The 2021 Mail Library was published in August 2021, after a spring and summer of archival research, study, and relay-style annotation.
We originally packaged a set of five Annotated Readers alongside two newly published works that we selected from an Open Call, and developed for risograph printing. We called this bundle of works the Mail Library — because we made this edition of 50 available for checkout (one, then two months at a time) but never for purchase; and we distributed them by local drop-off or through the United States Postal Service. We circulated the Mail Library as such from September 2021 – March 2023.
At time of writing, we are still circulating the Annotated Readers by local delivery, or by mail — for free, for two months at a time. Check one out here.
We originally packaged a set of five Annotated Readers alongside two newly published works that we selected from an Open Call, and developed for risograph printing. We called this bundle of works the Mail Library — because we made this edition of 50 available for checkout (one, then two months at a time) but never for purchase; and we distributed them by local drop-off or through the United States Postal Service. We circulated the Mail Library as such from September 2021 – March 2023.
At time of writing, we are still circulating the Annotated Readers by local delivery, or by mail — for free, for two months at a time. Check one out here.
OPEN CALL WORKS︎︎︎
The two newly published works were:
We found that both of these Open Call works spoke to a long lineage of knowledge, in practice and in text, through generations and through a gathering of attention — and we hoped our Readers would emphasize this tenet of learning from each other, of spreading the information while keeping it dear. Altogether, we hoped the Mail Library would present stories of received wisdom and continual conversation.
- Radar de la Salud, or “Health Radar” by Lucia Garzón — an interactive poster that reprised a family heirloom, Garzón’s grandmother’s key for plant-based remedies for various ailments, native to Bogotá, Colombia in the 1950s and 60s. Printed and published by Many Folds Press, August 2021.
- The Warm Honey from Your Hand, edited by Shivon Pearl Love and Khaliah D. Pitts of the culinary literacy program Our Mothers’ Kitchens — featuring poems and photographs from OMK’s Summer Workshop for Black Girls (2017–2019). Printed and published by Many Folds Press, August 2021.
We found that both of these Open Call works spoke to a long lineage of knowledge, in practice and in text, through generations and through a gathering of attention — and we hoped our Readers would emphasize this tenet of learning from each other, of spreading the information while keeping it dear. Altogether, we hoped the Mail Library would present stories of received wisdom and continual conversation.
CREDITS︎︎︎
READERS ANNOTATED BY:
Ankit Rastogi
Anastasia Fujii
Carson Lee
Erica Quinha Mukai Faria
Eva Wǒ
Feini Yin
Ila Kumar
Joey Wong
Juliana Feliciano Reyes
Lee Luke
Mel Kapadia
Raina Kulkarni
Rat Porridge
Rea Tajiri
Sarah Kim
Tara Boonngamanong
Ankit Rastogi
Anastasia Fujii
Carson Lee
Erica Quinha Mukai Faria
Eva Wǒ
Feini Yin
Ila Kumar
Joey Wong
Juliana Feliciano Reyes
Lee Luke
Mel Kapadia
Raina Kulkarni
Rat Porridge
Rea Tajiri
Sarah Kim
Tara Boonngamanong
ARCHIVAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University (Durham, NC)
Ethnic Studies Library at UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Fales Library at New York University
(New York City, NY)
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives
(Chicago, IL)
Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Leather Archives & Museum
(Chicago, IL)
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University (Durham, NC)
Ethnic Studies Library at UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Fales Library at New York University
(New York City, NY)
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives
(Chicago, IL)
Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Leather Archives & Museum
(Chicago, IL)
MATERIALS SOURCED FROM:
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:
FOR YOUR WORDS AND YOUR WORK.
Anamika
Asian Lesbian Network Nippon
(c/o Trinity Ordoña’s collection)
Asian Women
Asian & Friends Chicago
Black Leather...in Color
CALM Voices
(Chicago Asian Lesbians Moving)
CelebrAsian (GAT - Gay Asians Toronto)
East West Magazine (Long Yang Club)
G.A.P.I.C. - Gay Asians & Pacific Islanders of Chicago
Gidra
Godzilla
(c/o Ken Chu’s collections)
Lavender Godzilla
(GAPA - Gay Asian Pacific Alliance)
Newslink
(GMSMA - Gay Male S/M Activists)
Pacific Bridge
Shades of Yellow
Silk Road (Asian & Friends Washington)
Trikone
Womyn of Color
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Alan Li
Allan DeSouza
Darrell Perry
Ken Chu
Kevin Lim
Lidell Jackson
Mallika Dutt
Margo Machida
Mark Finney
Mary Woo Sims
Pauline Park
Susan Yung
Todd Ayoung
Tomie Arai
Trinity Ordoña
Xay Yang
FOR YOUR WORDS AND YOUR WORK.