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Finding Aid to the Dusty Pruitt Papers, 1945-2002 Coll2012.029
Coll2012.029  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biography
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Scope and Content
  • Separated Materials
  • Arrangement
  • Related Materials

  • Title: Dusty Pruitt Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.029
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 4.7 linear feet. 2 archive boxes + 3 archive cartons + 1 flat box.
    Date (bulk): Bulk, 1983-1995
    Date (inclusive): 1945-2002, bulk 1983-1995
    Abstract: The Dusty Pruitt Collection is comprised of personal and professional papers (1945-2002, bulk 1983-1995) from minister, Army veteran and activist Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt. The papers include reports, legal briefs, interviews, correspondence, administration records, videocassettes, photographs and clippings from Pruitt related to a 12-year legal dispute with the Department of Defense pertaining to her sexual orientation; a proposed film about Pruitt, entitled A Woman at War; and Pruitt's ministry at the Metropolitan Community Church in Long Beach, California.
    creator: Pruitt, Dusty, 1946-

    Biography

    Carolyn Dusty Pruitt was born on July 19, 1946, in Ballinger, Texas the first of three siblings. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Jacksonville Baptist College in Jacksonville, Texas in 1965. She graduated in 1970 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish with a minor in Education. Pruitt was an Army officer from 1970 to 1983, transferring to the Reserves in 1976. In 1980, she graduated from the Cliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado with a Master of Divinity. She received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California in 1987. Pruitt started her ministry as Assistant Pastor of Agape Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Fort Worth, Texas and Denver, Colorado. She was the pastor of MCC Long Beach, California for 15 years, until 1995. After leaving MCC Long Beach, Ms. Pruitt was pastor for various MCC churches until her retirement in 2001 with 25 years of service.
    In 1983, during her pastoral tenure and her position as a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) defense instructor in the Army Reserve, she gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times, "Pastor Resolves Gay, God Conflict: Church Works to Heal Homosexuals' Religious Scars." The article initiated a review into Ms. Pruitt's character causing her promotion to major to be withdrawn; and she was subsequently honorably discharged. Together, the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund fought a 12-year legal battle which ended in 1995 with Pruitt's reinstatement and promotion to Major, then retirement from the Army Reserve.
    As of 2012, she is the Pastor of Safe Harbor United Church of Christ (UCC) and a hospice chaplain. She lives in Sussex County, Delaware.
    Source: Pruitt, Dusty. "Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt." http://dustypruitt.com (accessed February 23, 2012).

    Access

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

    Publication Rights

    Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt, August 26, 2008.

    Preferred Citation

    Box #, folder #, Pruitt (Dusty) Papers, Coll2012-029, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

    Processing Information

    Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
    Collection processed by Sean Marshall, February 2012.

    Scope and Content

    The Dusty Pruitt papers encompass personal and professional papers from circa 1945 to 2002. The papers are comprised of reports, notes, promotional material, legal papers, interviews, correspondence, periodical clippings, videocassettes, photographs and other material. The bulk of the materials relate to Pruitt's legal proceedings with the Department of Defense, as well as a media project documenting her life titled, A Woman At War. Her ministry with the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Long Beach is documented through a body of textual information as well as video recordings and photographs. Also included are awards and citations from various organizations.

    Separated Materials

    Following has been separated from the collection:
    Newsweek Vol. 120 #11: September 14, 1992; Vol. 121 #5: February 01, 1993

    The Directory --Long Beach, Vol. 152, # 1: June 1994

    City Scan, Spring 1994

    The Female 411, #001

    Island Lifestyle, November 1991

    OUT! magazine, Issue 48: June 1993

    The Hollywood Reporter, Vol 324, # 49, December 08, 1992

    California Lawyer, Vol. 13, #7: July 1993

    Time, Vol. 138, #7: August 19, 1991

    The Advocate, #613: October 06, 1992; #634: July 27, 1993

    The SCWA Newsletter, Vol. 17, #3: June-July, 1993; Vol. 19, #4: August-September, 1995

    The Christian Century, Vol. 110, #19: June-July, 1993

    Los Angeles Dispatch, Vol. 1, #7: February 17, 1988

    On Guard, #14

    The News, Vol. 2, #24: February 19, 1988

    The Daily Breeze, Vol. 91, #279: October 06, 1985

    The Center Post, April, 1992; December, 1992

    The Lesbian News,>, Vol. 16, #3: October, 1990; Vol. 18, #4: November, 1992, Vol. 18, #6: January, 1993; Vol. 18, #8: March, 1993; Vol. 18, #9: April, 1993; Vol. 18, #11: June, 1993; Vol. 18, #12: July, 1993; Vol. 20, #6: January, 1995

    Frontiers, Vol. 11, #14: November 6-20, 1992; Vol. 12, #2: May 21-June 4, 1993

    The Post, April 1993; June 1993

    Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc. Pride Equals Power: Pride Guide 1992

    People For The American Way Press Clips, October-January, 1987-88

    GLAAD/LA Reports 5th Anniversary Issue

    Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club XII Human Rights Awards Banquet, Queen Mary: November 06, 1993

    LLGM Voices of Distinction Benefit

    ONE in Long Beach The First Annual Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Film Festival: 1993

    Arrangement

    The collection is arranged in the following series:

    Related Materials

    Metropolitan Community Church Long Beach collection, Coll2008-039, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Gay military personnel--United States
    Gays in the military--United States
    Gays--Religious life--Long Beach, California
    Lesbian and gay experience
    Lesbians--California--History
    Metropolitan Community Church--Long Beach, California
    Women veterans