Mandy Carter is a self-described "southern out black lesbian social justice activist." Since 1968 she has been involved in peace, social, racial and LGBT organizing at the local, state, regional, and national levels. She has been based in Durham, N.C., since 1982. The Mandy Carter Papers span the dates 1970 to 2013 and include files related to her work as a grassroots organizer and multi-issue social justice activist.
The Mandy Carter Papers span the dates 1970 to 2013 and include files related to her work as a grassroots organizer and multi-issue social justice activist, with particular emphasis on peace activism, women's music and culture, and African American and LGBT issues.
The collection is arranged into the following series: Organizations and Major Projects, Gigs and Events, Administrative Files, and Subject Files. The Organizations and Projects Series (130 boxes) includes files from organizations and projects with which Carter was closely involved. The series is divided into subseries according to organization or project: Bread & Roses, War Resisters League, Ladyslipper, Inc., National Lesbian Conference, Association of Women's Music and Culture Conference, North Carolina Senate Vote '90, Real Women Productions, Rhythm Fest, Human Rights Campaign, North Carolina Mobilization '96, Democratic National Committee, National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum (including Equal Partners in Faith), Ad Hoc Committee for an Open Process, Floridians Representing Equity and Equality, Florida Vote/Equal Voice, Freedom to Marry Project, Southerners on New Ground, Old Lesbians Organizing for Change Conference, National Black Justice Coalition, and Other Organizations and Projects. The Gigs and Events Series (107 boxes) includes a day-by-day account of Carter's work as a multi-issue activist through files documenting her speaking engagements and attendance at conferences, rallies, marches, retreats, meetings, and other types of gatherings. The bulk of the Administrative Files Series (23 boxes) includes communications and mixed materials from affinity groups, and the Subject Files Series (4 boxes) includes a small set of files related to issues relevant to Carter's activism.
There is significant overlap across series, with Carter often filing materials related to different organizations or projects together, especially those she was involved with around the same time.
Collection was acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.