“We are not superwomen”: Navigating Finances, Identity Politics, and Vision of a Feminist Press


Introduction to Documents 1 and 2: “Unbusinesslike” Conduct   |   Document 1      |     Document 2
Introduction to Documents 3 and 4    |     Document 3: Feminist Publishing Ethics    |     Document 4: Women in Print Publishing Accords
Document 5: Feminist Publishing Proposal From Ruth to Barbara
Introduction to Documents 6, 7, and 8: Seal Books   |    Document 6     |    Document 7     |     Document 8
Document 9: Women Who Dared    |     Document 10: “Cheat to Eat”
Introduction to Documents 11 and 12: Hate Mail      |     Document 11       |    Document 12
Document 13: Outreach to Women of Color        |       Document 14: Letter to Angela Davis      |     Document 15: Letter from Audre Lorde      |    Document 16: “No More ‘Social Problems’ Projects”
Bibliography


Document 8

Author: Heather Grant Florence

Recipient: Barbara Wilson

Date: 4 April 1985

Document Type: Typed Letter, Signed by Author

Location: Series II, Box 1, File 14: Bantam Correspondence, Seal Press, Oberlin College Special Collections

Original                       Both                    Transcription

 

bantam letter

Transcription:

[Letterhead: Bantam Books Inc – 666 Fifth Ave., New York 10103 – Tel. 212 765-6500 – Telex 1-2402]

April 4, 1985

Ms. Barbara Wilson

The Seal Press

312 S. Washington

Seattle, Washington 98104

Dear Ms. Wilson:

Thank you for your letter of March 26. Since it does appear that you have been around approximately as long as our Seal books [sic] without having a problem between the two companies, I guess we can both continue quietly as we have.

Our operation publishes predominantly in Canada and began doing so under the Seal imprint in April 1977. They do run a very prominent first novel contest which you may have read about. Certainly, this is the kind of area your press should avoid lest it create confusion where there is none today.

Also, as you may have seen (and certainly will with my enclosures), there is a very distinctive imprint which is different from yours and I suggest that you continue to avoid anything similar to it.

Sincerely,

[Signed: Heather Grant Florence]

Heather Grant Florence

HGF/vm

Cc: Janet Turnbull, Publisher – Seal Books

Enc.

Transcribed by Natalia Shevin