William A. Longen videotape collection
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS
GLBT Historical Society
2023
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
http://www.glbthistory.org/
Title: William A. Longen videotape collection
Dates: 1977-1997
Collection Number: 2008-31
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 5 cartons (5 linear feet)
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: The William A. Longen videotape collection contains various videotape formats (U-matic, Betacam, and VHS) from KTVU news segments
documenting LGBTQ communities and events within the Bay Area, from 1977 to 1997.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research. Funding for processing this collection was provided by a grant from the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Managing
Archivist at the GLBT Historical Society. Permission to publish is given on behalf of the Historical Society as the owner
of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be
obtained from the copyright owner.
[Identification of item]. William A. Longen videotape collection. Collection Number: 2008-31. GLBT Historical Society
Gift of William Longen in 2006.
Biography/Administrative History
William “Bill” Longen is a long-time film and television editor whose work for KTVU from 1977-1997 helped document and publicize
numerous LGBTQ events and topics to audiences throughout the Bay Area, including events like the White Night Riots, Gay Games,
and HIV March. Working for KTVU, Longen took it upon himself to set aside the raw tapes of any news segments that reported
on gay topics, so that segments would be preserved and tapes would not be recorded over and reused for future segments. In
doing so, he managed to collect over 20 years of footage documenting LGBTQ life in the Bay Area with the hope of educating
LGBT young people about the community's past.
Scope and Content of Collection
The William A. Longen videotape collection contains various videotape formats (U-matic, Betacam, and VHS) from KTVU news segments
documenting LGBTQ communities and events within the Bay Area, from 1977 to 1997. Content ranges from footage and interviews
at LGBTQ marches, festivals, and parades to more documentary style segments focusing on HIV/AIDS support groups, the 1996
San Francisco gay “marriage” event, and professional gay matchmakers. Videotapes have been digitized (with the exception of
“Boy Scouts, 1984”; “Exotic Erotic Valentine Ball, 1997”; and “Oakland Ballet Fund Raiser, 1985”) and have been assigned a
unique identification number which corresponds to the videotape’s digital file. Videotapes are contained in 5 cartons and
arranged consecutively by the digitization number assigned by the GLBT Historical Society. Titles have been derived from the
texts on videos. GSSO linked terms: http://semanticscience.org/resource/SIO_000297; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_008514
Motion pictures
Television
Film/Video
Media