Oral History Interview with Ginger Newman and Janice Baker: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Title: Oral History Interview with Ginger Newman and Janice Baker: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
LC Subject: Lesbianism Lesbian community
Local Collection ID: Coll 520
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Interviewee: Newman, Ginger Baker, Janice
Interviewer: Long, Linda, 1956- Raiskin, Judith L.
Description: The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project collection consists of interviews of 83 people for the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, conducted by Professor Judith Raiskin and Curator Linda Long at the University of Oregon starting in the summer of 2018.
Abstract: Ginger was born in 1946 in Jacksonville, Florida. In high school, she was aware of her sexuality and had sexual relations with girls. In the mid-1960s, she went to nursing school in Atlanta. In navigating her sexuality and coming to terms with it, she felt she was the only lesbian she knew. In 1973, Ginger moved to San Francisco, where she worked at Mt. Zion Hospital, and where she met other gay people. She spent time at Maud’s lesbian bar. In San Francisco, Ginger came out and had a girlfriend. She discusses the difference between “non-monogamy” and “serial monogamy.” Ginger moved to southern Oregon and visited WomanShare Collective. She moved to Rootworks. She discusses Bethroot Gwynn and Madrone and the various lesbian communal lands, including Rainbow’s End. Ginger later moved to Eugene and initially lived a “hand to mouth” life. She lived at Trudy’s Ranch, out on Hamm Road, which was owned by a lesbian, Gertrude Cassidy. Ginger worked at a family practice clinic, where abortions were performed. Ginger and Janice talk about getting together. Ginger concludes her interview by discussing anti-gay homophobic activity. Janice was born in Pasadena, California in 1952. She was raised in the Science of Mind religion. This religion affected her upbringing, which she describes. Her parents were conservative and homophobic. Janice was a member of Girl Scouts from childhood through high school. She became aware of lesbians while at Girl Scout camp, as she saw that some counselors were in love with each other. She discusses her troubled family life at home. Janice got married to a man, but was not happy. She identified as a feminist in the mid-1980s. She left Long Beach, where she was living in 1984, and travelled north to southern Oregon, where Ruth and Jean Mountaingrove held week-long photography workshops for women, called “Ovulars” on their lesbian communal land. She traveled there with her good friend Aggie Agapito. Later, Janice and Aggie moved to WomanShare Collective, in southern Oregon, where they lived for many years. Janice discusses life and the community at WomanShare. Janice and Ginger Newman (partners) describe their relationship. Later, Janice worked as a nurse in Eugene for many years before retirement. Janice is a visual artist and she describes her work.
Subject: Bars (Drinking establishments) -- California – San Francisco; Cabbage Lane; Closeted gays -- United States; Collectives; Gays – crimes against; Homophobia; Lesbian community – Oregon; Lesbian separatism – Oregon; Maud’s (bar); Non-monogamy; Rootworks; Serial monogamy; Starflower Natural Foods & Botanicals; Corinne, Tee, 1943-2006; Collectives; Communal living—Oregon; Cults; Girls Scouts of the United States of America; Homophobia; Lesbian separatism – Oregon; Ovulars Photography Workshops; Religion; Rootworks; Sheklow, Sally; Visual arts.
Location: University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
Date: 2018-10-20
Identifier: Coll520_do042
Rights: In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon Libraries
Local Collection Name: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Type: Text
Format: application/pdf
Set: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Institution: University of Oregon