Women's Art Library/Make Archive (1979-2004)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2603 MAKE/AD
Held at	: Goldsmiths College, University of London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.gold.ac.uk/library/ ›
Full title	: Women's Art Library/Make Archive (1979-2004)
Date(s)	: 1976-2004
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 14 cartons
Name of creator(s)	: Women's Art Library/Make
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Women's Art Library began in 1976 when a small group of women artists began to collect slides from other women artists to establish a record of their work. The Library first opened its collection to the public in 1982 as the Women Artists Slide Library during the 'Women Festivities' held in London. The Library was then housed in Battersea Arts Centre, Battersea, London. In 1987 the Library moved to Fulham Palace at the invitation of the Women's Unit of Hammersmith and Fulham Council. In 2000 the Library relocated to the Central Saint Martin's School of Art and Design, Charing Cross Road, London. In 1993 the Library was relaunched as the Women's Art Library to reflect the broader range of materials, for example published and unpublished written documentation and photographs which the Library acquired in addition to the slides. The name of the Library was changed in May 2001 to MAKE, the organisation for women in the arts. The aim of the organisation was to enhance public knowledge of the practice, impact and achievement of women in visual culture. A serial publication was produced from 1983-2002, firstly as a newsletter 'The Women's Artists Slide Library Newsletter', becoming a bimonthly 'The Women Artists Slide Library Journal', then quarterley magazine 'The Women's Art Magazine', and finally 'MAKE, the magazine of women's art'. In addition the organisation produced numerous other publications in different formats, catalogues linked with exhibitions organised by WASI, (Women in Humour, Second Viewing), a Women's Art Diary, a calendar DATRES, a Women's Art Library Slidepack (1994) which includes teacher's notes, and two anthologies of critical writings based on group exhibitions of women's art. 'Contemporary Arab Women Artists: Dialogues of the Present', 2000 and 'Private Views: spaces in Britain and Estonia', 2001.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

The collection includes all aspects of the Library development and activities: Early Women's Art Library Papers from 1979 onwards, constitution, correspondence with Charity Commission and certificate of charitable status, correspondence relating to funding, information about projects including Greetings Cards, 1988; Picnic at the Palace Shape Event, 1988; Diary Exhibition 1986-1987; Women and Humour, 1987 and Four Women Artists from Eastern Europe, 1985. National Society for Education in Art and Design Conference, 1998; Feminist Art Criticism papers and 10th year conference, 1990; Education Packs 1995-1999; Self-Portrait exhibition 1996.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Broadly arranged as created.

Conditions governing access:

Open for consultation by appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction:

May not be copied.

Finding aids:

Not listed.

Archival Information

Archival history:

The collection is comprised of the administrative archives of the organisation known as the Women Artists' Slide Library, London (c 1976-1992); Women's Art Library, London (1993-2000); MAKE: the organisation for women in the arts, London (2000-2003); and Women's Art Library/Make, London (2004-). In 2003, the organisation ceased to operate as an independent organisation, and the collections were transferred to Goldsmiths.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given to Goldsmiths in 2003.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Is part of the MAKE collection, ref. no. GB 2603 MAKE. Resource collections are also held in the MAKE/AR series. This has parts: C conferences, E exhibitions and events, G groups, P personal archives and R research projects.

Publication note:

Greenan, Althea, 2007. 'How images are the making of the Women's Art Library/Make'. Art Libraries Journal, 32 (1). pp. 4-9. ISSN 0307 4722

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Description by Althea Greenan and Catherine Burke, Genesis Project Officer, 2002, updated Jacqueline Cooke

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997

Date(s) of descriptions:
2009