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Homosexual Information Center Subject Files
SC.HICSF
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Homosexual Information Center Subject Files Collection
Creator:
Homosexual Information Center (Hollywood, Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: SC.HICSF
Extent:
23.77 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1933-2005
Abstract: The Homosexual Information Center
(HIC), is a nonprofit organization committed to gathering and disseminating information and
data to the public regarding all aspects of homosexuality. It was founded in the late 1960s
by the Tangent Group, which in 1965 formally split from ONE, Incorporated, one of the first
gay rights organizations in the United States. The collection consists of alphabetical
subject files containing documents and records created and disseminated by a wide range of
social and political organizations, including local organizations in Los Angeles, national
organizations, and international organizations. Various topics relevant to the homosexual
community in the late 20th century are represented in the collection, especially the AIDS
epidemic, HIC's interactions with smaller community and religious groups, and numerous
political issues.
Language of Material: English
The Homosexual Information Center (HIC), a nonprofit organization committed to gathering
and disseminating information and data to the public regarding all aspects of homosexuality,
has its roots in ONE Incorporated. Established in 1952, One Incorporated was one of the
first gay rights organizations in the United States. Its founding members included Dale
Jennings, Harry Hay, Dorr Legg, and Don Slater, all of whom sought to unify homosexuals into
social action. The organization conceived of and published ONE Magazine, first distributed
in 1953, which was dedicated to homosexuality and homosexual issues. In 1955 the
organization established an educational division, called ONE Institute for Homophile
Studies, the first educational institution in the United States dedicated to the study of
homosexuality. The organization quickly expanded in the years 1953-1956 to include the
educational division, a publications division, a social services division, and a
library.
In 1965, ONE, Inc. split into two factions, with one faction remaining under the name ONE,
Inc., while the other faction, led by board members Don Slater, Antonio Reyes, Billy Glover,
and Jim Schneider, was known as The Tangent Group. The split between ONE, Inc. and The
Tangent Group was finalized in 1967 after a two-year court case, and the Homosexual
Information Center was founded by The Tangent Group in 1968 in Los Angeles, California.
The Homosexual Information Center has sought to inform the public by promoting an
interest, knowledge and understanding of the problems of homosexuality, and has advocated
for many social and political causes, including equal rights for the LBGTQ community, the
decriminalization of homosexuality in countries around the world, health-related issues
including the AIDS epidemic, and fostering increased social acceptance of homosexuality.
The
Homosexual Information Center Subject Files Collection
consists of alphabetical subject files containing documents and records created and
disseminated by a wide range of social and political organizations, including local
organizations in Los Angeles, national organizations, and international organizations.
Various topics relevant to the homosexual community in the late 20th century are represented
in the collection, especially the AIDS epidemic, HIC's interactions with smaller community
and religious groups, and numerous political issues. Also included are newspaper and
magazine clippings organized alphabetically by subject. The collection includes newsletters,
periodicals, newspapers, newspaper and magazine clippings, and other publications. There is
also a large amount of ephemera, especially posters and pamphlets, as well as letters and
correspondence between HIC directors and the organizations or individuals. A small amount of
photographs are also included. The subject file is arranged alphabetically.
This collection is a part of the
Vern and Bonnie Bullough Collection on Sex and Gender.
Cataloged materials from the Homosexual Information Center can be found in the
Library Catalog.
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Homosexual Information Center, 03/05/2007.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Lauren Jung (Intern), 2012
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ephemera
Documents
Photographs