Virago Press Archive

MS 5223

1972-1983

This archive collection contains records pertaining to the founding of and early business operations of Virago Press, including financial; stock; sales; and correspondence records. It also includes the financial records and correspondence relating to Carmen Callil Ltd (Callil’s own publicity company) which formed in the 1970's briefly preceding and coinciding with the Virago Press; Carmen Callil Ltd helped finance the Virago Press. Virago Press briefly began as Spare Rib books (in 1972) but Spare Rib then continued as a feminist Magazine; Carmen Callil eventually renamed the publishing business, Spare Rib Books, to Virago Press in 1973. The covering years for records relating to Carmen Calill Ltd begin in 1972 continuing until 1975 but these dates coincide with records relating to Virago Press. The records relating directly to the Virago Press largely cover the early 1980's continuing until 1982.The earlier records cover the founding of Virago Press, with brief reference to the other individuals that helped Carmen Callil finance Virago (notably individuals from Quartet Books). Most of this archive comprises of financial records. Other records such as stock, sales and correspondence records largely refer to the production of various Virago book titles. Indexes of the Virago Press titles published between 1977-1981 are included with the stock records [MS 5223/PR]. It is important to note that though there are brief references to Spare Rib, this archive does not hold records relating to the feminist magazine, you can find digitised images of this magazine and further information at The British Library. Record formats include: receipts; chequebooks; invoices; stock records/files; operational correspondence; meeting minutes and one edited author manuscript.

15 boxes

English