Sheila Saunders Collection
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Sheila Saunders Collection
Classmark: FAN/SS
Creator(s): Saunders, Sheila
Date(s): C1960s - 1980s C1960s - 1980s
Size and medium: 14 boxes
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/477064
Collection group(s): Feminist Archive North
Description
The collection houses material concerning Shelia Saunder’s political activism during the 1970s. Saunders sat on the committees of a variety of charitable and activist organisations, primarily concerned with female welfare and feminist thought. The collection is comprised of community-produced leaflets, flyers, and magazines concerning topics such as the rise of fascism amongst British women, the Sex Discrimination Act (1975), the Israel-Lebanon war, etc.; notes regarding community activist strategy; writings on social issues affecting women in Britain and Israel; and research material.
Of particular interest is Saunder’s involvement in the Jewish-Feminist Community. The fonds house a large amount of material relating to her position as co-editor of Shifra, a Jewish feminist magazine published in the North of England. During this time Saunders was particularly vocal regarding discussions of antisemitism and Zionism in British feminism. This largely concerned the Israel-Lebanon war. In relation to this there is a variety of research material for a study entitled ‘Penetrating Politics: Antisemitism as a form of Male Imperialism’, an extended analysis of antisemitism from a feminist perspective. This was funded by the Anglo-Israel Association in 1982.
There is further research material for a study conducted by Saunders entitled ‘Israeli Study: Battered Women’, this includes transcripts of interviews and printed copies of the final publication. This research was carried out in connection to Saunders’ interest and involvement in women's aid and housing associations, with the collection holding material relating to her position in North Manchester Women’s Aid, BSA Violence Against Women study group, the Regional Jewish Welfare Federation, and Jewish Women's Aid, amongst others.
Material donated by Sheila Saunders. The collection includes files documenting Saunder’s political activism during the 1970s, in particular International Marxist Group internal papers and associated material. The collection also contains a series of WLM pamphlets, and 3 card indexes.
Provenance
Catalogue description updated as part of Yerusha Project in 2025.
Access and usage
Access
This material is open for consultation but we require at least 5 working days notice to retrieve from this collection.