Inventory of the Catherine Nicholson Papers, 1897-2005 and undated, bulk 1974-2005
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleCatherine Nicholson Papers, 1897-2005 and undated, bulk 1974-2005
Creator
Nicholson, Catherine.
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
15.0 Linear Feet
10,500 Items
Repository
10,500 Items
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Abstract
Lesbian feminist writer and magazine publisher, resident of Durham (Durham Co.), N.C.; co-founder of SINISTER WISDOM, a multicultural lesbian literary and art journal.
The Catherine Nicholson papers contain materials dating from 1897 to 2005, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1974 to 2005. Materials in the collection primarily document Nicholson's directing and theatre related activities, her work on Sinister Wisdom, and her membership in the group Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC). The collection comprises correspondence; personal and professional writings and supporting materials; photographic materials; publicity about theatre and of plays directed by Nicholson; audio recordings; and ephemera. Included are play scripts written by Catherine Nicholson and other playwrights, and scripts with directorial annotations by Nicholson.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
Also, audio recordings in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use.
Please note that all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Catherine Nicholson Papers, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Catherine Nicholson Papers were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a
gift from 2005-2007.
Processing Information
Processed by Lindsay Matson, January 2009
Encoded by Lindsay Matson, January 2009
Accessions 2005-0087, 2006-0098, and 2007-0050 were merged into one collection and are described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
North Carolina native Catherine Nicholson was born in 1922 in Troy, the seat of Montgomery County. She attended Flora Macdonald College to study English and History and received a Master's degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1945. Nicholson continued graduate studies at Northwestern University, earning a Master's degree in Theatre and Oral Interpretation, followed by her Ph.D. in Theatre in 1961. Nicholson spent her career in academia as a professor of drama, teaching and directing plays primarily in North Carolina and Virginia. Nicholson's interests in ancient Greece, Shakespeare, and feminism offered her rich and varied material to mine as a director and as a writer of plays, short stories, and poetry. Nicholson is best known as the co-founder of the lesbian feminist literary journal Sinister Wisdom. From 1976 to 1981, Catherine Nicholson and partner Harriet Ellenberger (also known as Harriet Desmoines) published and edited the journal, before passing control to Adrienne Rich and Michelle Cliff. Through the stewardship of several editors, Sinister Wisdom has continued into the twenty-first century, and as of 2009 is the oldest surviving lesbian literary journal. Nicholson retired to Durham, North Carolina, where she maintained involvement in lesbian activism and continued to direct plays through the 1990s.
[top]Collection Overview
The Catherine Nicholson papers contain materials dating from 1897 to 2005, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1974 to 2005. Materials in the collection primarily document Nicholson's directing and theatre related activities, her work on Sinister Wisdom, and her membership in the group Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC). The collection comprises correspondence with family and friends; personal and professional writings; poetry; notes; clippings; photographic materials, including black and white and color photographs, color slides, and a cabinet card; audio cassettes; vinyl records; press kits and playbills; reviews about theatre and of plays directed by Nicholson; and ephemera. Included are play scripts written by Catherine Nicholson and other playwrights, and scripts with directorial annotations by Nicholson. The collection contains correspondence, artwork, journals, and receipts related to the publishing of Sinister Wisdom. In addition, the collection houses Nicholson's collection of audiocassettes and long-playing vinyl records, with the majority of albums related to women's music; many of these were published by Olivia Records. Printed materials have been removed and added to the Women and LGBT Rights Periodicals Collection. Use copies of audio recordings will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Ellenberger, Harriet.
- Feminism--United States.
- Feminism and theater--United States.
- Lesbian activists--United States.
- Lesbian dramatists.
- Lesbian feminism--United States--Periodicals.
- Lesbian feminism--United States.
- Lesbian theater.
- Lesbians--United States.
- Nicholson, Catherine.
- Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.
- Olivia Records.
- Playwriting--Drama.
- Rich, Adrienne Cecile.
- Sinister wisdom.
- Theater--United States.
- Women dramatists, American.
- Women in the theater.
- Women--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Women theatrical producers and directors--United States.
- Women--United States--History--20th century.
- Women's music.
- Audiocassettes.
- Cabinet photographs.
- Clippings.
- Ephemera.
- Long-playing records.
- Playbills.
- Press kits.
- Scripts (documents).
- Slides.
- Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Related Material
Rainbow Triangle Oral History Interviews
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections LIbrary, Duke University
James T. Sears Papers
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Mab Segrest Papers
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Catherine Nicholson Papers, 1897-2005 and undated, bulk 1974-2005 | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Catherine Nicholson Papers, 1897-2005 and undated, bulk 1974-2005
(17 boxes)
Materials are arranged alphabetically, followed by audio and oversized materials. Plays are listed by title, and other writings are listed by author. Printed materials have been removed and added to the Women and LGBT Rights Periodicals Collection.
[Original recordings are closed to research. Use copies need to be created before content can be accessed.]
Box 1
AIDS/HIV, 1991 and undated
Albright genealogy, undated
American Theatre Association Women's Program Convention, 1983
Angels of Power, Sandra Shotlander, 1988
Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down, Martha Boesing, 1982
At the Foot of the Mountain, 11 (1), 1985 Fall
The Attic, Patricia Green, 1988
August Odyssey, short story, 1958
Baby books, 1914; 1922
The earlier baby book belonged to Nicholson's older sister Edna, who died during Nicholson's childhood.
Because the Dawn, Amy Goldstein, 1987
Beginnings of stories, 1950s; 1975
Between the Acts notes, undated
Broadcloth, 1984
Buttons, undated
Buttons for Desert, Judith Katz, 1982
Case, Sue Ellen, undated
Cherry, Wynn, Hearing Me Into Speech, undated
Nicholson's comments on Cherry's article about lesbian feminist publishing in North Carolina. Article discusses Sinister Wisdom and Nicholson.
Cliff, Michelle,
"Passing: The Fear of Difference and the Denial of Wholeness,"
undated
Clippings about friends, 1957-1995 and undated
College essays, 1951-1955
The Constant Journey, Monique Wittig, undated
Correspondence, 1941-1959 (2 folders)
Box 2
Correspondence, 1961-2005 and undated (18 folders)
Box 3
Correspondence, Alice and Bates, 1963-1972 and undated
Curb, Rosemary, 1984-1986 and undated
Directing notebook, 1950
Dissertation, The Chorus as a Ritual Element in Greek Tragedy, 1961
Diversity for Durham, 1994
Dreams, 1975-1984 and undated
Dress Suits to Hire, Holly Hughes, undated
Durham lesbian writings, 1994-1995 and undated
Ellenberger, Harriet, 1984-1985 and undated
Event booklets, 1982; 1990
Event fliers and reviews, 1959-2002 and undated
Feminist drama articles, 1988-1989 and undated
Feminist and lesbian theatre and drama, 1981-1991 and undated
"Flight of the Mind"
writing workshop, undated
Flora MacDonald College, Ralph Page, 1916
Flora MacDonald College reunion, 1992
Flora MacDonald writings and poem, 1973 and undated
Box 4
Flora MacDonald College yearbook, 1942
Florence, Alice Childress, 1949
The Franny Chicago Play, Judith Katz, 1973
Gantt, Harvey, 1990
Gay and lesbian theatre, local, 1991-1995 and undated
Goddard College theatre, 1982-1984
Goodnight, Desdemona clippings and reviews, 1991
Goodnight, Desdemona notebook, 1991 (2 folders)
Harris, Bertha, 1972 and undated
Harris, Lois, 1986
Heyward, Carter, 1979-1980
Hicks Lynn, Full Circle Farm, 1992
Hoagland, Sarah, 1993 and undated
Hopkins, Lea, Womyn I Have Known You, 1978
How I Learned to Drive, 1997
Important clippings, 1992-1993 and undated
Box 5
International Tribune testimony script, undated
Isadora Duncan lecture, undated
Isadora Duncan notes, undated
Journal entries, 1989-1990
Justice, Willa poems, 1987-1991
Kendall, 1986-1987
Kitchen Table Women of Color Press, 1983
Langa, Helen,
"Reading the Fine Print: Art and Social Justice in the 1930s,"
2000 January 07
Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, 1980
Lee, Anne, 1981 and undated
"The Lesbian Anti-Rape Packet,"
1976 August
Lesbian Clippings, 1992 and undated
Lesbian Contradictions, 30, 1990 Spring
Lesbian Health Center, undated
Lesbian history, 1978; 1993
Lesbian publications, organizations, etcetera, 1992 and undated
Lesbian publishing, 1976; 1990 and undated
Lesbian theatre articles, 1990 and undated
Lesbian Writer's Conference, 1976
Lesbians in academics questionnaire, 1994
The Libretto of the Opera of Marie Laveau, Aishah Rahman, circa 1981
Libraries and education, undated
Local gay and lesbian activism, 1992-1994 and undated
Love Song for an Amazon, Martha Boesing, undated
Box 6
Machinal, Sophie Treadwell, 1928
The Madwoman of Chaillot, undated
Maiden Rock, 1978-1979
Margins, 23, 1975 August
Mariani, Paul, The Sign, undated
Material for poetry, 1989-1992
Matt and Millie, undated
Matt and Millie discarded scenes, undated
Matt and Millie older version, undated
Matt and Millie, 1994
Matt and Millie play notes, 1981-1988
McDaniel, Judith poem, undated
Miscellaneous notes, 1981-1986 and undated
Miscellaneous writings by others, undated
Morgan, Ramona funeral, 1997 October 19
Box 7
Morton, Nelle, 1977-1985
Murray, Gilbert, Jane Ellen Harrison: An Address, 1928
Narratives conference, 1991
National Lesbian Conference, 1989-1991
National Women's Studies Association, 1979
Nicholson, Mike, 1932-1966 and undated
Papers belonging to Nicholson's father or related to his death. Includes a condolence telegram from North Carolina Representative Charles Raper Jonas.
North Carolina Lesbian and Gay Political Action Agenda, 1992
Northwestern University, 1956-1957
Notebooks, 1983; 1987; 1993 and undated (3 folders)
Notes on writing, 1979 and undated
Oedipus play, undated
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, 1989-2004 (folders 1-2 of 3)
Box 8
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, 1989-2004 (folder 3 of 3)
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC)
Ageism, 1989-1990
Aging, 1987-1993 and undated
Facilitator's handbook, Confronting Ageism, 1992
Healey, Shevy, 1991-1995
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Durham conference, 1993
Summer gathering, 1998
University of Georgia leisure study, 1995
West Coast celebration, 1989-1990
Older Women's League (OWL), local, 1993-1994
"An Oral Herstory of Lesbianism,"
1979
"Our Own Place"
grant application and Newsletter, 1992
"Passages"
conference, 1993
Box 9
Photographic materials, 1897-2002 and undated
Photographs document Nicholson's life from childhood through 2002, including friends and relatives, animals, art, promotional theatre images, and her trips across the globe to Greece, England, Switzerland, and France. Travel pictures typically appear on color slides.
Box 10
Pinball, Allison Lyssa, 1983 August 07
Playbill, 1986; 1989
Play plots, undated
Poems, early versions, 1974 and undated
Portia Faces Life and Stands Up For Herself, for North Carolina AAUW Convention, 1975
Progressive causes, 1991
Psychology, 1976 and undated
Queer theory articles, undated
Rado, Maria,
"The Embrace,"
undated
Rainbow Triangle Oral History Project, undated
Randolph-Macon Woman's College theatre, 1957-1966 (2 folders)
Retirement, North Carolina, 1989-1991 and undated
Rich, Adrienne,
"Particularity,"
1982 August
Robinson, Margaret, Stroke, 1996
Rounds and canons songbook, 1976
Roomers of the House, Mary Moran, undated
Sanskrit, v.5, no.2, 1974
"Scenes from the Twentieth Century Stage: Black Theatre in Photographs,"
1983
The Search for Emily, Brian Marsh, 1988
Sears, James T., Generations, 1995-2000
Segrest, Mab,
"Into the Twenty-first Century: The Dangers of Right-Wing Feminism"
, 1990 October 06
She is Still Burning e-journal, 2000-2001
Feminist web journal published by Harriet Ellenberger from 2000 to 2003.
Shewolf's Directory of Wimmin's Lands and Lesbian Communities, 1994-1995
Box 11
Sinister Wisdom, 1976-1981
About reviews, 1976-1977
Ads/Listings, 1976-1980 (4 folders)
Age and aging, 1978 and undated
Anthology, 1981
Artwork and layout, 1970s (2 folders)
Book of procedures, 1980-1981
Bookstore correspondence of possible interest, 1976-1980
Box 12
Sinister Wisdom, 1976-1981
Boundary notes, undated
Comments from subscribers, 1977-1980 (3 folders)
Content ideas, 1976-1979 and undated
Correspondence/subscriptions, 1976
Flyers and forms, samples, 1976-1979 and undated
Humanism, 1970s
Joan Corbin's copies of The Ladder, 1977
Journal, 1976; 1979-1980 (2 folders)
Box 13
Sinister Wisdom, 1975-1992
Origins, 1975-1992
Photographs, 1970s
Post office information, 1978-1980 and undated
Receipts, 1977-1979
Reviews, 1977-1980
Submission forms without correspondence, 1979-1980
"Surviving Female,"
1973; 1979 and undated
Turnover, 1979-1981
Women in Distribution, 1977-1981
"Sister Heathenspinster's Almanac and Lunation Calendar,"
1976
Sleeping Beauty: A Lesbian Fairy Tale, 1971
"Songbook for Seneca Falls Wimmin's Peace Encampment,"
circa 1983
Stansbury, Lucy drawings, undated
Tarot, 1986
Theatre curricular, 1980s
Thoughts on theatre, undated
Tribes: A Play of Dreams, Judith Katz, 1980
Box 14
Twenty-two Short Plays from the Little Theatre of the Green Goose, undated
Tyrel, Hailey,
"I'm Sorry, But I Must Decline (from an interview with C. Nicholson),"
undated
Unfinished Women Cry in No Man's Land While a Bird Dies in a Gilded Cage, Aishah Rahman, 1977
University of North Carolina-Charlotte course, Surviving Female, 1976
University of North Carolina-Charlotte theatre, 1967-1971
War Torn photocopies, undated
Wetzel, Kathryn, Erotic Story #1, 1982
"What Difference Does Difference Make?"
conference, 1992 May 29-31
Women as artists, 1974-1975; 1994 and undated
Women in cinema, 1975; 1990-1997
Women in print, 1976-1977 and undated
Women in Theatre festival, Boston, 1986-1987
Women's Action Agenda, 1991
The Women's Experimental Theatre, 1980-1981
Women's Wisdom Corporation, 1974-1978
Box 15
Audio Cassettes, 1970s-1995 and undated
Primarily contains recordings about Jane Ellen Harrison (1850-1928), British scholar and early feminist who Nicholson became interested in during the 1970s. Also includes:
"Are We Really Out of the Closet?"
; recordings of co-op meetings; a recording of Nicholson's aunt Izora; Nelle Morton's 1979 address at the National Mission Conference; Nicholson with Susan Wood-Thompson; Nicholson with Harriet Ellensberger; Ralph presentation; Religion; Adrienne Rich's
"Soundings"
;
"Shoulder to Shoulder"
; and several unlabeled cassettes.
[Original recordings are closed to use. Listening copies must be made before contents can be accessed.]
Box 16
Vinyl Records, 1954-1982
Adam, Margie, Songwriter. Dixon, CA: Pleiades Records, 1976
Baez, Joan, Self-titled. New York: Vanguard Stereolab, circa 1960.
Baez, Joan, From Every Stage. Hollywood, CA: A and M Records, 1976.
Baez, Joan. Joan Baez in Concert Part 2. New York: Vanguard, 1963.
Barrett, Sweet Emma. Sweet Emma Barrett and her New Orleans Music. New Orleans: Southland Records, 1963.
Be Be K'Roche. Self-titled. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1976.
Bishop, Heather. Grandmother's Song. Woodmore, Manitoba: Mother of Pearl Records, 1979.
Christian, Meg. Face the Music. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1977.
Christian, Meg, I Know You Know. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1974.
The Clancy Brothers adn Tommy Makem, The Rising of the Moon. Los Angeles: Tradition Records, 1959.
Dickens, Hazel and Alice Gerrard, Won't You Come and Sing For Me? New York: Folkways Records, 1978.
Dobkin, Alix, xxAlix. New York: Women's Wax Works, 1980.
Dobkin, Alix featuring the Lesbian Power Authority. Living with Lesbians. New York: Women's Wax Works, 1975.
Elizabethan and Jacobean Music. New York: Vanguard, 1954.
Fitzgerald, Ella and Count Basie. A Classy Pair. Beverly Hills, CA: Pablo Records, 1982.
Garland, Judy. Judy at Carnegie Hall. Los Angeles: Capitol Records, 1961.
Garland, Judy. The Best of Judy Garland. New York: Decca Records, 1963.
Box 17
Vinyl records, 1958-1988 and undated
Gazette with Pete Seeger. Self-titled. New York: Folkways Records, 1958.
Great American Speeches. New York: Caedmon Publishers, 1958.
Holiday, Billie, The Original Recordings. New York: Columbia Records, 1973.
Lang, K. D., Shadowland. New York: Sire Records, 1988.
Lavender Jane. Loves Women. New York: Women's Wax Works, 1973.
Lesbian Concentrate: A Lesbianthology of Songs and Poems. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1977.
Lillie, Beatrice. An Evening with Beatrice Lillie. London: London Records, 1955.
McRae, Carmen. Love Songs. New York: Accord Records, 1982.
Minnelli, Liza. Liza With A "Z". New York: Columbia Records, 1972.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Divertimenti for Wind Instruments. New York: The Musical Heritage Society, undated.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Divertimento No. 15 In B Flat for Two Horns and Strings. New York: Nonesuch Records, undated.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Four Piano Concertos. Music Guild Records, undated.
Near, Holly. Fire in the Rain. Ukiah, CA: Redwood Records, 1981.
Near, Holly. Imagine My Surprise! Ukiah, CA: Redwood Records, 1978.
Near, Holly and Ronnie Gilbert. Lifeline. Oakland, CA: Redwood Records, 1983.
Near, Holly with Jeff Langley. You Can Know All I Am. Ukiah, CA: Redwood Records, 1976.
Box 18
Vinyl records, 1954-1984
Parker, Pat and Judy Grahn, Where Would I Be Without You. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1976
Previn, Dory, Self-titled. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. Records, 1974
Previn, Dory, Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign. Los Angeles: United Artists Records, 1972.
Russ, Joanna. Joanna Russ Interpreting Her Stories. New York: Alternate World Recordings, 1976.
Shear, Linda. A Lesbian Portrait. Northampton, MA: Old Lady Blue Jeans, 1977.
Smith, Bessie. Any Woman's Blues. New York: Columbia Records, 1970.
Sweet Honey in the Rock. Self-titled. Chicago: Flying Fish Music, 1976.
Thomas, Dylan, Dylan Thomas Reading His Complete Recorded Poetry. New York: Caedmon Records, 1963
Thomas, Dylan, Selections From the Writings of Dylan Thomas Read By the Poet. New York: Caedmon Records, 1957
The Threepenny Opera. New York: MGM Records, 1954.
Trull, Teresa. The Ways A Woman Can Be. Los Angeles: Olivia Records, 1977.
Tyson, Willie. Self-titled. Madison, TN: Lima Bean Records, 1979.
Tyson, Willie. Full Count. Washington, D.C.: Lima Bean Records, 1974.
Vaughan, Sarah. Sarah plus 2. New York: Roulette Records, 1962.
Vogl, Nancy. Something to Go On. Oakland, CA: Redwood Records, 1984.
Oversize Material
Photographs and artwork
Materials featuring Nicholson or created by friends.
Oversize Folder
1
Posters, 1970s-1990s
