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Society for the Second Self (Tri-Ess) Records
SC.SSS
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Society for the Second Self (Tri-Ess) Records
Creator:
Society for the Second Self
Identifier/Call Number: SC.SSS
Extent:
10.18 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1973-2006
Abstract: Tri-Ess is a non-profit educational,
social, and support group for heterosexual cross-dressers, their partners or spouses, and
their families. The collection contains the records of Tri-Ess and its chapters since its
inception in 1973 through 2006. It includes correspondence, directories, corporate
documents, flyers, ephemera, newsletters, and photographs. There is considerable
documentation on the initial organization of Tri-Ess and numerous publications about
cross-dressing.
Language of Material: English
Tri-Ess is a non-profit educational, social, and support group for heterosexual
cross-dressers, their partners or spouses, and their families. It is international in scope
with over thirty chapters in the United States. Tri-Ess is a member of the World Congress of
Transgender Organizations and the International Foundation for Gender Education.
The story of Tri-Ess and the growth of its movement owes much to the efforts of Virginia
Charles Prince, born Arnold Lowman to an upper-middle class family in Los Angeles during the
fall of 1912. Prince, who identified as heterosexual and later preferred she/her/hers
pronouns, began wearing women's clothes at the age of 12. Publicity stemming from Prince's
divorce and second marriage inspired other cross-dressers to reach out and led to the
formation and development of a support group in Los Angeles. Prince established a national
organization known as Full Personality Expression (FPE) in 1962.
In 1971, Carol Beecroft, a former FPE chapter president, left the organization to form the
Mamselle Sorority, an "open" group for cross-dressers which later merged with FPE in 1976 to
become The Society for the Second Self (Tri-Ess).
The
Society for the Second Self Collection contains the
records of Tri-Ess and its chapters from its inception in 1973 through 2006. The collection
consists of correspondence, directories, corporate documents, flyers, ephemera, newsletters,
and photographs. There is considerable documentation on the initial organization of Tri-Ess
and numerous publications about cross-dressing. The latter part of the collection is
primarily comprised of correspondence between cross-dressers and academics researching the
cross-dressing movement. Correspondents with two or more letters are filed by last name. The
collection is divided into five major series:
Corporate Knowledge
(1973-2000),
Executive Correspondence
(1992-2003),
Publications (1977-2004),
Correspondence (1981-2006), and
Audio-Visual
Materials
(1993).
Series I,
Corporate Knowledge, is divided into five subseries:
Initial Organization of Tri-Ess (1973-2000),
Executive Administration (1985-1998),
Chapter
Administration
(1975-2000),
Chapters (1991-1997), and
Membership Activities (1978-1998). Subseries A, Initial
Organization of Tri-Ess, contains constitutions, chapter bylaws, and personal biographies of
essential personnel. Subseries B, Executive Administration, contains advertisements, Board
of Director minutes, and correspondence. Subseries C, Chapter Administration, consists of
correspondence, bylaws, and charters. Subseries D, Chapters, contains individual chapter
records. Subseries E, Membership Activities, includes directories, newspaper clippings, and
membership records. Each of these subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Series II,
Executive Correspondence, is divided into three
subseries:
Correspondence from the Board of Directors
(1992-2002),
Correspondence to the Board of Directors
(1993-2000),
and Executive Directorship (1993-2003). Each of
these subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Series III,
Publications, includes catalogs, directories,
magazines, and other associated publications, arranged alphabetically by title or
subject.
Series IV,
Correspondence, is divided into two subseries,
Files A-Z (1981-2003) and
Single Letters
(1989-2006). Subseries A, Files A-Z, is arranged alphabetically. Subseries B, Single
Letters, is arranged chronologically.
Series V,
Audio-Visual Materials, primarily consists of audio
cassettes and photographs.
Series I: Corporate Knowledge, 1973-2000
Subseries A: Initial Organization of Tri-Ess, 1973-2000
Subseries B: Executive Administration, 1985-1998
Subseries C: Chapter Administration, 1975-2000
Subseries D: Chapters, 1991-1997
Subseries E: Membership Activities, 1978-1998
Series II: Executive Correspondence, 1992-2003
Subseries A: Correspondence from the Board of Directors, 1992-2002
Subseries B: Correspondence to the Board of Directors, 1993-2000
Subseries C: Executive Directorship, 1993-2003
Series III: Publications, 1977-2004
Series IV: Correspondence, 1981-2006
Subseries A: Files (A-Z), 1981-2003
Subseries B. Single Letters, 1989-2006
Series V: Audio-Visual Materials, 1993
This collection is a part of the
Vern and Bonnie Bullough Collection on Sex and
Gender
.
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not 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.
1997, 1998, 2002
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Tri-Ess, 1994
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
.
guide
Tony Gardner and Kevin Glynn
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Audiovisual materials