Finding Aid for the Lesbian Schoolworkers records, 1977-1978

Processed by Kimberlee Granholm, 2012; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2013
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Lesbian Schoolworkers records
Date (inclusive): 1977-1978
Collection number: 1987
Creator: Lesbian Schoolworkers.
Extent: 1 document box (.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: With a commitment to "fighting racism, sexism, class and oppression within our own movement and this society," the Lesbian Schoolworkers organized in 1977 to defeat the Briggs Initiatives. Their records consist of an organizational history, principles of unity and structure, press releases, leaflets, newsletters, and photographs. The records also contain the drafts and final script for the slideshow, "Don't Let It Happen Here," produced by the Schoolworkers to inform people of the dangers of the Briggs Initiatives.
Language: Finding aid is written in English.
Language of the Material: Materials are in English.
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Provenance unknown. This collection is part of an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the UCLA Library.

Processing Note

Processed by Kimberlee Granholm, 2012.

Sponsor

The June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive  at UCLA is an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives , the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW)  and the UCLA Library . These collections expand the pool of primary source materials available to researchers and to the community at large. This partnership was initiated by CSW and is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to inventory, organize, preserve, and digitize more than eighty Mazer collections pertaining to lesbian and feminist activism and writings.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Lesbian Schoolworkers records (Collection 1987). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 7103359 

Biography/History

With a commitment to "fighting racism, sexism, class and oppression within our own movement and this society," the Lesbian Schoolworkers organized in 1977 to defeat the Briggs Initiatives, Propositions 6 and 7. The organization was among the many to rally against the anti-lesbian and gay bill, but it was among the few groups which actively campaigned against the anti-lesbian and pro-death penalty laws, continually pointing out the relationship between Third World oppression and the oppression of all lesbians.
The Schoolworkers was structured into three primary committees: Media, Outreach, and Fundraising. With a core group of twenty, and over seventy participants, the group planned numerous educational activities, sponsored cultural events, and produced leaflets and newsletters aimed at defeating the legislation. Representatives often went before various civic groups, councils and educational organizations to speak against the measures.
The Schoolworkers are probably best known for their slideshow, "Don't Let It Happen Here." Designed to inform people of the dangers of the Briggs Initiatives, it drew together such crucial struggles as the Bakke case, abortion, death penalty, and women's and lesbian oppression. Amber Hollibaugh, political activist from San Francisco, traveled throughout small Northern California towns presenting the slideshow, participating in public debates with all types of opposition leaders. Throughout the election fight, the Schoolworkers emphasized that the struggle against Proposition 6 was not a single campaign issue or just a fight for civil rights, but "to make it clear to people that we are all suffering at the hands of a common enemy."

Scope and Content

The Lesbian Schoolworker Records consist of an organizational history, principles of unity and structure, press releases, newsletters, and photographs. There is also information about both pro and anti-Briggs organizations; a San Francisco Board of Education study on the possibility of including "gay lifestyle" into school curriculum on family and health studies; and the Oregon State Task Force of 1977 report, which collected "information on homosexual men and women in Oregon in order to make recommendations on legislation and administrative policies that would ensure the civil rights of all Oregonians."

Organization and Arrangement

Materials are arranged according to subject.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Lesbian Schoolworkers --Archives.
Lesbian teachers --United States --Archival resources.
Homosexuality and education --United States --History --20th century --Archival resources.

Related Material

Refer to Title the Coalition for Human Rights (Los Angeles) Records, housed in the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.

Box 1, Folder 1

Proposition 6 and 7, Senator John Briggs. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Information regarding proposition 6&7, proposed by Senator John Briggs.
Box 1, Folder 2

History of Principles of Unity. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

History and principles of unity, including organizational structure, purposes and goals.
Box 1, Folder 3

Committee structure. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes

Scope and Content Note

Committee structure, including stipulated tasks and projects.
Box 1, Folder 4

Fundraising. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes

Scope and Content Note

Fundraising applications and information pertaining to Vanguard Public Foundation.
Box 1, Folder 5

Script rough-drafts. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes

Scope and Content Note

Rough drafts of scripts discussing Senator Briggs, myths about gays, and schools' treatment/perception of gays.
Box 1, Folder 6

Final Script and Presentation Tips. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Contains a final script of "Don't Let It Happen Here," tips on presenting the slide show, tips on group presentations/discussion, and a pamphlet on Proposition 6-specific public speaking.
Box 1, Folder 7

Speeches, Press Releases, Outreach. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes, letters

Scope and Content Note

Speeches, press releases and outreach letters of the Lesbian Schoolworkers and Gay Teachers Schoolworkers.
Box 1, Folder 8

Legal information on Marches/Arrests. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes, book photocopies

Scope and Content Note

Contains legal information relating to marches and arrests (specifically for election night), as well as information on city municipal codes and ordinances.
Box 1, Folder 9

Drafts of logos and leaflets. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Drawings, paste-ups

Scope and Content Note

Drafts of logos and leaflets, including paste-ups and hand-drawn art.
Box 1, Folder 10

Leaflets. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Contains election night chant lists and leaflets for events related to the Briggs initiatives or sponsored by the Lesbian Schoolworkers.
Box 1, Folder 11

Newsletter. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Newsletters, printed material, handwritten notes and forms

Scope and Content Note

Contains Vol. 1, No. 1 and No. 3 issues of the Gay Teachers and School Workers Coalition newsletter, a list of labor-related newsletters and organizations, and 3 mailing list/donation responses.
Box 1, Folder 12

Media Mailing Lists. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, notes

Scope and Content Note

Media mailing lists related to school, labor, and "third world" groups.
Box 1, Folder 13

Gay Teachers Schoolworkers Coalition. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Documents related to Gay Teachers and School Workers Coalition, including history/purpose statements and letterheads.
Box 1, Folder 14

San Francisco Teachers Association. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed material, letters

General note

San Francisco Classroom Teachers Association statements of official position and two typed letters regarding the Briggs initiatives.
Box 1, Folder 15

Other Organizations Against Proposition 6. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials, pamphlets

Scope and Content Note

Contents include information related to other organizations or events against Proposition 6.
Box 1, Folder 16

Other Organizations--General information and flyers. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Collection of flyers and general information printed material from similar or affiliated organizations.
Box 1, Folder 17

Right-wing literature. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Printed materials

Scope and Content Note

Right-wing literature, including an information sheet on the California Defend Our Children initiative (Proposition 6), a statement and letter from Senator Briggs, and a petition booklet.
Box 1, Folder 18

"Gay Lifestyles and the Family Life Curriculum". 1977 February 24.

Physical Description: Printed report

Scope and Content Note

San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education's "Gay Lifestyles and the Family Life Curriculum."
Box 1, Folder 19

"Oregon Task Force of 1977 Report". 1977.

Physical Description: Printed report

Scope and Content Note

State of Oregon, Department of Human Resources's "Preliminary Report of the Task Force on Sexual Preference to the Oregon State Legislature, 1977."
Box 1, Folder 20

Photographs. 1977-1978.

Physical Description: Photographs, scans

Scope and Content Note

Contains photographs, including shots of marches/demonstrations, classroom teaching and interactions, and a martial art event.