Zines: A Culture in Focus

A zine, short for magazine, is a self-published, small-circulation work of original and appropriated text and images usually distributed amongst friends or sold locally. Zines provide a community for socially isolated and marginalized groups through the ability to share common ideas. Therefore, zines become a tangible trace of these often less documented marginal communities. The History Center received two donations of zine collections sharing these unique perspectives on life in our community with visitors. The exhibit features zines created by Monroe County residents and are, at times, deeply personal reflections on life in our community.