Old Wives Tales (bookstore)

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This article is about the feminist bookstore. For other uses, see Old Wives Tales.
Old Wives Tales
Old Wives Tales bookstore at 1009 Valencia Street - 1983.png
Old Wives Tales at 1009 Valencia Street (photo taken in 1983)
FormationOctober 31, 1976; 45 years ago (1976-10-31)
FounderCarol Seajay, Paula Wallace
DissolvedOctober 1995; 26 years ago (1995-10)
TypeFeminist bookstore
Location

Old Wives Tales (also Old Wives' Tales) was a feminist bookstore in the Mission Dolores neighborhood of San Francisco.[2] It was founded on October 31, 1976 by Carol Seajay and Paula Wallace, a lesbian couple.[3] It closed permanently in October 1995.[4][5]

History[]

On October 31, 1976, Old Wives Tales opened at 532 Valencia Street, funded by a loan from the . It initially operated as a partnership between the founders.[3] 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,[6] and Seajay restructured it to run as a worker cooperative.[3]

In 1983, members of the worker collective incorporated Old Wives Tales as a nonprofit. Seajay resigned the same year.[7]

In early 1991, the bookstore halved its floor space as a result of financial difficulties.[8] In August 1993, Old Wives Tales reported additional financial trouble, with the collective seeking $25,000 in loans to continue operating the bookstore.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Kallan, Sim (June 27, 2018). "Reflections on decades of queer living and loving". The Daily Californian. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c Sullivan, Elizabeth. "Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network". FoundSF. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  4. ^ "Guide to the Old Wives' Tales Bookstore records, 1976-1995". Online Archive of California. May 1996. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  5. ^ "Valencia Corridor". Pride is a Protest. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Guide to the Old Wives' Tales Bookstore records, 1976-1995". Online Archive of California. May 1996. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  8. ^ Boutilier, Nancy (4 April 1991). "Women De-Barred?". Bay Area Reporter. 21 (14). p. 24. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. ^ Boutilier, Nancy (26 August 1993). "Dykeotomy: A Tale of Two Collectives". Bay Area Reporter. 23 (34). p. 10. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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