Western Washington University
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Building
808 25th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Phone: 360-650-7747
http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/

Guide to the Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection, 1972-2002


XOE0136glbtmiscman





Finding aid prepared by Ruth Steele

Finding aid encoded by Ruth Steele, 2007 March 2
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the Washington State Legislature to the Washington Women's History Consortium. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

Western Washington University
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies

Goltz-Murray Building
808 25th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Phone: 360-650-7747
http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/
 
Collection Number:
 

XOE0136glbtmiscman
 
Creator:
 

Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
 
Title:
 

Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection
 
Dates:
 

1972-2002 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

2.5 linear feet
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English.  

 
Summary:
 

The Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection documents some of the history of the gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community of Bellingham and Whatcom County, Washington.

 

Historical Note

The Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection comprises an artificial collection of materials gathered and housed by the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies. During the Center’s Gay and Lesbian Archives Project in 2001-2002, Center staff solicited archival materials including photographs, publications, posters and other printed materials. A number of individuals from Bellingham and Whatcom County donated materials documenting the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

The Center hosted a workshop to discuss the history and experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals in Whatcom County, and conducted oral history interviews with several members of the GLBT community

Content Description

The Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection documents some of the history of the gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community of Bellingham and Whatcom County, Washington. The collection spans the period circa 1972-2002.

Manuscript materials include fliers, posters, journals and a small number of photographs documenting events and activities in the Bellingham and the surrounding area, and information about local GLBT resources. Arranged alphabetically, these materials include incomplete runs of local women's publication the "Women's Network Newsletter", and a local lesbian publication called "The L Word". Manuscripts also include a journal, posters and fliers pertaining to a traveling women's coffeehouse in the early 1990s, and several programs from the Pacific Northwest Women's Music & Cultural Jamboree (held at Western Washington University in the early 1990s). Information about gay and lesbian community resources in Bellingham include histories of the Womencare Shelter (founded in 1979 as a safe house for victims of domestic violence) and the Elizabeth Blackwell Women's Clinic. Manuscripts also include a 1972 photograph of a local gay bar in downtown Bellingham, ephemera documenting GLBT events held at Western Washington University, and programs from the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire's drag ball show in Bellingham. The collection contains one folder of records reflecting the concerns and actions of women at the Puget Sound Women's Peace Camp circa 1983-1984. Posters and fliers document anti-nuclear protests at the Boeing Cruise Missile Plant in Kent, Washington, and include the 1985 publication We Are Ordinary Women: A Chronicle of the Puget Sound Women's Peace Camp.

Audio recordings include copies of Chris Pastorino's lesbian radio show, produced by Western Washington University's KUGS station from the early 1980s through 1993. The collection also contains several oral history interviews conducted in conjunction with the Gay and Lesbian Archives project in 2001-2002.

Arrangement

The Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection is organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

  • Series I: Manuscripts circa 1972-2001
  • Series II: Audio Recordings circa 1982-2002

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

The Center for Pacific Northwest Studies solicited archival materials for this collection in the course of the Gay and Lesbian Archives Project in 2001-2002. Several individuals donated materials documenting the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Some access restrictions apply to oral history interviews (Contact repository for details).

Preferred Citation 

Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 
Antinuclear movement -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
Bisexuals -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Feminism and the arts -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Gay rights -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Gays -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Lesbians -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Oral History -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Transsexuals -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Women -- Political participation -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
Women and peace -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
Women musicians -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Women's health services -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Women's rights -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Women's shelters -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Series I:  Manuscripts, circa 1972-2001
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box/folder
1/1

Blackwell’s Women’s Clinic (history)
   circa 1973-1981
 
1/2

Community Resources for GBLT community
  undated
 
1/3

“Grandma’s Assumption” article by Suzanne Kolm
  undated
 
1/4

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire-I.S.C.E.E. (Drag) event programs,
  1996-2001
 
1/5

“L” Word newsletter
   1994-1995
 
1/6

Labyrinth
  undated
 
1/7

Lesbian Coffeehouse journal and flyers
  1990-1993
 
1/8

Pacific Northwest Women’s Music and Cultural Jamboree
   1991-1994
 
1/9

Posters and flyers for local events
  circa 1979-1984
 
OVbox
1

Posters for local events
  circa 1979-1984
 
box/folder
1/10

Up & Up bar – historic photograph
   1972
 
1/11

Western Washington University related ephemera
  1971-1972
 
1/12

Western Washington University – Motherlode concert photographs
  undated
 
1/13

Whatcom County Coalition of Washington Citizens for Fairness/Hands off Washington campaign for senate bill 1443
   1993-1994
 
1/14

Womencare Shelter – history
  undated
 
1/15

Women’s Network Newsletter
   1981-1983
 
1/16

Women’s Peace Camp
  1983-1985
 

Series II:  Audio Recordings, 1982-2001

 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
   
Subseries 1:  Chris Pastorino’s radio shows
  1982-1993
 
box/folder
2/1

Meg Christian and Chris Williamson (Chris Pastorino and Valerie Fisher) - Press Conference
  1983 June 4
 
2/2

Women on Air "Lesbians Show"
  1982 August
 
2/3

Betsy Rose and Janet Peterson Interview
  1985 August
 
2/4

Meg Christianson Interview
  1982 October
 


Holly Near Interview, Seattle
  1983 September 24
 
2/5

Women on Air "History of Lesbianism"
   1984 January 5
 
2/6

Meg Christian Interview
  1984 April
 
2/7

Women on Air - Betsy Rose
  1985 February 13
 
2/8

Chris Williamson and Tret Fure
   1985 November 9
 


Linda Allen Interview
  1986 January 20
 
2/9

Linda Allen Interview
  1989 March 21
 
2/10

Women on Air
   1992 August 31
 
2/11

Women on Air
  1993 April
 
2/12-2/13

Women on Air Final Show
  1993 June 7
   
Subseries 2:  Oral History Interviews
  1982-2002
 
3/1

Ashworth, Robert (2 cassette tapes)
  2002 February 4
 
3/2

Jubilo, Sherry (3 cassette tapes)
  2002 August 27
 
3/3

Morgan, Steve (1 cassette tape)
  2001 December 5
 
3/4

Pastorino, Chris (2 cassette tapes)
  2002 February 22
 
3/5

Powell, Ross (2 cassette tapes)
  2001 November 12