Title: Will Roscoe papers and Gay American Indians records

Dates: 1970-2007

Collection Number: 1987-04

Creator/Collector: Roscoe, Will. Gay American Indians (Organization).

Extent: 2 cartons, 1 box, 1 oversize box, 1 artifact (4.5 linear feet)

Repository: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

Abstract: This collection contains papers from scholar and activist Will Roscoe and records from Gay American Indians (GAI), the first gay American Indian liberation organization, founded in July 1975. The collection is divided into two Series: the Will Roscoe papers and the GAI records.

Language of Material: English

Collection is open for research.

Copyright has not been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

Will Roscoe papers and Gay American Indians records. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

Gift of Will Roscoe/GAI History Project in 1987, 2002, 2006, 2009.

This collection contains papers from scholar and activist Will Roscoe and records from Gay American Indians (GAI), the first gay American Indian liberation organization, founded in July 1975. Roscoe was project coordinator of the GAI History Project and his research on the berdache, or two spirit-tradition has been widely published. He was also involved in efforts that led to the founding of Nomenus, a non-profit religious group that operates a retreat center for Radical Faeries and their friends in Oregon. The collection is divided into two Series: the Will Roscoe papers and the GAI records. Roscoe’s papers span the years 1970 to 2007. They contain a berdache bibliography; photocopies of berdache source materials; some of Roscoe’s writings, including his 1984 essay, “Making History: The Challenge of Gay Studies”; and correspondence, clippings and proposals related to the American Anthropological Association and the Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists, and the creation of a task force on discrimination against lesbians and gay men in anthropology. There are also materials related to the Radical Faeries, including correspondence with Harry Hay and others, articles of incorporation and a mission statement from the Gay Vision Circle community land trust; Circle of Loving Companions newsletters; a “Blossom of Bone” chapbook; “Towards the New Frontiers of Fairy Vision” by Hay; and Faerie Directories. Documents related to Nomenus include organizational records; and records related to procedural controversies and concerning the organization’s tax-exempt status. The collection includes zines, poetry chapbooks and pamphlets about radical politics collected by Roscoe. There are also materials related to Roscoe’s work with San Francisco Queer Club & Circuit Party Outreach Project, a joint project of the San Francisco Bay Area DanceSafe chapter and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which promoted harm reduction at dance clubs and circuit parties. The Gay American Indians records span the years 1983 to 1991 and include correspondence; materials related to the GAI Bibliography; audiotapes and transcripts of interviews with GAI leaders from the GAI History Project; publicity materials; grant materials; business reports to the Board of Directors; t-shirts; and buttons.