Riot Grrrl Conventions
Scope and Contents
The papers of Margaret Rooks (1972-) span the years 1990 to 2005, with the bulk of material dating from 1991 to 1996. The papers include Feminist Zines, General Zines, Flyers and Announcements, Correspondence, School Papers, a Book, and an Audio Cassette.
The Feminist Zines span the dates ca. 1991-1994 and are comprised of seventy-seven self-published fanzines written by young women in the United States, traded or collected by Margaret Rooks. This series includes Rooks' self-published "Quit Whining" and "Quit Chumping" (1991-1993) along with zine flats. Of note are several rare zines that were seminal to the Riot Grrrl movement, including Riot Grrrl, Bikini Kill, and Girl Germs, as well as zines from the Western Massachusetts Riot Grrrl chapter. The Riot Grrrl counterculture movement grew out of the American punk rock music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was popularized in the early 1990s. Many of the "zinesters" went on to create bands whose music was central to the Riot Grrrl movement, such as Kathleen Hanna and Tobi Vail's "Bikini Kill" zine. Issues addressed in the zines include pacifism, vegetarianism, pro-choice, protecting women from violence, rights abuse, feminism, Riot Grrrl, body image and consciousness, music, gender inequality, mental health, sexual identity, poetry, punk music, violence against women, and race. Arranged alphabetically.
General Zines, dating from 1987-1994 with the bulk dating from 1992-1994, are comprised of fanzines principally created by young men involved in the North American punk rock movement, all collected by Margaret Rooks. Some zines were mailed to Margaret, while others she bought or traded at record stores. The zines themselves, dedicated to some type of political interest, are usually created by photocopying appropriated images and an author's own written text or type with a certain cult following or circulation. Many of the 92 zines in this series are photocopied in black and white, with mixed typed and handwritten text by the authors. Some zines are printed on newsprint, or on industrial copy paper. A small few are printed in color. The issues espoused in the zines include reproductive rights, women's rights, peace, violence against women, vegetarianism, animal rights, and Palestinian rights. Arranged alphabetically.
The Flyers and Announcements series, ca. 1992, includes alphabetically arranged posters from concerts, workshops, lectures and protests. Organizations sponsoring many of the events include Positive Force DC, Bee Hive Collective, Food Not Bombs, D.C. Space, House of Ruth, My Sisters Place. The series also includes a Riot Grrrl Convention sub series comprised of flyers, programs, and posters from the Riot Grrrl Convention in Washington, DC July 31-August 2, 1992 and a Bikini Kill concert and events at Mount Holyoke College May 1, 1992.
The Correspondence (1990-2007) is organized into two series: Riot Grrrl and Zine, and Personal. The Riot Grrrl & Zine Correspondence (1991-2001, n.d.) consists primarily of correspondence from "zinesters" and musicians in the punk rock movement to Margaret. The correspondents are mostly admirers of Margaret's zine "Quite Whining" and generally discuss issues like promoting music and counterculture. Of particular note are three letters from Guy Picciotto of Fugazi (1991) and Dischord House, as well as correspondence with Hillary Carlip, who used some of Margaret's work in her book Girl Power: Young Women Speak Out. Letters are mostly handwritten on notebook paper, graph paper, postcards, index cards, and stationery.
Personal Correspondence (1990-2007) is comprised of letters Margaret wrote to her Grandmother "Dee Dee" in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Also includes letters from Margaret's parents regarding her decision to leave Mount Holyoke, finances, and political differences. Includes letters from her younger brother, David (b. 1978) as well as letters from friends. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.
School Papers (1994-1994) includes papers submitted for grades in Women's Studies, Education, Psychology, History, Anthropology, Biology. Of note are research materials and a History paper, "Definition Versus Redefinition: The History of the Riot Grrrl Movement" (May, 1996).
The Book series includes a single title; a signed copy of Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital by Mark Anderson and Mark Jenkins (2003.)
The Audio Recording, ca. 1993 and recorded on a cassette tape, is an interview with Mike D. of the Beastie Boys by Margaret Rooks as a disc jockey for WMHC 91.5 FM, the Mount Holyoke College radio station. A transcription of this interview was published in "Quit Whining."
Dates
- Creation: 1992
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted
Extent
1 folders
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
- Publicity for discussion and girl band performances in Washington, DC, from Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Sugarshock," publicity for Riot Grrrl event, from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Who Created this Society," publicity for a zine, from Margaret Rooks '96 collection
- Publicity for Punk Percussion Protest and First Annual Riot Grrrl Convention in Washington, DC, from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine material
- Publicity about Riot Grrrl Press, from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine material
- "Riot Grrrl presents Bikini Girl, Bad Dream House, and Flower Thief," announcement for punk rock event at Mount Holyoke, sponsored by Pioneer Valley Riot Grrrl
- "Bikini Kill," publicity for a punk rock show in Washington, DC, from Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Are You a Good Listener?" announcement for punk rock event at Mount Holyoke, featuring Bikini Kill, Flower Thief, and Bad Dream House, sponsored by Pioneer Valley Riot Grrrl
- "Girl Talk," publicity for discussion groups and workshops in Washington, DC, from Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Riot Grrrl...Believe in me!" account of the formation of the Riot Grrr Movement, from Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Bikini Kill, Bad Dream House, and Flower Thief," announcement for punk rock event at Mount Holyoke sponsored by Pioneer Valley Riot Grrrl
- Publicity for Leap Year punk rock band party at Hampshire College, from Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- "Bikini Kill with Flower Thief and Bad Dream House," announcement for punk rock event at Mount Holyoke sponsored by Pioneer Valley Riot Grrrl
- "Why aren't boys called sluts?" from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine materials
- Publicity for the First Annual Riot Grrrl Convention, in Washington, DC, from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine material
- Publicity for opening of the First Annual Riot Grrrl Convention, in Washington, DC, from the Margaret Rooks '96 zine material
- "Bikini Kill Revolution," publicity for an intercollegiate conference, Undue Process: the Legacy of Japanese American Internment, held at Yale University, from Margaret Rooks zine materials
Repository Details
Part of the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Repository
50 College Street
8 Dwight Hall
South Hadley MA 01075-6425 USA
413-538-3079
archives@mtholyoke.edu