Finding Aid to Denise Apcar papers on Dan White,
1974-2011,
SFH 625
Finding aid prepared by Tami J Suzuki.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Feb. 12, 2022
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Denise Apcar papers on Dan White,
Date (inclusive): 1974-2011,
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 625
Creator:
Apcar, Denise (Denise V. Apcar), 1955-2020
Physical Description:
3 boxes
(2 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Abstract: Contains Denise Apcar's statements to police following the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk;
Apcar's journal-like statement describing the days leading up to the killings; correspondence with Dan White while imprisoned;
photos of a jaihouse visit with White; an incomplete manuscript of Apcar's memoir; news clips and news audio; and material
on related theatrical and screen productions.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Denise Apcar Papers on Dan White (SFH 625), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
Received from Leonard M. Apcar, brother of Denise Apcar, on Oct. 9, 2020. Additional materials received from Rebecca Carter,
friend of Denise Apcar, on Jan. 5, 2021.
Related Materials
See also Dan White Correspondence, SFH 350 (MSS 28/7); the Mike Weiss
Double Play Collection (SFH 34); the book by Mike Weiss,
Double Play, The San Francisco City Hall Killings,
c1984; and the second edition by Weiss,
Double Play, The Hidden Passions Behind the Double Assassination of George Moscone and Harvey Milk,
2010. Researchers are encouraged to see also the Harvey Milk Archives--Scott Smith Collection (GLC 35).
Separated Materials
The following items were transferred to the library's catalog:
Double Play, the San Francisco City Hall Killings,
by Mike Weiss, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., c1984.
VHS copy of
Execution of Justice, The True Story of the Assassination of Harvey Milk,
Showtime/Paramount Pictures, 1999.
Biographical Statement
Denise Varak Apcar was an administrative assistant to Supervisors John J. Barbegelata and Dan White, from [1977] to 1978.
She was a key witness in White's trial for the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk on Nov. 27,
1978.
Born in 1955 in San Mateo, CA, Apcar grew up in San Carlos with a brother, Leonard. She matriculated from the University of
California, Los Angeles [in 1977] and soon began working for Barbegelata who retired from the board on Jan. 9, 1978, when
Dan White was sworn in. She was an aide to Dan White throughout his tenure as supervisor for District 8.
She wrote (in a book proposal letter of April 12, 1979 to Howard Cady of William Morrow & Company) that she had landed the
"'job of her dreams' right out of college and meets this young, idealistic, 'Kennedy-like' political newcomer, who instantly
captivates her with his wit, Irish charm, and intelligence, and with grandiose ideas to unify a divided San Francisco." She
intimated that she was not able to put the horror of the tragedies behind her. In 2003, she drafted five chapters of a memoir
that was never completed nor published.
After leaving City Hall in 1978, Apcar worked in marketing and public relations. She died of an illness on March 31, 2020.
Scope and Contents
Contains Denise Apcar's statements to police following the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk;
Apcar's journal-like statement describing the days leading up to the killings; correspondence with White while imprisoned;
photos of a jaihouse visit with White; an incomplete manuscript of Apcar's memoir; news clips and news audio; and material
on related theatrical and screen productions.
Some communications highlights follow. Apcar detailed this point regarding White's confession: "The keys he got from me were
for the private entry door to the Supervisor's [sic] offices. This means he planned ahead to see Harvey Milk—which is not
what he said in his confession." (Memo to Steve Burleigh, Daly Harris Productions, undated [1998?], regarding the
Execution of Justice
movie contract.) Her statement to police (of Nov. 27, 1978) and [1979?] personal statement also note that she gave White the
private entry key while in the car, per his request.
Apcar wrote to Burleigh in another undated [1998?] memo: "I think you'll find this article of interest. This is the crucial
juncture and reason why I distanced myself from the White family. I continued to correspond with Dan in prison but that was
it." The referenced article was not with the memo.
In a letter to Anne [possibly Anne Kronenberg, Milk's aide], April 22, 1979, Apcar stated, "A lot has been written about Dan
that just isn't true…I know that it was only that Harvey and Dan differed in 'approach' on that subject [the gay freedom movement]
than anything else, and because of their common trait of stubbornness."
Correspondence with White of May 7, 1979 includes a note of support during the trial.
A letter from White to Apcar, dated Sept. 5, 1979, was upbeat and appreciative, although he noted, "Prison is such an unfriendly
environment…I have never been in such an unfriendly environment."
In a lengthy letter to White dated Feb. 21, 1980, Apcar refers to being close friends in 1978, wanting to be honest, and now
understanding his mental illness and other problems. She also told him how she long agonized over what she could have done,
presumably to help him and prevent the tragedies.
The collection includes an undated statement by Apcar, leading up to the killings and during the trial, to May 2, 1979. The
statement is comprised of a set of typed originals with handwritten corrections. This was likely referred to as a journal
or diary in correspondence with book publishers in 1979.
In a book proposal letter to a William Morrow editor in April of 1979, Apgar communicated that her book would offer "a rare
glimpse into the personality of a young man…who inspired tremendous loyalty in his staff, constituents and family members…"
Her story would go beyond White's actions, providing a "slice of life--mine, Dan White's, George Moscone's and Harvey Milk's--which
happens to have a very tragic ending." She shared, two years later (with
San Francisco Examiner reporter Jim Wood), that she still felt a burden as to all she knew. She did not receive a book deal nor article placement.
In October of 1999, Apcar wrote to the
San Francisco
magazine editor, "Until now, I have never spoken publicly about my views…because…I did not believe my story or point of view
would ever be treated with equal respect." A few years later, she drafted five chapters of a memoir. However, she did not
publish either an article or book.
Arrangement
Organized into three series: Series 1. City Hall, Series 2. Personal, and Series 3. Media. Arranged chronologically.
Technical Requirements
Includes audio cassettes, a VHS cassette, and vinyl music discs.
Processing Information
Processed by Tami J. Suzuki in 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Apcar, Denise (Denise V. Apcar), 1955-2020 -- Archives.
White, Dan, 1946-1985.
Murder -- California -- San Francisco -- Case studies.
Murderers -- California -- San Francisco -- Biography.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History.
Box 1
Series 1
City Hall,
1977-1978
Scope and Contents
Contains a handful of Apcar's files as an aide to Supervisors John Barbegelata and Dan White.
Aide to Supervisor John J. Barbegelata,
1977
Proposition B Paper (At-large Elections)
Aide to Supervisor Dan White,
1977-1978
New Board News Clips,
1977-1978
Youth Campus,
January-April, 1978
Recall Attempts of White and Moscone,
1978
Legislation,
November 1978
Resignation and Reinstatement Attempt,
November 1978
Miscellaneous, Including Separation Papers,
1978
Box 1
Series 2
Personal,
1974-2003
Scope and Contents
Documents Apcar's recollection of days leading up to the killings, her testimony, correspondence with White, and her memoir
which was not published. Includes photos of a jailhouse visit on the occasion of his son's first birthday.
Daily Bruin By-line,
Nov. 5, 1974
Photo Album,
October 1977-Nov. 2, 1978
Statements to Police,
Nov. 27-28, 1978
Letters to White (Copies),
January 1979-August 1980
Letter to Anne [Kronenberg?],
April 22, 1979
Apcar Testifies,
April 23, 1979
Book Proposal Letters,
1979-1981
Statement with Notes on Aftermath,
[1979?]
Physical Description:
54 Leaves
Physical Description:
83 Leaves
Note
Removed from binder.
Trial Notes,
March 1979-[May 1979?]
Note
Removed from binder, following Statement and Notes on Aftermath.
Photocopies of Statement and Notes on Aftermath,
[1979?]
Physical Description:
54 Leaves
Physical Description:
77 Leaves
Photographs of Hall of Justice Jailhouse Visit,
[June 13, 1979]
Note
Photographs removed from album.
Letter From Dan White,
Sept. 5, 1979
Personal Expenses Related to Dan White,
1978-1979
Interview Requests,
1980-1982
Execution of Justice
(Showtime) Movie Contracts,
1998-2000
Material Specific Details: Includes a photograph of the movie's executives and the actress who portrayed Apcar. Gloves are required.
Note
Apcar provided technical assistance to the production.
Proposal Letters to Magazines,
October-November, 1999
Book Draft,
2002
Note
Pages 2 and 3 of six pages.
Memoir/Manuscript, Incomplete,
2003
KRON-TV Release for Moscone-Milk Program,
2003
Series 3
Media,
1977-2011
Scope and Contents
Documents news stories of the killings and trial, as well as White's suicide. Also covers theatrical and screen productions
as well as some music recordings. Includes a related oral history and a manuscript, perhaps of a book.
Box 1
Selected Clips,
1977-1984
Note
Removed from binder.
Box 1
Killings,
Nov. 28-Dec. 17, 1978
Physical Description:
3 folders
Box 1
Moscone Service,
Nov. 30, 1978
Box 1
White's Confession,
December 1978
Box 1
New Mayor,
December 1978-January 1979
Box 1
Pre-Trial,
January-April, 1979
Box 2
Trial,
April-May, 1979
Physical Description:
3 folders
Box 2
Confession,
May-July 1979
Box 2
Verdict,
May-June, 1979
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 2
Sentencing,
June-July 1979
Box 2
Post-Verdict,
June-October 1979
Box 2
One-Year Memorial,
Nov. 28, 1979
Box 2
Prison Release,
April 1983-January 1984
Box 2
White's Suicide,
October 1985-October 1986
Box 2
Examiner
Series on City Politics,
March 1987
Box 2
Mike Weiss Article,
San Francisco
magazine,
October 1998
Box 2
20-Year Anniversary,
1998-1999
Box 3
Television Coverage,
1978-1979
Audio Cassettes of Confession, Television Talk Show and News Reports,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
8 Cassettes
Note
Likely recorded off the air.
Audio Cassettes of Television News Stories of Verdict Rection,
May 24-24, 1979
Physical Description:
3 Cassettes
Note
Likely recorded off the air.
Box 3
Productions, Monographs, and Music,
1979-2011
Vinyl Music Discs of
Twinkie Insanity,
Art Peterson, 1979 and Brain Damage's
Kill Dan White Party Tape,
1985
Physical Description:
3 items
VHS cassette,
People vs. Dan White Docudrama, Dobbins, KQED, 1983; and
The Times of Harvey Milk
documentary, Rob Epstein, Black Sand Productions, 2011
Note
Likely recorded off the air.
Dan White Incident
Playbill, Illustrated Stage Company,
1983
Official Dan White Souvenir Coloring Book,
1984
Execution of Justice
Playbill, Arena Stage,
1985
Milk
Movie Publicity,
2009
Rick Laubscher's Oral History,
Aug. 9, 2016
Manuscript by Hav Gefter,
no date
