Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1955 - 1998 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5 archive boxes of textual, photographic and audio visual material.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Jackie Forster (née Jacqueline Moir Mackenzie; 6 November 1926 – 10 October 1998) was an English lesbian activist, journalist and actress and a prominent figure within the feminist movement. She was a pioneer who helped set up Sappho magazine, that reached out to many isolated lesbian women for over ten years. After Sappho disbanded in 1984, Jackie helped set up the Lesbian Archive and Information Centre (LAIC). It became a unique resource of cataloguing and recording the history of lesbians, specifically within the United Kingdom but includes material from across the world. LAIC’s funds were heavily cut in 1995 and LAIC was moved to Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL). Jackie remained involved in the administration of LAIC until her death in 1998.
Repository
Archival history
The collection was originally part of the Lesbian Archive and Information Centre (LAIC).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers and correspondence of activist and news reporter Jackie Forster (née Jacqueline Moir Mackenzie; 6 November 1926 – 10 October 1998). Including autograph, typescript, printed and photocopied material.
The archive contains papers relating the Forster’s literary and acting career, including draft, proof and printed materials of her works; personal and business correspondence, acting career related materials, such as scripts and notes, drafts of speeches and debates, annotated drafts, press cutting of Forsters articles and of issues related to the gay and lesbian community in the media and a range of personal papers detailing Forsters activist work on various projects throughout her life. The archive also contains personal correspondence and materials relating to Forster’s family members, photographs of Forster throughout her life and a collection of books signed and dedicated to her.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Minor accruals may be possible as the LAIC collection is further arranged and catalogued.
System of arrangement
Arranged into 8 series of textual, photographic and audio-visual material.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access through consultation with Glasgow Women’s Library.
Conditions governing reproduction
Consultation with Glasgow Women’s Library.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
There are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The material is original.
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2000)
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Created 20th April 2021
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Collection catalogued to series level by Mae Moss for the Lesbian Lives project.