Common Lives/Lesbian Lives: A Lesbian Feminist Quarterly, Nos. 1-28 [with] Pre-Release Submission and Subscription Form

Iowa City: 1981-1988. Twenty seven volumes, nos. 15/16 released as a single volume. Each 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. Various page counts. All very good to near fine. [with] CL / LL informational submission and subscription form. Single leaf, 8 ½ x 14 in., double-sided. Horizontal line from folding, and some spots of toning. Very good. [and] Letter from editors tipped into issue 20. 8 ½ x 11 in. Item #10296

owa City: Common Lives / Lesbian Lives, 1981-1988. Twenty seven volumes, nos. 15/16 released as a single volume. Each 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. Various page counts. All very good to near fine. [with] CL / LL informational submission and subscription form. Single leaf, 8 ½ x 14 in., double-sided. Horizontal line from folding, and some spots of toning. Very good. [and] Letter from editors tipped into issue 20. 8 ½ x 11 in.

The first twenty-eight issues of this critical lesbian journal, notable for publishing many new writers who worked outside of the prominent coastal publishing scenes. This grouping also includes a subscription/submission form sent out to lesbian literary figures before the release of the first issue.
Common Lives / Lesbian Lives was published by a collective of lesbian writers in Iowa City: Nancy Clark, Cindy Cleary, Pascale Faux, Lisa Griggs, Linda Knox, Tracy Moore, and Beth Nugent. The publishing collective wanted the magazine to be “inclusive, non-academic, diverse and accessible.” The journal had a stated commitment to reflect the diversity of lesbians by actively soliciting and printing in each issue the work and ideas of lesbians of color; Jewish lesbians; fat lesbians; young and old lesbians; disabled lesbians; poor and working-class lesbians; and lesbians of varying cultural backgrounds. Prominent contributors included Elana Dykewomon, Tee Corinne, Sapphire, Hawk Madrone, Julia Penelope, Candis Graham, Martha Miller, and Ruth Mountaingrove; and many others.

The journal provoked controversy and repression. Issue 20 was published in 1982 after significant delay caused by the University of Iowa printing department’s refusal to print the issue; they were scandalized by a photo essay focused on lesbian sex. After finding a less prude printer, the editors brought a successful lawsuit against the university. The example of issue no. 20 in this collection includes a letter from the editors tipped in that explains the circumstances of its delayed arrival, including a defense of art as protected free speech, and a rejection of the University of Iowa’s decision. Common Lives/Lesbian Lives published for eight more years, the final issue (no. 56) was released in 1996.

A significant continuous run of this important journal, documenting lesbian writing and artwork throughout the 1980s.

Sold