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Carolyn Gammon collection
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Lesbian Studies of Concordia
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I9 · Item · November 1991
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of an interview with Carolyn Gammon and Dorothee [?] in Berlin, November 1991. Carolyn discusses Lesbian studies, including the creation of a lesbian studies coalition on campus, as well as the institutionalization and offering of lesbian studies courses at Concordia University [Montreal]. Topics discussed include difficulties and pushback encountered; budget; effects of uniquely non-heterosexual perspective; issues in finding professors due to exclusionary criteria and finding alternatives; student reactions to courses; homophobic academic pushback; confronting academic racism; lesbian studies at other Canadian universities; the Coalition of Lesbian Studies, its members and their work, including mistakes made and seeking out new course offerings for Lesbians of colour; distinguishing lesbian studies from gay and queer studies. [There is a pause between A and B sides of the tape 00:46:07 to 00:46:12]. The discussion continues about lesbian studies and the separation from gay studies, with Gammon stating that the argument for the separation of women's studies could also be applied to lesbian studies.
Maritime Noon - Non-Sexist Language / Mistress Degree interviews
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I8 · Item · October 30th, 1990
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of a Maritime Noon on CBC radio broadcast that focuses on the changes in vocabulary and the development of gender neutral terms. They have two professors as guests Donna Smith and Dr. George “Burpee” Hallett speaking on language while they take calls on whether non-sexist language is important to the audience. Some callers are against the change because they find it silly and then men should be stronger to combat the movement. One man is extremely opposed to changes as he finds feminists silly and easily offended. Further callers things non-sexist language is good for representation and also making it clear what people mean when speaking, for instance with girl vs. woman. Dr. Hallett provides insights into language, history, and meaning around gendered words. Dr. Hallett speaks on terms such as lady and gentleman. The professors and host continue to discuss the difficulty of the changes in the English language. Carolyn Gammon joins the show to discuss her fight for her Mistress degree [00:33:52]. Carlolyn brings up how gender neutrality does not necessarily to gender equality. They continue to discuss the nuances of language. The last caller discusses the how language is mostly derogatory to women (i.e. swear words). The second half of the tape [00:39:59] splices two interviews with Carolyn on her fight for the mistress degree including a reprise of the earlier conversation. [Pause at 00:39:53 between side A and side B.]
Carolyn on Mainstreet - M.A.
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I7 · Item · June 6th, 1991
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of Carolyn Gammon on the radio show "Mainstreet" [CBC radio show in the Maritimes]. She joins the show from her home in Montreal to discuss her attempt to receive her Mistress's degree instead of Master's degree from Concordia. She discusses the two-year long process that was going to go to the senate for her to receive a Magistrate's degree.
Carolyn Gammon Interviews
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I6 · Item · November 2nd, 1990
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of an interview with Carolyn Gammon on Matrix Radio, CINQ [see also 10-202 for more information about this radio show]. Gammon speaks about her education, including completing graduate school in Creative Writing at Concordia, as well as her writing, which she began age 11. She describes trying her hand at prose and non-fiction due to the difficulty to convey political and activist thoughts in poetry only. Carolyn reads aloud three poems: "The Unaffectionate Gammon" and "Basic Feminist Lessons, Man Hating, for Patrizia," and "An Unserious Poem." Carolyn and the host discuss coming out and the experience with family. Carolyn also mentions how a lot of her poems are very political and cover various topics such as lesbian and STDs [sexual transmitted diseases], violence against lesbians, and lesbian only places. This second poem is also a response to the Polytechnique Massacre. Carolyn further speaks on her main audience as the general public of lesbians and censorship. Music that plays during this radio show includes "Straight Girl Blues" by Jamie Anderson [at 12:48] and "Lay Me Down" by Heather Bishop [which plays after the end of tape]. [Side B of the audiocassette tape was not digitized as it did not include any audible sound].
Interview with Yolanda and Ciara
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I5 · Item · January 12th, 1991
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This sound recording is of an interview conducted by Carolyn Gammon with Yolanda and Ciara, two immigrant lesbian women living in Montreal. The interview is conducted in three languages: English, French and Spanish. Ciara was born in 1938 [in La Vibora] outside of Havana, Cuba. She gives a brief explanation of her experience of being gay in Cuba, her marriage, and her relationships with women once in Canada. Yolanda was born in 1934 in Santiago, Chile. She discusses her sexual preferences from a young age when her mother discovered her with a neighbour girl when they were around 5. They discuss the different terms used for lesbians such as tortillera (Cuba) and maricona (Chile). Throughout the conversation they discuss the idea of butch versus fem and how that manifests in individuals, in relationships, their preferences, and experiences. They further discuss the idea of "passing" as a straight woman when fem presenting. Yolanda goes on to explain her experiences as a butch lesbian in Chile and also how that affected her immigration process to Canada. Ciara mentions the club scenes in Montreal (Zanzibar), New York City (8th Wonders Bar), and Havana (Carmen's, Rancha Luna). They both mention their first real relationships: Ciara with an Cuban-American student and Yolanda with a teammate on her soccer team. Yolanda and Ciara continue to describe their current and former relationships. The second part of the interview starts with discussing why they think they are attracted to certain types of women including each other. They proceed to describe how they became a couple. Yolanda also describes a situation involving police [in Spanish]. Yolanda describes being mistaken for a man in Chile (but not in Canada). They end the interview discussing the environment in Canada towards lesbians. [Note: There is some background noise from Ciara doing something during the interview.] [There is a pause in the recording between A and B side at 00:45:07, the conversation begins again at 00:45:12. Ends mid sentence. Tape 2 beings at 01:30:58]
Sections from by word of mouth lesbians write the erotic
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I4 · Item · [1989]
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of Augusta Lapaix reading excerpts from the book "By Word of Mouth: Lesbians write Erotica." Nicole Brossard also reads her work 'Sous la langue' and Lapaix reads the English translation. 'By Word of Mouth' (1989) was published by Gynergy books (Charlottetown) and 'Sous la Lange' (1987) is a Joint publication of Gynergy Books and L'Essentielle (Montreal).
If I Yes
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I3 · Item · 1980
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This sound recording includes Olga Broumas reciting her poems from 'Beginning with an P' (1977) and 'Soie Sauvage' (1979). Titles on side one include: "Artemis," "Circe," "Caritas," "Oregon Landscape with Lost Lover," "Absence of Noise Presence of Sound," "Landscape with Angels," "Prayer with Martial Stance," "Mosaic," "Home Movies (excerpts)," "Pastoral Jazz," "If I Yes." Titles on side two include: "Sometimes, as a child," "Sea Change (excerpts), "Beauty and the Beast," "Emblem," "Landscape with Leaves and Figure," "Home Movies (excerpts)," "As We Wait for the Hour," "Elegy," and "Backgammon."
Morningside : Magisteriat
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I12 · Item · June 16th, 1994
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection
This is a sound recording of "Morningside" radio show featuring Carolyn Gammon. This is a follow-up interview with Carolyn on her fight for a Mistress's degree. She mentions receiving a Magisteriat degree. She goes on to explain the process and how pleased she was of getting the matter approved. She also mentions how many positive reactions she has received from students and faculty. [The beginning of tape is distorted and voices are heard trying to tape the segment.]
30/5/91 Morningside: Magisteriat
CA ON0034 10-154-S4-I11 · Item · May 30, 1991
Part of Carolyn Gammon collection

This sound recording is a short segment of "Morningside" radio show featuring Carolyn Gammon speaking on the development of her campaign to get a Mistress degree from Concordia. Two years on from the end of her degree, she was denied a Mistress degree but instead was offered the Magisteriat degree. She speaks to the history of mistress degrees and how the language is problematic to a certain degree in history and contemporaneously. [Note: the follow-up show can be found on ACC-2006-22-M13]

A news paper clipping accompanies the cassette. It is an extract of the Globe and Mail (May 30 th, 1991) p. A16. It mentionnes " Mistess of arts: Carolyn Gammon, a creative-writtin student, has tried unsuccessfully to get Concordia University to grant her this postgraduate degree in English. Contending the term "master" is sexist, Ms Gammon said: "I feel they have missed a chance to make a prowoman, pro-feminist statement." (A committee of the university has recommended that if adopt gender-neutral degree titles such as baccalaureate, magisteriate and doctorate.)".