Finding Aid to the Donald A. Ferguson Papers, 1979-1994 Coll2014.014

Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
(c) 2014


Title: Donald A. Ferguson papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.014
Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 2.7 linear feet. 1 archive box + 1 archive carton + 1 archive flat box.
Date (inclusive): 1974-1994
Abstract: Board of directors materials, bylaws, administrative committee records, correspondence, conference material, financial records, event and program records, newsletter copy, and publicity material, 1979-1994, from gay activist Donald A. Ferguson, who served on the boards for the Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association (also known as Triangle Project) and the Whitman-Brooks Foundation.
creator: Donald A. Ferguson

Biography

"During the late '70s, through the '80s, and into the early '90s, I was an active member of a number of gay and lesbian organizations in Los Angeles. Most notable, I suppose, would be the Whitman-Brooks Foundation, the first and largest co-sexual gay and lesbian organization providing guidance in coming out, a training program for potential community activists, and education about gay and lesbian issues at two or three major conferences each year held at [University of California, Los Angeles], [University of Southern California], and Occidental College. I served as chair of Whitman-Brooks for several years in the late '80s."
In the 1980s, Ferguson served as chairperson of Whitman-Brooks and was presented with award recognitions in 1985 and 1994.
"The other organization in which I participated was the Triangle Project, the first community organization to address the problem of homeless gay/lesbian youth as well as other youth in need of sympathetic foster homes. For a number of years, we recruited men and women from the community to become licensed and to serve as foster parents for youth referred to us by numerous agencies including the Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services. In the early '90s, due to faltering sources of funding, the Triangle Project was absorbed by GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services)."
Source: Letter from Donald A. Ferguson, dated May 12, 2007.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.

Acquisition

Donated by Donald A. Ferguson, May 12, 2007 and an earlier unknown date.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder #, or item name] Donald A. Ferguson Papers, Coll2014-014, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Processing Information

Formerly boxes A253, 103-246, and 103-262. Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, March 2014.

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises administrative records, 1979-1994, from gay activist Donald A. Ferguson, who served on the boards for the Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association (also known as Triangle Project) and the Whitman-Brooks Foundation. Included in the Triangle Project's records are bylaws, board of directors minutes, correspondence, publicity material, guidelines and training material for foster parents, and other material documenting their activities, circa 1977-1989. The Whitman-Brooks Foundation's records include board of director minutes and related material, conference and seminar materials, administrative committees records, financial records, event records, and materials documenting collaboration with the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles (MECLA), 1979-1994.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association
Series 2. Whitman-Brooks Foundation

Separated Materials

The following have been separated from the collection and cataloged in ONE's periodical collection and library, respectively:
The Triangle Project Newsletter, 1986-1988 [6 issues].
Wittels, Anne, Ms.ery, Beverly Hills, CA: Wollstonecraft, Inc., 1973.

Administrative History

The Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association (also known as Triangle Project) was founded circa 1986 and worked to provide gay and lesbian youth with nurturing foster homes. Among the Triangle Project's activities was training potential gay and lesbian foster parents, and working with agencies such as the Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services to provide homes for at-risk youth. In 1989, the Triangle Project merged with the Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), which led to disagreements regarding the organization's overall mission. Most of Triangle Projects' original members left, and GLASS went on to become a for-profit housing and service organization, which later dissolved in 2008.

Administrative History

The Whitman-Brooks Foundation was founded in March 1979 as a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to providing education and support for coming out; providing leadership training for emerging gay and lesbian activists; and fostering a positive gay and lesbian identity for its members. Whitman-Brooks' activities included hosting annual conferences attended by community leaders, educators, and mental health professionals; holding on-going rap sessions and community seminars in a "non-threatening" environment; and providing scholarships and other services.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Triangle Gay & Lesbian Foster Parent Association.
Whitman-Brooks Foundation.
Coming out (sexual orientation)
Foster parents
Gay activists
Gay and lesbian rights
Gay parents
Gays--Education
Lesbian and gay experience
Lesbians--Education
Minutes

 

Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association circa 1977-1989

Series Description

This series comprises bylaws, board of directors minutes, correspondence, publicity material, guidelines and training material for foster parents, and other material documenting the activities of the Triangle Gay and Lesbian Foster Parent Association (also known as the Triangle Project), circa 1977-1989, in which Donald Ferguson served as a board member.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 1-2

Board of directors 1985-1989

Box 2, Folder 3

Bylaws and related material 1976-1988

Box 2, Folder 4-5

Clippings 1985-1989

Box 2, Folder 6

Correspondence 1987-1989

Box 2, Folder 7

Flyers, publicity, and mailers 1986-1988

Box 2, Folder 8

Foster Parent Advisory Committee; Association directory and guidelines 1987-1989

Box 2, Folder 9

Other organizations, brochures circa 1977-1989

 

Whitman-Brooks Foundation 1979-1994

Series Description

This series comprises Whitman-Brooks Foundation's board of director minutes and related material, conference and seminar materials, administrative committee records, financial records, event records, and materials documenting collaboration with the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles (MECLA), 1979-1994.

Arrangement

Materials in this series were originally stored in binders. The contents of the binders have been foldered in their original order and provided titles based on the bulk of the contents. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 3

Award plaque and recognition certificates to Don Ferguson 1985, 1994

Box 1, Folder 1-8

[Binder #1-5] Board of directors notes 1979-1989

Box 1, Folder 9

[Binder #6] Community issues seminars; Southern California Men's Group 1980-1988

Box 1, Folder 10-12

[Binder #7] Conferences 1979-1989

Box 1, Folder 13-14

[Binder #8] Financial; committees administration 1982-1987

Box 1, Folder 15-16

[Binder #9] Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles (MECLA) 1990-1993

Box 1, Folder 17

[Binder #10] Newsletter material 1986-1990

Box 1, Folder 18-19

[Binder #11] Raps, events, miscellaneous 1979-1992