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The Ladder Periodical Collection
MSS.2012.07.05
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Title: The Ladder Periodical Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2012.07.05
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet,
1 box
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1965-1966
Date (inclusive): 1963-1966
Abstract: The Ladder Periodical Collection consists of incomplete magazine issues from the
The Ladder—A Lesbian Review dating between the years 1963-1966. These magazines were very important to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United
States during the 1960s and1970s.
The Ladder was published by the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), a lesbian organization, and was the primary form of communication within
that group. It was the first nationally distributed magazine of its type in the United States. This magazine became an important
communication forum for lesbians across the country. The magazine content typically consisted of reports, reviews, anecdotes,
and book reviews concerning the sensitive content of the public and private lives of all homosexuals, but with a specific
focus on lesbians. This single series collection is arranged chronologically by month/date: Series I: The Ladder Periodical
Collection, 1963-1966.
The collection is open for research.
The Ladder Periodical Collection, MSS-07-05-2012, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Maegan Sloggett. Encoded in the Archivist Toolkit. Reviewed by Danelle Moon.
Gallo, Marcia M. “The Ladder: A Lesbian Review 1956-1927,” in the
Women and Social Movements in the U.S., 1600-2000, Kathryn Kish Skar and Thomas Dublin, eds., (Alexander Street Press, 2010): 1-17. Meeker, Martin.
Contacts Desired; Gay and Lesbian Communications and Community, 1940s-1970's (Chicago University Press, 2006).
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender periodicals collection, MSS-2005-05, San Jose State University Library Special Collections
and Archives.
One Periodical Collection, MSS-07-09-2005, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
This single series collection is arranged chronologically by month/date: Series I: The Ladder Periodical Collection, 1963-1966.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Ladder Periodical Collection consists of incomplete magazine issues from the
The Ladder—A Lesbian Review dating between the years 1963-1966. These magazines were very important to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United
States during the 1960s and1970s.
The Ladder was published by the Daughters of Bilitis, a lesbian organization, and was the primary form of communication within that
group. It was the first nationally distributed magazine of its type in the United States. This magazine became an important
communication forum for lesbians across the country. The magazine content typically consisted of reports, reviews, anecdotes,
and book reviews concerning the sensitive content of the public and private lives of all homosexuals, but with a specific
focus on lesbians.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay newspapers--United States.
Gay press publications--United States.
Lesbian Community -- United States.