Black and White Men Together San Francisco Bay Area records

Title: Black and White Men Together San Francisco Bay Area records

Dates: 1980-1994

Collection Number: 1991-04

Creator/Collector: BWMT-SFBA

Extent: 3.8 linear feet

Repository: GLBT Historical Society

Abstract: These records document the history and political, social and cultural work of Black and White Men Together (BWMT) San Francisco Bay Area, the National Association of Black and White Men Together and Bay Area HIV Support and Educational Services, as well as that of two affiliated organizations, the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention and Men of All Colors Together Greater Bay Area (MACT GBA). There are also materials from local and international chapters of BWMT, photographs and subject files.

Language of Material: English

The collection is open for research. Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

[Identification of item]. Black and White Men Together San Francisco Bay Area records. Collection Number: 1991-04. GLBT Historical Society

Gift of Lee Y. Woo in May 1993.

Formed in San Francisco in 1980 by Mike Smith, Black and White Men Together (BWMT) originated as a consciousness-raising and support group for gay men involved in or interested in multiracial relationships. A national organization grew from the San Francisco chapter, as groups were soon established across the United States. Early chapters included Boston, Chicago, Kansas City and New York. The first national convention was held in 1981 in San Francisco. In 1996, BWMT San Francisco Bay Area (BWMT SFBA) changed its name to Men of All Colors Together; the change was retroactive to November 1995. The Bay Area was also home to a second chapter, MACT Greater Bay Area (MACT GBA), which was founded in 1989. The National Task Force on AIDS Prevention (NTFAP) was a San Francisco-based advocacy, educational and outreach group that specifically targeted queer men of color. Officially founded in July of 1988, it originated as a program of the National Association of Black and White Men Together (NABWMT) and was preceded by AIDS education and support work carried out by BWMT chapters across the country. The San Francisco Chapter of BWMT formed its AIDS Task Force in 1985. This evolved into a non-profit AIDS service provider, Bay Area HIV Support and Education Services (BAHSES) by the late 1980s. NTFAP originally organized under BAHSES and contracts were secured under its non-profit status. In 1992 NTFAP received its own non-profit status and direct ties between it and BAHSES began to unravel. BAHSES eventually closed in early 1994. In the late 1990s NTFAP had a financial crisis that unexpectedly destroyed the organization. It closed in 1998.

The collection appears to be comprised of the office files of Lee Y. Woo, who served as co-chair of the Board of Directors of Black and White Men Together San Francisco Bay Area (BWMT SFBA), director of the National Association of Black and White Men Together (NABWMT), chair of the Board of Men of All Colors Together Greater Bay Area and executive director of the Bay Area HIV Support and Education Services (BAHSES). These records document the history and political, social and cultural work of BWMT SFBA, NABWMT and BAHSES, as well as that of two affiliated organizations, the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention and Men of All Colors Together Greater Bay Area (MACT GBA). There are also materials from local and international chapters, photographs and subject files. The collection is divided into 9 series: NABWMT records; NTFAP records; BWMT SFBA records; MACT GBA records; BAHSES records; Local and Regional Chapter records; International Association of Black and White Men Together (IABWMT) and International Chapter records; Photographs; and Subject Files. Original order and folder titles were maintained when possible and reflect internal file arrangements dictated by the BAHSES-BWMT/MACT Policy and Procedures Manual. Types of materials in the collection are varied. They include organizational records; correspondence and memos; materials related to the Board of Directors and other committees; financial records; materials related to conferences and conventions; mailing lists, membership and election materials; personnel records; photographs; materials related to programs and activities; publicity materials; reports; ephemera; and news clippings. The GLBT Historical Society Periodical Collection holds a complete run of the San Francisco Chapter newsletter, partial runs of newsletters from many regional chapters and newsletters and journals published by the national organization. Researchers should also consult the Men of All Colors Together San Francisco Bay Area records (2000-64), National Association of Black and White Men Together records (2001-21) and National Task Force on AIDS records (2000-59). There is a great deal of overlap in all these collections. GSSO linked terms: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000374; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_003728; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_007675; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_001039; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_001601; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_006371