First published as the Women's Community Journal in February 1986, WomanSpace is the longest continuously published women's community newsletter in San Antonio. The Women's Community Journal envisioned itself as an open forum for the women's community to discuss issues affecting women's lives, especially within the lesbian community. Men and women were encouraged to contribute to the newsletter on topics spanning health, politics, religion, art, and social issues. Submissions took the form of articles, letters to the editor, opinions, artwork, poetry, and creative writing. To further enhance communication within the women's community, newsletter staff initiated a regular event known as Tuesday Night for discussing topics affecting women's lives. Topics ranging from real estate law to rape/incest were prepared for each Tuesday session. As ties to related community resources and events increased, the Tuesday Night events were superseded in 1995 by other events and meetings for the lesbian and gay community.
In 1987 newsletter staff developed an idea for creating a physical as well as spiritual and intellectual place for women to share ideas, learn, and reinforce one another: a place called WomanSpace. Ultimately WomanSpace was envisioned as a women's community center where women and men could meet, socialize, educate, share poetry, and participate in events. In this spirit, the Women's Community Journal was renamed and debuted in November 1988 as WomanSpace .
By April 1995 WomanSpace became a member of the Esperanza Network, a San Antonio organization dedicated to forming alliances to counteract bigotry and oppression. WomanSpace continues to be written and published by the women's community of San Antonio.
From the guide to the Womanspace Records MS 42., 1982-2007, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)
