Skip to main content

Dell Williams papers

 Collection
Identifier: 7676

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Records of Eve's Garden, including mission statement, catalogs and letters sent out to customers, articles about the business, and flyers for sexuality workshops held at Eve's Garden and elsewhere; material from a speaker's bureau Williams organized called New Feminist Talent; and articles and writings on sexuality that Williams collected, including a first edition of Betty Dodson's 1972 "Liberating Masturbation." Also, some of Williams' personal papers, including a 1974 appointment book.

Also, correspondence with others involved in aspects of sexual liberation and feminism, including Helen Robinson, Alice Ladas, Linda Bisgaard, and Sandra De Sando, and clippings, research notes, and drafts of writing they shared on women's sexual response and other topics. Also, correspondence from Lynette Brannon who in 1977 was running the first Eve's Garden "franchise" in Austin, Texas. Videos entitled "Increasing Male Sexual Potency" by Dr. Anthony A. Zaffuto and "500 Unusual Sex Practices" produced by the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Also an antique vibrator from ca. 1911-1920.

Books, videotapes, audiotapes, and manuscript materials on topics about sexuality, spirituality, feminism, and writing. Personal and business correspondence relating to sexuality and Eve's Garden. Writings by Sally Miller, sex and health columnist. Also, a glass award from An Uncommon Legacy Foundation; a tennis cup and a medal that Dell's parents won in tennis tournaments; clippings and a book describing Dell's brother Lorenzo's experience in a plane crash; a vibrator.

Dates

  • 1922-2008.

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

A former actress and advertising account executive, in 1974 Dell Williams founded Eve's Garden, a business guided by a feminist and sex-positive philosophy that offered for sale vibrators, books, and other products to enhance and liberate women's sexuality. At first, she operated a mail order business, and later she also opened a storefront in New York City. The first store of its kind, Williams advertised it as a "feminist sexuality boutique and mail order catalog created by women for women and their partners." Williams was influenced by the writing of Wilhelm Reich and the work of sexuality educator Betty Dodson and by her experience organizing a Women's Sexuality Conference for the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women in 1973.

Extent

4.9 cubic feet. (4.9 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

Records of Eve's Garden, including mission statement, catalogs and letters sent out to customers, articles about the business, and flyers for sexuality workshops held at Eve's Garden and elsewhere; material from a speaker's bureau Williams organized called New Feminist Talent; and articles and writing on sexuality that Williams collected, including a first edition of Betty Dodson's 1972 "Liberating Masturbation." Also, some of Williams' personal papers, including a 1974 appointment book.

COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT

Materials in Series I are listed here chronologically where possible and alphabetically otherwise. Materials in Series II and III are listed alphabetically.

SERIES LIST

Series I. Eve's Garden and Dell Williams Boxes 1-3, 5-6, 7

This series includes material about the operation and philosophy of Eve's Garden: Dell Williams's notes and writing about the start, purpose, and goals of the business, her series of articles "Sexually Speaking", some audiotaped interviews and lectures by her, publicity files, lists of the product line, and files about product development and events sponsored by the store, as well as Williams's appointment books. Also included are some of Williams's personal writings, résumés, and correspondence. The series also contains materials pertaining to Dell's immediate family: awards won by her tennis-playing parents, correspondence with her brother Lorenz when both were in the army in 1946, and materials concerning Lorenz's experience in a plane crash in 1972. In addition are files about close friend Betty Dodson, and about the 1973 NOW Women's Sexuality Conference, which was pivotal in Williams' life. Customer correspondence is restricted until 2079.

Personal

Eve's Garden

Betty Dodson

Interfaith Ministry

Series II. Colleagues, Correspondents, and Subjects Boxes 1-3, 6

This series, arranged alphabetically, includes the correspondence and information she saved from numerous people and organizations involved in sexual liberation, spirituality, feminism, and sex education. Included are drafts of articles numerous writers shared with her.

Sexuality

Spirituality

Feminism and Other

Series III. Clippings and Print Material Boxes 2-3, 6

This series consists of various articles she saved from magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets.

Series IV. Audiovisual Material Box 6-8

This series consists of videotapes and audiotapes on various sexual subjects, collected by Williams. Audiovisual material featuring Williams or Dodson is listed in Series I.

Series V. Merchandise Boxes 2-4

This series contains items that have been products at Eve's Garden or objects that Williams collected.

RELATED MATERIALS

Collecting program: Human Sexuality Collection.

SEPARATED MATERIAL

Publications and Videos Removed From Collection 7676 - cataloged as individual items and serials in the Human Sexuality Collection (multiple issues of periodicals are denoted by parentheses):

  1. Adams, Florence. Mushy Eggs. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1973.
  2. Alcott, Louisa May. Rose in Bloom. Chicago: The John C. Winston Company, 1933.
  3. Allen, Gina and Clement G. Martin. Intimacy: Sensitivity, Sex, and the Art of Love, 1971.
  4. Anderlini-D'Onofrio, Serena. Plural loves: designs for bi and poly living. New York: Harrington Park Press, 2004.
  5. Annual Review of Sex Research. v.14, 2003.
  6. April, K. and W.E. Schreiner. The Condom: No Guarantee Against AIDS. Sheffield, Great Britain: Quentin Publications, 1992.
  7. Australian Women's Forum, 2 issues.
  8. Avant Garde: Picasso's Erotic Gravures. Issue #8, New York.
  9. Baehr, Ninia. Abortion without Apology: a radical history for the 1990's. Boston: South End Press, 1990.
  10. Barbach, Lonnie. Shared Intimacies: Women's Sexual Experiences. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1980.
  11. Barry, Kathleen. Female Sexual Slavery. New York: Avon Books, 1979.
  12. Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
  13. Bingham, Sallie. Passion and Prejudice: A Family Memoir. New York: Applause Books, 1991.
  14. Bishop, Clifford. Sex & Spirit. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1996.
  15. Bishop, Clifford. Sex and Spirit: An Illustrated Guide to Sacred Sexuality. Berkeley: Seastone, 1996.
  16. Blank, Joani. Good Vibrations: The Complete Woman's Guide to Vibrators. Burlingame, CA: Down There Press, 1976.
  17. Body of Art. v.1 issue B, October 1996.
  18. Boyd, Billy Ray. Circumcision: What it Does. San Francisco: Taterhill Press, 1990.
  19. Britton, Patti, Ph.D. The Adventures of HER in France. Beverly Hills: Leopard Rising, n.d.
  20. Brown, Rita Mae. Dolley: A Novel of Dolley Madison in Love and War. New York: Bantam Books, 1994.
  21. Bullough, Vern. Sexual Attitudes: myths & realities. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1995
  22. Calderone, Mary S. Talking with your Child About Sex. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982.
  23. Caprio, Frank S. Variations in Sexual Behavior. New York: Grover Press, Inc., 1955
  24. Cawthorne, Nigel. Secrets of Love: The Erotic Arts Through the Ages. 1997.
  25. Chalker, Rebecca. A Woman's Book of Choices: Abortion, Menstrual Extraction, RU-486. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 1992.
  26. Chernin, Kim and Renate Stendhal. Sex and Other Sacred Games: Love, Desire, Power, and Possession. New York: Times Books, 1989.
  27. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.
  28. Clardy, Andrea Fleck. Words to the wise: a writer's guide to feminist and lesbian periodicals & publishers. Ithaca: Firebrand Books, 1986.
  29. Colton, Helen. Sex After the Sexual Revolution. New York: Association Press, 1972.
  30. Common Ground: The Sex Issue, issue 116, Summer 2003.
  31. Congdon, Kirby. Dream-work. Brooklyn: Cycle Press, 1970. (autographed to Dell by author)
  32. Congdon, Kirby. Dream-Work. New York: Ralph Simmons, Jr., 1970.
  33. Daly, Mary. Beyond God the Father: toward a philosophy of women's liberation. Boston: Beacon Press, 1973.
  34. Douglas, Claire. The woman in the mirror: analytical psychology and the feminine. Boston: Sigo Press, 1990.
  35. Douglas, Nik and Penny Slinger. Mountain Ecstasy. New York: Dragon's Dream Ltd., 1978.
  36. Duffy, Yvonne. ...all things are possible. Ann Arbor, MI: AJ Garvin & Associates, 1981.
  37. Dworkin, Andrea. Intercourse. New York : Free Press, 1988, ©1987.
  38. Ecstasy: the nonsexist erotic journal. Spring 1976. Half Moon Bay, CA: New Time Press.
  39. Edwardes, Allen and R.E.L. Masters. The Cradle of Erotica: A Study of Afro-Asian Sexual Expression and an Analysis of Erotic Freedom in Social Relationships. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1962.
  40. Eidos v.8 no.4, n.d.; also article from one issue: "RENE: Art, Sex, Religion and Censorship."
  41. Elder, Rob and Sarah. Crash. New York: Atheneum, 1977. (about a plane crash that Dell's brother Lorenzo Zetlin was in; he is mentioned on page 69)
  42. Ellis, Albert. The Art and Science of Love. New York: Lyle Stuart, 1960.
  43. Ellis, Dr. Albert. The Sensuous Person, 1974.
  44. Erotic Art by Living Artists, printed by Artwork Press, 1992.
  45. Federation of Feminist Women's Health Centers. How to Stay Out of the Gynecologist's Office. Hollywood, CA: Women to Women Publications, 1986
  46. Feminist Bookstore News. San Francisco, CA. (3)
  47. Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, The. v.10 no.3.
  48. Gershick, Zsa Zsa. Gay Old Girls. Los Angeles: Alyson Books, 1998.
  49. Girlfriends. 1995:May/June.
  50. Goldsmith, Barbara. Other Powers: The Age of Suffrage, Spiritualism, and the Scandalous Victoria Woodhull. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.
  51. Grahn, Judy. The Work of a Common Woman. Trumansburg, NY: The Crossing Press, 1978.
  52. Griffin, Susan. Pornography and Silence: Culture's Revenge Against Nature. New York: Harper & Row, 1981.
  53. Handlers, Laurie. Sex & happiness the tantric laws of intimacy. Ocean Beach, NY : Butterfly Workshops Press, 2008.
  54. Hanmer, Trudy. Taking a Stand Against Sexism and Sex Discrimination. New York: Franklin Watts, 1990.
  55. Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review, The. v.6 no.3.
  56. Hatcher, Robert. Contraceptive Technology: Sixteenth Revised Edition. New York: Irvington Publishers, Inc., 1994.
  57. Hayden, Naura. How to satisfy a woman every time and have her beg for more! New York : Bibli O'Phile Pub. Co. : Distributed by E.P. Dutton, 1982.
  58. Hays, H.R. The Dangerous Sex: The Myth of Feminine Evil, 1964.
  59. Herschberger, Ruth. Adam's Rib. New York: Har/Row Books, 1948.
  60. Hogeland, Ronald W., ed. Woman and womanhood in America. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1973.
  61. Holden, Linsey A. It's Not Mental. 1979.
  62. Hutchins, Loraine.Erotic Rites: A Cultural Analysis of Contemporary U.S. Sacred Sexuality Traditions and Trends. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Union Institute, 2001.
  63. International Who's Who in Sexology. San Francisco: Specific Press, 1986.
  64. The Intimate Explosion, 2 issues.
  65. Iverson, Lucille. Outrage: peoms 1971-1974. Pittsburg: Know, Inc., 1974.
  66. Journal of Sex Research, The, 9 issues.
  67. Kamen, Betty. She's gotta have it! Novato, Calif. : Nutrition Encounter, 2001.
  68. Kassorla, Irene. Nice Girls Do: and now you can too! Los Angeles: Stratford Press, 1980.
  69. Kay, Ernest, ed. Foremost women of the twentieth century. Cambridge, England: International Biographical Centre, 1988. (includes listing of D.W., p535)
  70. Kerr, Carmen. Sex for Women who want to have fun and loving relationships with equals. New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1977.
  71. Khayyam, Omar (Edward Fitsgerald, tr.). The Rubayyat. Kansas City, MO: Hallmark, 1967.
  72. Kinky Computers: Finding D&S on On-Line Services. Diversified Services, 1994.
  73. Kollontai, Alexandra. Sexual Relations and the Class Struggle; Love and the New Morality. Montpelier, Bristol 6 UK: Falling Wall Press,1972.
  74. Kokopeli, Bruce. Leadership for Change toward a feminist model. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers.
  75. Kronhausen, Phyllis and Eberhard. Erotic Art. New York: Bell Publishing Company, 1967.
  76. Ladas, Alice Kahn et al. The G Spot and other discoveries about human sexuality. New York: Dell Publishing, 1981.
  77. Ladas, Alice Kahn and Harold S. Ladas. Women and Bioenergetic Analysis. Newington, CT: Connecticut Society for Bioenergetic Analysis, 1981.
  78. Lesbian Connection. V.19 no.4-5, v.20 no.2.
  79. Levine, Ellen. All She Needs.... 1973.
  80. "Liberation, Now!: Theme of Women's Liberation." Score. Words by Betty Friedan and Jackqulyn Reinach. Music by Reinach and J. Rene.
  81. Libido: The Journal of Sex and Sensibility, 16 issues, 1988-1995.
  82. Libido. v.1 no.3, v.2 no.1, v.4 no.1, v.6 nos.1-2, v8. no1., v.9 no.4.
  83. Lightfoot-Klein, Hanny. Prisoners of Ritual: An Odyssey into Female Genital Circumcision in Africa. New York: Harrington Park Press,1989.
  84. Loulan, JoAnn. The Lesbian Erotic Dance: Butch, Femme, Androgyny, and Other Rhythms. San Francisco: Spinsters Book Company, 1990.
  85. Lowen, Alexander. The Betrayal of the Body. New York: Collier Books, 1967.
  86. Lusk, Susan. Sappho: The art of loving women. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1975.
  87. Maele, Martin Van. The satyrical drawings of Martin Van Maele. New York: The Cythera Press, 1970.
  88. Malinowski, Bronislaw. Sex and Repression in Savage Society. New York: Meridian Books, 1927.
  89. Marcus, Eric:Making History: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, 1945-1990. HarperCollins Publishers, 1992.
  90. Meeting In Mexico: World Conference of the International Women's Year. New York: United Nations, 1975.
  91. Miller, Merle. On Being Different: What it Means to Be a Homosexual. New York: Random House, 1971.
  92. Morgan, Eileen. Lust. New York : Red Rock Press, 2000.
  93. Morin, Jack. The Erotic Mind. New York: HarperPerennial, 1995.
  94. Mother Jones. October 1995. New York, NY.
  95. Ms. v.11, no.4.
  96. My First Vibrator: True Life Vibrator Tales. San Francisco: Good Vibrations, 1992.
  97. Natural Way to Health, Vigor, and Beauty, The. New York: Shelton Electric Co., 1917.
  98. Nazarieff, Serge.Der Akt in Der Photographie/The Steroscopic Nude/Le Nu Stéréoscopique: 1890-1930. Spain: Benedikt Taschen Verlag, 1993.
  99. Nefzawi (Shaykh) (Sir Richard F. Burton, tr.). The Perfumed Garden of the Shaykh Nefzawi. New York: Castle Books, 1964.
  100. Nestle, Joan. The persistent desire: a femme-butch reader. Boston: Alyson Publications, Inc., 1992.
  101. Nestle, Joan. A restricted country. Ithaca: Firebrand Books, 1987.
  102. New Directions for Women 1972-1981 [10 year cumulative index], 1982.
  103. New York Law School Law Review, 1993.
  104. Nin, Anaïs. Delta of Venus: Erotica. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1969.
  105. Nomadic Sisters. Loving Women. Mountain View, CA: The Nomadic Sisters, 1976.
  106. NOW Souvenir Journal: 6th Annual Conference. Washington, DC, Feb. 1973.
  107. Offit, Avodah. The Sexual Self. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott Company, 1977.
  108. Olivier, Sigurd and Jeanette Gorrie. Touch love. Sydney, Australia: The amazing aquarian dream factory, 1982.
  109. On Our Backs. 1994: Mar./Apr., Sept./Oct.
  110. Otto, Herbert A. New Orgasm Options Excerpts (Expanding Sexual Pleasure). 1988. (limited edition No. 164, signed by author.)
  111. Paramour: Literary and Artistic Erotica. Vol. 2, No. 4. Parsippany, NJ.
  112. Patton, Cindy. Making It: A Woman's Guide to Sex in the Age of AIDS. Ithaca, NY: Firebrand Books, 1987.
  113. Pearsall, Paul. A Healing Intimacy: The Power of Loving Connections. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1994.
  114. Penthouse Forum: The International Journal of Human Relations. New York. (5)
  115. Pettigrew, Florida Naomi. Scattered joys. New York: Vantage Press, 1981. (autographed to Dell by author)
  116. Pittenger, Norman. Time for Consent: A Christian's Approach to Homosexuality.
  117. Ploss, Herman Heinrich. Femina Libido Sexualis. New York: The Medical Press, 1965.
  118. Pushkin, A.S. (attributed) Secret Journal, 1836-1837. Minneapolis: M.I.P. Company, 1986.
  119. Redmon, George L. Sensual for Life: The Natural Way to Maintain Sexual Vitality. Neew York: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2003.
  120. Reich, Ilse Ollendorff. Wilhelm Reich: A Personal Biography by Ilse Ollendorff Reich. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1969.
  121. Reich, Wilhelm. The Invasion of Compulsory Sex-Morality. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971.
  122. Reich, Willhelm (Vincent Carfagno, tr.). The Mass Psychology of Fascism. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1970.
  123. Reitz, Rosetta. Menopause: A Positive Approach. Radnor, PA: Chilton Book Company, 1977. (page proofs; autographed to Dell by the author)
  124. Ripe: Gay, Lesbian, & Transgender Midlife & Older. May/June 2000 Forest Hills, NY.
  125. Russell, Bertrand. Marriage and Morals. New York: Bantam Books, 1929.
  126. Sathe, R.S. Kama-Tantra Prem-Tantra. Pune, Maharashtra, India: Maritosexual and Reproductive Research Institute, 1996.
  127. Schaefer, Leah Cahan. Women and sex. New York: Pantheon Books, 1973.
  128. Schor, Lynda. True Love and Real Romance. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1979.
  129. Sex Panic, The: Women Censorship and "Pornography"; A conference report. New York: National Coalition Against Censorship, 1993.
  130. Simone, Carol. The Goddess of 5th Avenue. San Francisco: Hayden, 2001. (autographed by author)
  131. Slinger, Penny. An Exorcism. London: Villiers Publications Ltd., 1977.
  132. Sochen, June. The New Woman: feminism in Greenwich Village, 1910-1920. New York: Quadrangle Books, 1972.
  133. Steinberg, David, ed. The erotic impulse: honoring the sensual self. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Perigee, 1992. (page proof)
  134. Sundahl, Deborah.Tantric Journey to Female Orgasm, 1998. VHS
  135. Tantra. Issue #8, 1994.
  136. Tennov, Dorothy. Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love. New York: Stein and Day, 1979.
  137. Truth Seeker, The.. 1989: July/Aug. [special issue on "Crimes of Genital Mutilation"]
  138. Valiente, Doreen. Natural magic. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1975.
  139. Villefranche, Anne-Marie. Plaisir D'Amour. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers Inc., 1982.
  140. Viva: The International Magazine for Women. November 1975. New York.
  141. Warren, Joyce W. Fanny Fern: an independent woman. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1992. (inscribed to Dell by Betty Dodson)
  142. Weintraub, Joseph, ed. The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1967.
  143. Williams, Dell and Lynn Vannucci. Revolution in the Garden: Memoirs of the Gardenkeeper. Hong Kong: Silverback Books, Inc., n.d.
  144. Witch's OS, The. Lolly Hirsch, 1972.
  145. Womanspeak. v.2, v.4.
  146. Women's Sexuality Conference: To explore, define and celebrate our own sexuality. New York: NOW, 1973.
  147. Yellow Silk: Journal of Erotic Arts . Albany, CA. (5)
  148. Zacks, Richard. History laid bare: love, sex, and perversity from the Ancient Etruscans to Warren G. Harding. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.

Physical Description

Correspondence, subject files, audiotapes, videotapes, ephemera.

General

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Brenda MarstonAndrea HektorRima Turner
Date completed:
June 2003
EAD encoding:
Andrea Hektor, July 2003Rima Turner, March, November 2005, June 2006RMC staff, January 2008Sarah Keen, April 2009
Date modified:
Kristen Reichenbach, August 2018

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Status
Completed
Author
Compiled by Brenda Marston, Andrea Hektor, Rima Turner
Date
July 2003
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Repository

https://rare.library.cornell.edu/
Contact:
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853
607-255-3530
607-255-9524 (Fax)

Related Unprocessed Material

Staff Interface | Visit ArchivesSpace.org | v3.3.1 | Send Feedback or Report a Problem