Collection Guide
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Sahl (Ted) Addition
MSS.2022.03.16
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Ted Sahl Addition
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2022.03.16
Physical Description:
2 Box
(1.96 linear ft.)
Date (inclusive): 1898-2013
Abstract: The Ted Sahl Addition was originally comprised of 16 scrapbooks created by photojournalist Ted Sahl on Bay Area social justice
movements, 2012 election coverage, presidential memorabilia, local LGBTQ+ history, and Black history. A majority of the scrapbooks
comprise of materials from unpublished photo essays, including negatives, photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence,
and notes. Other scrapbooks contain the postcards, buttons, and photographs Ted Sahl collected on U.S. presidents, the United
Farm Workers movement, and World War II.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Ted Sahl Addition contains unpublished scrapbook and memorabilia collections assembled by Ted Sahl that reflect his career
documenting political and social movements across the country. The items in this collection are companions to The Ted Sahl
Archives: A Collection of San José Gay and Lesbian History and The Ted Sahl Social Justice Collection. The bulk of the material
dates from 2010-2013 and consists of Bay Area newspaper clippings assembled into scrapbooks that reflect public opinions of
social issues, especially the 2012 United States presidential election and the overturning of Proposition 8, which banned
same-sex marriage in California. Other scrapbooks contained large collections of negatives, prints, and flyers from photo
essays on Black communities in the Bay Area, street scenes, and images from protests throughout the Bay from 1977-2007. There
are also numerous miniature portraits of Bay Area activists, LGBTQ+ royal family title holders, celebrities, and the executive
directors of the Billy DeFrank Community Center over a period of 30 years. Several scrapbooks labeled "Book II on History,"
contained further information on the local LGBTQ+ movement and comprise of flyers, letters, postcards, book excerpts, and
photographs. Ted Sahl also acquired postcards, buttons, flyers, and photographs of United States Presidents, cartoon postcards
from World War II, and letters and postcards released by the United Farm Workers labor union.
This collection is arranged alphabetically in three series: Series I. Black History; Series II. LGBTQ+ Bay Area History; Series
III. Political History.
Theodore (Ted) Sahl is an award winning photographer in San José, California. Sahl has spent the last 30 years as a photojournalist,
documenting social and political events in the Bay Area. Although best known for his involvement with the gay and lesbian
community (GLBT), he also covered the anti-nuclear demonstrations at the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory, and the
Farm Labor Strikes that occurred during the 1970's.
Sahl's long time association with the GLBT community began in 1978 after a bitter dispute took place between the gay community
and members of the Christian right. Local Christian groups were upset over the San José City Council's decision to issue a
proclamation in support of Gay Pride Week. While the Christian groups mobilized against the City Council, the gay community
held a rally in support of Gay Pride Week. Intrigued by the grassroots activism and interested in recording the event, Sahl
attended the protest and thereby launched a life long career documenting the GLBT community.
Initially, the GLBT community distrusted Sahl's motives as a heterosexual outsider. At that time, many individuals in the
gay community were still "closeted" and did not wish to be photographed. Over the next three decades however, Sahl gained
the trust of the GLBT community and today is widely recognized for his work as a photojournalist and as an outspoken advocate
for gay rights.
Sahl served as the staff photographer for a number of local GLBT newspapers including the Lambda News, South Bay Times, Our
Paper and Valley Views. His photographs have appeared in a number of works, including a 1999 San José Mercury News documentary
on the city's lesbian and gay community, entitled "A Community of One." In 1981, the San Francisco Cable Car Award Association
nominated Sahl for an award in photojournalism. He was also the recipient of an honorable mention in Advocate magazine's National
Photo Contest in the "People" category and has the distinction of being the only heterosexual to ever become the President
of the Board of the San José Gay Pride Celebration Committee.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives as the owner 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. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Ted Sahl Addition, MSS-2022-03-16, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Eilene Lueck on May 19, 2022.
Ted Sahl Archives: A Collection of San José Gay and Lesbian History, MSS-2001-01-01, San José State University Library, Special
Collections & Archives.
Ted Sahl Social Justice Collection, MSS-2010-10-25, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photojournalism -- California -- San Jose
Photojournalists
Gays -- California -- Santa Clara County -- History.
Gays -- Political activity -- California -- Santa Clara County
Presidents -- United States
World War II -- History
African Americans -- California -- 20th century
Memorabilia.
Postcards.