About GLBT Historical Society

Founded in 1985, the GLBT Historical Society collects, preserves, exhibits and makes accessible to the public materials and knowledge to support and promote understanding of LGBTQ history, culture and arts in all their diversity. The Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives & Special Collections of the GLBT Historical Society are among the largest and most extensive holdings in the world of materials pertaining to LGBTQ people and organizations. Broadly speaking, the over 900 discrete collections fall into four main areas: archives, periodicals, oral histories, and arts & artifacts. (more)

Total number of items
4,768
Total number of views
2,071,840

Collections

Crawford Wayne Barton Papers

Crawford Wayne Barton (1943-1993) is perhaps best known as a photographer of San Francisco's gay community in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. This digital collection includes selections from the Crawford Wayne Barton papers, including images related to LGBTQ cultural sites, events, and people. Some major subjects include candlelight marches,...

Robert Pruzan Papers

Robert Pruzan (1946-1992) was a photographer and photojournalist. Much of his work documents LGBTQ life in San Francisco in the 1970s and 1980s. This digital collection includes selections from the Robert Pruzan papers, including images related to LGBTQ cultural sites, events, and people. Some major subjects include Arena Bare Chest...

Henri Leleu Papers

Henri Leleu (1907-1996) was a photographer, traveler, veteran, and gay activist. This digital collection includes selections from the Henri Leleu papers, including images related to LGBTQ cultural sites, events, and people, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Some major subjects include the Gay...

Elaine Gay Jarvis Papers

This is a collection of black and white photographs created by Elaine Gay Jarvis of the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco, California.

Harold T. O'Neal Collection

Harold (Hal) O'Neal was a gay filmmaker who started filming in Southern California in 1939 and continued through the 1980s in various locations. His films contain material about a wide variety of subjects on gay and general interest themes. Included here is footage of various Pride parades in San Francisco. Harold T. O'Neal Collection...

Charles Cyberski Collection

Charles Cyberski and his partner Richard Wright owned and operated Male Entertainment Network (MEN). MEN produced videos for mail-order documenting a variety of LGBTQ events. Included here are videos documenting San Francisco Pride Parades, AIDS activism, Gay Games, and performances by Sylvester.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Papers

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin were lesbian pioneers and activists. They co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis in 1955 and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ rights. They were active in the struggle for marriage equality and, in 2008, became the first same-sex couple legally married in San Francisco.

Collection of 8mm films

This is a collection of 8mm films taken by an unknown person in the late 1960s in San Francisco. The films document drag shows, Imperial Court events, gay bars, gay men socializing at a pool and in other settings, and Halloween and holiday celebrations. Empress Reba of the Imperial Court is featured in some of the videos. The...

The Gay Life Radio Show

The Gay Life was a public affairs radio show created by Randy Alfred and aired on KSAN in the 1970s and 1980s. The show addressed lesbian and gay issues and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. This digital collection includes selections of the show that are part of the Randy Alfred Subject Files and Sound Recordings...

Contact

These collections are a part of the Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Special Collections of the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco, California.

For questions about the collections or the GLBT Historical Society, please contact:
Email - reference@glbthistory.org
Phone - 415-777-5455 x3
Website - www.glbthistory.org.