Description
The collection consists of administrative records and documents related to the operations of GSGRA, including correspondence,
financial records, meeting notes, member lists, by-laws and handbooks. It also includes non-GSGRA publications, select issues
of LGBTQ+ newspapers and magazines collected by GSGRA containing articles about IGRA and GSGRA.
Background
The Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) is a regional member association of the International Gay Rodeo Association
(IGRA) serving the state of California. Dedicated to the promotion of country western lifestyles and fundraising for community
nonprofits and other service organizations (LGBTQ+ and otherwise), GSGRA has supported the production of gay rodeos, country
western dances, and rodeo education workshops throughout the state. GSGRA's board includes three representatives (and up to
two alternates) elected by each chapter, in addition to state-level officials elected by the general membership. State-level
officials included a president, a vice president of administration, a vice president of rodeo operations, a treasurer, and
a secretary; regional chapters had officials in the same roles to facilitate local activities and produce rodeos. The chapters
represented in the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) Institutional Archives include the Greater Los Angeles Chapter
(GLAC), the Greater San Diego Chapter, the Bay Area Chapter (BAC), the Desert Empire Chapter, and the Greater Palm Springs
Chapter. Three other chapters – the Central Sierra Chapter, the Capital Crossroads Chapter, and the Los Angeles Central Chapter
– are minimally represented in the collection. Only the Bay Area Chapter and the Greater Palm Springs Chapter are still active,
as of January 2024.
Extent
3 Linear Feet
(5 boxes)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives
and fill out the Researcher Application Form. An item-level inventory is available from library staff.