Series XII. Objects

Records of Bright's work writing and publishing about sexuality, including the lesbian sex journal On Our Backs, that document American sexual politics since 1978 and show the development of her own activism and thinking about sexual liberation. Her collection contains the history of On Our Backs - magazine issues, production documents, and media and reader responses that document the feminist sex wars and censorship battles that defined lesbian publishing in the 1980s and 1990s. Also included are videos and documents used by Bright in lectures and teaching about censorship and pornography controversies, Bright's collection of pornographic films, articles and photographs that document Bright's career, and works by various artists, writers and activists that contextualize Bright's work within the arena of sexual liberation and feminism. The collection also includes material from Bright's activism during her high school career at University High School and early college career in California. Documents detail Bright's work in various organizations,the International Socialists, Teamsters for a Democratic Union, and the Red Tide, that each contributed to the feminist, labor, civil rights, and anti-war movements. Material also covers Bright's experience as a plaintiff suing the Los Angeles Board of Education when University High School administration attempted to prevent the distribution of the Red Tide underground newspaper. Scripts and drafts of Bright's first plays "Girls Gone Bad" and "Knife, Paper, Scissors." Readers used by Bright when teaching her university courses on the subjects of the politics of sexuality and pornographic films. Pieces written by Bright for various publications, whether as a guest writer or as a regular columnist. Also a collection of the media attention to Bright's publications,including the negative and positive responses to her controversial contribution to the Sexual Revolution and Feminist Porn Wars. Submissions for Counter Visions photography project. Issues of On Our Backs, various files pertaining to the business of producing OOB, as well as the Stormy Leather catalog, the OOB 1989 Lesbian Sex Calendar and Fatale Video; and articles that account for the critical and popular reception of OOB as well as OOB's contribution to the Sexual Revolution and Feminist Porn Wars. Personal photographs, letters, papers and works of and by the OOB staff document the lives of the women behind the magazine and their experience working for OOB and attending OOB related events. Also included is a collection of slides from pornographic films. Bright's collection of prints, drawings and collages,notably drawings by Noreen Scully and works by Honey Lee Cottrell; posters of various films and performances; and images from a variety of photographers. Costumes worn by Debi Sundahl as Fanny Fatale for the performance of BurLEZk, a lesbian striptease performance, at the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater. Bright's collection of pornographic videos spanning 1930-2007 as well as recordings of Bright's news appearances, lectures, award shows and interviews. Interviews with Bright. Publications containing articles by Susie Bright or about Susie Bright and various publications collected by Bright. Also, a red glass goblet used as a prop in the photograph on the cover of the 10th anniversary issue, Sept/Oct 1994 and a plexiglass dildo used in the 1987 video set “Clips" - including “When Fanny Liquidates Kenny’s Socks,” shot by Honey Lee Cottrell; the 1993 “How to Female Ejaculate”; in photographs in On Our Backs; and in peep shows at the Lusty Lady (1983-1985) and at the Mitchell Brothers’ O’Farrell Street Theater (1985-1989).