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Larry Sprenger Papers
Coll2012.167
Coll2012.167
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Table of contents
Title: Larry Sprenger Papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.167
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.4 linear feet.
1 archival carton
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1983-1985
Date (inclusive): 1983-1993, undated
Abstract: The Larry Sprenger papers consists of notes, correspondence, and records documenting the professional and private life of
Larry Sprenger, an insurance salesman and political activist, in the 1980s and 1990s. The bulk of the collection, from 1983
to 1985, represents Sprenger's work as a member of two AIDS legislation research organizations and his involvement as a speaker
and fundraiser for various political groups.
creator:
Sprenger, (Fred) Larry
This collection is arranged chronologically in the following series:
Series 1. Personal Life
Series 2. Political Involvement
Fred Larry Sprenger was born July 4, 1941, and settled in Southern California after a tour of duty in the United States Air
Force. He worked as an insurance consultant and broker but was also an active supporter of gay political causes at all levels
of government. Most prominently in the mid-1980s, he sat as the co-chair of the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles,
a political action committee dedicated to the advancement of gay, lesbian, and women's rights. Sprenger wielded his power
as MECLA co-chair to gain admittance as a member of the Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task Force and as a consultant to AIDS
Project Los Angeles.
Separate from MECLA, Sprenger served on two exploratory committees for friends seeking elected offices: former employer Peter
Scott for State Assembly and Los Angeles Councilman Michael Woo for Mayor. Additionally, Sprenger found himself on a steering
committee for a gay and lesbian elected officials speaking engagement and in service as the treasurer for the "No on 64" campaign
against mandatory testing and job restrictions for individuals infected with HIV.
As an insurance broker, Sprenger helped usher in one of the first liability policies for the city of West Hollywood. This
also put him in a position of advocacy against insurance agencies restricting HIV infected people from obtaining medical care.
Sprenger passed away April 29, 2007 at the age of 65 while awaiting a heart transplant.
Sources: Larry Sprenger Papers, Coll2012-167, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Times, May 16, 2007
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Date and source of acquisition unknown.
Box #, folder #, Larry Sprenger Papers, Coll2012.167, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Collection processed by Erick Hawkins, November 2012. Records relating to the professional operations and business aspects
of MECLA have been processed as a separate collection.
The bulk of the collection documents Sprenger's work with AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task
Force in the mid 1980s. The collection also includes documentation of his work as a fundraiser and advocate for two local
political campaigns and speakers' conferences as well as his personal and political correspondence. Documents collected during
Sprenger's term as co-chair of MECLA are located in the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles records, Coll2012.160.
Removed to newsletter collection:
AIDS Action Update, Number 2, December 1984;
AIDS Action Update, Number 3, February 1985;
AIDS Action Update, Number 5, May 1985
Municipal Elections Committe of Los Angeles, Coll2012.160, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
No on 64 Records, Coll2011.060, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS (Disease)--Government Policy--California--Los Angeles
Gay activists--California--Los Angeles
Gays--Political activity