Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
1 folder
(167 pages)
Restrictions
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.
Availability
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.