Becca Albee Riot Grrrl Collection
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Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Becca Albee is a musician, writer, and visual artist who was active in the early days of the Riot Grrrl movement in Olympia, Washington. This collection is comprised of materials--including original lyric sheets and artwork, posters, photos, and fan mail--pertaining to Ms. Albee's involvement with the bands Excuse 17 and Heartless Martin, as well as a small number of personal papers, ephemera and objects.
Biographical Note
Becca Albee was involved in the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 1990's in Olympia, Washington. She was a participant in many early Riot Grrrl meetings, collaborated on Riot Grrrl zines, and was a member of two important bands of the time, Excuse 17 and Heartless Martin. These bands, along with others like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, contributed to the feminist, activist, DIY culture that was evolving in Olympia at the time.
Founded in 1993, Excuse 17 was comprised of Becca Albee, Carrie Brownstein, and CJ Phillips. The band released two full-length albums: Excuse 17 (1994, Chainsaw Records) and Some Friends Are Dangerous (1995, Kill Rock Stars). They also released a split 7" with Lync on Candy-Ass Records. Also in 1993, Becca Albee teamed up with Corin Tucker to form a one-off collaboration called Heartless Martin, releasing a cassette on Chainsaw Records.
Albee graduated from the Evergreen State College in 1995. She earned her MFA at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she studied with Tammy Rae Carland and Robert Blanchon. Currently, Albee is an Assistant Professor of Art teaching photography in the Art Department and Electronic Design and Multimedia Program at The City College of New York, CUNY. She lives in Brooklyn and is an active visual artist.
Sources:
Arrangement
Materials are arranged primarily by topic, much as they were received. The collection was processed at the folder level and loose items were given preservation attention as needed.
See the Scope and Content Notes for more specific details about each series.
Scope and Content
The Becca Albee Riot Grrrl Collection contains materials that document Albee's involvement in the Riot Grrrl-inspired bands Excuse 17 and Heartless Martin. Also included are personal papers and objects related to Albee's visual art and writing. The bulk of the materials are from 1993-1995.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I: Music: This series is comprised of materials directly related to Becca Albee's musical career including original lyric sheets, fan mail, gig posters, album artwork, and photography.
Subseries A: Excuse 17
Subseries B: Heartless Martin
Series II: Personal: This series contains documentation of Becca Albee's personal work not related to bands including visual art, Riot Grrrl zines, and a series of notepads with messages from Becca and her friends.
Subseries A: Visual Art
Subseries B: Zines
Subseries C: Miscellaneous Papers and Objects
Series III: Media: This series has visual and audio recordings of work by Excuse 17, Lync, Heavens to Betsy as well as film footage taken by Becca Albee.
Subseries A: Access Copies (currently no access copies exist for this collection)
Subseries B: Originals
Oversize Series I: Includes materials too large to be stored in a records carton or photo binder.
Subseries A: Excuse 17
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy for materials in this collection, created by Becca Albee, were not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Becca Albee: Riot Grrrl Papers; MSS 273; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The digital access copies in the collection were created by the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact nyuspecialcollections@nyu.edu with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
About this Guide
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series I: Music
Subseries A: Excuse 17
Original Artwork and Photos, undated
Posters and Flyers, undated
Administrative and Press Releases
Letters
Set Lists and Lyrics, undated
Subseries B: Heartless Martin
Artwork and Documentation, undated
Series II: Personal
Subseries A: Visual Art
Photos, Press Releases, and Compact, undated
Subseries B: Zines
Riot Grrrl zines, undated
Abstract
What is Riot Grrrl Anyway? [Olympia] [no. 4]
This mini-zine compiles a number of writers' thinking on what riot grrrl means, and emphasizes personal relationships to the movement and reasons for joining or identifying with it. Descriptions are made in relation to sexual abuse in families and relationships, the general oppressiveness of fathers and men, the power of female collectivization, female criticism of riot grrrl, and the domination of men in society and punk. Anecdotes of riot grrrl meeting experiences are abundant. Contains an excerpt from Riot Grrrl D.C. zine on the freeform nature of riot grrrl, as well as a list of names and addresses of fellow riot grrrl publications.
Riot Grrrl: Huh? [Olympia]
This zine begins with an essay concerning the reductive impact of negative views and perceived exclusion as responses to collective action, especially as this relates to riot grrrl. A critique piece and collage on male-imposed standards of beauty follows. An extended excerpt from Peace and Freedom on the interlocking aspects of male, white, and straight privilege and the importance of its perpetrators recognizing this oppression is included. Anti-police rhetoric and the desire for self-policing and social control follows in a subsequent piece. Later pieces question male dominance and the impairment of pro-choice goals in the Rock for Choice organization, anti-union attitudes in local workplaces, and tensions created through physical aggression at live music shows.
Subseries C: Miscellaneous Papers and Objects
Door Notepads [1 of 2] NO DUPLICATION, undated
General
No duplication of the door notepads is allowed
Door Notepads [2 of 2] NO DUPLICATION
General
No duplication of the door notepads is allowed
Resume, Rent Receipts, and To-Do List, 1992-1996, inclusive
Papers and Items from bowling bag, undated
Blue and white bowling bag, undated
Series III: Media
Subseries A: Access Copies
She was Horrid
Scope and Contents
A short film directed by Becca Albee and Sarah Kennedy, music by Carrie Brownstein.
Conditions Governing Access
Patrons are not allowed to photograph the film while viewing in the reading room.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Format: MP4, Duration: 10 min., Source: 273.001 [16mm film]
Excuse 17 Live, 1994
Additional Label Information
[Excuse 17--8-5-94--CBGB] [Bikini Kill--10-31-94--CBGB] [Nilla--12-1-94--UnderAcme] [Tryke--Softies]
[Nilla-2494 Loft Ave. Baldwin, NY]
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Format: MP4, Duration: 15 min., Source: 273.0003 [VHS]
E17 Practice, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Format: MP4, Duration: 31 min., Source: 273.0004 [1/8" audiocassette]
Excuse 17 LIVE at (under) Spa Studio, 1995-05-22
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Format: MP4, Duration: 27 min, Source: 273.0009 [1/8" audiocassette]
Subseries B: Originals
["She Was Horrid"] [Release Print] [360'] [B/W Print]
Scope and Contents
A short film directed by Becca Albee and Sarah Kennedy, music by Carrie Brownstein.
Conditions Governing Access
Currently available. See Subseries A: Access Copies
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Format: 16mm film, Black and White, 24 fps, Duration: 10 min.
Excuse 17/Lync Split 7" Youth on Fire, 1994
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
7" vinyl sound disc with paper sleeve and original artwork
Excuse 17 Live, 1994
Additional Label Information
[Excuse 17--8-5-94--CBGB] [Bikini Kill--10-31-94--CBGB] [Nilla--12-1-94--UnderAcme] [Tryke--Softies]
[Nilla-2494 Loft Ave. Baldwin, NY]
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Format: VHS, Duration: 15 min.
E17 Practice, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
Format: 1/8" audiocassette, Duration: 31 min.
Excuse Seventeen 1/95 1st Mix, 1995, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
100 minute audio cassette in case.
Excuse Seventeen 1/95 Second Mix, 1995, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
60 minute audio cassette in case.
Excuse Seventeen demo, 1993, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
Audio cassette in case with original artwork & inserts.
Lync & Heavens to Betsy on the Radio/Color Outside the Lines, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
90 minute audio cassette in case.
Excuse 17 LIVE at (under) Spa Studio 5/22/95, 1995
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
60 minute audio cassette in case with insert.
Excuse Seventeen Live at Yoyo a Gogo, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
Audio cassette in case.
active agent equals anything, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Note
Audio cassette in case with original artwork.
