Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1976-2004 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
14 cartons
Context area
Name of creator
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Library was relaunched as the Women's Art Library to reflect the broader range of materials, for example published and unpublished written documentation and photographs which the Library acquired in addition to the slides.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.
Repository
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.
GB 2603 MAKE/AD 1976-2004 Collection (fonds) 14 cartons Women's Art Library/Make
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.
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.
Given to Goldsmiths in 2003.
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.
Has not been appraised.
Further accruals are not expected.
Broadly arranged as created.
Open for consultation by appointment.
May not be copied.
English
Not listed.
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.
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 by Althea Greenan and Catherine Burke, Genesis Project Officer, 2002, updated Jacqueline Cooke
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 2009 MAKE: the organisation for women in the arts, London Women Artists' Slide Library Women Art Women's Art Library, London Women's Art Library/Make, London Sex Sex distribution
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Given to Goldsmiths in 2003.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Has not been appraised.
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Broadly arranged as created.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for consultation by appointment.
Conditions governing reproduction
May not be copied.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
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.
Finding aids
Not listed.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
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
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English