Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding aid to the Grace Miller Papers,
1926-1979
(bulk 1941-1965)
GLC 69
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Grace Miller Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1926-1979
Date (bulk): (bulk 1941-1965)
Collection Identifier: GLC 69
Creator:
Miller, Grace
Physical Description:
2 document cases + 1 flat box
(1.5 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The collection documents the life of Grace Miller through correspondence, subject files, photographs and negatives, and a
scrapbook. Miller was a co-owner and bartender at two lesbian bars in San Francisco. As a result of serving underage patrons,
she was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 1955. The scrapbook contains the newspaper coverage of
her arrest and trial.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
The collection is open for research. Photographs are available for research during the San Francisco Historical Photograph
Collection hours. Please call the San Francisco History Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Grace Miller Papers (GLC 69), Gay and Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Purchased from Bolerium Books, December 29, 2011.
Photographs have been transferred to the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection.
Grace Marie Miller was born in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana on November 1, 1918. She was the first child of Anthony
Iven [Ivan] Miller (9/28/1892-9/15/1959) and Norma Portman. The family moved to San Francisco in the early 1920s. Grace worked
several jobs but was best known as a co-owner and bartender at 12 Adler Place and Tommy's Place, both lesbian bars.
The collection documents the life of Grace Miller through correspondence, subject files, photographs and negatives, and a
scrapbook. Miller was a co-owner and bartender at two lesbian bars in San Francisco, Tommy's Place and 12 Adler Place. Of
particular note are lesbian club announcements from the 1950s-1960s, and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings (1954-1955) that
document a police raid on Tommy's Place and Miller's arrest and trial for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The
photographs span the years from Miller's childhood through middle age. Some of the images from the 1950s are of bars where
Grace Miller worked, possibly Tommy's Place, and a club with singers and accompanists. There are many house party photos from
the late 1950s and 1960s; they include images of butch and femme lesbians, some men (presumably gay), and many cats.
The material is in four series: Series 1. Correspondence; Series 2. Subject Files; Series 3. Photographs and Negatives; and
Series 4. Scrapbook.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Miller, Grace -- Archives
van de Veer, Joyce
Lesbian bars-California-San Francisco
Lesbians--California--San Francisco--Social life and customs--20th century.
Lesbians--Social life and customs