Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Byllye Avery
- Abstract:
- Video and audio prints related to the making of On Becoming a Woman.
- Extent:
- 61 Items
- Language:
- Materials are in English
- Preferred citation:
[item], Byllye Avery Collection, Special Collection BA, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
In 1981, Byllye Avery (b. 1937) founded the National Black Women's Health Project (NBWHP) in Atlanta, Georgia. As Director of this national and international health advocacy organization, one of Avery's projects was the production of the film in this collection, On Becoming a Woman: Mothers and Daughters Talking to Each Other (1987). The documentary film depicts two generations of African American women engaged in discussions about menstruation, sex, love, and communication.
In addition to her work at the NBWHP, Avery co-founded the Gainesville Women's Health Center and BIRTHPLACE, an alternative birthing center in Gainesville, Florida; wrote a preface for The New Our Bodies, Our Selves (1997); and advocated the Walking for Wellness Program, where women make a commitment to walk together twice a week. In 1989, Avery was named a MacArthur Fellow and in 1994, she received the Gustav O. Lienhard Award for the advancement of health care for her pioneering efforts to improve heath care for black and underserved women in the United States.
- Scope and Content:
The BFCA Byllye Avery Collection contains the final print of On Becoming a Woman as well as audio and visual outtakes and work prints from the film. These materials were donated to the BFCA by Byllye Avery, whose resume, biography, and photograph are included in this collection.
The items outlined in this guide are listed according to the titles that were on the containers received by the BFCA. The following descriptions of each item include information present on the film stock as well as notes about content and running time when available.
- Acquisition information:
- The collection was donated in August 1996.
- Processing information:
Processed by Aimee Hall.
- General note:
In 2022, the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A) transitioned to its current name, the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA). This finding aid was created under the organizational name Black Film Center/Archive. Upon this organizational name change, all previous references to the BFC/A were updated in this finding aid to match the current name, Black Film Center & Archive.
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Archivist.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[item], Byllye Avery Collection, Special Collection BA, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1320 East Tenth StreetHerman B Wells Library, Room 044Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-6041bfca@indiana.edu