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Finding aid of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, October 11, 1987, Records
Coll2008-002  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing Information
  • Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Arrangement
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, October 11, 1987, records
    Dates: 1984-1991
    Bulk Dates: (bulk 1987)
    Collection number: Coll2008-002
    Creator: National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights Washington, DC, Office
    Collection Size: 40 archive cartons + 2 shoeboxes + 2 oversize boxes + 1 poster drawer. 17 linear feet.
    Repository: ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
    Los Angeles, California 90007
    Abstract: Administrative, financial, programmatic and follow-up records of the national office of the March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights, held on October 11, 1987.
    Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

    Access

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

    Publication Rights

    Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).

    Preferred Citation

    National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, October 11, 1987, records, Coll2008-002, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

    Acquisition Information

    The records of the March were conveyed to the International Gay and Lesbian Archives in Los Angeles by Lee Bush, administrator of the March, in January 1990.

    Processing Information

    Formerly boxes 103-128, 103-238, 103-244, 103-250, 103-253, 103-258, 103-260, 103-261, 103-263, 103-264, 103-265, 103-269, 103-286, and 103-287. Collection processed by Ken Megill, CA, and Lawrence Tan, December 13, 2007; finding aid prepared by Michael P. Palmer, February 22, 2008.
    Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

    Administrative History

    The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights was held October 11, 1987. It was one of the largest, if not the largest, demonstration held in Washington, DC, with an estimated 750,000 people attending. The march was organized around the theme: "For Love and for Life, We're Not Going Back!"

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The records of the national office of the March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights (1987) include administrative, financial, programmatic and follow-up records. The March on Washington had a surplus of $87,028.42, according to an income statement dated December 31, 1987, of which $67,000 was distributed to 34 organizations around the country. The collection contains the applications from the various organizations which demonstrate the breadth of the gay and lesbian movement at the time. In addition to records of the March itself, the collection contains records of five days of auxiliary activities, which included The Wedding of several hundred couples in front of the Justice Department, the first national display of the Quilt by the Names Project, civil disobedience in front of the Supreme Court building and meetings of many groups, including the first national meeting of gay and lesbian archivists. The collection includes hundreds of responses of individual supporters with names, addresses and records of contributions as well as several hundred endorsements from organizations throughout the country and around the world. Five reels of 1/4-inch audio tape of the March are included in the collection.

    Arrangement

    Arranged in the following series: (1) Administrative Records; (2) Local Grants; (3) Financial Information; (4) March Program; (5) The Wedding; (6) Auxiliary Events; (7) Literature; (8) Contacts; (9) Local Committees; (10) Media Coverage; and (11) Ephemera.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, Washington, D.C., 1987
    Civil rights demonstrations -- Washington (D.C.)
    Gay liberation movement -- United States