological approaches to historical research into the "second wave"
3) Engage in original archival research and learn research design
Teaching Method
seminar discussion, case studies
Evaluation Method
Attendance, several short papers, regular guided research assignments, final group research project
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area