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Kathleen Hanna Papers

Call Number

MSS.271

Date

1988-2015, inclusive

Creator

Hanna, Kathleen, 1968-

Extent

7 Linear Feet
in 10 document cases, 1 flat box, 2 binders, 1 oversize box, and 3 folders in shared housing

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Kathleen Hanna was an early instigator of the Riot Grrrl Movement, performing in bands such as Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. The Kathleen Hanna Papers consists of flyers, posters, zines and zine masters, notebooks, ephemera, magazines, photographs, media, newspaper clippings, theses and other academic writing, and legal and financial records. The collection documents Hanna's artistic production, participation in the Riot Grrrl movement, curatorial work, and musical career.

Biographical Note

Kathleen Hanna was an early instigator of the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 1990's in both Olympia, Washington and Washington, DC. Along with Allison Wolfe she organized the first Riot Grrrl meeting, collaborated on several early Riot Grrrl zines, and was a major force behind the first Riot Grrrl Convention.

From 1990-1997 she was a member of the most widely recognized "Riot Grrrl Band", Bikini Kill. She co-authored the band's zines, including their 1992 Bikini Kill #2 which used the phrase "Girl Power" for the first time. Bikini Kill toured the states extensively and also played shows in Europe, Japan and Australia.

Her second large scale feminist DIY project was the electronic band Le Tigre which was active from 1999-2006. This band used activism as a jumping-off point for their visually stimulating live shows and their three full-length albums. Le Tigre played everywhere, from Massachussetts to St. Petersburg.

Hanna currently lives in NYC and is active as a musician and lecturer.

Arrangement

Series List:

  1. Series I: Filing Cabinet
  2. Series II: Photo Binders
  3. Series III: Media
  4. Series IV: Computer Disks
  5. Series V. 2015 Accretion
  6. OVERSIZE SERIES I

All efforts were made to preserve the original arrangement of the collection, with the exception of oversize materials and zine flats which are housed separately.

Scope and Contents

The Kathleen Hanna Papers consist of materials created and collected by Hanna documenting her artistic production and participation in the Riot Grrrl movement, as well as her broader musical career and curatorial endeavors. Materials include flyers, posters, zines and zine masters, notebooks, ephemera, magazines, photographs, audio and video recordings of live performances and studio recordings, newspaper and magazine clippings, theses and other academic writings, and legal and financial records.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Kathleen Hanna Papers; MSS 271; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to NYU Libraries in 2010. An accretion to the collection was received in 2015; the accession number associated with this gift is 2016.045. A further accretion was received in August 2022; the accession number associated with this gift is 2023.018.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Access copies for some materials are available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Please contact fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Related Materials

Johanna Fateman Riot Grrrl Papers (MSS 258)

Molly Neuman Riot Grrrl Collection (MSS 289)

Tammy Rae Carland "I (heart) Amy Carter" Riot Grrrl Collection (MSS 290)

Tammy Rae Carland Zine Collection (MSS 320)

Riot Grrrl Publicity Collection (MSS 316)

Mr. Lady Archive (unprocessed) (MSS 362)

Collection processed by

Liza Harrell-Edge

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-06 14:19:35 -0500.
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

The collection was first processed in 2010. It was reprocessed in March 2012 to address preservation concerns. Materials were redistributed among more folders, and selected items were flattened or rehoused in Mylar. At this time, the collection was renumbered and box and folder numbers were changed. To see the original box and folder numbers, please ask a Fales archivist for a copy of the original finding aid, stored in our administrative files. In 2016 an accretion received in 2015 was added to the collection as a new series (2015 Accretion) in keeping with previous arrangement and description decisions.

In August 2017, one item was prepared to be moved to offsite art storage in September 2017. In March 2023, an accretion of materials documenting the Julie Ruin was rehoused in archival boxes and folders, and integrated into the collection's existing arrangement structure.

Revisions to this Guide

March 2013: Reprocessed by Rachel Corbman
2013: Zine abstracts added by Nik Dragovic
October 2016: Record edited by Rachel Searcy to reflect 2015 accretion
March 2017: Updated by Jacqueline Rider to reflect incorporation of video preservation master and sub-master files
August 2017: Updated by Megan O'Shea to prepare artwork being sent to offsite art storage in September 2017
March 2023: Updated by Rachel Searcy to reflect 2023 accretion

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012