Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- ACT UP San Diego collection
- Dates:
- 1985-1994
- Creators:
- Scott, Roger and White, John O.
- Abstract:
- This collection contains materials related to the HIV/AIDS activist organizations ACT UP San Diego and ACT UP Los Angeles. The collection is comprised of two accessions containing organization materials, including newspaper clippings, flyers, personal correspondence, organization correspondence, and organization administrative materials. Accessions also include ACT UP related t-shirts and photographs.
- Extent:
- 1.25 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
- Language:
- English .
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains news clippings, t-shirts, organizational materials including phone trees, correspondence and meeting notes, flyers, and xeroxed copies of the above related to the ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) movement and organization in San Diego, particularly newspaper editorials and opinions related to AIDS funding and bathhouses. The collection also covers ACT UP and Gay and Lesbian rights related marches and actions in Washington D.C., Maryland, Los Angeles, Houston, and Sacramento. The collection covers the period from 1985 to 1994 and all material is from the United States, including newspapers from both local (San Diego Union Tribune, BRAVO!) and national (New York Times) publications.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The San Diego chapter of ACT UP was formed in 1987 by local activist Albert Bell who was instrumental in a number of different efforts aimed at helping the gay community in San Diego from the 1970s until his death of AIDS in 1993, including gay housing projects, drug addiction relief, food drives, community centers and outreach, and more. The original ACT UP chapter in San Diego seems to have dissolved in 1988 and to have reformed twice, for the first time in April of 1989 and again either in 1991. This final effort may have lasted until 1994. Other activists involved in the founding of the first chapter include Mark Gabrish Conlan, Jess Jessop, John O. White, and Tim Wayne.
The original iteration of ACT UP San Diego mainly served to organize local protests and to coordinate with other AIDS chapters on attendance and coverage of ACT UP protests and events in California. ACT UP San Diego was highly visible picketing and protesting at city council meetings and events at which prominent council members and the mayor (Maureen O'Connor) were present. This period of provocative activism was aimed at getting city and state politicians to allocate more funds for AIDS related services including needle exchanges, housing, research, testing, and medical services. In this era, from 1987 to 1988 or early 1989, also participated in significant actions in Los Angeles and Sacramento and may have participated in the hosting of the NAMES project AIDS Memorial Quilt during its Spring 1988 national tour. The second iteration of the group, formed in early 1989, reportedly participated in a single action-- condom distribution outside of a Catholic high school-- before breaking up. The third and final group was organized in September of 1991 and was still posting meeting dates and times as late as February of 1994. Schisms in the groups formed over disagreements over protest tactics, embracing of controversial alternate theories involving HIV and AIDS, and possibly accusations of embezzlement.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is organized into two accessions:
- Accession 0102-L2007.07: Roger Scott (ACT UP), 1987-1994
- Accession 0102-L2024.18: John O. White (ACT UP), 1985-1993
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-02 17:26:24 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Consult each accession for their respective copyright and use statements.
- Location of this collection:
-
4545 Park Blvd, Suite 104San Diego, CA 92116, US
- Contact:
- (619) 260-1522