Papers relating to women and Mail Art

Scope and Content

The collection consists of: The standard letter sent out by Patricia Collins and the replies she received from the UK, America, Denmark, Switzerland and Holland in their original 'mail art' envelopes. Four booklets with typed interviews with female mail art artists from America. Catalogue 'The First International Female Artistamp Exhibition', Stamp Art Gallery, San Francisco, USA, 1997. Copy of obituary of Ray Johnson 1927-1995, founder of New York Correspondence School, began using the mail as a medium for art in the 1940s. Copies of magazine articles on mail art.

Administrative / Biographical History

In 1997 Patricia Collins from Middlesex, United Kingdom set out to investigate women's involvement in mail art networking. She sent out a circular letter which asked why men seem to be more involved in project documentation than women, why the 'leading lights' were male and why she only knew of three British males writing their doctoral thesis on mail art and no females.

Access Information

Access for visitors is by appointment only.

Other Finding Aids

List available at the Library (database)

Archivist's Note

Description by Althea Greenan, MAKE 2002. Submitted to the Archives Hub as part of Genesis 2009 Project.

Geographical Names