Finding Aid to the Robert S. Basker Papers, 1931-2001
Coll2013.076
Danielle Perez-Granado
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Robert S. Basker papers
creator:
Basker, Robert S. (Robert Sloane)
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.076
Physical Description:
4.8 Linear Feet
4 archive boxes, 2 archive cartons.
Date (inclusive): 1931-2001
Abstract: Organizational records, correspondence, handwritten notes, published articles, awards, armed services papers, clippings, and
photographs from Robert S. Basker (1918-2001). Born Solomon Sloane Basker in Harlem, Basker dedicated his life to progressive
causes. He established or directed numerous gay rights groups including Mattachine Midwest, Gay Activist Alliance of Miami,
and the Dade County Coalition for Human Rights. Basker also served as a committee member for numerous human rights organizations.
Biographical Information
Robert S. Basker was born Solomon Sloane Basker in Harlem, New York, 1918, to a Jewish family that had immigrated from Poland.
He began his civil and political rights activism as a high school student about 1936. He was involved with progressive organizations,
including the National Student League, American Students Union, Young Communist League, American Youth Congress, American
League Against War and Fascism, American League for Peace and Democracy, the Civil Rights Congress, and the National Negro
Congress.
After high school, Basker sought employment; however he encountered an anti-Semitic climate in New York. He dropped his first
name and became Robert Sloane Basker, obtaining a job in the export business. After working in the export business he voluntarily
served five years in the Army during World War II. Basker was a Technical Sergeant, Headquarters Company, 13th Port and held
certificates for Marksman Carbine, Sharpshooter Rifle, and Sharpshooter Pistol 45 caliber. He was Honorably Discharged on
November 27, 1945 and remained in Belgium as a civilian serving in the Engineer Section until he was granted relief on June
13, 1946.
Following his army service, Basker moved to the Midwest and worked as a salesman and district manager for
Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1954, while living in Skokie, Illinois, he married Hedda Schmidt, who was fully aware that Basker was gay. He adopted
her son and they had two children, a son and a daughter, during their seven years of marriage. They were involved in the
Chicago Council of American-Soviet Friendship, as well as the racial integration movement, being directly responsible for
the first black family to own a home in Skokie in 1961. Around this time, Basker and Schmidt divorced.
He began his gay activism in 1965, establishing the first Mattachine Society in Chicago under his first and middle names,
Bob Sloane.
Basker moved to Miami in 1969 to be closer to his ex-wife and children, visiting them in Cuba for nine months. Returning
to Miami, Basker took custody of his biological children. In 1971 he helped start the Gay Activist Alliance of Miami. In
1976 he established the Dade County Coalition for the Humanisitc Rights of Gays (which would become the Dade County Coalition
for Human Rights). This organization championed the passing of the Human Rights Ordinance in Miami which protected the rights
of lesbians and gays in Dade County. In 1977 the Ordinance was challenged and repealed by the Save Our Children movement started
by Anita Bryant.
In 1978 Basker moved to San Francisco where he would live for the remainder of his life. There, he co-founded the Alexander
Hamilton Post 448 of the American Legion, catering to gay veterans. He served on numerous committees including the California
Legislative Council for Older Americans, the San Francisco National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and
the Board of the San Francisco In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority. In 1992 Basker changed careers, serving in a
clerical position for District Attorney Terence Hallinan. His 1992 resume documents his expansive contributions to civil
and political rights including involvement in racial equality, feminist issues, senior rights, prisoners' rights, refugee
rights, gay rights, democratic clubs, homeless and community services, and veterans' organizations.
Basker died in San Francisco, on April 6, 2001.
Source:
Box 1, Folder 26; Box 3, Folder 13; Box 3, Folder 18; Box 3, Folder 47; Box 4, Folder 6; Box 4, Folder 8; Robert S. Basker
Papers, Coll2013.076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
Acquisition
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Robert S. Basker Papers, Coll2013-076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Processing Information
Formerly boxes #103-047, 103-228, 103-292, 104-035, 104-124. Collection processed by Danielle Perez-Granado, August 2013.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes organizational records, correspondence, handwritten notes, published articles, awards, armed services
records, clippings, and photographs, 1931-2001, from Robert S. Basker. The bulk of the collection consists of records pertaining
to human rights organizations and committees including Mattachine Midwest, Freedom of Residence, Gay Activist Alliance of
Miami, Gay Community Services of South Florida, Dade County Coalition for Human Rights, National Committee for Sexual Civil
Liberties, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Democratic Club, American Civil Liberties Union,
National Organization for Women, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Also included in the collection
are Basker's World War II army service records, articles and interview correspondence documenting his life as a gay activist,
photographs capturing his involvement with civil rights leaders, organizational paperwork, presentation notes,
Encyclopedia Britannica employment correspondence, personal telephone messages, daily schedules, and correspondence regarding charitable contributions.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Human rights activism
Series 2. Personal papers
Separated Materials
The following publications have been separated from the Robert S. Basker collection and entered into the ONE Archives' periodical
and program collections:
Florida State University Alliance for Gay Awareness.
Agape (1:3) May, 1977.
March on Washington.
San Francisco Sentinel. Commemorative edition (15:42). October 17, 1987.
Jim Kepner's Song & Dance (2). March 1994.
ONE, Inc. Education Division. Homophile studies.
One Institute Quarterly (8). Los Angeles: One, Incorporated, 1970.
Lesbians & Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action.
LGADDA celebrates...speaking our colors. Fourth year anniversary event program. June 10, 1995.
Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Democratic Club.
Celebrating Harvey Milk's 65th birthday. Fundraiser event program. May 22, 1995.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Advertising fliers
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Gay activists -- Florida
Gays -- Civil rights
Gays -- Political activity
Human rights advocacy
Veterans
Basker, Robert S. (Robert Sloane)
American Civil Liberties Union
Bryant, Anita
Dade County Coalition for Human Rights
Gay Activist Alliance
Gay Community Services of South Florida
Mattachine Midwest
National Association of Black and White Men Together
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (U.S.)
National Organization for Women
Human rights activism Series 1.
1959-1998
Scope and Contents
This series contains organizational records and correspondence regarding the many civil rights groups and committees Basker
participated in throughout his life. The bulk of this series contains his gay activism, specifically the work he did in Florida
including the Gay Activist Alliance of Miami, Gay Community Services, and the Dade County Coalition for Human Rights. The
remainder of the series contains other civil rights groups and movements with which he was associated.
Arrangement
This series is divided into two subseries: Subseries 1.1, containing gay activism documents; and Subseries 1.2, containing
other civil rights documents that are not gay-specific. Both subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Gay rights Subseries 1.1.
Box 1, folder 1
Alexander Hamilton Post 448 (San Francisco, California)
1997
Box 1, folder 2
"Are there really any gay male athletes? an empirical survey" by Brian Garner and Richard W. Smith
1976
Box 2, folder 8
Black and White Men Together
1980
Box 1, folder 29
Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
1993
Box 1, folder 30-31
Mattachine Midwest
1965-1986
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 5, folder 12
Cuba organizations
1993-1994
Box 3, folder 21
Cuba trip fundraising party
1994
Box 1, folder 32
Alliance for Individual Rights
1975-1976
Box 1, folder 33
Affidavit - State of Ohio regarding aftermath of the Save Our Children campaign
undated
Box 1, folder 34
Bryant, Anita and Save Our Children
1977
Box 1, folder 35
Campbell, Jack correspondence and clippings
1975-1978
Box 1, folder 36
Chicago Sun-Times articles
1978
Box 1, folder 37
Citizens for Human Rights Educator's Task Force
1977
Box 5, folder 7
Dade anti-discrimination court cases
1973-1977
Box 1, folder 38
Dade County Democratic Executive Committee Minority Concerns Task Force
1973-1976
Box 1, folder 39
Dade County Human Rights Ordinance
1977
Box 1, folder 40
Dade County Coalition for Human Rights
1977
Box 1, folder 41
Dade County Coalition for Human Rights Educator's Task Force
1977
Box 1, folder 42
Dade County Coalition for Human Rights letter heads and envelopes
circa
Box 1, folder 43
Dade County Coalition for Human Rights miscellaneous events and correspondence
1972-1977
Box 1, folder 44
Florida commission on human rights
1973-1974
Box 1, folder 45
Florida gay discrimination
1975-1977
Box 1, folder 46
Miscellaneous events and research
1972-1977
Box 1, folder 47
Other organizations
circa 1975
Box 1, folder 48-49
Gay Activist Alliance of Miami
1972-1973
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 1, folder 50
Gay Atheists League of America
1978-1979
Box 1, folder 51-52
Gay Community Services of South Florida
1975-1976
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 1, folder 53
Gay Community Services committee reports
1975
Box 1, folder 54
Gay Community Services 24-hour telephone information and referral services
1975
Box 1, folder 55
Gay Rights Advocates and National Lobby
1977-1979
Box 1, folder 56
Gay rights speaking engagements
1977
Box 1, folder 57-59
Harvey Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club
1979-1997
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 1, folder 60
Letters sent in support of gay rights ordinance
1977
Box 1, folder 61
Miami - gay rights
1976-1977
Box 1, folder 62
Miami - Suncoast Gay Community News
1976
Box 1, folder 63
3rd annual Florida gay conference
1978
Box 1, folder 3
Gay and Lesbian History on Stamps Club
1982-1990
Box 1, folder 4
Gay Fathers Union
1978-1981
Box 1, folder 5
Gay Media Project of Philadelphia pamphlet and event information
1976
Box 1, folder 6
Gays Against Nuclear Power
1979
Box 1, folder 7
Gays and Straights Together
1977
Box 1, folder 8
Gersten, Joe M. correspondence
1974-1977
Box 1, folder 9
Gordon, Elaine correspondence
1974-1979
Box 1, folder 10
Gordon, Jack correspondence
1977
Box 1, folder 11
Homosexual law reform: a second look
1977
Box 1, folder 12
KSAN "The Gay Life" talks to gay dad
1982
Box 1, folder 13
Kunst, Robert - Oral Majority
1981-1982
Box 5, folder 8
Kyper, John correspondence for gay community news article
1979-1983
Box 1, folder 14
Lavender and Red Union
1975
Box 1, folder 15
Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in Cuba
undated
Box 1, folder 16
Gay information clippings
1973-1978
Box 1, folder 17-19
National Committee for Sexual Civil Liberties
1973-1981
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 1, folder 20
National committee July meeting
1977
Box 1, folder 21
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
1974-1986
Box 1, folder 22
Network of Gay Socialists
1979
Box 1, folder 23
ONE, Inc. membership
1962-1964
Box 1, folder 24
ONE, Inc. newsletters and flyers
1971-1979
Box 1, folder 26
Quiet Fire interview
1985
Box 1, folder 27
Society for the Scientific Study of Sex honoree
1998
Box 1, folder 28
Sullivan, Gerard - dissertation
1987
Civil rights, not gay-specific Subseries 1.2.
Box 2, folder 1
Activists events
1977-1996
Box 2, folder 2
Activist and organizational correspondence
1975-1997
Box 2, folder 3
Adams, Jane research and correspondence
1988-1997
Box 2, folder 4
American Civil Liberties Union
1977-1979
Box 5, folder 9
American Civil Liberties Union human rights bill
1974
Box 5, folder 10
American Civil Liberties Union nazi defense
1977
Box 2, folder 5
American Civil Liberties Union publications
1978-1979
Box 2, folder 6
American Civil Liberties Union - Florida
1974-1977
Box 2, folder 7
Alice B. Toklas club
1979-1996
Box 2, folder 9
California Legislative Council for Older Americans
1997-1998
Box 2, folder 10-13
Charitable contributions
1995-1998
Physical Description: [4 folders]
Box 2, folder 15
Correspondence regarding Ben Chavis
1979
Box 2, folder 17
Democratic party
1973-1978
Box 2, folder 18
Democratic Women's Forum of San Francisco
1982
Box 2, folder 19
Dunn, Marvin correspondence
1978
Box 2, folder 20
Federal Bureau of Investigation materials
1980
Box 2, folder 21
Feminist Men's Alliance
1987
Box 2, folder 22
Fortune Society
1972-1977
Box 2, folder 23-24
Freedom of Residence
1963-1975
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 2, folder 25
Freedom of Residence speaking engagements
1963
Box 2, folder 26
Fulani, Dr. Lenora B.
1992
Box 2, folder 27
Haitian refugees
1975-1978
Box 2, folder 29
Hamilton, Richard R. MD - committee to halt the advancement of sexually transmitted epidemics correspondence
1982-1983
Box 2, folder 31
Hospitality House
1983-1985
Box 2, folder 32
Human Rights Foundation
1980
Box 2, folder 34
Lambda legal defense and education fun newsletters and correspondence
1976-1979
Box 2, folder 36
Metropolitan Community Church
1973-1975
Box 2, folder 37
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of San Francisco
1996-1998
Box 2, folder 38
National Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression
1970-1974
Box 2, folder 39
Northern Californians Against Repressive Legislation
1974-1979
Box 2, folder 40
National Organization for Women - Miami
1972-1976
Box 2, folder 41
People's Party - Miami
1971-1972
Box 2, folder 42
Pitts and Lee correspondence and clippings
1975-1978
Box 2, folder 43
Political correspondence
1974-1997
Box 2, folder 45
S-1 correspondence and clippings for defeating the federal bill
1975-1978
Box 2, folder 46
San Francisco Feminist Democrats
1979-1980
Box 2, folder 47
San Francisco commission hearing on hate speech and talk radio
1996
Box 2, folder 48
Sexual Law Reporter incorporation
1974-1976
Box 3, folder 1
Skokie records and clippings
1959-1963
Box 5, folder 14
Skokie clippings
1961-1963
Box 5, folder 15
Skokie newspaper articles
1961
Box 3, folder 2
Southern Organization Committee
1974-1979
Box 3, folder 3
Supreme Court of Florida brief of applicant Robert Frances Eimers
1977
Box 3, folder 4
Transition, Inc. - Miami
1974-1978
Box 4, folder 7
United Farm Workers - Miami
1976
Box 3, folder 5
United States v. Robert Basker citation #G140661
1988
Box 3, folder 6
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
1983
Box 3, folder 7
Women's Political Caucus - Florida
1976-1978
Personal papers Series 2.
1931-2001
Scope and Contents
This series contains correspondence and documentation of Basker including his early life, World War II army documentation,
correspondence, awards, photographs, telephone message notes, and handwritten daily schedules. Noteworthy are his 1992 resume,
articles written by and about Basker, awards, and photographs.
Arrangement
Series 2. Personal papers are arranged alphabetically.
Box 5, folder 1
Advocate article on Basker
June 15, 1977
Box 5, folder 2
Angola clippings
1975-1976
Box 5, folder 5
Army 201 personal life
1943
Box 3, folder 9
Articles on Basker
1978-1997
Box 3, folder 11
Basker, Wayne correspondence and childhood events
1982-1984
Box 3, folder 12
Block, Gil clippings
1991
Box 3, folder 13
Birth certificate copy and high school correspondence
1933-1940
Box 3, folder 14
Birthday events and correspondence
1993-1998
Box 3, folder 15
Chicago records and clippings
1960-1963
Box 3, folder 16
Christmas greeting cards
1985-1995
Box 3, folder 18
Correspondence with John D'Emilio
1980
Box 3, folder 19-20
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers
1970-1993
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, folder 22-23
Cuba trip
1966-1967
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 6, folder 1-6
Daily schedules
1988-1994
Physical Description: [6 folders]
Box 3, folder 24
Encyclopedia Britannica correspondence
1958-1960
Box 3, folder 25
Encyclopedia Britannica tele-wats correspondence
1961-1975
Box 3, folder 26
Friends publications and mailers
1975-1976
Box 3, folder 27
Florida International University cultural and human interaction center tri-ethnic bilingual program
1977
Box 3, folder 28
Ida B. Wells High School dedication
1992
Box 3, folder 29
In-Home Support Services Public Authority
1997
Box 3, folder 30
Invitations to organizational functions
1995-1998
Box 3, folder 32
Miami-Dade Community College life lab notebook
1975-1976
Box 3, folder 34
New College coursework
1981-1984
Box 3, folder 35
New York City College transcript
1936-1942
Box 3, folder 36
Nomenus organizational minutes
1985-1992
Box 6, folder 7
Notes and telephone messages
1972-1993
Box 3, folder 37
Obituary of Robert S. Basker
2001
Box 3, folder 38
Organizational pamphlets
1975-1994
Box 3, folder 40
Personal friends
1978-1994
Box 3, folder 43
Photographs [photocopies]
1931-1994
Box 3, folder 44
Political clippings
1975-1978
Box 3, folder 45
Presentation notes
1976-1991
Box 3, folder 46
Publications correspondence and articles
1963-1983
Box 3, folder 49
Saint Priapus Church
1987
Box 4, folder 1
San Francisco Community Advisory Board
1981-1985
Box 4, folder 2
San Francisco newsletters
1995-1996
Box 6, folder 9
Telephone machine messages and miscellaneous notepads
undated
Box 6, folder 10-19
Telephone machine messages notepads
1977-1994
Physical Description: [10 folders]
Box 4, folder 4
13th port newsletters and rosters
1963
Box 4, folder 6
The Weekly News article on Basker
1998
Box 4, folder 9
World War II 13th port
1942-1948
Box 4, folder 10-11
World War II army papers
1942-1948
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 5, folder 6
World War II articles and letters
1945