American Women Making History and Culture: 1963-1982

  • Adrienne Rich: an interview and reading / interview by Susan Howe (Part 2 only)

    Poet Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) is interviewed by Susan Howe and reads from her book of poetry, “Dream of a Common Language.” The program was funded by a grant from National Endowment for the Arts. Produced by Susan Howe and recorded by Camilla Kirby. Archives only has part 2 of 2. Note: End credits…

  • Erica Jong reads her poetry

    Erica Jong reads her poems. Included are Mother, at 2:47 Paper Cuts, at 5:14 The Evidence, at 10:13 For Marriage, at 11:47 The Sendoff. Some of these poems were published in her book of poetry “Half-Lives” in June 1973. This recording may be from that time. Contains sensitive language.

  • Vanessa Redgrave: candidate for Parliament / Paul McIsaac

    Vanessa Redgrave, campaigning for a seat in Parliament for the Worker’s Revolutionary Party (Redgrave is a Marxist and a famous actress), canvasses council housing, or low income houses, in Great Britain and is recorded doing so and defending her politics to a reporter in this program by Paul McIsaac (WBAI reporter) during his visit to…

  • Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and Kate Millett

    Poetry readings by Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde, recorded at St. Peter’s Church in New York City, March 7, 1979, and a talk by Kate Millett recorded at Judson Memorial Church, May 4th, 1979. Poems read by Rich include: 2:21–“For Julian in Nebraska”, 5:32–“The Image” (1976 trip to Crete), 13:20–“Spring 1979” (unfinished poem). Poems read…

  • Carolyn Forché reads from A Country Between Us

    Caroly Forche (b. 1950), poet and human rights activist, reads from her second book of poetry “A Country Between Us”, which reflects on her experiences in El Salvador. She is heard on Writers Block [a poetry magazine of the air] program hosted by Cornelius Eady and Shelly Messing. Her reading was recorded at the Brooklyn…

  • Women and the Art of Motorcycle Racing / produced by Judith Ghinger

    Self-contained program produced for WBAI by Judith Ghinger. Five women motorcyclists were interviewed at the American Association of Motorcycle Road Racers (AAMRR) Memorial Day races at Bridgehampton, Long Island, NY, 1977. All five are members of the AAMRR. They are Carter Alsop, Lynn Nathan, Sandy Heins [Hines?], Gina Bovaird, and Emily Dobson [sp?]. Musical interludes…

  • Bernadette Devlin speaking at Barnard College (Part 1 only)

    Bernadette Devlin [McAliskey] speaks at Barnard College on November 20, 1976. This is Part 1 of 2. Tape of Part 2 is missing. Devlin was on tour in the U.S. to educate and state her point of view on “the Irish problem”. She outlines the history (from 1920) of the struggle of Ireland to separate…

  • Bernice Johnson Reagon: Black Women’s issues

    Speech by Bernice Johnson Reagon, given November 11, 1980 at Barnard College’s Reid Lectureship Women’s Issues Luncheon, titled “My Black Mothers and Sisters: On Beginning a Cultural Autobiography.” Tape begins with Reagon singing a poem by June Jordan. She speaks of Black women’s roles in her mother’s generation, the courageous actions of Fannie Lou Townsend…

  • Stop E.R.A.: Meg Katz interviewed by Bonnie Bellow

    Bonnie Bellow interviews Meg Katz of “Stop E.R.A.”, one of the groups opposed to the passage of New York’s Equal Rights Amendment. Katz details how she thinks an amendment would hurt women, make them responsible for their husband’s mistakes and not give them legal backup if they need it. She names groups that she believes…

  • Erica Jong reads her poems / produced by Mimi Anderson

    First of a series of readings of women’s poetry produced by Mimi Anderson. Erica Jong reads her poems from her book, “Fruits and Vegetables” and “The Objective Woman,” and describes her inspirations.