Yolanda Retter

Yolanda Retter (December 4, 1947 – August 18, 2007) was an American lesbian activist, librarian, archivist, and author.[1][2]

Yolanda Retter
Retter looking toward the camera with her neck bent
Born(1947-12-04)December 4, 1947
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
DiedAugust 18, 2007(2007-08-18) (aged 59)
Van Nuys, Los Angeles, United States
NationalityLatin-American
OccupationLibrarian
Known forlesbian activist

Early life

Retter was born in Connecticut but spent most of her childhood in El Salvador. Her mother was Peruvian and her father was American. Her first encounter with racism took place when she was twelve years old, when she returned to school in Connecticut. This incident spearheaded her activism.[3]

Education

Retter attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California and graduated in 1970 with a degree in sociology.[4] In the 1980s she completed master's degrees in library science (1983) and social work (1987) from the University of California, Los Angeles and in 1996 she received her Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.[3]

Career

Before becoming a librarian and archivist, Retter held a variety of jobs, some as a volunteer. She worked in prison and parole programs, as a director of a rape hotline, and original publisher of the Los Angeles Women's Yellow Pages.[3] She then became the founding archivist of the Lesbian Legacy Collection at the ONE Archives and volunteered at the June Mazer Lesbian Archives.[3]

From 2003 to the time of her death, Retter served as the head librarian and archivist of the Chicano Studies Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.[5]

Death

Retter died on August 18, 2007, in Los Angeles, California, after a short battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her partner of thirteen years, Leslie Golden Stampler, and women she chose.[1][3][4]

Publications

Lesbian News articles by Retter

  • "Activist and Tenant's Rights Attorney Lisa Korben Dies at 55." Jun. 2005, Vol. 30, Issue 11, p. 15.
  • "ACW Founder Brenda Weathers Dies." May 2005, Vol. 30, Issue 10, p. 17.
  • "Alice Dunbar-Nelson." Dec. 1998, Vol. 24, Issue 5, p. 60.
  • "Barbara Gittings (1932-2007)." Apr. 2007, Vol. 32, Issue 9, p. 5.
  • "Djuna Barnes." Jan. 1999. Vol. 24, Issue 6, p. 52.
  • "Dyke March: A Herstory." Jun. 1999. Vol. 24, Issue 11, p. 29.
  • "Festivals: Born from Womyn's Music." [cowritten with Renee McBride] Aug. 1995, Vol. 21, Issue 1, p. 31.
  • "Herstory: Catalina de Erauso." Jun. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 11, p. 68.
  • "Herstory: Deborah Sampson." Nov. 1998. Vol. 24, Issue 4, p. 52.
  • "Herstory: Elaine Noble." Sep. 1998, Vol. 24, Issue 2, p. 52.
  • "Herstory: Eva Le Gallienne." Jan. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 6, p. 56.
  • "Herstory: Lillian Wald." Apr. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 9, p. 56.
  • "Herstory: Mary Lewis." Feb. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 7, p. 56.
  • "Herstory: Mina Meyer and Sharon Raphael." Mar. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 8, p. 56.
  • "In Memoriam of Johnnie Phelps." May 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 10, p. 64.
  • "[In Memoriam] of Alla Nazimova." Jul. 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 12, p. 52.
  • "The Ladies of Llargollen." Mar. 1999, Vol. 24, Issue 8, p. 64.
  • "Lesbian Los Angeles." March 1995, Vol. 20 Issue 8, p. 62-63.
  • "The LNs Herstory is the Chronicle of Our Story." Aug. 1999, Vol. 25, Issue 1, p. 29.
  • "Ruth Ellis." Feb. 1999, Vol. 24, Issue 7, p. 56.
  • "Sarah Josephine Baker." Apr. 1999, Vol. 24, Issue 9, p. 52.

References

  1. Woo, Elaine (August 29, 2007). "Yolanda Retter, 59; controversial activist for lesbian, minority rights". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  2. "Obituaries - Yolanda Retter Vargas". American Libraries. American Library Association. 38 (9). 2007. ISSN 0002-9769. JSTOR 27771345.
  3. Cordova, Jeanne; Ballen, Lynn Harris (September 19, 2007). "Memorial set for lesbian scholar Yolanda Retter Vargas". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  4. "In Memoriam: Yolanda Retter '70" (PDF). The Participant. Pitzer College. Fall 2007. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  5. "Gay Latina leader Yolanda Retter Vargas dies". The Advocate. August 23, 2007. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
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