A Labor of Love: The History of Feminist and Lesbian Bookstores and Publishing

Written, Produced, and Narrated by Mev Miller, 1995

This radio documentary pays tribute to the work of women’s/feminist and lesbian bookstores and publishers.  It was produced in 1995 to celebrate the 25 year anniversaries of:

• Publisher – The Feminist Press at CUNY in New York, NY
• Periodical – Off Our Backs: A Women’s Newsjournal in Washington, DC
• Bookstore – Amazon Bookstore in Minneapolis, MN

The show was produced at the studios of KFAI, a community radio station in Minneapolis, MN. Technical assistance and engineering provided by Michelle Johnson with support of Mike Wassenaar.

Interviews (in order of appearance) include:

• April Jackson – Off Our Backs 
• Carol Ann Douglas – Off Our Backs
• Florence Howe – Feminist Press, CUNY
• Carol Seajay – Feminist Bookstore News
• Barb Weiser – Iowa City Women’s Press and Amazon Bookstore
• Barbara Grier – Naiad Press
• Barbara Smith – Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press
• Marj Schneider – Womyn’s Braille Press
• Jamie Lee Evans – Aunt Lute Books
• Teresa Corrigan – Lioness Books
• Donna Marie Niles – Amazon Bookstore / Lammas Bookstore
• Linda Bubon – Women and Children First
• Gilda Bruckman – New Words Bookstore
• Pokey Anderson – Inklings
• Selma Miriam – Bloodroot Feminist Vegetarian Restaurant and Bookstore / Sanguinaria Books

Musical Interludes (in order of appearance) include:

• Margie Adams – Waves
• Meg Christian – Moving Right Along
• Nona Hendryx – Can Anybody Hear Me
• Alison Farrell – I Like Being a Dyke
• Phyllis Goldin –
• One Spirit – Dance of Strength
• Anne Seale – Your Women’s Bookstore
• Libby Roderick – Inspire Me
• Margie Adams – Waves

Part 1 (27:28)

Part 2 (29:49)

For a recent and comprehensive history of feminist bookstores, see:
The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability, by Kristen Hogan, Duke University Press, 2016