Container List
Series 1: National Organization.
1955-1982.
Scope and Content Note
This series includes documents related to the founding of the Daughters of Bilitis, the National Governing Board and General
Assembly, the National Conventions of Daughters of Bilitis, and various projects organized by the group.
Organization and Arrangement
This series is divided into eight subseries:
Subseries 1.1: Administrative files.
1955-1976.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains bylaws, constitutions, policies, fact sheets, governing board memos, membership applications, resignations,
officers’ retreat records, and other administrative records pertaining to the national Daughters of Bilitis organization.
Box 1, Folder 1
Daughters of Bilitis officers and ladder staff.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 2
Constitution and bylaws.
1955-1966.
Box 1, Folder 3
Articles of incorporation.
1957.
Box 1, Folder 5
Proposed corporate reorganization.
1968.
Box 1, Folder 6
United Daughters of Bilitis, Inc. bylaws and policies.
1969.
Box 1, Folder 7
"The Daughters of Bilitis: A Brief History".
1976.
Box 1, Folder 8
Fact sheets and pamphlets.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 9
National letterhead.
undated.
Box 1, Folders 10-12
Governing board memos.
1961-1965.
Box 1, Folder 13
Governing board minutes.
1961-1962.
Box 1, Folders 14-15
Governing board memos and minutes.
1966-1968.
Box 1, Folder 16
National newsletter.
1962.
Box 1, Folder 19
National membership applications.
1965-1967.
Box 1, Folder 20
Daughters of Bilitis Lesbian Constitutional Convention.
1971.
Subseries 1.2: National Convention.
1960-1968.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains correspondence, pamphlets, speech transcriptions, program proposals, news clippings, and other records
documenting the programming of the first five national conventions of the Daughters of Bilitis. Name changes of national conventions
across folders reflect actual changes as documented in the records.
Box 2, Folder 1
First National Convention: Organizational documents.
1960.
Box 2, Folder 2
First National Convention: Correspondence with speakers.
1960.
Box 2, Folder 3
First National Convention: "Why the Lesbian" panel.
1960.
Box 2, Folder 4
First National Convention: Program and publicity.
1960.
Box 2, Folder 5
First National Convention: List of bars.
1960.
Box 2, Folder 6
Second National Convention: Correspondence and organizational documents.
1961-1962.
Box 2, Folder 7
Second National Convention: Chapter proposals and minutes.
1962.
Box 2, Folder 8
Third National Convention: Planning.
1964.
Box 2, Folder 9
Third National Convention: Chapter proposals and minutes.
1964.
Box 2, Folder 10
Third National Convention: Correspondence.
1964.
Box 2, Folder 11
Fourth National Convention: Chapter proposals and minutes.
1966.
Box 2, Folder 12
Fourth National Convention: Planning, pamphlets, and correspondence.
1966.
Box 2, Folder 13
Fourth National Convention: Transcribed speeches and notes.
1966.
Box 2, Folder 14
Fifth National Convention: Denver.
1968.
Subseries 1.3: Correspondence.
1956-1971.
Scope and Content
Contains correspondence to and from several governing board members of the Daughters of Bilitis, with three files arranged
according to the subject of the correspondence. Extensive correspondence between Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon is arranged in
Subseries 1.4.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically by officer position, with the last three files arranged by subject.
Box 3, Folders 1-3
Del Martin, President.
1956-1968.
Scope and Content Note
The first folder contains correspondence written to and from Del Martin in her role as President, arranged alphabetically
to preserve sequences. The second folder contains correspondence to and from Del Martin in her role as Treasurer, arranged
by date. The third folder contains correspondence to and from Del Martin pertaining to the Daughters of Bilitis (but not in
her role as President, Vice President, or Treasurer), arranged alphabetically.
Box 3, Folder 4
Jaye Bell, President.
1961-1964.
Box 3, Folder 5
Cleo Glenn, President.
1963-1965.
Box 3, Folder 6
Ev Howe, National Treasurer.
1960-1963.
Box 3, Folder 7
Meredith Grey, Public Relations.
1963-1966.
Box 3, Folder 8
Phyllis Lyon, Public Relations.
1964-1966.
Box 3, Folder 9
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon with Julie Lee.
1970-1971.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence between Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon (writing together) and Julie Lee.
Box 3, Folders 10-11
Assorted memos and correspondence.
1964-1970.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains assorted memos and correspondence written to and from several Daughters of Bilitis officers.
Box 3, Folder 12
Jess Stearn.
1962-1964.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains assorted correspondence written to, from, and about Jess Stearn, author of "The Grapevine," a book about
female homosexuality. Mr. Stearn interviewed several Daughters of Bilitis members while preparing his manuscript, and some
felt his report was inaccurate, as expressed in the correspondence.
Box 3, Folder 13
Resignation of Lois Williams, Vice President.
1968.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence about the San Francisco Chapter Board's request for the resignation of Lois Williams,
National Vice President, arranged chronologically.
Subseries 1.4: Research project files.
1958-1971.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains correspondence with Daughters of Bilitis officers, including Florence Conrad, Research Chairman of
the Daughters of Bilitis. Surveys and correspondence with psychologists Dr. Ralph Gundlach and Dr. Bernard F. Riess, regarding
their work and Daughters of Bilitis member participation in their research are also included, with assorted reports at the
end.
Box 3, Folder 15
Daughters of Bilitis survey.
1958-1960.
Box 3, Folder 16
Research project correspondence: Daughters of Bilitis officers.
1963-1964.
Box 4, Folders 1-2
Florence Conrad correspondence.
Bulk, 1963-1965.
1963-1968, bulk: 1963-1965.
Box 4, Folder 3
Gundlach Study: Correspondence.
1963-1964.
Box 4, Folder 4
Gundlach Study: Planning.
1964.
Box 1, Folder 5
Gundlach and Riess correspondence.
1966-1971.
Box 4, Folder 6
Gundlach Study: Publications.
1967-1971.
Box 4, Folder 7
Assorted reports.
undated.
Subseries 1.5: Financial records.
1957-1975.
Scope and Content
Contains financial reports, memos, records of membership dues, expenses, and tax documents of the Daughters of Bilitis.
Box 4, Folders 8-10
National financial reports.
1957-1968.
Box 4, Folder 11
National financial memos.
1961-1963.
Box 4, Folder 12
Membership lists and dues.
1960-1966.
Box 4, Folder 13
National business expenses.
1974-1975.
Box 4, Folder 14
National Tax Documents.
1963-1965.
Subseries 1.6: Daughters of Bilitis Book Service.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains correspondence, book orders, bibliographies, and records regarding the publication of a recording,
all concerning the Daughters of Bilitis Book Service.
Box 5, Folder 1
Correspondence.
1961-1964.
Box 5, Folder 4
"Lisa Ben" recording.
1960-1961.
Box 5, Folder 5
Homosexual bibliographies.
undated.
Subseries 1.7:
The Ladder and "Sisters".
1956-1976.
Scope and Content
The Ladder was a magazine published by the Daughters of Bilitis from 1956-1972. This subseries mostly contains correspondence to and
from
Ladder readers and officers, arranged chronologically, then alphabetically. Also included is one file on "Sisters," another Daughters
of Bilitis publication.
Box 5, Folders 6-12
Correspondence.
1956-1958.
Box 5, Folder 13
Correspondence: Assorted addresses.
1956-1958.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains general correspondence to all readers and correspondence with addressees without legible names, dated
between 1956 and 1958.
Box 5, Folder 14
Correspondence.
1959-1961.
Box 5, Folder 16
Correspondence:
The Ladder and Daughters of Bilitis.
1963.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from
Ladder officers and Daughters of Bilitis officers, arranged chronologically.
Box 6, Folder 1, Box 5, Folder 17
Box 6, Folder 2
Correspondence: Assorted addressees.
1963.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from
Ladder readers without legible names.
Box 6, Folder 3
Correspondence: Cleo Glenn.
1964.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from Cleo Glenn and
Ladder and Daughters of Bilitis officers, arranged chronologically.
Box 6, Folder 4
Correspondence:
The Ladder and Daughters of Bilitis.
1964-1965.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from
Ladder officers and Daughters of Bilitis officers, arranged chronologically.
Box 6, Folder 5
Correspondence: Layout.
1964.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from
Ladder staff regarding the layout of
The Ladder, arranged chronologically.
Box 6, Folder 9
Correspondence: Assorted addressees.
1964.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains general correspondence without legible or full addressee names.
Box 6, Folder 10
Correspondence.
1965-1967.
Box 6, Folder 11
Correspondence: Del Martin.
1962-1965.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence to and from Del Martin regarding
The Ladder, arranged chronologically.
Box 6, Folder 12
The Ladder: Assorted materials.
1963-1976.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains assorted materials related to the publication of
The Ladder.
Box 6, Folder 13
"Sisters".
circa 1970-1977.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains documents related to the Daughters of Bilitis publication "Sisters," including: a pamphlet from the San
Francisco Chapter publicizing Sisters (undated); a copy of "Sisters" (1971 April), and correspondence to and from readers
and staff.
Subseries 1.8: Assorted documents.
circa 1958-1982.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains assorted records created by the Daughters of Bilitis national organization, as well as President Del
Martin's request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act, and correspondence related to the Blanch M. Baker scholarship
administered by the Daughters of Bilitis.
Box 6, Folder 14
Assorted documents.
circa 1958-1969.
Box 6, Folder 15
Freedom of Information Act documents.
1980-1982.
Box 6, Folder 16
Assorted cards.
circa 1974-1978.
Box 3, Folder 14
Blanch M. Baker Scholarship.
1960-1966.
Scope and Content
Contains assorted correspondence related to the scholarship and Blanch M. Baker's business card.
Series 2: San Francisco Chapter.
circa 1955-1978.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains documents related to the San Francisco Chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis.
Organization and Arrangement
This series is divided into 3 subseries:
- Correspondence, circa 1956-1977
- Administrative files, 1955-1966
- Outreach files, 1961-1978
Subseries 2.1: Correspondence.
circa 1956-1977.
Scope and Content
This folder contains general correspondence to and from the San Francisco Chapter, primarily regarding information about the
organization, arranged chronologically then alphabetically with the exception of the last file, as described below.
Box 7, Folder 1
Correspondence.
circa 1956-1962.
Box 7, Folder 4
Correspondence.
1965-1966.
Box 7, Folder 5
Correspondence.
1967-1969.
Box 7, Folder 11
Correspondence.
1974-1976.
Box 7, Folder 14
Correspondence: Kay Vanderford.
1966.
Scope and Content Note
This folder includes correspondence regarding a legal case against former treasurer, Kay Vanderford, after money entrusted
to her went missing.
Subseries 2.2: Administrative files.
1955-1966.
Scope and Content
This subseries includes minutes from the first meeting of the Daughters of Bilitis (1955 Sept 21), arranged chronologically.
It also includes financial documents, membership lists and records, questionnaires, letterhead, and library inventory, all
produced by the San Francisco Chapter.
Box 8, Folder 1
Meeting minutes.
1955-1959.
Box 8, Folder 2
Meeting minutes.
1960-1963.
Box 8, Folder 4
Meeting minutes.
1965-1966.
Box 8, Folder 5
Financial documents.
1958-1962.
Box 8, Folder 6
San Francisco Chapter membership.
1965-1966.
Box 8, Folder 7
Membership lists.
1967-1968.
Box 8, Folder 8
Moving questionnaire.
1967.
Scope and Content Note
In 1967, the San Francisco Chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis decided to relocate. This folder contains copies of the questionnaire
was sent out to members with several questions designed to determine what type of space they should rent.
Box 8, Folder 9
San Francisco Chapter letterhead.
undated.
Box 8, Folder 10
Library inventory.
undated.
Subseries 2.3: Outreach files.
1961-1978.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains copies of newsletters, flyers for Daughters of Bilits events, and assorted documents related to the
San Francisco Chapter's outreach and relationship with other organizations.
Box 8, Folder 12
Outreach flyers.
1961-1962.
Box 8, Folder 13
Newsletters and future directions.
1969-1978.
Box 8, Folder 14
San Francisco Chapter assorted materials.
1959-1976.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains assorted documents produced by the San Francisco Chapter, including a letter to the editor, a request
for donations, a meeting announcement, assorted correspondence, a "List of Resources," a mailing list, and a tentative calendar
of events, among other records.
Series 3: Other Chapters.
1960-1979.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence, minutes, membership records, financial records, and newsletters from several chapters
of the Daughters of Bilitis. The New York Chapter file contains documents from 1960-1972 and includes minutes, correspondence
with members and other organizations, financial documents, membership applications, and newsletters. The Chicago Chapter file
spans from 1961-1966 and contains administrative files and newsletters. The file for the Los Angeles Chapter, which did not
operate continuously, contains documents from 1960-1971 and includes administrative documents, correspondence, and newsletters.
The documents from the Philadelphia Chapter range from 1967-1968 and include newsletters. The file for the Boston Chapter,
which was the last existing chapter of Daughters of Bilitis, contains documents from 1971-1979 and includes flyers and news
clippings.
Arrangement note
The materials have been arranged from the chapter with the most material to the chapter with the least.
Box 9, Folder 1
New York Chapter minutes.
1965-1966.
Box 9, Folder 2
New York Chapter correspondence.
1960-1967.
Box 9, Folder 3
New York Chapter financial records.
1960-1967.
Box 9, Folders 4-5
New York Chapter membership applications.
1962-1966.
Box 9, Folder 6
New York Chapter newsletters.
1963-1970.
Box 9, Folder 7
Chicago Chapter administrative files.
1961-1966.
Box 9, Folder 8
Chicago Chapter newsletters.
1962-1966.
Box 9, Folder 9
Los Angeles Chapter.
1960-1971.
Box 9, Folder 10
Philadelphia Chapter.
1967-1968.
Box 9, Folder 11
Boston Chapter.
1971-1979.
Series 4: Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Correspondence.
1969-1983.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence to and from Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin regarding their work outside of the Daughters
of Bilitis, primarily after their book
Lesbian/Woman was published. This series does not include correspondence produced by the Daughters of Bilitis national organization or
chapters (although these are mentioned in some letters). Also included are essays written by Del Martin as well as news clippings
and articles related to Martin and Lyon.
Arrangement note
Series arranged alphabetically by subject, with assorted subjects, essays, and news clippings at the end.
Box 10, Folders 1-2
Autobiographical.
1972-1979.
Box 10, Folders 3-4
Coming Out stories.
1969-1982.
Box 10, Folder 6
Isolated lesbians.
1972-1979.
Box 10, Folder 7
Lesbian/Woman publicity.
1972.
Box 10, Folder 8
Lesbian/Woman book reviews.
1972.
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains correspondence regarding book reviews for Lesbian/Woman as well as copies of book reviews.
Box 10, Folder 9
Lesbian/Woman general praise.
1972-1974.
Box 10, Folder 10
Lesbian/Woman correspondence: Men.
1972-1976.
Box 10, Folder 11
Lesbian/Woman correspondence: International.
1970-1982.
Box 10, Folder 12
Married women.
1976-1980.
Box 10, Folder 13
Organizing.
1972-1974.
Physical Description: correspondence
Box 10, Folder 14
Phil Donahue responses: Lesbians and bisexual women.
1972-1983.
Box 11, Folder 1
Phil Donahue responses: Married, straight, and questioning women.
1972-1973.
Box 11, Folder 2
Phil Donahue responses: Religious hate mail.
1972-1973.
Box 11, Folder 3
Phil Donahue responses: Men.
1972-1973.
Box 11, Folder 4
Personal friends.
1969-1976.
Box 11, Folder 5
Professionals.
1972-1979.
Box 11, Folder 9, Box 11, Folder 7
Students, researchers, and writers.
1972-1980.
Box 11, Folders 8-9
Teenagers and young women.
1973-1979.
Box 11, Folders 10-11
Assorted subjects.
1971-1980.
Box 11, Folder 13
News clippings.
1979-1988.
Series 5: Other Organizations.
1958-1986.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains news clippings, administrative records, pamphlets, correspondence, and other records produced by and
about other individuals and organizations that were contemporaneous with the Daughters of Bilitis.
Organization and Arrangement
The first six files in the subseries are arranged alphabetically by name of organization, with one folder containing documents
from assorted organizations. The remaining folders are arranged by individual, then type of material, with assorted materials
at the end.
Box 12, Folder 1
Association for Responsible Citizenship.
1966.
Box 12, Folder 2
Diocese of California.
1964-1967.
Box 12, Folders 3-5
East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO).
1963-1965.
Box 12, Folder 6
National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations: San Francisco.
1966.
Box 12, Folder 7
National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations: Kansas City.
1966.
Box 12, Folder 8
Other organizations.
1958-1985.
Box 12, Folder 9
Jeannette Foster.
1980-1981.
Box 12, Folder 11
Assorted publications.
1963-1971.
Box 12, Folder 12
Poetry collections.
1967.
Box 12, Folder 13
News clippings.
1960-1982.
Box 12, Folder 14
Assorted materials.
circa 1974-1985.
Scope and Content Note
Contains a photograph, a questionnaire, and assorted essays.
