Sue Parker "Rainbow Williams" Papers

This collection was created by Rainbow Williams and consists of her personal papers, biographical and autobiographical documents, letters and discourse related to lesbian battering and other women’s issues, feminist and lesbian newsletters, and extensive artistic creations including prose, poetry, lyrics, compositions, and visual art. The collection ranges from 1966 to 2021.

Rainbow was hugely involved and influential in various lesbian communities and took great care to document her life story and experiences. As a multidisciplinary artist, she experienced many aspects of lesbian community and culture in the late 20th century and often played a pivotal role in facilitating lesbian identity and expression among fellow lesbians. The first series, “Biography and Herstory,” is primarily a record of Rainbow’s own experience and life, including family photos, interviews, and various autobiographical endeavors. The second series, “Feminist Newsletters & Clippings,” contains many feminist and lesbian-focused newsletters from the 80s and 90s. Additionally, it contains extensive records of a lesbian battering controversy and debate in which women wrote to Rainbow to share their views. This series also contains the anonymized transcript of a candid oral history recording of a victim of lesbian battering collected in 1988. Series 3, “Artistic Endeavors,” contains records of Rainbow’s various artistic pursuits, including photos of her artwork, musical compositions, prose, and poetry. Series 4, "Ephemera," contains audio cassettes of lesbian music and performances, and a hand-decorated wooden box.