Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski records, 1984-1991

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Summary

Creators:
Weathers, Carolyn, 1940-
Abstract:
Correspondence, newsletters, clippings, press releases, fliers, court records, notes, typescripts and other material from the Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, 1984-1991. In 1983, Sharon Kowalski suffered severe brain injuries in a car accident, which left her physically disabled. Kowalski's father, Donald, was initially named Sharon's guardian and cut off visitation from Sharon's longtime partner, Karen Thompson. The materials document the campaign by lesbian activists to raise awareness of the legal battle and lesbian rights; and to raise funds to support Karen Thompson's legal efforts to reestablish visitation rights and be named Sharon Kowalski's guardian.
Extent:
0.4 Linear Feet 1 box.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski Records, Coll2014-048, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises correspondence, newsletters, clippings, press releases, fliers, court records, notes, typescripts and other material from the Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, 1984-1991. The materials document the campaign by lesbian activists to raise awareness of gay and lesbian rights; and to raise funds to support Karen Thompson's legal efforts to reestablish visitation rights and be named Sharon Kowalski's guardian.

Biographical / historical:

In 1983, Sharon Kowalski suffered severe brain injuries in a car accident, which left her physically disabled. Kowalski's father, Donald, and her longtime partner Karen Thompson both petitioned to be named Sharon's guardian. Guardianship was granted to Kowalski's father, who cut off visitation from Thompson. Thompson subsequently began a legal battle to reestablish visitation rights and be named Sharon's guardian. In 1991, the Minnesota Court of Appeals granted guardianship to Thompson.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Carolyn Weathers, June 20, 2012.
Processing information:

The materials in this collection were originally part of the Carolyn Weathers Photographs and Papers (Coll2014-008). In 2017, upon request of the donor, the materials were separated from the Weathers collection to become its own Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski Records (Coll2014-048). Collection was originally processed by Kyle Morgan with assistance from volunteers, 2014.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Los Angeles Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski Records, Coll2014-048, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
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