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National Association of Business Councils records
1990-16
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Table of contents
Title: National Association of Business Councils records
Dates: 1979-1987
Collection Number: 1990-16
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 2 linear feet (2 cartons)
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: This collection contains records of the National Association of Business Councils (NABC), a national organization of gay and
lesbian business and professional people, from its incorporation in 1980 to 1987, a year after it was disbanded. It includes
Board and Executive Committee meeting minutes and agendas, committee reports, financial records; membership materials, press
releases, news clippings, subject files and a few photographs.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
[Identification of item]. National Association of Business Councils records. Collection Number: 1990-16. GLBT Historical Society
Biography/Administrative History
The National Association of Business Councils (NABC) was a national organization of gay and lesbian business and professional
people. The NABC was incorporated in 1980 as a nonprofit chamber of commerce representing the interests of its constituent
local business councils. The Golden Gate Business Association was a founding member and its president, Arthur Lazere, played
an active role in NABC’s formation. NABC addressed issues involving the business interests and civil rights of their membership
and the larger LGBT community. Goals included promoting member businesses through mutual support and exchange of ideas; assisting
gay communities to form their own business councils; advocating for business interests and the gay community’s civil rights
at the national level; promulgating standards of excellence and ethical business practices; and utilizing combined purchasing
power. NABC did not participate in partisan or candidate politics. Membership included thousands of LGBT business and professional
people as well as their friends and supporters. NABC’s presidents included Gerald Schiff, Jean O’Leary, Arthur Lazere, Sarah
Craig, Warren G. Kuhn and Anita Gherardi. In May 1986, delegates to the national convention in Wisconsin voted to officially
end NABC on September 30 of that year. Reasons cited included duplication of efforts on a national level and the need for
existing organizations to allocate resources to the AIDS crisis.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection contains records of the National Association of Business Councils (NABC), a national organization of gay and
lesbian business and professional people, from its incorporation in 1980 to 1987, a year after it was disbanded. The collection
contains organizational records, including by-laws, correspondence and memos to and from the group’s leadership, including
presidents Schiff, Lazere, Craig, Kuhn and Gherardi; Board and Executive Committee meeting minutes and agendas; committee
reports, including NABC Racism Committee Report and Proposal; financial records; membership materials; materials related to
chapter development and corporate outreach; press releases; news clippings; subject files; and a few photographs. There is
also substantial material from NABC conventions and member organizations. The member files include newsletters, brochures
and chapter information. The correspondence files include related materials. Subjects covered include internal tensions between
members and the national organization; racism and outreach to lesbians and gays from minority communities; the LGBT consumer
market, including plans to do a demographic (marketing) study; winning an anti-discrimination policy from Miller Brewing Company;
and opposition to the closing of bathhouses and civil rights violations arising from the AIDS epidemic. Original folder titles
were maintained when possible.
The GLBT Historical Society Periodical Collection has NABC newsletter. Interested researchers should also consult the Golden
Gate Business Association records (1990-06) and the Arthur Lazere papers (1993-09).
Golden Gate Business Association