Labrys Books - Southern Lesbian Feminist Activist Herstory Project

Theresa Barry and Labrys Books: Virginia’s First Feminist Bookstore

Theresa Barry and Labrys Books: Virginia’s First Feminist Bookstore

Terri Barry (left) and Joan Mayfield at the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, 1979.

Theresa “Terri” Barry came out in 1976 when she was in her early twenties and still in college. That same year, she met her then-partner Joan Mayfield, and they decided to start a feminist bookstore. From 1977 to about 1980, she and Joan ran Labrys Books in the living room of their Richmond, Virginia, home. They chose the name Labrys, after the double headed ritual axe found in ancient Minoan depictions of the Mother Goddess. The bookstore was run with the support of the Richmond Lesbian Feminists, an organization that still exists today.

Posted on November 4, 2024 Posted in Publishing, Publications, and Booksellers, Uncategorized Tagged with Beth Marschak, Colevia Carter, dance, Joan Mayfield, Labrys Books, Ladyslipper, Lammas Books, Laurie Fuchs, Mary Farmer, Richmond, Richmond Lesbian Feminists, Terri Barry, The New York Times, Theresa Barry, USA Today, Virginia, Washington D.C., Women’s Political Caucus, WomensBooks

Mary Dean Carter: Cofounder of Richmond Lesbian Feminists

Mary Dean Carter: Cofounder of Richmond Lesbian Feminists

I ain’t no radicallesbianmanhatincastratinballbustinbulldyke. But I love womyn.

Posted on September 3, 2022 Posted in Publishing, Publications, and Booksellers, Social and Political Groups Tagged with Archival Assistant at Library of Virginia, Beth Marschak, Beverly Rainey, Carmela “Alfie” Alfonso, Diversity Richmond, Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Everywoman’s Coffeehouse, First Friday potlucks, Friends Meeting House, Labrys Books, Lesbian Women of Color (LWOC), Mary Gay Hutcherson, National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights in 1987, National Organization for Women (NOW), New Year’s Eve dances, Organization for Women’s Liberation (OWL), Richmond Lesbian Feminists (RLF), Richmond Lesbian Feminists Flyer, Richmond Womensbooks, Southern Sisters, Spring Prom, Terri Barry, Terrie Pendleton, The Flyer, Virginia Women’s Political Caucus, Westhampton College

Beth Marschak: Lesbian Activist for Civil Rights and Human Rights

Beth Marschak: Lesbian Activist for Civil Rights and Human Rights

Mary Dean Carter, Beth Marschak, and Terrie Pendleton, left to right, members of Richmond Lesbian Feminists.

My feminism began in college. I started a women’s lib group, organized the first Earth Day in Richmond, and got in jail for antiwar and civil rights actions.

Posted on March 16, 2022 Posted in Culture and the Arts, Lesbian Land Groups, Lesbian-Owned Enterprises, Publishing, Publications, and Booksellers, Social and Political Groups, Social Justice, Women’s Health, and Social Services Tagged with American Civil Liberties Union ACLU, Barbara Weinstock, Bessida White, Beth Marschak, CampOut, coalition building, Diversity Richmond, Equality Virginia, Fare Share Food Co-op, Gay Awareness in Perspective, Girls Rolling in the South (GRITS), Harvey Fierstein, International Women’s Year, InTouch, Iridian Gallery, Jacqui Singleton, Janet Grubbs, JERA Productions, Labrys Books, Lesbian and Gay Rights Rally in Monroe Park, Lesbian Womyn of Color, Luise Farmer, National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO), National Women’s Political Caucus, Organization for Women’s Liberation at Westhampton, Our Own Community Press, Phoenix Rising bookstore, Pine Camp Arts & Community Center, Purple Lady Productions, Richmond Human Rights Coalition Human Rights Award, Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Coalition, Richmond Lesbian-Feminists (RLF), Richmond Triangle Players, Richmond VA, Richmond Women’s Center, Richmond Women’s Festival, Richmond YWCA, RLF Flyer, Safe Sex Triology, Sharon Bottoms and April Wade custody case, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Third District Women’s Political Caucus, University of Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (VCLGR), Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Gay Alliance, Virginia Lesbian Feminists, Virginia Women’s Political Caucus, Wanda Fears, Westhampton College of University of Richmond, Wild Western Women’s Weekend, women’s festivals, women’s liberation movement, women’s music festivals, WomensBooks, Woody Guthrie Community Center

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