Old Wives Tales (bookstore)

Old Wives Tales (also Old Wives' Tales) was a feminist bookstore in the Mission Dolores neighborhood of San Francisco.[1] It was founded on October 31, 1976 by Carol Seajay and Paula Wallace, a lesbian couple.[2] It closed permanently in October 1995.[3][4]

This article is about the feminist bookstore. For other uses, see Old Wives Tales.
Old Wives Tales
FormationOctober 31, 1976 (1976-10-31)
FounderCarol Seajay, Paula Wallace
DissolvedOctober 1995 (1995-10)
TypeFeminist bookstore
Location

History

On October 31, 1976, Old Wives Tales opened at 532 Valencia Street, funded by a loan from the San Francisco Feminist Federal Credit Union. It initially operated as a partnership between the founders.[2] In 1978, Carol Seajay and Paula Wallace broke up, with Wallace moving away. The bookstore was moved to a new location at 1009 Valencia Street after the breakup,[5] and Seajay restructured it to run as a worker cooperative.[2]

In 1983, members of the worker collective incorporated Old Wives Tales as a nonprofit. Seajay resigned the same year.[6]

In early 1991, the bookstore halved its floor space as a result of financial difficulties.[7] In August 1993, Old Wives Tales reported additional financial trouble, with the collective seeking $25,000 in loans to continue operating the bookstore.[8]

References
  1. Kirkeberg, Max. "Old Wives Tales bookstore at 1009 Valencia Street - 1983 - Max Kirkeberg Collection". diva.sfsu.edu. San Francisco State University. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  2. Sullivan, Elizabeth. "Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network". FoundSF. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  3. "Guide to the Old Wives' Tales Bookstore records, 1976-1995". Online Archive of California. May 1996. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  4. "Valencia Corridor". Pride is a Protest. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  5. Kirkeberg, Max. "Old Wives Tales bookstore at 1009 Valencia Street - 1983 - Max Kirkeberg Collection". diva.sfsu.edu. San Francisco State University. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  6. "Guide to the Old Wives' Tales Bookstore records, 1976-1995". Online Archive of California. May 1996. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  7. Boutilier, Nancy (4 April 1991). "Women De-Barred?". Bay Area Reporter. Vol. 21, no. 14. p. 24. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. Boutilier, Nancy (26 August 1993). "Dykeotomy: A Tale of Two Collectives". Bay Area Reporter. Vol. 23, no. 34. p. 10. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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