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Jenna Freedman Zine Correspondence Collection

 Collection
Identifier: SC10-02

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The Jenna Freedman Zine Correspondence Collection documents Freedman’s involvement with and connections to do-it-yourself zine community as a longtime zine creator and enthusiast, as well as in her foundational role as the Barnard Zine Librarian over the course of her career. The Collection evidences the relationships forged and fostered over years between Freedman and zine creators whose materials are preserved and circulated by the Barnard Zine Library, as well as Freedman's commitment to attending and facilitating educational workshops, presentations and zine community events.

Series 1, Correspondence, consists of Jenna Freedman's correspondence with zinesters, students, teachers, and fellow zine librarians. The correspondence spans 1999-present and is made up of personal letters, cards, envelopes, postcards, flyers from zine distros, zines, pins, invoices from zine purchases, and thank you notes from students, teachers, interns and zinesters. Subjects range from business-like transactions such as zine trades or purchases, invitations to zine fests to more personal subjects such as family, partners, and work.

Series 2, Zine Fairs, consists of ephemera (flyers, stickers posters, etc.) from zine fests attended by Freedman from 2004 to 2023, from general events like the Brooklyn Zine Fest as well as focused gatherings such as the NYC Feminist Zine Fest co-organized by Freedman, the Women of Color Zine Symposium or the Zine Librarian's (Un)Conference.

Series 3, Barnard Zine Library Events and Presentations, consists of materials from Barnard Zine Library events and collaborations including zine workshops and classes taught by Freedman, as well as presentations for different conferences and events on Freedman's various projects including the Zine Union Catalog and Zine Corpus, or on topics including zine cataloging and zine librarianship ethics.

Dates

  • Creation: 1999 - 2023

Creator

Access

This collection has no restrictions.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Barnard Archives and Special Collections. The Barnard Archives and Special Collections approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Reproductions Restrictions

Photocopies or scans may be made for research purposes.

Material from Series 1, Correspondence may not be reproduced without permission from Jenna Freedman.

Biography

Jenna Freedman is the Curator of the Barnard Zine Library, former Librarian for Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, creator of Lower East Side Librarian zine and cofounder of Radical Reference and #critlib. She joined Barnard's library staff in 2003 as Coordinator of Reference Services and proposed the zine collection that same year.

Extent

7.18 Linear Feet (13 document boxes, 1 roll storage box)

Language

English

Abstract

The Jenna Freedman Zine Correspondence Collection contains Jenna Freedman’s correspondence as the Barnard Zine Librarian, including her communication with zinesters, zine distros, teachers, students and libraries about the Zine Collection, as well as materials gathered from zine fairs, conferences, workshops and presentations Freedman has participated in or attended.

Collection Arrangement

The collection consists of three series, all of which have been further arranged in subseries or files. Contents in Series 1 are arranged by year, with materials grouped by correspondent when applicable. Series 2 and 3 are arranged in original order. The series and subseries arrangement is as follows:


Series 1, Correspondence, 1999-2022

Subseries 1.1, 1999-2010
Subseries 1.2, 2011
Subseries 1.3, 2012
Subseries 1.4, 2013
Subseries 1.5, 2014
Subseries 1.6, #31 Postcards, 2012
Subseries 1.7, 2015
Subseries 1.8, undated, circa 2015
Subseries 1.9, 2016
Subseries 1.10, 2017
Subseries 1.11, 2018-2019
Subseries 1,12, 2020
Subseries 1.13, 2021
Subseries 1.14, 2022
Subseries 1.15, 2023

Series 2, Zine Fests, 2004-2015

File 2.1, NYC Feminist Zine Fest, 2012-2015, 2019
File 2.2, Brooklyn Zine Fest 2012-2013
File 2.3, Women of Color Zine Symposium, 2012
File 2.4, Philly Feminist Zine Fest, 2012
File 2.5, SUNY Purchase Zine Feast, 2013
File 2.6, Zine Librarians (Un)Conference, 2013-2015
File 2.7, Madison Zine Fest, 2004, 2023
File 2.8, Celebrate the Commons in Friendship Park, undated
File 2.9, Queer Zine Archive Project, undated
File 2.10, International Zine Month, 2014
File 2.11, New South undated
File 2.12, Pete's Mini Zine Fest, 2015
File 2.13, Milwaukee Zine Fest, 2019
File 2.14, Midwest Perzine Fest, 2022
File 2.15, Dear Diary Zine Fest, 2022

Series 3, Barnard Zine Library Events and Presentations, 2004-2016

Subseries 3.1, Barnard Zine Library Advertisement Material, 2004-2016
Subseries 3.2, News Clippings, 2005-2013
Subseries 3.3, Presentations, classes, workshops by Jenna Freedman, 2012-2015, 2018-2020, 2022-2023

Physical Location

This collection is located in the Barnard Archives and Special Collections, Barnard Library. To use this collection, please contact the Barnard Archives and Special Collections at 212.854.4079 or archives@barnard.edu.

Acquisition Information

Transferred, 2014

Accruals

Additions are expected. Accruals to be added in January of each year.

Processing History

Processors of this collection include: Erin Elzi, a zine intern in fall 2010, Robert Moeller, a zine intern in fall 2012, Elvis Bakitis and Annie Soga, zine interns in summer 2013, Alice Griffin, a student worker in the Barnard Archives fall 2014, and Amy Lau, an archives fellow in 2016, and Claudia Acosta 2021-present. Erin Elzi, Robert Moeller, and Annie Soga created processing plans for different parts of the collection.

This finding aid was written by Annie Soga in June 2013.

This finding aid was updated by Alice Griffin in November 2014 and again in January 2015.

This finding aid was updated by Amy Lau in May 2016 and by Joan Hsiao in December 2017.

This finding aid was updated by Claudia Maria Acosta, who processes yearly accrurals 2021-present.

  • Copies of Time Out New York and New York Times articles from April 2006 about Barnard zine collection; copy of Pittsburgh City Paper Sept 5-12,2007; Directory of Zine Libraries and Infoshops from Richmond Zine Collective, May 2004; Factsheet5, Issue #62, 10/20/1997; postcard (BFF/Mongoose bike); gender posterzine from www.crimethinc.com
Title
Guide to the Jenna Freedman Zine Correspondence Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Amy Lau, updated by Claudia Acosta in 2024
Date
2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2024: Claudia Acosta updated extent, related accessions, and dates per 2023 accrual; integrated related materials from Series 1 into Series 2 and 3 from previous accessions.

Repository Details

Part of the Barnard Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
3009 Broadway
New York NY 10027 United States