The Feminist Press: A History of Pioneering Women's Publishing
The Feminist Press emerged from a critical need for educational materials that centered women's experiences and achievements. Founded during the rise of second-wave feminism, the press sought to challenge the male-dominated literary and academic landscapes by providing texts that educators could use to build comprehensive women's studies curricula.
Founding and Early Vision
The origins of the press trace back to the late 1960s. Florence Howe, having taught in the Freedom Schools in Mississippi and developed women's studies materials at Goucher College, recognized a systemic lack of available texts for teaching about women. After facing rejection from established university and trade publishers, Howe found support through the Baltimore Women's Liberation, a local group that helped fund the press's initial efforts.
On November 17, 1970, the first meeting of the press took place in Howe's living room. The organization was part of the women in print movement, a broader effort by second-wave feminists to create autonomous communication networks, including bookstores and periodicals, owned and operated by women.
The press launched its first publication in 1971, a children's book titled The Dragon and the Doctor by Barbara Danish, followed later that year by a biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
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Rediscovering Feminist Literary Classics
A pivotal shift in the press's direction occurred when Tillie Olsen introduced Florence Howe to a photocopy of Rebecca Harding Davis's 1861 novella, Life in the Iron Mills. This led to the 1972 publication of the work, marking the start of a series dedicated to rediscovered feminist literary classics.
This initiative brought forgotten voices back into the academic spotlight. In 1973, the press published Agnes Smedley's Daughter of Earth and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper. These works eventually became staples of American literature and women's studies, later appearing in the 1990 Norton Anthology of American Literature.
Growth and Institutional Development
In 1971, Florence Howe moved the press to New York while accepting a professorship at the State University of New York (SUNY)/Old Westbury. With the support of the college president, the press operated from a building corridor, staffed by students participating in work-study programs. Professional contributions from Verne Moberg and Susan Lowes helped produce three volumes of reprinted fiction between 1972 and 1973, reinforcing the press's goal of providing course-adoptable supplements to male-centric curricula.
The organization evolved structurally over the following years:
- 1972: Achieved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
- 1975: Moved into a dedicated headquarters on the SUNY campus, consisting of a cottage and garage.
The Feminist Press implemented a democratic workplace model. Staff members served on the board to make policy and publishing decisions, received equal salaries, and participated in committees for finance, editorial, and marketing.
Educational Initiatives and Major Projects
The press focused its publishing efforts into three primary categories: nonsexist children's books, feminist biographies, and reprints of important works by women. To ensure academic rigor, the press utilized advisory committees of scholars and writers, including the Reprints Advisory Committee established in 1973.
Women's Lives/Women's Work
Between 1975 and 1982, the press undertook a massive seven-year project titled Women's Lives/Women's Work. Funded by the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation, and co-published with McGraw-Hill's Webster Division, this series consisted of 12 books and teaching guides designed to supplement high school English and Social Studies texts.
| Author/Editor | Title | Year | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Sterling | Black Foremothers: Three Lives | 1979 | Biographies |
| S. Cary Nicholas et al. | Rights and Wrongs | 1979 | Legal Equality |
| Stephanie L. Twin | Out of the Bleachers | 1979 | Women and Sport |
| Nancy Hoffman & Florence Howe | Women Working | 1979 | Anthology |
| Ellen Cantarow et al. | Moving the Mountain | 1980 | Social Change |
| Nan Elsasser et al. | Las Mujeres | 1980 | Hispanic Community |
| Elaine Hedges & Ingrid Wendt | In Her Own Image | 1980 | The Arts |
| Joan M. Jensen | With These Hands | 1981 | Agriculture/Land |
| Alice Kessler-Harris | Women Have Always Worked | 1981 | Historical Overview |
| Nancy Romer | The Sex-Role Cycle | 1981 | Socialization |
| Nancy Hoffman | Woman’s “True” Profession | 1981 | Teaching |
| Amy Swerdlow et al. | Household and Kin | 1981 | Family Dynamics |
Legacy and Leadership
Beyond books, the press established the Clearinghouse on Women's Studies, which served as the primary information hub for the field until the National Women's Studies Association was founded in 1977. In 1985, the press relocated to the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, maintaining its independent board and staff.
The leadership of the press has evolved through several executive directors:
- Jean Casella: Appointed in 2001.
- Gloria Jacobs: Former Ms. Magazine editor.
- Jennifer Baumgardner: Cofounder of Soapbox, Inc.
- Jamia Wilson: Appointed in 2017, becoming the first woman of color and the youngest director in the press's history.
- Margot Atwell: Appointed in 2022.
Key Facts
- Founded: November 17, 1970, by Florence Howe.
- First Publication: The Dragon and the Doctor (1971).
- Core Mission: Producing course-adoptable feminist texts and rediscovering lost literary classics.
- Major Project: Women's Lives/Women's Work, a 12-book series for high schools.
- Organizational Model: A democratic workplace with equal salaries and staff-led board decisions.
- Key Locations: Baltimore, SUNY Old Westbury, and CUNY Graduate Center (Manhattan).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded The Feminist Press and why?
Florence Howe founded the press in 1970 because she found a lack of available texts for teaching women's studies and feminist biographies, and university publishers were unwilling to produce them.
What are some of the most influential books published by the press?
The press is well-known for rediscovering feminist classics such as Rebecca Harding Davis's Life in the Iron Mills, Agnes Smedley's Daughter of Earth, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper.
What was the Women's Lives/Women's Work project?
It was a groundbreaking seven-year project (funded by the Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation) that produced 12 books and teaching guides to supplement high school English and Social Studies curricula.
How was the press managed internally?
The press operated as a democratic workplace where all paid staff received equal salaries and served on the board that made all policy and publishing decisions.
Who was the first woman of color to lead The Feminist Press?
Jamia Wilson, appointed in 2017, was the first woman of color and the youngest executive director in the organization's history.