Collection Guide
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Sylvester Collection
GLC 101
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Table of contents
Title: Collection on Sylvester
Date (inclusive): 1979-1998, undated
Identifier/Call Number: GLC 101
Physical Description:
3 folders
(2 legal folders, 1 oversized folder)
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
Abstract: Sylvester James, Jr. (September 6, 1947–December 16, 1988), better known as Sylvester, was an American disco and soul singer-songwriter.
He was known for his flamboyant and androgynous appearance. The collection contains photographs of Sylvester taken at a performance
at the War Memorial Opera House (San Francisco), March 11, 1979; at an Atlanta AIDS Benefit, January 31, 1983; at his birthday
party, September 10, 1983; and four portraits that were probably used for publicity purposes. In addition, there is a press
kit for a documentary on his life, and proclamations from San Francisco mayors Dianne Feinstein and Art Agnos regarding celebrations
in his honor.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in
English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours.
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. Copyright retained
by photographers.
[Identification of item], Collection on Sylvester (GLC 101), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photographs 1-6 were donated by Monica Wynn, February 2005. Photographs 7 and 8 were found in ephemera files with no provenance
information. The proclamations were donated by Barbara Smookler, May 2011. The provenance of the press kit is unknown.
Sylvester James, Jr. (September 6, 1947-December 16, 1988), better known as Sylvester, was an American disco and soul singer-songwriter.
He lived in San Francisco and performed with the Cockettes in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was known for his flamboyant
and androgynous appearance. He died of AIDS on December 16, 1988.
The collection contains photographs of Sylvester taken at a performance at the War Memorial Opera House (San Francisco), March
11, 1979; at an Atlanta AIDS Benefit, January 31, 1983; at his birthday party, September 10, 1983; and four portraits that
were probably used for promotional purposes. In addition, there is a press kit for the documentary
Do You Wanna Funk: the Life and Times of Sylvester
, and proclamations from San Francisco mayors Dianne Feinstein and Art Agnos regarding celebrations to honor of Sylvester.
Arranged by format: Photographs, Subject File, and Certificates. Arranged in chronological order within each folder.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sylvester
Sylvester -- Pictorial works