My Story, One Gay's Fight: From Hate to Acceptance by James (Robbie) Robinson, [2017]

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Summary

Creators:
Robinson, James (Robbie), 1935-
Abstract:
James (Robbie) Robinson was a barber for 45 years at The Viking in San Francisco and, starting in 1957, he was a bartender in homosexual bars. He witnessed police harassment, raids on homosexual establishments, and was one of the seven people who formed the Tavern Guild, an LGBT community organization. His memoir traces his beginnings in Blacksburg, Virginia in the 1930s and 1940s, through his adult life in San Francisco, California from the 1950s into the 2000s.
Extent:
1 folder (167 pages)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James (Robbie) Robinson My Story, One Gay's Fight: From Hate to Acceptance (GLC 197), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Robinson's memoir begins with his youth in Virginia, continues through his years of military service, and then concentrates on his move to San Francisco and the life he makes there. It covers police harassment and raids on homosexual establishments, and Robinson's participation in LGBT community building and politics through work with the Tavern Guild and other organizations. Of particular note are the references to his friend Jose Sarria, the well-known Black Cat entertainer and political activist. The memoir also includes Robinson's reactions to the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone, and the effect that event had on politics in San Francisco. It also describes life after 1978 in the city with a focus on AIDS/HIV, gay marriage, and later political figures such as Mark Leno and Scott Weiner.

Biographical / historical:

James (Robbie) Robinson was born in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1935. He joined the Air Force in 1954, and, after his military service, was a barber for 45 years at The Viking in San Francisco. Starting in 1957 he was a bartender in gay bars. He was one of the seven people who established the Tavern Guild, an LGBT community organization.

Acquisition information:
Donated by James (Robbie) Robinson, December 12, 2017.
Arrangement:

The memoir is arranged into 8 chapters: Chapter 1. The Beginning; Chapter 2. Leaving Home; Chapter 3. Finding A Home; Chapter 4. Work and Politics; Chapter 5. The Politics; Chapter 6. Disaster; Chapter 7. After the Disaster; and, Chapter 8. The Mature and Final Years.

Physical location:
Collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James (Robbie) Robinson My Story, One Gay's Fight: From Hate to Acceptance (GLC 197), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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