Ina Clausen Papers
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Abstract
Brooklynite Ina Clausen co-founded a women's collective print shop in the late 1960s. This collection consists of her personal papers as well as records from the Greenpoint Print Shop and copies of feminist writings and publications to which Clausen contributed.
Biographical note
Ina Clausen was born February 21, 1943 to Einar Clausen and Linda Hansen Clausen in Brooklyn, NY. She attended the Prospect Heights High School, where she was on the art staff of her high school's publication, the Cardinal. Clausen graduated in 1960.
In the late 1960s Clausen co-founded a women's collective print shop at 573 Metropolitan Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Fellow founders included Nina Hutchinson, Linda Feldman, Barbara Kaminsky, Karen Ninnis, Alice Moffett, Page Dougherty, Hazel Doren, and Alice Appleton. The shop was called the Greenpoint Print Shop, and was supported from donations of equipment from David Dellinger, who published Liberation Magazine in New Jersey. At the print shop Clausen designed and printed materials for several local activist groups, including the Southern Conference Educational Fund, the Southside Community of Greenpoint, the National Association for Irish Freedom, Yellow Pearl (an Asian-American organization based in Chinatown), Los Tintos Indios (a Red Hook, Brooklyn-based Puerto Rican group), and several women's liberation groups.
Clausen served as president of the Greenpoint Print Shop until late 1972, when she and the other officers all resigned and turned the corporation over to another group. During this period and beyond, Clausen participated in local activist organizations, including the Flatbush Committee to End the War in Vietnam. She also designed and published informational packets to educate women about the Women's Liberation Movement. Her work in this movement included contributions to the feminist journal Up from Under, which focused on working women.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series by type: Series 1: Personal Records and Correspondence, Series 2: Greenpoint Print Shop Papers, and Series 3: Feminist Writings and Publications.
Scope and Contents
The first series of the Ina Clausen Papers collection contains personal records from Clausen's early life in Brooklyn, NY, including school report cards, church certificates, family photographs, and publications Clausen contributed to at her high school, Prospect Heights High School. The second series consists of an assortment of flyers, greeting cards, raffle tickets and invitations produced by the Greenpoint Print Shop, of which Clausen was a founding member. Also included are the letters of resignation from this organization's executive staff. The third series is comprised of feminist journals Clausen contributed to, as well as rough drafts of an article Clausen published in the journal Up from Under.
Subjects
Organizations
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Ina Clausen papers, BCMS.0015, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ina Clausen, September 2008. The photographs of Linda Clausen's Girl Scout troop were added to the collection at a later date, also the gift of Ina Clausen.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The pins in this collection were rehoused and the finding aid revised by Dee Bowers in 2024.
Repository
Series 1: Personal Records and Correspondence, 1943-1966, inclusive
Baptism and Sunday School Certificates, 1943-1951, inclusive
Program and certificate for "Prize Baby Show", 1944
Report cards, P.S. 246 and P.S. 181, 1949-1952, inclusive
Prospect Heights High School Cardinal Special, circa late 1950s, inclusive
Prospect Heights High School Cardinal, Literary Art Issue, 1959
Prospect Heights High School Cardinal, Senior Issue, June 1960-January 1961, inclusive
Letter to Robert Clausen from Ralph, 1966
Family photographs (includes CD-R), 1946-1968, inclusive
Photographs of Linda Clausen's Girl Scout troop, circa late 1950s-early 1960s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Girl Scout troop 2-547 which met at the Second Dutch Reformed Church, Bedford Avenue and Martense Street. Includes notes identifying pictured individuals as well as further contextual notes from Ina Clausen.
Church pins, circa 1950s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two pins from the First Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush, one for four years of perfect attendance and one for the choir.
Girl Scout pins, circa 1950s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Six pins, including one from the 1959 Girl Scouts Senior Roundup in Colorado.
Hebert Aptheker campaign pin, 1966
Series 2: Greenpoint Print Shop Papers, 1966-1973, inclusive
Small flyers and raffle tickets, circa early 1970s, inclusive
Flatbush Committee to End the War in Vietnam flyers, 1966-1968, inclusive
Peace and Freedom Party flyers, late 1960s, inclusive
National Association for Irish Freedom and subgroups flyers, 1971-1973, inclusive
Greeting cards for Southern Conference Educational Fund and Little People's Nursery, circa early 1970s, inclusive
Various flyers, circa early 1970s, inclusive
Letters of resignation from officers and stationery, 1972
"Mayor Lindsay Help Save Our Homes" oversize flyer, circa early 1970s, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
This item is located in the Brooklyn ephemera collection (BCMS.0007), oversize box 3.
Series 3: Feminist Writings and Publications, 1970-1973, inclusive
Feelings from Women's Liberation #1, 1970 January
Women's Liberation envelope and article packet, circa early 1970s, inclusive
Up from Under: by, for, and about women, 1970-1973, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Vol. 1, Nos. 1-5.
