A new acquisition at University of Houston Libraries Special Collections features correspondence, fliers, posters, photographs, ephemera, magazines, news clippings, cassettes, vinyl records, and master tapes documenting the experimental post-punk band Mydolls. The archive of the women-led, Houston-based group reveals its 40-year advocacy of equality, female empowerment, and minority representation in the arts.

The official gift signing for the Mydolls archive at a Museum of Fine Arts, Houston screening of “Paris, Texas” (1984), a film in which Mydolls appeared. From left: Linda Younger, George Reyes, curator Mary Manning, Trish Herrera, Dianna Ray. Photo credit: F. Carter Smith.

Mydolls consists of Linda Younger on guitar and vocals, Dianna Ray on bass and vocals, Trish Herrera on guitar and vocals, and George Reyes on drums and vocals. The band was inspired to preserve and share their colorful story through the collection.

“We wanted to donate the band’s archive, a DIY chronicle of our herstory, so that everyone who is interested could be exposed to Houston’s underground art and music scenes,” said Mydolls via Nancy Agin Dunnahoe, the band’s publicist. “We’ve lived out the punk rock ethos of being ourselves as original artists and staying true to our beliefs even if it meant that we would never be signed to a major label. We’re proud of the many artistic and multidisciplinary collaborations we’ve been a part of with national, international, and local artists and want to share those stories on a local level by making our records accessible to the public.”

Learn more about Mydolls | Local Houston Magazine

The collection is currently being processed at UH Special Collections. For questions about materials in this collection or to request access, contact Mary Manning.