Dorothy, October 26, 1981 (Tape 3)

Lesbian and gay experience

Lesbian community

Lesbian Herstory Archives

Lesbian librarians

Lesbianism

Lesbians--Alcohol use--United States

Lesbians--Relations with heterosexuals

Lesbians--United States--Identity

Dorothy discusses her lifelong identity as a lesbian and her uncharacteristic history in adopting both the butch and femme roles in prior relationships. She talks about being the child of a single mother (her father died when she was two years old) and also describes her hobbies. She says she has always been very mechanically inclined and has also always been an avid reader. She suspects that being an avid reader influenced her ability to understand and be accepting of herself. She also discusses her education and career and her treatment as a lesbian on the job. She was the first female member of the American Society of Tool Designers and later became a technical librarian and engineering researcher. She also speaks about her friendships and non-sexual relationships with both gay and straight women. She notes the differences between those relationships and how her mannerisms and level of self-consciousness also differ in those interactions.

Interviewee: Dorothy, Interviewer: Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy

Lesbian Herstory Archives

1981-10-26

Pratt Institute, School of Information and Library Science, students in LIS-665 Projects in Digital Archives

tape cassette "SPW476 Dorothy"

mpeg

wav

Side A: 25:47

eng

Sound

Oral History Interview

Lesbian Herstory Archives, Contact Designation: Maxine Wolfe, Contact Address: 484 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, Phone Number: 718-768-3953