NEWSLETTER
Society of American Archivists
Lesbian and Gay
Archives Roundtable
Supporting collection, preservation, description and research use of archival material documenting lesbians, gay men and their institutions.
Whole No. 12
Volume 5, Issue 2
1994 December
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR
by Brenda Marston
The Lesbian and Gay Archives Roundtable (LAGAR) work at the national level to encourage archives to seek lesbian and gay collections and also to make such material accessible. LAGAR looks for ways to foster the awareness and cooperation between archives that will help ensure that all aspects of lesbian and gay history become thoughtfully preserved.
To further these goals and accommodate the energy and ideas of LAGAR members, we formed a Working Group to work with the co-chairs last year. At our planning meeting in Indianapolis in September, we identified four projects for the year.
The primary one is the development of a directory of archives that actively collect lesbian and gay history. The goals are to provide a tool for researchers seeking material in this field, as well as a way for archivists to begin knowing more about each other's programs. Please share the names and addresses of active archives with Paula Jabloner or Douglas Haller, the co-chairs.
The second project is to investigate ways of forming links between SAA and community-based lesbian and gay archives. As a start, all LAGAR members could help by considering what articles, pamphlets, or books you would recommend for community groups looking for guidance about starting and running an archives. If you have any suggestions, please send them to either the co-chairs or to Robin Chandler.
Third, we would like to start a dialog with members of the College and University Archives Section about collecting lesbian and gay materials at their institutions.
Last, we would like to create a more effective mechanism for responding to political, ethical, and legal issues relating to lesbian and gay collections. We ask you all to keep an eye out, and if you think LAGAR should make its voice heard on a issue, please bring it to the attention of the co-chairs.
With this new structure and focused attention on a few projects, I am enthusiastic about LAGAR's ability to accomplish some very important work this year -- work that will help researchers and archivists alike, that will build liaisons between us, and that will improve the documentation of lesbian and gay history.
The Working Group members are Brenda Marston, Mark Martin, Scott Bartley, Jim Cartwright (1995 Program Proposal chair), Robin Chandler, John Paul Deley (7995 Local Arrangements), Robert French, Douglas Haller (Directory co-chair), Paul Jabloner (Directory co-chair), Stephen Nonack, Stephen Novak (Newsletter Editor), Joe Rader, Terry Snyder & Susan von Salis.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
James Carson is the new archivist for the College of American Pathologists in Northfield IL, The Board of Archives of the Episcopal Church appointed him as a member for a six-year term. [Archival Outlook, November 1994, 23]
Richard Pearce-Moses has left Arizona State University as their Curator of Photographs and, as of Aug 05, is the Photographic Archivist at the Heard Museum in Phoenix AZ. [The Southwestern Archivist, 18:1 (Summer 1994), 41] Richard's address was received too late for the printing of the enclosed directory. That should be corrected to read: Photograph Archivist, The Heard Museum, 22 East Monte Vista Road, Phoenix AZ 85004-1480. Work: (602) 252-8840 and Fax: (602) 252-9757.
MEETING MINUTES
LAGAR's annual meeting was held during the SAA annual meeting, 1994 Sep 08 at 3:45 pm. Brenda Marston, co-chair, ran the meeting and Scott Bartley, newsletter
editor, took the minutes.
Brenda opened the sixth meeting by saying how this group has grown since the first meeting at Saint Louis in 1989. The membership increased every year and the group actively proposed many
sessions each meeting. It was time to get better organized, though. The co-chairs developed a Working Group of approximately 15 people.
The Working Group will focus on two projects at this time. The first is the Directory Project. Douglas Haller and Paula Jabloner were appointed as the co-chairs for the project. Other Working Group members helping with will be Scott Bartley, Stephen Nonak and Steve Novak. The project will plan to submit a rough draft of name, addresses and numbers for the project is the Spring issue of the newsletter. A draft of annotated listings will be scheduled for the Fall meeting in Washington DC.
The second focus will be as a liaison to the gay community at large. Brenda, Mark Martin and Robin Chandler will organize this group. They will discuss how LAGAR can become a resource for gay group or business to turn to with questions regarding records management and archival storage of their materials to preserve our heritage.
Brenda would like LAGAR to be more proactive in response to political and ethnic issues. She asked if the group can be watchdogs for events or issues that warrant LAGAR input. Steve Novak and Terry Snyder will investigate establishing a stronger connection with the College and University Group within SAA. Nanci Young, a LAGAR member, is the current chair of the group.
LAGAR's own Brenda Banks was recognized as the incoming Vice President for SAA. She announced that Peter J Walsh is the Program liaison for the coming year. The deadline for programs is Oct 07 and there is no theme. Jim Cartwright volunteered to form an ad hoc program committee to brainstorm for ideas to present from LAGAR.
SAA's Councilman Tom Hickerson introduced himself as the liaison for our group. He mentioned the Task Force on Sections and Roundtables were reviewing how to
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LAGAR Newsletter
1994 December
evaluate operations and improve communications. LAGAR is perceived by others as very active. It may want to become a section, which normally have 150 members. LAGAR is at 170 members. Having newsletters go out to non-SAA members is okay for now and seen as ways of reaching out beyond SAA
Scott announced that he is stepping down as editor of the newsletter, a position he has served in for four years. He asked for any interested volunteer to see him later. He urged that members of the group to send items of interest to the group to the editor.
Robin Chandler announced a job opening at the G/L Historical Society of Northern California. Eric Mundell mentioned LAGAR's evening social at Jimmy's, a local gay restaurant, at 6:30. Mimi Bowling talked about the exhibit Becoming Visible: a legacy of the Gay and Lesbian history at the New York Public Library. There was a record number of attendees for the opening and now averages 1000 visitors per day. Jim Carson, of the Gerber-Hart Library in Chicago, was seeking a volunteer part-time archivist. Paul Millett, of the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, said that he has obtained the Colorado Chapter of PFLAG records. Brenda wanted all to know if anyone was interested in PFLAG records, they should contact her.
Back to the agenda, the election of the male co-chair was taken up. Craig St Clair motioned and Laurie Baty seconded the nomination of Mark Martin from Lufkin TX. Mark was elected unanimously.
The meeting continued with announcements from the group. Gerry Stacy, of the Peabody Institute Archives of Baltimore, wondered if anyone was documenting the alternative living community and Radical Fairies. Paul Millette was interested in those collecting material on gay choruses. Rob McCabe, a new SAA member from Winston State, was interested in collecting material on gay folklore. He was looking for a mentor, too. LAGAR has been well represented in the mentoring program, though there are four mentees waiting! Jim Cartwright was keeping current on the Hawaii marriage issue. LAGAR members should feel free to email him for updates.
Eric Mundell, speaking for the Diversity Center, a name specially chosen to avoid
the gay men-lesbian-etc. issue, talked about Indianapolis' effort to collect gay material. He introduced Christina Moore, also from the Center, who talked about the business archives and separate library. Also on hand was Michael Bohr, donor of the initial 3000 book collection that started the Center.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm.
NEWS NOTES
L/G Community Services Center in New York City received a $7,164 grant from the Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives and Records Administration for their "USMARC Conversion Project" to catalog and inventory their collections documenting the early history of the area. [Mid-Atlantic Archivist, 23:3 (Summer, 1994):5-6]
The Organization of American Historians is
seeking information on minority historians for a new directory about such historians. Call John Dichtl at (812) 855-1519. [The Archival Arranger: a newsletter for the Delaware Valley Archivists Group, 1:3 (Spring 1994:3]
John Furlong at the Missouri Historical Society completed the processing of the largest gay collection covering the Saint Louis area. The Lesbian and Gay News-Telegraph collection, 1969-1993, is 180 linear feet of newspapers, newsletters, magazines and other material from around the country. A finding aid is available. For more information, call John at (314) 746-4515. [Queer Muse: a newsletter of the Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (American Association of Museums), 1 (September, 1994):5] .
The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at
The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York just released its new guide CLAGS Directory of Lesbian and Gay Studies. The 196-page reference [work?] can [be?] ordered from the above group at 33 West 42 Street, Room 404N, New York NY 10036-8099 for $10 per copy plus $1.50 for shipping. [CLAGS flyer]
The Stonewall Library and Archives in Fort Lauderdale FL has many interested people volunteering for it, though none of them possess archival skills. If you or someone you know can help them out, please call
John Graves at (305) 523-8035. [John Graves letter, 1994 Nov 09]
Eakins and the photograph: works by Thomas Eakins and his circle in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts by Susan Danly and Cheryl Leibold (Smith-sonian Institution Press, Washington, 1994) catalogs the Charles Bregler Collection comprising nearly three-quarters of Eakins photograph work including many male and female nude anatomical and locomotion photographs as recently discussed in The Homoerotic photograph by Allen Ellenzweig (Columbia University Press, New York, 1992). [Douglas Hatter]
CHAIRS of the Roundtable
Brenda Marston, 1993-1995
Human Sexuality Collection
Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853-5302
Voice (607) 255-3530
Fax (607) 255-9524
Mark E Martin, 1994-1996
810 Circle Drive
Lufkin TX 75901
Voice (409) 829-3543
Fox (409) 829-3523
[Note new address for editor!]
Editor of the LAGAR Newsletter
Stephen E Novak
The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York City NY 10023-6588
Voice (212) 799-5000x367
Foe (212) 724-0263
SAA Annual Meetings:
Washington DC 1995
San Diego 1996
Chicago 1997
Orlando 1998