[Newsletter and Calendar for] Las Hermanas Women's Cultural Center and Coffeehouse.

[San Diego]: 1975. 17” x 11.” Single sheet, folded horizontally at center, possibly as issued. Very good plus with light edgewear and a chip at one corner.

This is a newsletter doubling as a promotional calendar for the Las Hermanas Women's Cultural Center and Coffeehouse [LHWCCC] which was located at 4003 Wabash in San Diego. Per one source the space opened around Christmas Day of 1974 and closed in early 1980; this newsletter confirms the opening date. Not much is known about the place, but a contemporary newspaper account sheds some light:

“Las Hermanas Women’s Coffeehouse, located in a woodsy, shacklike little storefront on a busy corner of Wabash, is not just another place to go for a beansprout and avocado sandwich. It does have a natural foods type of menu, along with an abundance of green plants in macrame hammocks, but serving food is not the coffeehouse’s main function. Las Hermanas’ major purpose, as described by a volunteer identified as Debra, is to provide a place for women to “be secure by themselves,’’ without the company of men.

The walls are crowded with notices, some outdated, announcing discussions about rape, abortion and lesbianism, “consciousnessraising" events, and other upcoming women's activities. The small library contains books (which can be checked out) and pamphlets on subjects fictional and nonfictional, ranging from gardening to abortion.”

This calendar, issued in December 1975, reflects that vibe, with announcements for meetings/lectures such as “Gay/Straight Rap,” job workshops, women in prison and “feminist therapy.” We learn from the newsletter that Las Hermanas became a non-profit in 1975 as well as its initial budget and startup costs. The newsletter also mentioned the development of childcare services for women.

OCLC locates nothing similar. Very good +. Item #5235

Price: $400.00