Nancy C. M. Hartsock (b. 1943) was a highly published feminist thinker, political theorist, and professor. After graduating with her A.B. from Wellesley College in 1965, Hartsock went on to the University of Chicago, receiving her M.A. in 1967 and her Ph.D. in 1972. As a scholar, Hartsock’s academic specialties include political theory, feminist theory, political economy, and comparative politics.
Hartsock published many books, chapters, journal articles, and reviews over her career as well as serving on various editorial boards. Two of her books are Money, Sex, and Power: Toward a Feminist Historical Materialism (1983, 1984) and The Feminist Standpoint Revisited and Other Essays (1998).
In developing her own scholarly work, Hartsock looked to well-known thinkers to answer questions about the role of women in politics and found direction with Karl Marx, specifically. She thoroughly studied his theories and wrote on Marxism with a feminist focus. Over time, Hartsock’s focus shifted to postmodernism.
She taught political science at a number of institutions, including the University of Michigan, The Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University. As a professor at the University of Washington, starting in 1984, Hartsock taught political science and women’s studies courses. She was also the founding director of the Center for Women and Democracy at the University.
Hartsock was an active member in many professional associations, including American Political Science Association, Western Political Science Association, Conference for the Study of Political Thought, and Society for Values in Higher Education. She passed away from breast cancer in 2015.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Nancy C. M. Hartsock papers, Ms.2010.006, Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library.
The Nancy C. M. Hartsock papers are comprised of course material, publications by Hartsock and others, reading notes, conference materials, and correspondence dated between 1960 and 2009.
Series 1, Course Materials, contains course materials used by Hartsock to teach political science and women’s studies courses. This primarily takes the form of syllabi, course lecture notes, comprehensive exams, reading lists, pamphlets, and evaluations. Some material was taken from a binder for preservation. One folder contains Audio/Visual material (2 cassettes and 1VHS) related to a skit exercise. The materials range from 1970-2009.
Series 2, Writings by Others, contains some publications written by other authors (mostly related to Feminist Epistemologies readings), but primarily notes on political theorists (e.g., Marx, Lenin, Hobbes, Wollstonecraft, etc.). Dates range from 1970-2009.
Series 3, Correspondence, contains correspondence to and from Hartsock. These materials are often related to job invitations, applications, reviews of her writings, fan letters, personal correspondence, materials for the Center for Women and Democracy, the WPSA, and research help. Letter date from 1974-2009.
Series 4, Conferences and Speeches, contains programs, fliers, itineraries, and drafts of speeches delivered by Hartsock at conferences around the world. Dates range from 1974-2009.
Series 5, Writings, contains Hartsock’s writings, both published and unpublished, along with many drafts. She was a contributing author for many journals. There is also some duplication of materials. Miscellaneous materials are stored in folders at the end of the final series. These consist of a curriculum vita (current as of winter 2009), photographs of her bookshelves to show her personal library collection, a CD of .dss files, and a DVD of an interview with Hartsock. Materials range from 1960-2009.
Series 6, Photographs, contains scrapbook pages and related correspondence related to a Quest meeting in the late 1970s. It also contains a photo of her and her horse. Dates range from 1977-1981.
The collection is arranged into the following six series:
Gift of Nancy Hartsock in 2010.
Courses Taught, Comprehensive exams, Gay and lesbian reading list, Pamphlets, Evaluations, Course material for Poli Sci 101-319.
Poli Sci 354-490
Poli Sci 490-701
Poli Sci 702-Womens Studies 501
Akhter Notes-Gramsci Notes. Feminist Epistemologies readings included.
Habermas Notes-Plato Notes
Reflexionsur le Feminisme-Wright Notes
General correspondence, reviews of some of her books and articles, etc.
APSA, WPSA, Center for Women and Democracy, job invitations, etc.
Norway Project, Hypatia, APSA, USTAWI research, etc.
Oberlin course, Vienna course, trafficing conferences, etc.
Bound 1972 Thesis, Quest , etc.
Money, Sex, and Power Draft, Building Feminist Theory, Quest, etc.
Money, Sex, and Power, APSA meeting review, Women's View of the Political World of Men, etc.
Epistemology and Politics Drafts, Cultural Critique, etc.
Cultural Critique, Feminism/Polstmodernism, etc.
Revisioning the Political, Rethinking Marxism, Signs, etc.
Feminist Social Thought, Domination/Globalization Draft, Women and Politics, etc.
Discovering Reality, Feminist Theory Reader, Hypatia, book proposal, etc. 3 Misc. folders at end contain 2009 CV, bookshelf photos, a CD with .dss files, and a DVD of an interview with Hartsock.
Quest scrapbook and Hartsock with horse