<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><ead xmlns="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9 https://www.loc.gov/ead/ead.xsd"><eadheader countryencoding="iso3166-1" dateencoding="iso8601" langencoding="iso639-2b" repositoryencoding="iso15511"><eadid countrycode="US" mainagencycode="US-ViRCU" url="https://archives.library.vcu.edu/repositories/5/resources/672">vircu00217</eadid><filedesc><titlestmt><titleproper type="filing">Benoit, Naomi, lesbian publications collection</titleproper><titleproper>A Guide to the Naomi Benoit lesbian publications collection, 1981-2002 <num>M 341</num></titleproper><subtitle>A collection in Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University,  M 341.</subtitle><author>Juniper Paiusco, intern in Special Collections &amp; Archives</author></titlestmt><publicationstmt><publisher>VCU James Branch Cabell Library</publisher><p id="logostmt"><extref xlink:actuate="onLoad" xlink:href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/logos/vcu.jpg" xlink:show="embed" xlink:type="simple"/></p><p><date>2026 by Virginia Commonwealth University. CC-BY-NC 4.0</date></p><address><addressline>Special Collections and Archives 901 Park Avenue</addressline><addressline>Richmond, Virginia 23284</addressline><addressline>Business Number: (804) 828-1108</addressline><addressline>libsca@vcu.edu</addressline><addressline>URL: <extptr xlink:href="https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/locations/#cabell" xlink:show="new" xlink:title="https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/locations/#cabell" xlink:type="simple"/></addressline></address></publicationstmt></filedesc><profiledesc><creation>This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on <date>2026-05-29 03:00:31 -0400</date>.</creation><langusage>Description is written in: <language langcode="eng" scriptcode="Latn">English, Latin script</language>.</langusage><descrules>Describing Archives: A Content Standard</descrules></profiledesc></eadheader><archdesc level="collection">
  <did>
    <repository>
      <corpname>VCU James Branch Cabell Library</corpname>
    </repository>
    <unittitle>Naomi Benoit lesbian publications collection</unittitle>
    <origination label="Creator">
      <persname role="dnr" rules="dacs">Benoit, Naomi</persname>
    </origination>
    <unitid>M 341</unitid>
    <unitid type="aspace_uri">/repositories/5/resources/672</unitid>
    <physdesc altrender="whole">
      <extent altrender="materialtype spaceoccupied">1.08 Linear Feet</extent>
      <extent altrender="carrier">1 records storage box</extent>
    </physdesc>
    <unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1981/2002" type="inclusive">1981-2002</unitdate>
    <physdesc id="aspace_de1dd1c6e4dd54bc563c84e39ad9806b" label="Condition Description">A couple issues of the Lesbian Connection newsletters had the back cover page torn, potentially indicating they donated to the newsletter. For the Richmond Lesbian Feminists Flyer, there is a folder titled, " Richmond Lesbian-Feminists Flyer - miscellaneous pages, brochure". It contains torn out covers of issues or a torn out pages.</physdesc>
    <langmaterial>
      <language langcode="eng">English</language>
    </langmaterial>
    <container id="aspace_47e42eae3267530dc1e3a9b079510bd0" label="Mixed Materials [A11423388323]" type="box">1</container>
  </did>
  <accessrestrict id="aspace_a6fc09d9a09e758e45652cdb4cb42257">
    <head>Access restrictions</head>
<p>The collection is open to research.</p>  </accessrestrict>
  <acqinfo id="aspace_6bc34f26aa1d79cbbaa5b27a250cedd3">
    <head>Acquisition Information</head>
<p>Gift of Naomi Benoit, August 2005.</p>  </acqinfo>
  <arrangement id="aspace_8ca4de4d69127da28c4f6872407351d5">
    <head>Arrangement</head>
<p>Folders are arranged alphabetically and, for publications, chronologically.</p>  </arrangement>
  <bioghist id="aspace_697eed92004cfa735baea0a4dc7491b6">
    <head>Biographical  Information - Naomi S. Benoit</head>
<p>Naomi S. Benoit was active in the lesbian community in Richmond from what seems to be around the early 1980s until the 2000s and 2010s. Based on correspondence, Naomi attended meetings for the Richmond Lesbian Feminist (RLF) organization. Benoit worked for VCU Health in information technology for over 20 years, and she was a musician who played with a Richmond Indonesian ensemble, Gamelan Raga Kusuma. On August 26, 2017, Naomi passed away and was survived by her wife, Tabor McGregor, and her two step sons.[1]
--
[1] Rockett, Ali, "Slain pedestrian 'knew how to do community' - Woman who died from injuries after
getting hit by car on Broad Street remembered for her musical talents, friendship", Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 29, 2017</p>  </bioghist>
  <prefercite id="aspace_acd72f6e30b2a657d3be0aad36591364">
    <head>Preferred Citation</head>
<p>Naomi Benoit lesbian publications collection, 1981-2002, Collection # M 341, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.</p>  </prefercite>
  <scopecontent id="aspace_c5a6df0afeb9c98edf4b953968036e19">
    <head>Scope and Contents</head>
<p>The Naomi Benoit lesbian publications collection predominately consists of two lesbian publications, Lesbian Connection and the Richmond Lesbian-Feminist Flyer, previously named the Lesbian Feminist Flyer. Issues from Lesbian Connection span 1990-2002 and issues of Richmond Lesbian-Feminists Flyer span 1981-1998. The Richmond Lesbian-Feminists Flyer was ran and distributed by the Richmond Lesbian Feminists organization, co-founded by Beth Marschak, Stephanie Myers, and Mary Dean Carter.[1] Additionally, the collection contains a couple of instances of correspondence with lesbian organizations and with congress people about gay and lesbian rights, as well as a budget and policies from Richmond Lesbian Feminist (RLF) organization from the early 1990s. Ephemera in the collection includes a WomensBooks newsletter, a news clipping of a picture from the Lesbian and Gay pride parade on Broad Street in September 1993, and a directory of lesbian-friendly Richmond businesses collocated and distributed by RLF.
--
[1] Cindy Bray, "Richmond Lesbian Feminists and the Women's Movement." OutHistory, 2013. https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/rainbow-richmond/the-beginnings-of-pride/lesbian-feminists; Rose Norman, "Mary Dean Carter: Cofounder of Richmond Lesbian Feminists." Southern Lesbian Feminist Activist Herstory Project, 2022. https://slfaherstoryproject.org/mary-dean-carter-cofounder-of-richmond-lesbian-feminists/</p>  </scopecontent>
  <userestrict id="aspace_58fa1a9a14b205775c2869e288365804">
    <head>Use Restrictions</head>
<p>There are no restrictions.</p>  </userestrict>
  <controlaccess>
    <subject source="lcsh">Lesbians -- Virginia -- Richmond</subject>
    <subject authfilenumber="sh85047761" source="lcsh">Feminists</subject>
    <subject source="lcsh">LGBT activism -- Virginia -- Richmond</subject>
    <subject authfilenumber="homoit0000915" source="local">LGBTQ+ people</subject>
  </controlaccess>
  <dsc/>
</archdesc>
</ead>