Mr. Lady Archive
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Mr. Lady Records was an independent record label founded in 1996 by Tammy Rae Carland and Kaia Wilson with the intention of supporting lesbian and feminist musicians and artists. The collection includes a wide range of material documenting the record label's operations between the years of 1996-2005. This includes press, promotional material, business records, correspondence, photographs, audiovisual material, and more.
Biographical / Historical
Mr. Lady Records (also known as Mr. Lady Records and Videos) was founded in 1996 by Tammy Rae Carland and Kaia Wilson as an independent record label and video art distributor specifically committed to lesbian and feminist cultural productions. Through most of its existence, Mr. Lady Records was located in Durham, North Carolina. The label moved to San Francisco in 2002. Between 1996 and 2005, Mr. Lady released nearly thirty albums and also oversaw the distribution of a dozen video artists. This included the works of Tami Hart, Sarah Dougher, the Butchies, and Le Tigre.
Co-founder Tammy Rae Carland was born in Portland, Maine in 1965. She received her BA from The Evergreen State College and MFA from UC Irvine. While running Mr. Lady, Carland was also employed as an Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In 2002, she accepted a post at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, where she is now an Associate Professor of Fine Arts and Photography and as well as the chair of the Photography Department. Carland primarily works with photography, experimental video, and small-run publications. Her zine I (heart) Amy Carter was influential in the Riot Grrrl Movement of the early 1990s.
Kaia Wilson was born in 1974 and is originally from Oregon. Her first band, Adickdid, was formed when she was fifteen years old. She subsequently went on to have a prolific career as a solo artist as well as the frontwoman of queercore punk bands Team Dresch (primarily 1993-1998) and the Butchies (1998-2005). Tammy Rae Carland and Kaia Wilson were partners during the years they ran Mr. Lady together.
Works Cited:
Arrangement
Folders in series I-VI are arranged alphabetically within the series. The Audio and Vinyl Access Copies are kept in their original order by release date.
Scope and Contents
The Mr. Lady Archive consists of a wide range of material documenting the operation of the record label between the years of 1996-2005. This includes press, promotional material, business records, correspondence, photographs, audio-visual material, and more. The collection also includes some material that predates the establishment of the label, specifically including press clippings from the Riot Grrrl Movement circa 1992-1996.
This material is divided into eight series:
Series I: Production: This series contains material relating to the production of Mr. Lady merchandise. This specifically includes mock-ups of posters, cover art, and stickers for the label and its artists, particularly Le Tigre.
Series II: Correspondence: The correspondence in this series primarily consists of fan mail.There is also a limited amount of business related correspondence.
Series III: Office Files: This series, in part, consists of business contacts with Mr. Lady's distribution company Mordam. It also contains ephemeral material "from the walls" of Mr. Lady's office.
Series IV: Press: This series includes press generated by the label, Kaia Wilson and Tammy Rae Carland, or the record label's bands.The bulk of this series consists of complete copies of magazines with post-it notes indicating the article's location. (The post-it notes were photocopied and removed during processing. They are now clipped to the back page of each magazine.) The series also contains some clippings detailing Kathleen Hanna's career and involvement in the Riot Grrrl Movement, which predated the foundation of the label.
Series V: Promotional: This series consists of ads, posters, and other promotional material advertising Mr. Lady and its bands.
Series VI: Photographs: This series consists of personal and candid tour photographs.
Series VII: Media: This series includes both audio and visual recordings some of which were commercially released by Mr. Lady. Formats include VHS, DAT, CD, vinyl records, and audio cassette tapes. This series also includes data storage disks.
Subseries A: Video- Originals Subseries B: Video- Access Copies Subseries C: Audio- Originals Subseries D: Audio- Access Copies Subseries E: Data Storage- Originals Subseries F: Vinyl Access Copies
Series VIII: Objects: The final series of this collection consists of unique objects. This includes merchandise, such as T-Shirts and a Tote Bag, as well as handmade crafts, including sock puppets of Kaia Wilson and Tammy Rae Carland. There are also some objects (i.e. the miniature replica of the Titanic and a CD opener) that were removed from "Small Stuff from the walls of MLR."
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Places
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 (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was 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); Mr. Lady Archive; MSS 362; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
The Mr. Lady Archive was donated to NYU's Fales Library and Special Collections by Tammy Rae Carland, a cofounder of Mr. Lady Records, in 2012.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audiovisual and born-digital materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers.
About this Guide
Repository
Series I: Production
Scope and Content
This series contains material relating to the production of Mr. Lady merchandise. This specifically includes mock-ups of posters, cover art, and stickers for the label and its artists, particularly Le Tigre.
[Art Master Le Tigre Poster], [1999]
[Le Tigre Transparent Films], undated
[Mock ups for Le Tigre cover art—Remixes], 2002, inclusive
[Mock ups for Le Tigre cover art— From the Desk...], 2000-2003, inclusive
[Mock ups for Le Tigre cover art— From the Desk of Mr. Lady], [2001]
Mr. Lady catalogs, stickers, pins, undated
Mr. Lady Logo [Transparent] Films, undated
Mr. Lady Logo [Transparent] Films, undated
Random Art Logos, Stickers, Pins, undated
Series II: Correspondence
Scope and Content
The correspondence in this series primarily consists of fan mail.There is also a limited amount of business related correspondence.
[correspondence], undated
[correspondence], undated
Saved Mail 1 of 2, 1997-2002, inclusive
Saved Mail 2 of 2, 1997-2002, inclusive
Saved Mail, 1997-2002, inclusive
Series III: Office Files
Scope and Content
This series, in part, consists of business contacts with Mr. Lady's distribution company Mordam. It also contains ephemeral material "from the walls" of Mr. Lady's office.
Business License, 2003-2005, inclusive
[Ephemera from Mr. Lady Office] 1 of 2, undated
[Ephemera from Mr. Lady Office] 2 of 2, undated
[Ephemera from the Office of Mr. Lady], undated
[Independent Weekly Award for Mr. Lady], 2001
Mordam Contracts, 1999-2003, inclusive
[Mordam Material in a Michael Jackson Folder], 1999-2001, inclusive
Small Stuff from the walls of MRL Office NC, undated
Series IV: Press
Scope and Content
This series includes press generated by the label, Kaia Wilson and Tammy Rae Carland, or the record label's bands.The bulk of this series consists of complete copies of magazines with post-it notes indicating the article's location. (The post-it notes were photocopied and removed during processing. They are now clipped to the back page of each magazine.) The series also contains some clippings detailing Kathleen Hanna's career and involvement in the Riot Grrrl Movement, which predated the foundation of the label.
[Advocate Magazine], 1999-2002, inclusive
Archival Riot Girl, Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Kathleen 1 of 3, 1992-2001, inclusive
Archival Riot Girl, Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Kathleen 2 of 3, 1992-2001, inclusive
Archival Riot Girl, Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Kathleen 3 of 3, 1992-2001, inclusive
Archival Riot Girl, Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Kathleen, 1992-2001, inclusive
[Bitch Magazine] 1 of 2, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Bitch Magazine] 2 of 2, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Bust Magazine] 1 of 2, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Bust Magazine] 2 of 2, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Catch the Beat Zine], 1999-2000, inclusive
[Curve Magazine], 2001-2002, inclusive
[Girlfriends Magazine] 1 of 3, 1998-2002, inclusive
[Girlfriends Magazine] 2 of 3, 1998-2002, inclusive
[Girlfriends Magazine] 3 of 3, 1998-2002, inclusive
[Misc. Magazine], 1999-2002, inclusive
[Misc. Magazines] 1 of 4, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Misc. Magazines] 2 of 4, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Misc. Magazines] 3 of 4, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Misc. Magazines] 4 of 4, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Mr Lady Clippings], 1996-2002, inclusive
[Ms. Magazine], 1999-2001, inclusive
[The Nation], 2000
[Out Magazine] 1 of 2, 1996-2002, inclusive
[Out Magazine] 2 of 2, 1996-2002, inclusive
[Press], 2000-2003, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 1 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 2 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 3 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 4 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 5 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
Press Le Tigre 6 of 6, 1999-2002, inclusive
[Pulse Magazine], 2002
[Punk Planet] 1 of 2, 1998-2002, inclusive
[Punk Planet] 2 of 2, 1998-2002, inclusive
[Rockpile Magazine], 2002
[ROCKRGRL Magazine] 1 of 2, 2000-2002, inclusive
[ROCKRGRL Magazine] 2 of 2, 2000-2002, inclusive
[Rolling Stone], 2001
[Spin Magazine], 2000-2002, inclusive
[Venus Magazine] 1 of 4, 2000-2004, inclusive
[Venus Magazine] 2 of 4, 2000-2004, inclusive
[Venus Magazine] 3 of 4, 2000-2004, inclusive
[Venus Magazine] 4 of 4, 2000-2004, inclusive
Series V: Promotional
Scope and Content
This series consists of ads, posters, and other promotional material advertising Mr. Lady and its bands.
Ads, 1999-2003, inclusive
Band Photos, undated
Mr. Lady Music Release Posters, undated
Mr. Lady Music Release Posters, undated
[Mr. Lady Posters], undated
Mr Lady Promo, 2000-2003, inclusive
Mr Lady Promo, 1996-2003, inclusive
Mr. Lady Show Posters, undated
Mr. Lady Show Posters, undated
Promo Stuff Misc., 1999-2000, inclusive
Series VI: Photographs
Scope and Content
This series consists of personal and candid tour photographs.
Photos Misc. 1 of 3, 1999-2000, inclusive
Photos Misc. 2 of 3, 1999-2000, inclusive
Photos Misc. 3 of 3, 1999-2000, inclusive
Series VII: Media
Scope and Content
This series includes both audio and visual recordings some of which were commercially released by Mr. Lady. Formats include VHS, DAT, CD, vinyl records, and audio cassette tapes. This series also includes data storage disks.
Conditions Governing Access
Audiovisual and born-digital materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers.
Subseries A: Video- Originals
Electrelane
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
Tracy - The Plastics
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette
Coal Miners's Granddaughter
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
Ocularis: Eye Surrogates
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS
The Drama of the Gifted Child; My Failure to Assimilate
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 30 min.
Kore
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 20 min.
"Judy Spots"
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 13 min.
Nguyen Tan Hoang
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
7 Steps to Sticky Heaven (1995, 24:00); Forever Jimmy! (1995, 6:00); Maybe Never (but I'm continuing the days) (1996, 15:00); Lover Letters 1 and 2 (For Julian Love, Hoang) (1996, 4:00); Forever Linda! (1996, 12:00)
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 60 min.
3 videos by Tammy Rae Carland
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
Part One: The Towards Tomorrow Trilogy, 2001, work in progress, 3 min.; Ladyoutlaws and Faggot Wannabes, 1996, 20 mins.; Odd Girl Out, 1994, 15 mins.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
riot Grrrandmas! [la video
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS 30 min.
meme america
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 30 min.
3 Videotapes by Celia Dougherty
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
LAURIE (1998, 11:02) about Laurie Weeks; LESLIE (1998, 11:04) about Leslie Scalapino; Eileen (2000, 10:20) about Eileen Myles
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 60 min.
Odd Girl Out: A Collection of Videos by Tammy Rae Carland
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
MASTER. thirst, Becky 1977, Dear Mom, Jug Town Road, sway, My Lover's Hand
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 15 min.
Joe-Joe
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
by Cecilia Dougherty and Leslie Singer
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 52 min.
COME - German Song
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 6 min.
Grapefruit
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS 40 min
The Fancy
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 36 min
APESHIT
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
Leah Gilliam
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS 6 min.
Sapphire and the Slave Girl
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
Leah Gilliam, for preview purposes only
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 18 min.
Lesbianage IV
Language of Materials
Housing Annotations
A Film by Kristen Kuppenbender and Sarah Marcus
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS
Girl Speak at UC Irvine
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
Cry for Everything..., undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 20 min.
Cherry Bomb- Rough Cut '99, 1999, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 160 min.
Team Dresch MWMF [Michigan Womyn's Musical Festival] 1995, 1995, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
Live at [illegible word]- Tami Hart; Butchies 5-28th #2, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 60 min.
Mr. Lady 5 Year Anniversary Show- May 5, 2001- Cat's Cradle, 2001, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 120 min.
Rousted From Fireweed- K.M.- RFF- Kelly Marie Martin, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 10 min.
Cecilia Dougherty "Claudia", 1987, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 30 min.
Motor Baby and Rousted Master- Kelly Martin, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 30 min.
Subseries B: Video- Access Copies
Conditions Governing Access
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and are not currently available to researchers.
Subseries C: Audio- Originals
The Crowns- 4 Track Demo, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Darien Brahms "St. Joan" Master, 2002, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Sarah Dougher May 26,2000 Live at Cat's Cradle Carborro, NC, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
The Haggard "No Future"- 5/31/01- Mr Lady Records, 2001, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Calling All... Comp, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Modern Recording- Mr Lady Comp #2- CD ref #4, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Tracy and the Plastics "Oh Maria" Recorded by Joe Preston Feb. 2000 Contact: Chainsaw, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Mr Lady Comp set 2 6/2/99, 1999, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Calling All... Comp, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Mr Lady Comp CD set 2 8/23/00, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD
Un-Mastered Mr. Lady Comp 2000, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Modern Recording- Mr Lady Compilation- CF set 5 (final), undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
The Crowns "Shallow End" (Mr. Lady Comp) 24- bit data files (Audio Files) .L, .R, undated
Kiki & Herb "I'm Not Waiting" (Mr. Lady Comp), undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Navy, 2000, inclusive
Darien Brahms 5/2000, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Shelley Doty- Seems Unlikely (Master), undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Lugosi-California Lightening, 1999, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R
Origami, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Origami-Measure Up, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Gretchen Phillips- Eau De Lesbianism, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
Ode to Lesbianism- Gretchen Phillips, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CD-R, 74 min.
The Kids That Call Us Clowns The Book, 1999, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 60 min.
Master Tape, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 74 min.
Mixed Down, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 90 min.
[Untitled Tami Hart Cassette Tape- The Kids That Call Us Clowns], undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 60 min.
Rubeo, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 60 min.
Tami Hart's Greatest Hits (in bubble wrap even!) Ha Ha..., undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 60 min.
Golden Girls- Cued, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audio Cassette, 90 min.
Rubeo 7" MRLR- 04, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
DAT, 60 min.
V For Vendetta- June 12,2000- Sampson, 2000, inclusive
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
DAT
Sissies- Final Mix, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
DAT, 120 min.
Rubeo Comp, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
DAT, 60 min.
CD's, Masters
Subseries D: Audio- Access Copies
Conditions Governing Access
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and are not currently available to researchers.
Subseries E: Data Storage- Originals
MRLR 682 1150 2 of 2, undated
[untitled Mr Lady Disc], undated
V9V Poster, undated
Mr. Lady's, 2000, inclusive
MRL Video, undated
MRL Videos Logos Letter Head, undated
V4V CD Tray Folder, undated
MRLR 1 of 2 682 1150, undated
German Mr. Lady Stuff/Misc., undated
MRLR 956 8327 Spring 2001 Catalog and Butchies 3 posters, undated
Le Poster/ Cat., undated
Haggard No Future, undated
Melissa's Zip Disk #2, undated
Mr Lady 682. 1150 Cat. #3, undated
MRLR, undated
MRL Web #2, undated
Mr Lady Catalog Melissa York #2, undated
MRL Web #1, undated
MRLR 956 8327 - Calling All...- MRLR 15 - Tami Hart - MRLR 11, undated
MRLR 06 and 07 Posters (Le Tigre and Butchies), undated
MRLR 12 and 13 posters (Sarah and Haggard), undated
[untitled Mr Lady disc], undated
Dougher, undated
Stills for Mr. Lady K8, undated
TJO Poster, undated
TJO/ Le Tigre Poster, undated
MRLR-27 TKO 956 8327, undated
TJO/Le Tigre Poster, undated
Subseries F: Vinyl- Access Copies
Series VIII: Objects
Scope and Content
This series includes merchandise, such as T-Shirts and a Tote Bag, as well as handmade crafts, including sock puppets of Kaia Wilson and Tammy Rae Carland. There are also some objects (i.e. the miniature replica of the Titanic and a CD opener) that were removed from "Small Stuff from the walls of MLR."