Biren, Joan E.

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Joan E. Biren (b.1944) grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1966, and pursued graduate training in political science at Oxford University and communications at American University. Biren joined the women's liberation movement in Washington D.C. in 1969. Coming to feminism with her New Left political science background, Biren was particularly involved in the formation of feminist theory. Biren and others (including Rita Mae Brown and Charlotte Bunch) formed a lesbian-separatist collective, the Furies, in 1971. Though the collective was short-lived, it had, through its publications, a significant impact on the strategies of the women's movement. Biren taught herself photography because "I needed to see images of lesbians." She is best known for her photographic portraits, some of the earliest documents of late 20th-century lesbian life. Realizing the need for affirming images and self- expression outside of traditional patriarchal language, her work has appeared in off our backs, The Washington Blade, Gay Community News, and on countless LP album and book covers. Biren published two ground-breaking collections of her photography: "Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians" (1979) and "Making A Way: Lesbians Out Front" (1987). In the 1990s, Beginning in 1979 Biren toured the country presenting her slide show "Lesbian Images in Photography, 1850 to the present" to women's groups. Other shows followed and gradually Biren moved from still photography to filmmaking. She documented the 1987 and 1993 gay and lesbian marches on Washington in For Love and For Life and A Simple Matter of Justice and in 2003, an award-winning film on lesbian pioneers Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, "No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon."

From the guide to the Joan E. Biren Papers MS 587., 1944-2011 (ongoing), (Sophia Smith Collection)

Joan Elisabeth Biren, also known as JEB, was born in Washington, D.C. on July 13, 1944. She has gained recognition as an outstanding documentary artist, and for over twenty years has been photographing, publishing and producing videos that chronicle the lives and times of lesbian and gay people.As a video producer for the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, JEB was responsible for sending a live six-camera switched feed to giant screens on the Mall and around the world via satellite. Many commentators noted that this innovative use of the technology was brilliantly accomplished. JEB produced and wrote "A Simple Matter of Justice," the official video of the March. JEB is the author of two groundbreaking volumes of photography. "Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians (1979)" is the pioneering photographic book that made lesbian existence and courage visible as never before. "Making a Way: Lesbians Out Front (1987)" is a vigorous affirmation of lesbian lives that dramatically portrays 125 women. Biren has a B.A. with honors in political science from Mt. Holyoke College and an M.A. in communications from the American University. After three years in a doctoral program at Oxford University in England, she returned to the U.S. and taught herself photography working in a camera store and on a small-town newspaper

From the description of Joan E. Biren photograph collection, 1971-1991. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 649696564

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Joan E. Biren Papers MS 587., 1944-2011 (ongoing) Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Deming, Barbara, 1917-1984. Papers: Series I-III, 1908-1985 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1908-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Joan E. Biren Queer Film Museum Collection National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
creatorOf Joan E. Biren photograph collection, 1971-1991. George Washington University. Library. Special Collections Division
referencedIn Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace & Justice. Records, 1980-1995 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Visible for a change : contemporary lesbian artists, U.S.A. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records, 1980-1995 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adam, Margie person
associatedWith BARBARA DEMING, 1917-1984 person
associatedWith Brown, Rita Mae person
associatedWith Christian, Meg person
associatedWith Deming, Barbara, 1917 person
associatedWith Gartrell, Nanette person
associatedWith Hammer, Barbara person
associatedWith Helaine Victoria Press person
associatedWith Jackson, James E., 1914- person
associatedWith J. E. B. person
associatedWith Lorde, Audre person
associatedWith Lyon, Phyllis person
associatedWith Martin, Del person
associatedWith Mosbacher, Dee person
associatedWith National Abortion Rights Action League corporateBody
associatedWith National Endowment for the Arts corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women corporateBody
associatedWith National Women's Health Network (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Near, Holly person
associatedWith Olivia Records corporateBody
associatedWith Pratt, Minnie Bruce person
associatedWith Voices of Feminism Oral History Project corporateBody
associatedWith Warhol, Andy 1928-1987. person
associatedWith Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace & Justice. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington (D.C.)
Subject
AIDS (Disease)
Antinuclear movement
Artists
Breast Cancer
Civil rights movements
Collectivism
Demonstrations
Documentary films
Female friendship
Feminism
Feminism
Feminism
Feminism and art
Feminists
Feminist spirituality
Gay college students
Gay liberation movement
Gay men
Gay rights
Gays
Gays
Gays in motion pictures
Gender identity
Goddess religion
Hispanic American women
Homophobia in sports
Indian women
International Women's Day
Jewish lesbians
Jewish women
Lesbian activists
Lesbian artists
Lesbian communities
Lesbian feminism
Lesbianism
Lesbianism
Lesbianism
Lesbian physicians
Lesbians
Lesbians
Lesbians
Lesbians
Lesbians in motion pictures
Nuclear disarmament
Peace movements
Peace movements
Photography of women
Pornography
Protest movements
Women
Women
Women
Women and peace
Women and religion
Women artists
Women in mass media
Women photographers
Women's periodicals, American
Women's periodicals, American
Women's rights
Women's studies
Occupation
Activity

Person

Active 1971

Active 1991

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SNAC ID: 46031306