Love Letter Rescue Squad

It's said that the winners write history; sometimes, in fact, it's just the survivors. When lesbian activism first emerged in its modern form at the end of the 19th Century, it was a movement that might as well have been devoid of history, a movement in which there were no role models, no examples of successful strategies, no documentation of shared feelings except what had occasionally been captured as a curiosity by men. The past history of lesbian experience had yet to be collected and those working to advance the movement, as they grew more unified, gradually realised that they were living through a crucial period in their history and failing to document it, leaving future generations to face the same uncertainty.

The Lesbian Herstory Archives were set up in 1974 by Deborah Edel and Joan Nestle, with the help of an assortment of friends and supporters who began gathering material. In this documentary Deb, now in her seventies, reviews the history of the archives and what they meant to the community, speaking at one point about its extensive collection of love letters which were often rescued just after break-ups from women who said they would otherwise destroy them.

Deb's love for the archives themselves comes across plainly in a film that makes efficient use of their materials to illustrate something of the political and cultural journey that has taken place over the intervening years. Although new people are doing much of the work today, carrying the records forward, she seems as passionate about it as she ever was, her infectious enthusiasm visible in every gesture. She stresses that she sees this work as being just as valuable as front line campaigning.

An eye-opener for those who think activism is all about shouting, Megan Rossman's quiet, potent little film is itself a valuable piece of history.