Collection

Barshay, Jessica Papers

Span Dates: 1957-1998
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 4 linear feet

Description

Jessica Barshay (1940-1998) was a psychotherapist who lived with multiple disabilities, including asthma, Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). Barshay was a lesbian feminist and identified strongly with both Jewish and Buddhist faiths. The collection includes correspondence, journals, subject files, newsletters, medical records, and professional papers.

Hist/Bio Note

Jessica Barshay was a psychotherapist who lived with multiple disabilities, including asthma, Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). Barshay, a Jewish lesbian feminist, received her Master’s in Social Work from UC Berkeley and practiced in the Bay Area until moving to Arizona with her partner, Judith Masur, in an attempt to find a less polluted climate and improve her quality of life. Barshay died by suicide in 1998.

Finding Aid

An online finding aid is available.
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c81z4bdh/

Location

GLBT Historical Society 989 Market Street, Lower Level San Francisco, California 94103
https://www.glbthistory.org/

Tags

Buddhist | California | People with Disabilities | San Francisco | Jewish (ethnic, Reform, Reconstructionist, Orthodox)