Swarthmore College McCabe Library
September 3 — November 3, 2024
Curated by Rex Hughes
Co-Curated by Susan Dreher & Amy McColl
Exhibition support by Opeyemi Ogundele, Ashley Netanel, & Annette Newman
Gallery Walk: November 1st, 3:30 pm
Action, romance, mystery, horror—the pulps of the early 20th century had it all! Named for the pulpwood paper used in the printing process, these short story magazines are perhaps best remembered for their vibrant covers and melodramatic tales.
And yet this cheap, fragile paper was strong enough to carry the weight of outlandish heroics, gritty investigations, daring space travel, and forbidden love—tales that were shocking for their time, and many of which were told by women.
Women of the Pulps is a celebration of groundbreaking creators and characters; women writers, editors, and artists who shaped the foundation of genre fiction as we know it. Rare magazines and paperbacks will highlight the work of C. L. Moore, Margaret Brundage, Daisy Bacon, Gertrude Schalk, Margaret St. Clair, Ann Bannon, Leigh Brackett, and other legendary creators. This fall, we invite you to explore how their work impacted the world and paved the way for future storytelling, but beware—for thrilling adventure may find you along the way!
You can find more information about the pulps by visiting the Genres & Creators and Suggested Resources sections of this guide.
Image Credit: Thrilling Wonder Stories, Winter 1955, featuring a story by Margaret St. Clair and essay by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Standard Magazines, Inc)
Please be aware that the materials in this exhibit and related resources online may contain content reflective of historical attitudes, stereotypes, and prejudices.
While this exhibit has been carefully curated with respect for our visitors, the pulp fiction magazines and paperbacks of this era often contained racist and sexist content within their narratives, essays, and illustrations.
We have presented this material along with historical notes to offer insight into the past and acknowledge the need for sensitivity and positive representation of marginalized groups.
