Tacie Dejanikus papers
Collection Scope and Content
This collection contains correspondence, research notes, articles, pamphlets, periodicals, news clippings, audio cassette tapes, banners, tee shirts, books, buttons (informational artifacts) and photographs. These materials range in date from 1967- 90 (bulk 1975 -85). It includes organizational and personal staff information about the Off Our Backs collective, a feminist journal; activities, informational, and promotional material for social and civic activism groups including Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade,"ZAP," the American University's Women's Union, women's health, health clinics and various feminist conferences; memorabilia from the National Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, interviews and lectures of feminist writers, and a variety of feminist and lesbian publications.
Please note: each box in this collection contains material from many different series. This explains, for example, why the box listing for series 4 starts with box 1, but folder 22. The previous folders in box 1 are from different series and are listed elsewhere in the finding aid.
Dates
- 1967-1992
Creator
- Dejanikus, Tacie (Person)
Restrictions on Access
Some records may be restricted.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
Tacie Dejanikus (1952 ca. -), a social and political activist, fought for women's and gay and lesbian rights as part of numerous organizations in the Washington, D.C. area. She wrote for feminist journals, participated in protest marches, and chaired social and politically minded organizations. Dejanikus lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland as a child at 7102 Ridgewood Avenue. In her late twenties, she joined the "Off Our Backs" collective, a D.C. based feminist journal. Over the next decade, her activities included interviewing various feminists and lesbians in D.C., writing for "Off Our Backs," and participating in protest activities throughout the area. Dejanikus and five other women from the Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade were arrested on April 23, 1981, for disrupting a U.S. Senate hearing discussing the "Human Life Bill." All were released on bond for one hundred dollars and stood trial on July 6, 1981. Dejanikus continued her social and political activism, but professional disagreements compelled her to leave the "Off Our Backs" collective in 1985. In 1988 she helped form and co-chair the National Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski. She remained involved until 1991 when the Minnesota appeals court returned Sharon Kowalski to her partner Karen Thompson's custody. Throughout the course of her activities, Dejanikus protested for civil rights and health care concerns, including breast cancer, AIDS, and birth control. These papers document her and other's activities giving researchers a window into feminist and lesbian concerns as debated and protested in the Washington, D.C. area.
Extent
4.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection contains correspondence, research notes, articles, pamphlets, periodicals, news clippings, audio cassette tapes, banners, tee shirts, books, buttons (informational artifacts) and photographs. These materials range in date from 1967- 90 (bulk 1975 -85). It includes organizational and personal staff information about the Off Our Backs collective, a feminist journal; activities, informational, and promotional material for social and civic activism groups including Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade,"ZAP," the American University's Women's Union, women's health, health clinics and various feminist conferences; memorabilia from the National Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, interviews and lectures of feminist writers, and a variety of feminist and lesbian publications.
Collection Organization
Organized into five series: Off Our Backs, Social and Civic Activism, The National Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, Interviews and Lectures, and Publications.
Acquisition Information
In 2005, Tacie Dejanikus donated this collection to George Washington University.
Processing Information
This finding aid was revised in 2022 to address outdated descriptive language. During that revision, description was not edited or removed, but additional information was provided to add context. This archival object Box 1 Folder 47 has a Processing Information note to explain the revision.
To view the finding aid prior to this revision: The Tacie Dejanikus papers pre-revision finding aid March 2022
- Audiocassettes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Civil rights Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dejanikus, Tacie
- Feminist theory Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Gay men -- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Gay rights Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lesbian and gay experience Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lesbian feminism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lesbians -- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Protest movements Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rape Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sexuality & culture Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Tacie Dejanikus papers, 1967-1992
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2006
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Revision Statements
- 2022 March 02: Finding aid revised to include contextual information about the homophobic descriptive language found within this collection. See the processing note for more information
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
