Archives Collections

The Wilcox Archives documents LGBT history, generally, and the LGBT history of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, specifically. Additionally, the collections illuminate the area's homophile and early LGBT rights movements. The Archives contains named collections donated by local individuals and organizations; periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers and newsletters) from the 1940s to the present; ephemera and newspaper clippings; textiles and artifacts (from political buttons and matchbooks to t-shirts and leather chaps); rare books and pulp fiction novels; posters, calendars, art works, and travel guides; and audio-visual material, comprised of a wide variety of media types.

 

Browse the Collections

Ms. Coll. 1
William Damon papers, 1965-1984
William Damon was an active member of the gay communities of Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, NY; Key West, Fla., and Provincetown, Mass. Throughout his life he was active in the gay rights movement. He worked as an editor and writer for multiple publications. The William Damon papers, 1965-1984, contain items relating to Damon's personal life and are chiefly biographical.

Ms. Coll. 2
Tea Time records, 1991-1993
Tea Time was a Philadelphia-based social and support organization for Asian and Pacific Islander gay and bisexual men, operational between 1991-1993. It was dedicated to creating an anti-racist and anti-homophobic space for developing positive identity and creating awareness around issues relevant to gay, Asian and Pacific Islanders in a shared, nurturing community. The Tea Time records include the organizational records and associated ephemera of Tea Time, Organization for Asian Gay and Bisexual Men.

Ms. Coll. 3
Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1964-2001 [bulk 1964-1975]
Barbara Gittings (1932-2007) was an active member of the LGBT rights movement from the 1960s until her death. She worked as editor of The Ladder: A Lesbian Review. In the early 1970s, she was instrumental in lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to declassify homosexuality as a disease. Kay Tobin Lahusen (b. 1930) is a photojournalist, editor, author of The Gay Crusaders , and an active member of the LGBT rights movement. The Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1964-2001, includes printed materials relating to LGBT issues and organizations, and audio/visual materials document attitudes and strategies prevalent in the Homophile Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ms. Coll. 4
Harry R. Eberlin photographs, circa 1972-1980
Harry R. Eberlin was a prolific photographer who began documenting Philadelphia's lesbian and gay community in the early 1970s. Eberlin contributed photographs to several Philadelphia gay publications, including The Gay Alternative and the Philadelphia Gay News. In the mid 1970s, he was active in such organizations as the Gay Media Project. The Harry R. Eberlin photographs include approximately 100 images of lesbian and gay public events in Philadelphia circa 1972 - circa 1980. These images focus largely on events sponsored by the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia and on public pickets, parades and parties. Most of the images are contact-print sheets made from 35mm black and white negatives, although there are some enlargements.

Ms. Coll. 5
Walter J. Lear papers, 1975-1996
Walter J. Lear (1923-2010) was active in civil rights, LGBT rights, and healthcare reform. Lear was a medical doctor who served as Pennsylvania's Southeast Regional Commissioner for Health Services. The Walter J. Lear papers, 1975-1996, consist primarily of printed materials relating to LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS education. There are also a small amount of materials relating to Lear's membership in various LGBT and healthcare reform organizations.

Ms. Coll. 6
Congregation Beth Ahavah records, 1974-1987
Beth Ahavah was founded in 1975 as an LGBT synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beth Ahavah is an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism and still active as of 2012. The Beth Ahavah records, 1974-1987, consist of administrative records (correspondence), membership records, financial records, and event/program records.

Ms. Coll. 7
Commission on Human Relations, Brown and DeLoggio v. Temple University Law School collection, circa 1982-1984
In 1982, two Temple University Law School students, Richard Brown and Loretta DeLoggio, accused the university of violating the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance. The Commission on Human Relations, Brown and DeLoggio v. Temple University Law School, circa 1982-1984, contains memoranda and briefs from the case.

Ms. Coll. 8
Gaydreams audio recordings, 1989-1995
Gaydreams was among the first gay radio programs in the United States when it debuted in 1974 on the University of Pennsylvania's public radio station WXPN out of Philadelphia. The Gaydreams audio recordings, 1989-1995, consist of dozens of tapes of the radio show in several formats.

Ms. Coll. 9
Jeffrey Escoffier records of The Gay Alternative, 1972-1976
The Gay Alternative was a literary forum for gay expression created by a collective of individuals during the early years of gay liberation. This magazine began as a newsletter of the Gay Activists Alliance of Philadelphia. The Jeffrey Escoffier records of The Gay Alternative, 1972-1976, include original manuscripts of essay submissions, administrative, correspondence, and financial records of the organization, and a small amount of Escoffier's personal papers.

Ms. Coll. 10
Labyrinth records, 1983-1995
Labyrinth was a feminist newspaper published from 1984 to 2000. The Labyrinth records, 1983-1995, are comprised of administrative records, financial records, and correspondence.

Ms. Coll. 11
Grassroots Queers records, 1993-1997
Grassroot Queers was a Philadelphia-based queer activist organization that operated from 1993 through 1999 to fight for equal rights and increased visibility for the LGBTQ community. The Grassroot Queers records, 1993-1997, includes organizational records and ephemera pertaining to their diverse activist efforts and community events.

Ms. Coll. 12
Jo Hofman photographs, circa 1970s
This collection consists of copies of approximately 70 photographs of feminist or gay/lesbian public events in Philadelphia during the 1970s. The original images were 35mm photographic negatives. The copies exist in digital form on a CD, and inkjet prints were made of some of the images.

Ms. Coll. 13
James T. Caulfield and Rafael A. Suarez papers, 1918-1985 [bulk 1944-1985]
Dr. Rafael A. Suarez and James T. Caulfield, known as "The Philamigos," traveled throughout South America in the 1950s-1980s, operated a learning center in Philadelphia, and were prominent members of the Philadelphia LGBT community. The James T. Caulfield and Rafael A. Suarez papers, 1918-1985, extensively document their works, including the Philamigos Institute of Learning, their travels abroad, and Caulfield's experience as a gay soldier during World War II. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, over a dozen 16-mm films, and stamps/correspondence regarding philately.

Ms. Coll. 14
Oscar Garcia-Vera papers, 1971-1992 [bulk 1992-1992]
Oscar E. Garcia-Vera was a gay rights activist who enjoyed singing and theater work and was also very involved with the Hispanic community in Philadelphia. An appointee of the Mayor's Commission for Sexual Minorities, he played a major role in organizing the first national conference dealing with AIDS and mental-health issues, held in Philadelphia in 1992. The Oscar Garcia-Vera papers, 1971-1992, consist of conference pamphlets and materials, four photograph albums, and scattered additional correspondence, ephemera, and other miscellaneous items. The collection reflects Garcia-Vera's work as a gay rights activist and interest in singing and theater.

Ms. Coll. 15
Walt Whitman Democratic Club records, 1976-1982
Formed in 1976 as the Gay Democratic Caucus, the Walt Whitman Democratic Club was a political organization of gay Democrats based in Philadelphia, PA. Founded and led by president Jeff Britton, the Club was active from 1976 to 1982, and according to Britton, was inspired by similar groups active in Washington, DC and on the West Coast. Its mission was "to research issues, to question candidates on legislation affecting the civil rights of gay people and to endorse local, state and federal candidates who support efforts to end discrimination against gay people." It met regularly at the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia (GCCP) as well as in the homes of Britton and other Club members. Membership dues were $5 per year. The collection is divided into three series: I. Business records; II. Subject files; and III. Printed materials.

Ms. Coll. 16
Bill Way collection, 1942-2004 [bulk 1968-1987]
William Way (1942-1988) worked as the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and as an advocate for the Philadelphia LGBT community. The Bill Way collection, 1942-2004, is comprised of scrapbooks compiled by Way documenting his life, the LGBT community in Philadelphia, and City of Philadelphia redevelopment in the 1970s and 1980s. There are also materials relating to Way donated by various individuals, notably an oral history interview with Maury Lieberman.

Ms. Coll. 17
Giovanni's Room records, circa 1975-1991
Giovanni's Room, the oldest LGBT bookstore in the United States, was founded in Philadelphia in 1973 and is still in operation as of 2012. The bulk of the Giovanni's Room records, circa 1975-1991, are financial in nature.

Ms. Coll. 18
Kiyoshi Kuromiya subject files on HIV/AIDS, 1990-2000
Kiyoshi Kuromiya (1943-2000) was a Philadelphia-based activist who worked to better the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. He created the Critical Path AIDS Project to provide free internet access and information on HIV/AIDS treatment. The bulk of the Kiyoshi Kuromiya papers on HIV/AIDS research and organizations, 1990-2002, is comprised of newspaper clippings, scientific articles, conference materials, and flyers collected by Kuromiya on HIV/AIDS treatments, topics, and organizations. There are also some records from Kuromiya's Critical Path AIDS Project, Kuromiya personal papers, and records from Anna Forbes from the Working Group on HealthChoices and HIV.

Ms. Coll. 19
Steven Capsuto book research files for Alternate Channels, circa 1998-2001
Steven Capsuto is the author of Alternate Channels: The Uncensored Story of Gay and Lesbian Images on Radio and Television, 1930s to the Present (New York: Ballantine, 2000). The Steven Capsuto book research files for Alternate Channels, circa 1998-2001, are comprised of research materials, outlines, notes, and drafts of his book.

Ms. Coll. 20
Claude A. Boyd papers, 1966-1985 [bulk 1980-1982]
Claude A. Boyd (d. circa 1985) was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based performance artist and musician. The Claude A. Boyd papers, 1966-1985, include drafts of music and lyrics as well as other performance related materials. There are also writings by Boyd's partner Jeff Davidson, including fiction and personal stories.

Ms. Coll. 21
William Way LGBT Community Center records, 1972-present
Since the 1970s the William Way Community Center and its predecessors, the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia and Penguin Place, have provided encouragement, support, and advocacy for the well-being and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities through service, recreational, educational, and cultural programming. The William Way LGBT Community Center records, 1972-present, are comprised of the institutional records of the center, including administrative and financial records, and some photographs, ephemera, and newsletters.

Ms. Coll. 22
American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Philadelphia Branch book production files for Lesbians and Gay Men: The Law in Pennsylvania, 1973-1981 [bulk 1980-1981]
The American Civil Liberties Union is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and protecting individual rights and freedoms. The American Civil Liberties Union Greater Philadelphia Branch book production files for Lesbians and Gay Men: The Law in Pennsylvania, 1973-1981, are comprised of chapter drafts, correspondence, and financial records relating to the publication of the handbook.

Ms. Coll. 23
Au Courant photographs, 1990-1997
Au Courant was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, based LGBT news publication which began production in 1982 and ceased production in 2000. The Au Courant photographs, 1990-1997, consist of photographs taken for use in the publication.

Ms. Coll. 24
Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee, Pride of '99 records, 1994-1999
The Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee (POPEC) is a political group founded in 1987 to identify and support LGBT friendly candidates for public office. POPEC's "Pride of '99" coalition endorsed Republican candidate Sam Katz for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1999. This collection contains the administrative files of the Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee's "Pride of '99" coalition.

Ms. Coll. 25
Tommi Avicolli Mecca collection, 1967-1992
Tommi Avicolli Mecca (b. 1951) is a writer, singer/songwriter, performance artist, and activist. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Avicolli Mecca was involved in many Philadelphia-area Gay rights organizations. The collection is comprised of six series: 1) Subject files; 2) Gay Activists Alliance (Philadelphia) records; 3) Gay Media Project
(Philadelphia) records; 4) Gay Community Center of Philadelphia records; 5) Photographic slides; 6) Audiovisual material.

Ms. Coll. 26
Joan Fleischmann collection on East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO), Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO), and others, 1963-1994 [bulk: 1963-1969]
Joan Fleischmann was a homophile and gay liberation activist from late 1950s through the 1990s. The collection contains primarily organizational records collected over several decades by Fleischmann. These organizations include the East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO), the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO), the Daughter of Bilitis (New York), the Mattachine Society of New York, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Lesbian and Gay Caucus, as well as Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) (Mountville and Reading, Pennsylvania) and Dignity (Philadelphia).

Ms. Coll. 27
ACT UP Philadelphia records, 1995-2000
The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) is an activist group working to end the HIV/AIDS crisis through direct action. The ACT UP Philadelphia records, 1995-2000, consist of correspondence, meeting notes, and ephemera.

Ms. Coll. 28
Jack Van Alstyne collection, 1950s-1980s
Jack Van Alstyne, born ca. 1938, known to his gay friends as "Cheezit," was the son of Howard C. Van Alstyne and Marion G. Fox Van Alstyne. He lived in Camden, NJ for much of his life. His collection includes a scrapbook of Philadelphia and New Jersey gay life of the 1960s through 1980s; grouping of ca. 75 photographs of Philadelphia and New Jersey drag queens and gay men, owned by John Brown, known as Marilyn; photographs taken by Alstyne of gay men in Rittenhouse Square, summer of 1953; and a montage of "The Follies of 1967: A Reunion," drawn by Ron Gillam.

Ms. Coll. 29
Keith Kamm papers, circa 1970s
Keith A. Kamm (1947-1993) was a bibliographer at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and a gay rights activist. The Keith Kamm papers, circa 1970s, consist of materials relating to LGBT issues in libraries, the mental health community, and issues relating to feminism and sexism. This is a convenient collection for studying books relating to LGBT issues in the 1970s.

Ms. Coll. 30
Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Alliance at Rutgers University records, 1977-1995
In 1969 the Rutgers Homophile League, the first openly homosexual organization in New Jersey and the second on a college campus nationwide, was founded by student Lionel Cuffie. In 2012, there were at least ten LGBT student groups at Rutgers. The Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Alliance at Rutgers University subject files, 1977-1995, is comprised of subject files on various LGBT issues, including LGBT youth, psychology, hate crimes, and organizations, compiled by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Alliance at Rutgers University.

Ms. Coll. 31
Fight the Right Network subject binders, circa 1994
The Fight the Right Network was formed in Philadelphia in 1994 to build campaigns against the agenda of right-wing political groups. The Fight the Right Network subject binders, circa 1994, are comprised of materials relating to leftist and right wing groups, and reports on social/political issues.

Ms. Coll. 32
Judy Lashof papers, circa 1975-1980
The Judy Lashof papers, circa 1975-1980, consist of clippings and ephemera relating to feminist and LGBT groups in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

Ms. Coll. 33
Girlfriends Motorcycle Club scrapbooks, 1984-1987
The Girlfriends Motorcycle Club was a philanthropic group founded in Philadelphia in 1983 which held charity events to raise funds for HIV/AIDS-related organizations. The Girlfriends Motorcycle Club scrapbooks, 1984-1987, is comprised of four scrapbooks, 1984-1987, containing photographs from various events of the Girlfriends Motorcycle Club, flyers advertising the events, correspondence, clippings, and articles.

Ms. Coll. 34
William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-present
The William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-2012, consists of clippings related to LGBT issues collected by volunteers of the William Way Community Center.

Ms. Coll. 35
William Way LGBT Community Center ephemera files, 1972-present
The William Way LGBT Community Center ephemera files, 1972-2012, consists of flyers, newsletters, advertisements, posters, and other ephemera from LGBT organizations, events, businesses, community groups, etc.

Ms. Coll. 36
William Way LGBT Community Center subject files on media and entertainment, circa 1970-1997
The William Way LGBT Community Center subject files on media and entertainment, circa 1970-1997, include book catalogs, playbills, photographs, clippings, advertisements, and related materials.

Ms. Coll. 37
William Way LGBT Community Center periodicals collection, 1940-present
The periodicals collection includes LGBT-related newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, reviews, comics and other serially-published texts. The collection strives to be comprehensive in coverage of the Philadelphia-area, but includes publications from across the United States and abroad. Subjects covered include activism, athletics, culture, entertainment, gender, health, history, law, literature, news, recreation, religion, politics, pornography, race, sexuality, social services, student life, and more.

Ms. Coll. 38
William Meneely papers, 1970-2012
William Ernest Meneely (1952-1996) was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, the son of Arthur William Meneely and Grace Elouise Cook. He worked for 16 years at Georgia State University Library, where he was Head of Collection Development, retiring in 1992. Among the materials included in the collection are personal writings, photographs, and a collection of his artwork in the form of collages with mostly gay male subject matter created using cut-out images from magazines.

Ms. Coll. 39
Tom Wilson Weinberg papers, 1974-2013
Tom Wilson Weinberg (b. 1945) is a singer-songwriter and gay rights activist. He was a co-founder of the gay and lesbian bookstore Giovanni's Room and the Gay Coffee House, and a board member of the Eromin Center and the Attic Youth Center. He founded the newspaper the Philadelphia Weekly Gayzette. His first two albums are titled Gay Name Game (1979) and All-American Boy (1983). His stage productions include Ten Percent Revue, Get Used to It!, and others. The papers are divided into four series: I. Personal materials; II. Organizations; III. Musical recordings and productions; and IV. Oversized material.

Ms. Coll. 40
Keith Griffith papers, 1983-2012
Darrell Keith Griffith (1959-2012) was an AIDS activist and founder of the website CruisingForSex.com. The collection is divided into two series: Personal materials and AIDS activism. The personal materials date from 1983 to 2012, the year of Griffith's death. The series on AIDS activism covers Griffith's years of involvement in the social justice movement, 1985-1992.

Ms. Coll. 41
Gays at Drexel records, 1975-1976
Officially formed in the spring of 1975, Gays at Drexel was the first gay student group at Drexel University. This small collection is made up correspondence, organizational records, essays, flyers for speakers and events, clippings from the Drexel Triangle and other local newspapers, and a small assortment of brochures, flyers, and records from other groups. Gays at Drexel became inactive in 1977.

Ms. Coll. 42
Donna Mae Stemmer photographs and ephemera, 1981-2010
Donna Mae Stemmer was a lawyer, Korean War veteran, fashion icon, and trans activist from Pennsauken, New Jersey. The collection includes thousands of 3 1/2 x 5 in. and 4 x 6 in. color photographs of Stemmer dressed in nearly as many outfits, as well as personal documents, LGBT material, ephemera, and two articles of clothing from Stemmer's wardrobe.

Ms. Coll. 43
Small photograph collections, 1959-2006, undated
Collections of photographic prints, slides, and negatives, which take up fewer than one box each and are not accompanied by other types of records. Housed by size.

Ms. Coll. 44
Coalition on Lesbian-Gay Bar Policies records, 1984-1988
The Coalition on Lesbian-Gay Bar Policies was a grassroots organization made up of representatives from several of Philadelphia lesbian and gay organizations. Active from 1984-1986, their goal was "to examine the practices and policies of bars serving Philadelphia's gay/lesbian community as they relate to the treatment and employment of women and racial minorities, and to analyze the results of this examination in order to decide on appropriate actions to address problem areas." The records include correspondence to and from the Coalition, typed meeting minutes, press releases, bar study questionnaires and results, bar observation forms and tabulated data, as well as a final report of findings from the Coalition.

Ms. Coll. 45
William Way LGBT Community Center rolled architectural drawings and design plans, 1950-2015
The William Way LGBT Community Center rolled architectural drawings and design plans collection includes architectural plans for three of the buildings that have housed the William Way LGBT Community Center and its predecessor organizations, 1976-present. Plans include those concurrent to the Center's occupation of the sites as well as earlier historical ones. Also included in the collection are exhibition designs and plans.

Ms. Coll. 46
Riders Against Gender Exclusion (RAGE) records, 2007-2013
RAGE (Riders Against Gender Exclusion) was founded in 2009 by a small group of Philadelphia-area LGBTQ activists in order to bring attention to and ultimately change the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) policy of using binary gender stickers on their transportation passes. The records of RAGE span the life of the organization from 2009 to 2012, plus some materials dating before and after this time period. Included are internal organizational records as well as promotional materials and coverage by the press.

Ms. Coll. 47
Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Philadelphia records, mid 1970s-1998
The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Philadelphia operated at a series of locations in the city from 1973 to 1998. It aimed to provide information, counseling, and referrals to the gay and lesbian community via a call-in phone line. The Switchboard records are comprised of a range of business-related organizational materials dating from the mid 1970s through the late 1990s.

Ms. Coll. 48
Gloria Casarez papers, 1987-2015
Gloria Casarez (1971-2014) was a prominent community activist and civic leader in the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia. The Gloria Casarez papers are made up of materials produced, collected, and saved by Casarez over the course of her professional career. They are arranged into seven series: 1) Empty the Shelters, 2) Kensington Welfare Rights Union, 3) GALAEI, 4) Miscellaneous, 5) News media, 6) Trophies, awards, and artifacts, and 7) Oversize graphics.

Ms. Coll. 49
Charles Allyn Weeks letters and photographs, 1963-1964, undated
While abroad for work in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in the early 1960s, American Charles Allyn Weeks began a romantic relationship with a Dutch university student several years his junior. The Weeks collection is comprised of 11 letters sent from the Dutchman in Amsterdam to Weeks in Philadelphia, plus 15 black and white photographs of the pair with their poodle Parké taken in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Ms. Coll. 50
Arnold H. Rosenberg letters, 1977-1988
Arnold H. Rosenberg (July 12, 1935-September 12, 2007) was an openly gay baker, entrepreneur, attorney, and administrator. In these letters addressed to his daughter Amy Rosenberg, Arnold Rosenberg describes his attempts to grow his small pastry business, his relationship with Joel Prybutok and Joel's daughter Sonya, and his everyday life as a wealthy resident of Center City, Philadelphia, and later San Francisco, going to dinners and enjoying films and museum trips.

Ms. Coll. 51
Ben Singer papers, 1989-2007
Ben Singer was an active voice in the Philadelphia transgender community from the 1990s to 2000s and beyond. The Singer papers collection spans 1989 to 2007 and is comprised of organizational paperwork dealing with the trans-focused public health initiatives he helped found (the Trans-health Information project) and the local politics surrounding community outreach and activism. Included are files about community events, news articles relating to the trans community (including ones Singer wrote), and social groups.

Ms. Coll. 51
AIDS Library of Philadelphia graphics collection, 1982-2011

Ms. Coll. 53
Nancy Levine women's music record albums, 1963-1989
Women's music—sometimes defined as music by women, for women, and about women—formed alongside the rise of second-wave feminism in the 1960s and 1970s. The Nancy Levine women's music record albums are comprised of 83 record albums featuring female soloists and ensembles from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Ms. Coll. 54
LGBT pulp fiction collection, 1928-1989
The LGBT pulp fiction collection is comprised of over 550 paperback books containing homoerotic stories published from the 1920s to the late 1980s in the United States. The materials are primarily gay men's pulp fiction but lesbian pulp fiction is also included as well as pseudo-scientific case studies analyzing sexual behavior.

Ms. Coll. 55
Jaci Adams memorial collection, 2012-2014
Jaci Adams was a vocal transgender and HIV/AIDS activist in Philadelphia from 2001 to 2014. The Jaci Adams collection spans 2012 to 2014, and is comprised of awards she was given, official governmental proclamations, and memorial objects.

Ms. Coll. 56
Matt Hoffman leather collection, 1978-1993
Matt P. Hoffman (1954-1995) was a gay man who worked as the general manager for the Bike Stop, "Philadelphia's Leather Bar since 1982," and who was active in gay male leather subculture. The Matt Hoffman leather collection is comprised of objects dated from 1978 to 1993, including leather clothing and accessories, pins and buttons, and kink paraphernalia.

Ms. Coll. 57
LGBTQ Pamphlets, 1963-1991

Ms. Coll. 58
LGBT poetry, prose, music, and photography chapbooks, 1965-2017
This collection is made up of LGBT-related poetry, prose, music, and photography chapboooks produced from the 1960s through the current day, most from the 1970s and 1980s. The majority of the materials are in the poetic genre, but literature including short stories and plays are included, as well as books of lyrics and musical notation, and books of photography, especially those which include creative texts alongside the graphics material.

Ms. Coll. 59
LGBT calendars, 1971-2017
Decorative calendars have a long and varied history. Those marketed to the LGBT community began to flourish in the 1970s with the advent of the gay liberation movement. The LGBT calendar collection contains various sorts of historic calendars with an LGBT theme including those aimed at gay men which feature nude or nearly nude
male models, and those that celebrate or commemorate other aspects the LGBT community.

Ms. Coll. 60
Robert R. Rosenbaum oral history project collection, 2008-2012

Ms. Coll. 61
LGBTQ t-shirt collection, 1975-2018

Ms. Coll. 62
Nudist magazines, 1958-1994

Ms. Coll. 63
LGBTQ poster collection

Ms. Coll. 64
G.W. Ogie photographs and ephemera

Ms. Coll. 65
H.D. Ivey prints

Ms. Coll. 66
"The Untimeliness of the Walt Whitman Exhibition at the New York Public Library: An Open Letter to Trustees," by Charles F. Heartman, circa 1925
Charles F. Heartman's criticism of the New York Public Library's exhibition on the works of Walt Whitman argues that the "obscene" nature of Whitman's poetry should disqualify his works from being presented in a public forum such as an exhibit at the prestigious institution.

Ms. Coll. 67
Richard P. Wunder male physique and nude photographs, 1940s-1980s
Richard Paul Wunder (1923-2002) was a museum curator and collector. The Richard P. Wunder male physique and nude photographs, 1940s-1980s, consist primarily of photographic prints of men in physique poses, candid nude shots, and sexually explicit scenes, collected by Wunder over the course of his life.

Ms. Coll. 68
LGBTQ zines collection, 1992-2022
This collection is made up of LGBT-related zines produced from the 1990s through the current day, most from the late 2000s. The term zines can refer to material ranging from a loosely-structured collection of personal thoughts to expertly designed publications, and vary widely in size. Topics include gender identity, sexuality, coming out, mental health, activism, community-building, oppression, race, and art.

Ms. Coll. 69
"Box of vintage gay zines" and "Queer elders project" collection, 1969-1991, 2019
This collection began as a box of LGBT magazines, chapbooks, and other material that was left on the side of the road for trash collection in Burlington, Vermont in November of 2018 and subsequently went on to be the subject of a successful gallery exhibit and Instagram account. This collection is made up of three series: Series I includes the contents of the found box, Series II includes the preserved Instagram account, and Series III includes materials related to the exhibit.

Ms. Coll. 70
Westside Club records

Ms. Coll. 71
Jesse Jackson ‘88 collection, circa 1988

Ms. Coll. 72
JD Davids papers, 1990s-2000s

Ms. Coll. 73
Team Philadelphia records

Ms. Coll. 74
Marc Stein oral histories

Ms. Coll. 75
Marc Stein research materials

Ms. Coll. 76
Blue Ball/Sapphire Fund records

Ms. Coll. 77
Jerry Gregory papers

Ms. Coll. 78
SisterSpace records

Ms. Coll. 79
John Speer records of Black and White Men Together—Philadelphia

Ms. Coll. 80
James “Jay” E. Hardyway Mox Nix photograph albums, 1960s-1990s

Ms. Coll. 81
Jon Paul Hammond papers

Ms. Coll. 82
Kevin Glaccum Woody’s Bar photographs

Ms. Coll. 83
Equality Forum records

Ms. Coll. 84
LGBTQ travel guides and ephemera

Ms. Coll. 85
AIDS Library of Philadelphia photographs

Ms. Coll. 86
Maxine’s guestbook and ephemera, circa 1947-1977

Ms. Coll. 87
Dominic Bash “Silence = Death” ball gown, late 1980s-early 1990s

Ms. Coll. 88
Jean jacket with pinback buttons

Ms. Coll. 89
LGBTQ pinback buttons, late 1960s-present

Ms. Coll. 90
Pascal Cantona papers

Ms. Coll. 91
Mel Heifetz records of Backstage and Key West bars

Ms. Coll. 92
Jay Guthrie papers

Ms. Coll. 93
Randolphe Wicker videotapes and ephemera

Ms. Coll. 94
Big Brothers policy controversy records

Ms. Coll. 95
Donald Carter records

Ms. Coll. 96
Colt Studio photographs, magazines, and calendars, 1980s

Ms. Coll. 97
LGBTQ textiles

Ms. Coll. 98
Ballroom trophies

Ms. Coll. 99
LGBTQ objects

Ms. Coll. 100
LGBTQ catalogs

Ms. Coll. 101
LGBTQ audiovisual collection

Ms. Coll. 102
J. Nicolas Knebels altered book collection

Ms. Coll. 103
Wayne Bessen "Ex-Gay" research collection

Ms. Coll. 104
"Paper Prayers" collection

Ms. Coll. 105
Jeff Keith collection

Ms. Coll. 106
Venture Inn plaques and awards

Ms. Coll. 107
Thom Cardwell papers

Ms. Coll. 108
Ted Faegle collection

Ms. Coll. 109
Dignity Central Pennsylvania records

Ms. Coll. 110
Philadelphia Family Pride records

Ms. Coll. 111
Marc Segal clippings and ephemera

Ms. Coll. 112
Rolando Morelli film and audio

Ms. Coll. 113
LGBTQ bibliographies, manuscript monographs, and reports

Ms. Coll. 114
Equality Pennsylvania records

Ms. Coll. 115
Bob Schoenberg papers

Ms. Coll. 116
Joe Bowman papers and photographs

Ms. Coll. 117
LGBTQ reference books

Ms. Coll. 118
LGBTQ rare books

Ms. Coll. 119
Mountain Meadows collection

Ms. Coll. 120
LGBTQ press packs

Ms. Coll. 121
Brian Dennis and Keith Breitfeller art exhibition papers

Ms. Coll. 122
Kay Lahusen papers, 1961 – 2021
Katherine “Kay” Lahusen (1930–2021) was a photojournalist, author, activist, and longtime partner of Barbara Gittings (1961–2007), considered by many to be the mother of the LGBT movement in the United States. Lahusen’s photography and activism was integral to the organizing work of Gittings and fellow activist Frank Kameny. The Kay Lahusen papers are comprised primarily of content Lahusen retained, created, or consumed in the fourteen years following Barbara Gittings’ death in 2007 until her own passing in 2021.

Ms. Coll. 123
About Your Sexuality Kit, 1975-1983 [Bulk: 1983]
The About Your Sexuality Kit is a sexual health and education guide created by Dr. deryck calderwood designed for individuals age 12 to 14. The course is structured around leaders' guides that detail sex education topics through lectures and activities with audiovisual components and supplemental resources such as books and pamphlets.

Ms. Coll. 124
Powelton Village — Drexel University controversy records

Ms. Coll. 125
Paul Blore NSFW Dance Party ephemera

Ms. Coll. 126
AIDS Services In Asian Communities (ASIAC) records

Ms. Coll. 127
Anita Cornwell personal and literary papers, 1949-2009

Ms. Coll. 128
Bruce Shaw diaries, 1967-2022

Ms. Coll. 129
Vincent P. Grimm XYZ Club photographs and memoir, early 1960s-2022
Vincent P. Grimm (b. 1937) and his life partner Will Kratz (1939-2017), along with other club members, planned, operated, and performed in revue shows for two decades as part of the XYZ Club. The XYZ Club hosted performances and picnics at Epler's Grove from 1963 to at least 1981. The collection is comprised of three types of material: photocopies of biographical material about Vincent Grimm; a printed typescript of the memoir written by Grimm on the history of "The XYZ Club"; and five folders of color photographs spanning the early-1960s through the mid- to late-1970s, documenting drag shows performed by the XYZ Club during its two-decade existence.

Ms. Coll. 130
LGBTQ matchbook collection, 1970s-2000s

Ms. Coll. 131
Ernie Mabrey diary, 1981-2007

Ms. Coll. 132
Bil Goldberg photographs, playbills, and ephemera, 1972-2008
William (Bill) Goldberg (1937-2019?) performed in drag, going under the stage name "Mame," and performed as a supernumerary (non-singing or speaking role) in productions of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He often attended and hosted parties with friends for anniversaries, birthdays, and other holidays; and attended plays, ballets, operas, and concerts. The collection contains a variety of material types that document Bill Goldberg's interests, hobbies, profession, and social life. The collection is divided into seven series: I. Small photograph albums; II. Large photograph albums and scrapbooks; III. Programs and playbills; IV. Ephemera; V. Correspondence; VI. Clippings; and VII. Oversized.

Ms. Coll. 133
John Brown memoir, circa 1960s-1970s
This collection consists of a single item: an 8-page handwritten memoir by John Brown, who also went by Sammy as well as by the drag name Marilyn. It tells the story of how Brown was introduced to gay life in Philadelphia, how he and friend Jack Van Alstyne met queens in Rittenhouse Square in 1953, and how he took on the drag name Marilyn. It also has details about Brown serving time in juvenile detention in 1954.