Michele Kort Library

FULL FINDING AID AND LIST OF MATERIALS

Read the finding aid for the Michele Kort Collection processed between 2020-2024.

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BIOGRAPHY

Michele Kort (b. January 30, 1950-June 26, 2015) was an author, award-winning journalist, and feminist community leader. Her work focused on sports, music, culture, art and feminist issues. She was the senior editor of Ms. magazine for 13 years.

“Michele Kort was raised in California's San Fernando Valley. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received both a Bachelor's in Art History in 1971 and a Master of Business in Arts Management in 1975. 

While completing her MBA, Kort became involved with the Women's Building, an early feminist art space in Los Angeles, where she would later serve as director. Kort remained passionate about feminist art, as well as other forms of women's cultural production, a passion which often found its way into her work as a journalist. Of particular interest to Kort was women's sports, and she herself played basketball at UCLA in the 1960's and 1970's, before the advent of Title IX. 

Kort's award-winning career in journalism began with the Grantsmanship Center News and spanned many decades. As the senior editor of Ms. Magazine from 2003 to 2015, she played a major role in developing online content for the publication and mentored many young women writers. Other publications Kort worked on include Songwriter, Living Fit, and UCLA Magazine. As a freelance journalist, her articles have been featured in the LA Times Magazine, The Advocate, Ms., L.A. Weekly, Women's Sports and Fitness, and Vegetarian Times. Kort was the author of four published books: Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro (2012); The End of Innocence: A Memoir, with Chaz Bono (2002); Dinah! Three Decades of Sex, Golf and Rock and Roll (2005); and Here Come the Brides!: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage, with Audrey Bilger (2012).” Michele Kort shared her life with her partner of 25 years, Miriam Cutler.