Randy Alfred was a freelance journalist and radio talk show host in the San Francisco area during the 1970s-1980s. Collection contains research files (clippings, fliers, brochures, correspondence, and notes) and audiotapes--primarily concerning lesbian and gay issues and organizations in San Francisco during the 1970s and 1980s--assembled by Alfred in the course of his hosting of the KSAN public affairs radio show The Gay Life.

Randall H. (Randy) Alfred is a freelance journalist and former radio talk show host in San Francisco, California. Alfred was educated at Yale University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1967) and the University of California, Berkeley (graduate student in Sociology, 1967-1969 and 1971-1974). He collected materials about gay and lesbian life in San Francisco as part of his research for journal articles and his radio talk show The Gay Life . Alfred's mass media career began in 1970. During the 1970s he was a freelance writer for numerous magazines and newspapers, including The Advocate , Coming Up , Vector , The Berkeley Barb , Playboy , New West , San Francisco Examiner , San Francisco Chronicle , and Oakland Tribune . In 1975, Alfred became a news editor for the San Francisco Sentinel and wrote the column "Waves from the Left." He remained with the Sentinel until 1977, when he became news editor for another local gay newspaper, The San Francisco Bay Times . Alfred left in 1978, and found work as a freelance researcher and reporter for KPIX-TV and KPFA-FM, two Bay Area broadcasting stations. During a previous radio stint, Alfred had been a public-affairs reporter for KPFA-FM from 1973-1974. From 1979 until 1981, Alfred did freelance worrk until he became editor-in-chief of the Sentinel in 1982. He also wrote for a nationally syndicated column known as "Dateline S.F." A year later, in 1983, Alfred became a story consultant for KRON-TV. From 1979-1984, Alfred was the producer and host for The Gay Life , a weekly 60-minute public affairs radio show on KSAN. He was also editor of Rip N'Read News Service in San Francisco from 1983-1986, and news writer for KRON-TV starting in 1986.

22 linear feet

Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials created by the donor has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

Randy Alfred was a freelance journalist and radio talk show host in the San Francisco area during the 1970s-1980s. Collection contains research files (clippings, fliers, brochures, correspondence, and notes) and audiotapes--primarily concerning lesbian and gay issues and organizations in San Francisco during the 1970s and 1980s--assembled by Alfred in the course of his hosting of the KSAN public affairs radio show The Gay Life .