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Collection Guide

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Guide to the Buzz Bense Records of the 890 Folsom Clubhouse

1991-26

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Table of contents

Collection Contents

Box 1

Series 1 Building files 1985-1991

Physical Description: 6 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series includes articles of incorporation and other organizational records, papers and correspondence related to the physical plant, architectural sketches, and records of clubhouse events and renters. Physical plant information relates to perceived police and fire department harassment, which was often conducted under the pretext of safety issues. Rental contracts offer inforation about various organizations that rented the facility. The event fliers file includes monthly calendars of events held at the clubhouse from 1989-1991.

Arrangement

Series is arranged topically.

Box 1

Series 2 Writings on safe sex practices 1990

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains safe sex information and guidelines written by Buzz Bense.

Arrangement

Series is arranged topically.

Box 1

Series 3 JO Buddies files 1986-1987

Physical Description: 5 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains fliers and information about the JO Buddies club, some of which predates the opening of the 890 Folsom clubhouse. It also includes party rules and regulations for the club, containing information on safe sex policies, clean-up procedures, and effots to comply with the law and safeguard against police harassment. Correspondence consists of national and international contacts regarding other JO clubs.

Arrangement

Series is arranged topically.

Box 1

Series 4 Files on other clubs renting the 890 Folsom clubhouse 1984-1991

Physical Description: 9 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series documents the activities of other clubs renting space at the 890 Folsom clubhouse, offering a glimpse of safer sex groups in San Francisco during the late 1980s. Materials document their rules, philosophies, and cooperation through interclub meetings. The series contains particularly extensive fliers for events hosted by the Jack and Jill events of the Mother Goose Club and the SF Jacks, for the latter including an almost complete set of monthly newsletters data from 1984-1991. The restricted roster for the SF Jacks club indicates a membership of 191 during 1986.

Arrangement

Series is arranged topically.

Access Note

A file of membership rosters for the SF Jacks club is restricted until 2012-01-01.

Box 1

Series 5 Files on police harassment 1986-1991

Physical Description: 7 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series documents arrests and incidents that took place in 1987 and 1989, and the steps taken by Bense and others to try and end such harassment. Materials include police reports, correspondence, and notes from meetings regarding police activity. After the July 1989 arrests, Bense and other clubhouse members appealed to the Mayor's Office, the Police Commission's Office of Citizen Complaints, and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission in order to stop the harassment and hold the officers involved in the incidents accountable for their actions. Documentation in this series provides substantial information on the response and resistance of clubhouse users to these incidents, and includes media coverage in San Francisco newspapers.

Arrangement

Series is arranged topically.

Collection Contents

Building files

Writings on safe sex practices

JO Buddies files

Files on other clubs renting the 890 Folsom clubhouse

Files on police harassment

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