Dates
- Majority of material found in 1974-2014
Scope and Content Note
The documents comprising the records of SIGNS: A JOURNAL OF WOMEN IN CULTURE AND SOCIETY (1974- ), span the period 1973-2014, although the bulk of the collection dates from 1974-1983. The records reflect two distinct periods of the journal's. history. Material from 1974 to 1980 documents the journal's activities under editor Catharine Stimpson at Barnard College. Material from 1980 to 1985 documents the journal's history under editor Barbara Charlesworth Gelpi at Stanford University. Those files generated under each editor form a single record group and are arranged in their original chronological or alphabetical order. Not included in the collection are the University of Chicago Press records of SIGNS for either period.
The SIGNS collection consists of 15 series. SIGNS records include the agendas and minutes of the SIGNS Editorial Board 1974-1990; editorial correspondence, 1974-(1979) 1983; questionnaires and newsletters of SIGNS editorial and advisory boards, 1974 (1975)-(1977) 1978; logbooks and manuscripts submitted to SINGS, 1974-1990; manuscripts rejected by SIGNS 1974-2012; book reviews and review essays, 1974-1988; files of issues published, 1975-2014; special issues published and conferences held, 1976-1985; promotion and subscriptions, 1974-1990; financial documents, 1985-1990; staff employment records, 1975-1983; general file, 1980-1984; reader files, 1980-2006; revise and resubmit, 1984-1999; and international corresondents files, 1974-1980.
Those working with the collection should note that: (1) correspondence is scattered throughout the collection, see especially REJECTED MANUSCRIPTS, BOOK REVIEWS AND REVIEW ESSAYS, SPECIAL ISSUES AND- CONFERENCES and ISSUE FILES. (2) Although 13 of the 28 boxes are identified as "rejected manuscripts," there are, in fact, very few manuscripts in this entire collection for it consists primarily of correspondence pertaining to manuscripts. (3) Similarly, there are only a couple of actual book reviews within the BOOK REVIEWS AND REVIEW ESSAY files. (4) Documents generated during the first year of the journal's history are more likely to be filed by date than by subject. Researchers interested in this early period should see SIGNS history files in EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE Some agendas and minutes of SIGNS board meetings, for example, are contained in these files.
While few original manuscripts are included within this collection, it is nonetheless valuable to those researching a variety of topics and trends, including: the history of Women's Studies, the formation and administration of women's journals, changing trends in women's scholarship, the changing relationship between parent institutions (e.g., universities and university press) and the editors.
Extent
203 Cubic Feet (203 records center boxes)
Physical Location
Stored offsite: Advance notice required to consult these records.
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society records contain the editorial board and office's materials relating to the academic journal. A majority of the records relate to the issue files, but also include correspondences, agendas, rejected manuscripts, and general files.
<emph render="bold">Administrative History</emph>
"Crowds roar. Ticker tape falls. [SIGNS] becomes official," wrote editor Catharine Stimpson to Jean Sacks, at the University of Chicago Press. 1 The new scholarly women's journal, founded in 1974, was the brainchild of Jean Sacks, manager of the Press's Journals Department. Just one year earlier, Sacks had suggested that the Press "pursue the idea of a journal devoted exclusively to the new scholarship on women" to be edited by Barnard College professor of literature, Catharine Stimpson. Sacks had been inspired by the unexpected demand for a single issue, "Changing Women in a Changing Society," of the American Journal of Sociology (also published by the University of Chicago Press). 2 Although they had printed an additional 3,000 copies of the 1973 issue, students and scholars, in Women's Studies programs, continued to send their requests to the Press long after its supply had been exhausted.
In July 1974, Catharine Stimpson presented the University of Chicago Press with a proposal for the new interdisciplinary quarterly, "original in research, bold in concept, and far-reaching in implication. "We believe," explained Stimpson, "that to understand women's lives, one must reconstruct totalities. To look at [women] through the lens of one discipline not only reduplicates the fragmentation of modern academic habits, but uses a warped scholarly perspective." 3 Moreover, SIGNS was intended as a forum for "new scholarship about women from both the United States and other countries ... within and beyond colleges and universities." "The interest in the new scholarship," explained Stimpson, "is international rather than parochial." 4
Throughout the late summer and early fall, the Journals Department of the Press solicited editorial evaluations of Stimpon's proposal by noted women scholars. By December a "Report on Journals" evaluating the new women's journal in terms of the Press's publishing history was presented to the Board of the University of Chicago Press. Would SIGNS "embarrass the University," the report queried? Could there be a "scandal?" Would scholars really publish in an interdisciplinary journal? 5 Ultimately persuaded by the academic legitimacy of the project's goals, and, in part, by the credentials of those involved (SIGNS board members were required to endorse the journal and submit their curriculum vitae), the University of Chicago Press promised to parent what would become the foremost scholarly journal in the field.
Shortly thereafter, a check for the first $5,000 was presented by the. University of Chicago Press. Expenses covered limited funds for translators as well as office expenses. (Barnard College donated office space free-of-charge between 1975 and 1980.) Most importantly, the budget would pay the full-time salary (albeit meager) for managing editor, Sandra Whisler, who had come from the Press's Journals Promotion department. While the editor and associate editors did not draw salaries, travel stipends were available to them. In 1975, associate editor, Domna Stanton attended the first United Nations Congress on Women in Mexico City and made contacts there with foreign scholars working on women's issues.
To supplement the journal's operating budget from the University of Chicago Press, however, the editors relied on contributions from private foundations. A grant from one foundation enabled Stanton to travel to Germany, Italy and Spain to expand the journal's influence and create a network with foreign scholars. In 1975 a Ford Foundation grant made it possible for Stimpson to reduce her teaching load in order to organize the journal. A second grant added one hundred additional pages for the Fall 1977 issue. Other foundation support included grants from the Lilly Foundation, Rockefeller. Foundation, Exxon, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
At the editorial office at Barnard College, Managing editor, Sandra Whisler, established "office procedures designed to maintain an efficient, professional operation." Manuscripts, which averaged about 700 a year by 1977, were read by Stimpson and another staff member. "In the allocation of tasks," wrote Stimpson, "the obligations of [Domna Stanton, Joan Burstyn] are clear, but not rigid." Anonymous manuscripts considered for publication were sent to two referees, an editorial board member and a recommended specialist, for review. Stimpson made final decisions except with regard to manuscripts, where the judgments of outside readers were final. "In the allocation of authority… I try for consensus wherever possible. I have deliberately eschewed being part of a collective." Instead, "we try for a collectivity of theory, fact, and opinion," explained Stimpson. "In part, this was temperamental… [but] it was also practical." 6 The journal, from its inception, relied on its three boards: (1) an Advisory Board which consisted of persons "well-known for their interest in scholarship about women and its ramifications," (2) an Editorial board which served as readers and referees, and, (3) International Correspondents who alerted the journal to developments, activity and contributors from abroad." 7 While board tenure had initially been left vague, in May 1978, a "governance plan" for Board members replaced an unstated time of service. Under the plan, Editorial Board members, who were more involved in day-today concerns of the journal, would serve a maximum of four years. Every year, one fourth of the board was removed by lottery. Advisory Board members served an eight year term, rotating one-eighth each year. The inaugural issue of SIGNS, which appeared in the fall of 1975, established the journal's format. SIGNS publishes "articles that apply vigorous academic standards," wrote Stimpson, "and that embody and discuss the most advanced research of both a disciplinary and interdisciplinary nature." 8 Each issue of the journal consisted of a brief editorial, major articles, review essays on new scholarship, Letters/Comments (which provided an arena for discussion between editors, authors and readers), an "Archives" section, News, "Reports/Revisions" (where new questions were raised), "Viewpoint" essays, and book reviews.
At least once a year, the editors publicized areas of new: scholarship by devoting whole issues or special sections to a single theme, such as, sex and sexuality, violence, science and society, Latin America and American cities. Several of these "special issues" consisted of papers presented at conferences (e.g., Wellesley College, Development and Sexual Division of Labor Conference, Communities of Women Conference). Several SIGNS special issues were also published as books (e.g. Women and the American City).
In 1980, Stimpson and her editors announced that SIGNS would move to Stanford University. We "realized that the [editorship], while at once exhilarating and demanding, ought to be rotated in a way that would both preserve the identity of the journal and permit fresh energies to animate it." Volume 6 Number 2 was the last issue published under Stimpson, appropriately entitled, "Studies in Change." On July 22, 1980 the New York editorial office closed.
From 1980-1985, professor of English literature Barbara Charlesworth Gelpi edited SIGNS at the editorial office at the Center for Research on Women at Stanford University. Gel pi was assisted by new associate editors (Estelle Freedman, Carol Nagy Jacklin, Nan Keohane, Myra Strober, Shelly Rosaldo, and Margery Wolf), and managing editor, Margaret Weeks. In an editorial Gelpi explained, however, that "the vertical structure of the mast head page of SIGNS may give the false sense that its editing is strongly hierarchical. On the contrary... the staff, the editor, and the associate editors work together as an non-hierarchical community of women..." 9 While-the journal's format remained the same, the journal's unwieldy board structure was modified. In 1981, the Advisory Board was absorbed into the Editorial Board.
In 1985, SIGNS moved to Duke University.
Notes
(1) Letter to Jean Sacks from Catharine Stimpson, November 21, 1974 in folder: "More Early SIGNS" Box 1 (2) Joan Burstyn, "Journals of One's Own: SIGNS in the. Evolution of Women's studies, 1975-1980," paper delivered for the Annual Meeting of the Organization of American Historians, April 1981, p.4 in folder: The Transition Notes, Box 1. (3) Catharine Stimpson, "The Making of SIGNS," Radical Teacher (December 1977): 24. (4) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974, in file: Setting up Signs; Editorial, SIGNS v. 1, no. 1 (1975). (5) "Report on Journals," December 9 1974, in folder: Setting up SIGNS. Box 1. (6) Stimpson, Radical Teacher, p.24. (7) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974 folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1. (8) Catharine Stimpson, Journal prospectus, folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1. (9) Vol. 10. no. 4 p. 633.
Biographical / Historical
Journal's Chronology
- 1974
- University of Chicago Press Journal's Division asks Catharine Stimpson to start an academic journal devoted to the new scholarship on women.
- 1974
- Donna C. Stanton and Joan N Burstyn chosen as associate editors.
- 1974
- University of Chicago Press agrees to financial backing.
- 1975
- Editorial office established at Barnard College.
- 1975
- First issue of SIGNS published.
- 1975
- SIGNS receives 494 submissions of manuscripts since founding.
- 1976
- Subscriber list is 4,000; circulation is 8,220.
- 1976
- Wellesley Conference on Women and National Development held.
- 1978
- "Governance Plan" accepted by SIGNS editorial and associate boards.
- 1978
- Rockefeller Conference held.
- 1979
- Barnard Women's Center Conference held.
- 1980
- Barbara Charlesworth Gelpi accepts editorship.
- 1980
- Last issue of SIGNS edited in New York City; Vol. 6 No. 2 issued.
- 1980
- SIGNS moves to Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
- 1981
- Circulation is over 6,500.
- 1981
- First issue of SIGNS edited at Stanford; Vol. 6 No. 3 issued.
- 1981
- Advisory Board absorbed by Editorial Board.
- 1983
- Communities of Women Conference held at Stanford University.
- 1985
- SIGNS moves to Duke University.
Principal Personnel, 1974-1985
- 1975-1980
- Catharine R. Stimpson
- 1981-1985
- Barbara Charlesworth Gelpi
- 1975-1980
- Joan N. Burstyn
- 1982-1985
- Jane Fishbone Collier
- 1980-1985
- Estelle B. Freedman
- 1980-1983
- Carol Nagy Jacklin
- 1980-1982
- Nannerl O. Keohan
- 1980-1982
- Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo
- 1975-1980
- Domna C. Stanton
- 1980-1985
- Myra H. Strober
- 1983
- Barrie Throne (guest associate)
- 1980-1985
- Margery Wolf
- 1982
- Nancy C.M. Hartsock (guest associate)
- 1982-1985
- Sylvia Yanagisko
- 1975-1977
- Sandra M. Whisler
- 1977-1980
- Martha Nelson
- 1979-1980
- Elsa Dixler
- 1980-1981
- Margaret L. Weeks
- 1981-1983
- Clare C. Novak
- 1983-1985
- Susan L. Johnson
- 1983-1985
- Clare C. Novak
- 1977
- Martha J. Nelson
- 1975-1976
- Martha Nelson
- 1980
- Laura N. Dwight
- 1979
- Elizabeth A. Strode
- 1981-1983
- Susan L. Johnson
- 1983
- Kathleen M. Weston
- 1978-1979
- Elsa Dixler
- 1980-1981
- Clare C. Novack
- 1982-1983
- Susan L. Johnson
- 1975-1980
- Helen S. Astin
- 1975-1979
- Sandra L. Bern
- 1981-1985
- Barbara R. Bergman
- 1975-1979
- Jessie Bernard
- 1975-1978
- Vern L. Bullough
- 1979-1985
- Francine Blau
- 1981-1985
- Joan Burstyn
- 1981-1985
- Nancy Chodorow
- 1975-1978
- Sidonie Cassirer
- 1981-1985
- Michelle Cliff
- 1981-1985
- Jewel Plummer Cobb
- 1976-1978
- Emily Coleman
- 1975-1985
- Natalie Zemon Davis
- 1981-1985
- Carl N. Degler
- 1979-1985
- Bonnie Thornton Dill
- 1975-1979
- Elizabeth Douvan
- 1975-1985
- Cynthia Fuchs Epstein
- 1975-1985
- Linda Gordon
- 1975-1979
- Diana Long Hall
- 1981-1985
- Donna J. Haraway
- 1975-1978
- Daphne Hare
- 1983-1985
- Nancy C.M. Hartsock
- 1975-1979
- Carolyn Heibrun.
- 1975-1978
- Lois Wladis Hoffman
- 1975-1985
- Florence Howe
- 1984-1985
- Carol Nagy Jacklin
- 1981-1985
- Alison M. Jaggar
- 1981-1985
- Elizabeth Janeway
- 1980-1985
- Louis Kampf
- 1982-1985
- Nannerl O. Keohane
- 1980-1982
- Joan Kelly
- 1975-1985
- Linda Kerber
- 1975-1979
- Jeane J. Kirkpatrick
- 1975-1985
- Marjorie Fine Knowles
- 1980-1985
- Sally Gregory Kohlstadt
- 1975-1978
- Leo Kanowitz
- 1975-1980
- Joyce A. Ladner
- 1975-1985
- Louise Lamphire
- 1975-1979
- Paul Lauter
- 1975-1979
- Gerda Lerner
- 1981-1985
- Carolyn C. Lougee
- 1975-1980
- Ruth B. Mandel
- 1981-1985
- Catharine A. MacKinnon
- 1975-1980
- Ruth Barcan Marcus
- 1975-1985
- Elaine Marks
- 1975-1979
- Lena Wright Myers
- 1975-1978
- Linda Nochlin
- 1980-1985
- Karen O. Mason
- 1981-1985
- Leith Mullings
- 1981-1985
- Miroslava Nikitovich-Winer
- 1981-1985
- Anne Oakley
- 1981-1985
- Hanna Papanek
- 1980-1981
- Mary Brown Parlee
- 1981-1985
- Letitia Anne Peplau
- 1975-1979
- Ethel Spector Person
- 1981-1985
- Anne Petersen
- 1981-1985
- Martha E. Peterson
- 1975-1985
- Harriet B. Presser
- 1975-1978
- Katharine Ralls
- 1975-1980
- Judith A. Ramaley
- 1978-1985
- Rayna Rapp
- 1975-1979
- Izes Smith Reid
- 1975-1980
- Michele Zimbalist Rosaldo
- 1975-1979
- Rosemary Ruether
- 1975-1977
- Isabel Sawhil
- 1975-1979
- Cynthia Secor
- 1975-1985
- Elaine Showalter
- 1981-1985
- Margaret C. Simms
- 1975-1980
- Myra H Strober
- 1981-1985
- Domna C. Stanton
- 1975-1979
- Nancy Tanner
- 1981-1985
- Juliet Stiehm
- 1975-1978
- Sheila Tobias
- 1984-1985
- Barrie Thorne
- 1979-1985
- Gaye Tuchman
- 1981-1985
- Martha Vicinus
- 1975-1985
- Froma Zeitlin
- 1976-1978
- Adrienne Zihlman
- 1977-1985
- Lourdez Arizpe
- 1980-1985
- Laura Balbo
- 1975-1980
- Riuka Bar-Yosef
- 1975-1985
- Helene Cixous
- 1977-1985
- Margrit Eichler
- 1975-1985
- Elina Haavio-Mannila
- 1980-1985
- Dafna Izraeli
- 1975-1980
- Mary Racelis Hollnsteiner
- 1976-1985
- Deniz Kandiyoti
- 1978-1985
- Diana Leonard
- 1975-1979
- Dacia Maraini
- 1978-1985
- Vina Mazumdar
- 1978-1985
- Yorilco Meguro
- 1975-1977
- Juliet Mitchell
- 1978-1985
- Julinda Abu Nasr
- 1976-1985
- Marysa Navarro
- 1975-1977
- Ann Oakeley
- 1978-1985
- Achola Pala
- 1979-1985
- Marta Pessarrodona
- 1975-1977
- Fredericka Pickford Santos
- 1975-1978
- Alice Shalvi
- 1975-1985
- Karin-Westman-Berg
- 1975-1985
- Aline K. Wong
- 1975-1981
- Barbara R. Bergman
- 1975-1981
- Ester Boserup
- 1975-1979
- Germaine Bree
- 1981
- Joan N. Burstyn
- 1975-1981
- Jewel Plummer Cobb
- 1975-1981
- Carl N. Degler
- 1975-1981
- Martin Duberman
- 1975-1981
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- 1975-1977
- Patricia Albjerg Graham
- 1975-1980
- Elizabeth Hardwick
- 1975-1980
- Elizabeth Janeway
- 1975-1980
- Mirra Komarousky
- 1980-1981
- Linda Maraini
- 1977-1980
- Juliet Mitchell
- 1975-1978
- John W. Money
- 1975-1978
- Pauli Murray
- 1979-1981
- Linda Nochlin
- 1977-1981
- Ann Oakleley
- 1975-1981
- Martha E. Peterson
- 1975-1979
- Estelle R; Ramey
- 1975-1981
- Margaret K. Rosenheim
- 1975-1981
- Neena B. Schwartz
- 1975-1981
- Susan Sontag
- 1981
- Domna C. Stanton
- 1975-1979
- Naomi Weisstein
- 1976-1980
- Nadia H. Youssef
University of Chicago, Journals Department
- Philipson, Director, University of Chicago Press
- Jean W. Sacks, Assistant Director and Journals Manager
- Laura Gruen, Administrative Assistant
- Peter Meehan, Administrative Assistant
- Robert Shirrell, Associate Manager and Production Manger
- Jane Sowers, Production Administrative Assitant
- Sue Grossman, Production Assistant
- Irmgard Dotzaver, Associate Manager and Advertising Manager
- Marcia Brontman, Assistant Promotion Manager
- Orlie Higgins, Subscription Fulfilment Manager
- Sandra Willis, Assistant Subscription Manager
- Anita Taylor, Permissions requests
Alphabetical List of all SIGNS Personnel
- Lourdez Arizpe, international correspondent, 1977-1985
- Helen S. Astin, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Laura Balbo, international correspondent, 1980-1985
- Riuka Bar-Yosef, international correspondent, 1975-1980
- Barbara R. Bergman, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Sandra L. Bern, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Barbara R. Bergman, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Jessie Bernard, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Francine Blau, editorial board, 1979-1985
- Ester Boserup, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Germaine Bree, advisory board, 1975-1979
- Marcia Brontman, Assistant Promotion Manager (U of C)
- Vern L. Bullough, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Joan N. Burstyn, associate editor, 1975-1980; advisory board, 1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Sidonie Cassirer, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Nancy Chodorow, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Helene Cixous, international correspondent, 1975-1985
- Michelle Cliff, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Jewel Plummer Cobb, advisory board, 1975-1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Emily Coleman, editorial board, 1976-1978
- Jane Fishbone Collier, associate editor, 1982-1985
- Natalie Zemon Davis, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Carl N. Degler, advisory board, 1975-1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Bonnie Thornton Dill, editorial board, 1979-1985
- Elsa Dixler, editorial associate, 1978-1979; managing editor, 1979-1980
- Irmgard Dotzaver, Associate Manager and Advertising Manager, (U of C)
- Elizabeth Douvan, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Martin Duberman, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Laura N. Dwight, editorial assistant, 1980
- Margrit Eichler, international correspondent, 1977-1985
- Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Estelle B. Freedman, associate editor, 1980-1985
- Barbara Charlesworth Gelpi, editor, 1981-1985
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Linda Gordon, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Patricia Albjerg Graham,. advisory board, 1975-1977
- Sue Grossman, Production Assistant, (U of C)
- Laura Gruen, Administrative Assistant (U of C)
- Elina Haavio-Mannila, international correspondent, 1975-1985
- Diana Long Hall, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Donna J. Haraway, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Elizabeth Hardwick, advisory board, 1975-1980
- Daphne Hare, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Nancy C.M. Hartsock, guest associate editor, 1982; editorial board, 1983-1985
- Carolyn Heibrun, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Orlie Higgins, Subscription Fulfilment Manager, (U of C)
- Lois Wladis Hoffman, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Florence Howe, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Mary Racelis Hollnsteiner, international correspondent, 1975-1980
- Dafna Izraeli, international correspondent, 1980-1985
- Carol Nagy Jacklin, associate editor, 1980-1983; editorial board, 1984-1985
- Alison M. Jaggar, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Elizabeth Janeway, advisory board, 1975-1980; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Susan L. Johnson, editorial assistant, 1981-1983; editorial associate, 1982-1983; managing editor, 1983-1985
- Louis Kampf, editorial board, 1980-1985
- Deniz Kandiyoti, international correspondent, 1976-1985
- Nannerl O. Keohane, associate editor, 1980-1982; editorial board, 1982-1985
- Joan Kelly, editorial board, 1980-1982
- Linda Kerber, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Marjorie Fine Knowles, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Sally Gregory Kohlstadt, editorial board, 1980-1985
- Mirra Komarousky, advisory board, 1975-1980
- Leo Kanowitz, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Joyce A. Ladner, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Louise Lamphire, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Paul Lauter, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Diana Leonard, international correspondent, 1978-1985
- Gerda Lerner, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Carolyn C. Lougee, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Catharine A. MacKinnon, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Ruth B. Mandel, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Dacia Maraini, international correspondent, 1975-1979
- Linda Maraini, advisory board, 1980-1981
- Ruth Barcan Marcus, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Elaine Marks, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Karen O. Mason, editorial board, 1980-1985
- Vina Mazumdar, international correspondent, 1978-1985
- Peter Meehan, Administrative Assistant (U of C)
- Yorilco Meguro, international correspondent, 1978-1985
- Juliet Mitchell, international correspondent, 1975-1977; advisory board, 1977-1980
- John W. Money, advisory board, 1975-1978
- Leith Mullings, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Pauli Murray, advisory board, 1975-1978
- Lena Wright Myers, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Julinda Abu Nasr, international correspondent, 1978-1985
- Marysa Navarro, international correspondent, 1976-1985
- Martha Nelson, editorial assistant, 1975-1976; acting managing editor, 1977; managing editor, 1977-1980
- Miroslava Nikitovich-Winer, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Linda Nochlin, editorial board, 1975-1978; advisory board, 1979-1981
- Clare C. Novack, editorial associate, 1980-1981; managing editor, 1981-1983
- Anne Oakeley, international correspondent, 1975-1977; advisory board, 1977-1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Achola Pala, international correspondent, 1978-1985
- Hanna Papanek, editorial board, .1981-1985
- Mary Brown Parlee, editorial board, 1980-1981
- Letitia Anne Peplau, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Ethel Spector Person, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Marta Pessarrodona, international correspondent, 1979-1985
- Anne Petersen, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Martha E. Peterson, advisory board, 1975-1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Fredericka Pickford Santos, international correspondent, 1975-1977
- Philipson, Director, University of Chicago Press
- Harriet B. Presser, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Katharine Ralls1 editorial board, 1975-1978
- Judith A. Ramaley, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Estelle R. Ramey, advisory board, 1975-1979
- Rayna Rapp, editorial board, 1978-1985
- Izes Smith Reid, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Michele Zimbalist Rosaldo, editorial board, 1975-1980 associate editor, 1980-1982
- Margaret K. Rosenheim, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Rosemary Ruether, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Jean W. Sacks, Assistant Director and Journals Manager (U of C)
- Isabel Sawhil, editorial board, 1975-1977
- Neena B. Schwartz, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Cynthia Secor, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Alice Shalvi, international correspondent, 1975-1978
- Robert Shirrell, Associate Manager and. Production Manager, (U of C)
- Elaine Showalter, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Margaret C. Simms, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Susan Sontag, advisory board, 1975-1981
- Jane Sowers, Production Administrative Assistant, (U of C)
- Catharine R. Stimpson, founding editor, 1975-1980
- Myra H. Strober, editorial board, 1975-1980
- Domna C. Stanton, associate editor, 1975-1980; advisory board, 1981; editorial board, 1981-1985
- Juliet Stiehm, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Myra H. Strober, associate editor, 1980-1985
- Elizabeth A. Strode, editorial assistant, 1979
- Nancy Tanner, editorial board, 1975-1979
- Anita Taylor, Permissions requests (U of C)
- Sheila Tobias, editorial board, 1975-1978
- Barrie Thorne, guest associate editor, 1983; editorial board, 1984-1985
- Gaye Tuchman, editorial board, 1979-1985
- Martha Vicinus, editorial board, 1981-1985
- Margaret L. Weeks, managing editor, 1980-1981
- Naomi Weisstein, advisory board, 1975-1979
- Karin Westman-Berg, international correspondent, 1975-1985
- Kathleen M. Weston, editorial assistant, 1983
- Sandra M. Whisler, managing editor, 1975-1977
- Sandra Willis, Assistant Subscription Manager (U of C)
- Margery Wolf, associate editor, 1980-1985
- Aline K. Wong, international correspondent, 1975-1985
- Sylvia Yanagisko, associate editor, 1982-1985
- Nadia H. Youssef, advisory board, 1976-1980
- Froma Zeitlin, editorial board, 1975-1985
- Adrienne Zihlman, editorial board, 1976-1978
Arrangement Note
The SIGNS collection arrived at Rutgers in 40 labeled cardboard boxes broadly categorized as Barnard and Stanford files. Within those categories, the largest and most discrete units were issue files and rejected manuscripts. A series organization for much of the rest of the collection was required, though we believe it reflects the original organization of the material. The subsequent arrangement of the records into two subgroups, the first consisting of one series of the Editorial and Advisory boards, and the second consisting of eleven series generated by the Editorial offices of SIGNS is believed to reflect the original order of the material.
Little material was removed from the collection during processing. Discarded documents included a large number of duplicate copies of unused telephone logs and a post office publication of zip codes.
Additional material has been to the collection. These materials have been kept in the original order that they were recieved.
General
(1) Letter to Jean Sacks from Catharine Stimpson, November 21, 1974 in folder: "More Early SIGNS" Box 1
General
(2) Joan Burstyn, "Journals of One's Own: SIGNS in the. Evolution of Women's studies, 1975-1980," paper delivered for the Annual Meeting of the Organization of American Historians, April 1981, p.4 in folder: The Transition Notes, Box 1.
General
(3) Catharine Stimpson, "The Making of SIGNS," Radical Teacher (December 1977): 24.
General
(4) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974, in file: Setting up Signs; Editorial, SIGNS v. 1, no. 1 (1975).
General
(5) "Report on Journals," December 9 1974, in folder: Setting up SIGNS. Box 1.
General
(6) Stimpson, Radical Teacher, p.24.
General
(7) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974 folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1.
General
(8) Catharine Stimpson, Journal prospectus, folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1.
General
(9) Vol. 10. no. 4 p. 633.
General
(1) Letter to Jean Sacks from Catharine Stimpson, November 21, 1974 in folder: "More Early SIGNS" Box 1
General
(2) Joan Burstyn, "Journals of One's Own: SIGNS in the. Evolution of Women's studies, 1975-1980," paper delivered for the Annual Meeting of the Organization of American Historians, April 1981, p.4 in folder: The Transition Notes, Box 1.
General
(3) Catharine Stimpson, "The Making of SIGNS," Radical Teacher (December 1977): 24.
General
(4) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974, in file: Setting up Signs; Editorial, SIGNS v. 1, no. 1 (1975).
General
(5) "Report on Journals," December 9 1974, in folder: Setting up SIGNS. Box 1.
General
(6) Stimpson, Radical Teacher, p.24.
General
(7) Memo to University of Chicago Press from Catharine Stimpson, July 1, 1974 folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1.
General
(8) Catharine Stimpson, Journal prospectus, folder: Setting up Signs, Box 1.
General
(9) Vol. 10. no. 4 p. 633.
- Title
- Inventory to the SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society Records MC 652
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Miriam Formanek-Brunell and Michele Mesi
- Date
- March 1987
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
Part of the New Brunswick Special Collections Repository