Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding aid to the Jon W. Davidson papers, 1985-1995 Coll2013.022
Coll2013.022  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biography
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Acquisition
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Related Materials
  • Scope and Contents
  • Arrangement

  • Title: Jon W. Davidson Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.022
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 0.6 linear foot. 1 archive carton.
    Date (inclusive): 1985-1995
    Abstract: Correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, of Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. As former head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. The bulk of the material consists of requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.
    creator: Davidson, Jon W.

    Biography

    Jon W. Davidson is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. In the early years of his law career, Davidson served as a law clerk, and went on to become associate then partner in private practice in Los Angeles, where he specialized in litigation in the media and entertainment industry. In 1988, he joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, where he served as staff counsel and became head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project in that chapter. As head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. Following his time at the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson moved on to work as counsel for Lambda Legal in 1995.
    As Legal Director at Lambda Legal, "Davidson has been counsel in cases that have won lesbians and gay men the freedom to marry; protect domestic partner benefits against attack; championed the rights of LGBT students; secured asylum for LGBT people persecuted in their home countries; and put an end to HIV-related discrimination in employment, insurance and public accommodations. Davidson also has helped reform antigay practices of the Los Angeles Police Department and was the co-drafter of AB 205, California's Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act."
    Source:
    "Staff: Jon W. Davidson," Lambda Legal, http://www.lambdalegal.org/about-us/staff/jon-w-davidson (last accessed February 27, 2013).

    Conditions Governing Access

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

    Conditions Governing Use

    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.

    Acquisition

    Donor and date of acquisition unknown.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder #, or item name] Jon W. Davidson Papers, Coll2013-022, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, February 2013.

    Related Materials

    American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Lesbian & Gay Rights Chapter records, Coll2007-013, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
    Susan McGreivy Papers, Coll2012-138, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection comprises correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, from Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. The bulk of the material consists of intake logs and requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged alphabetically.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California
    American Civil Liberties Union
    Civil rights--United States
    Gays--Civil rights
    Homosexuality--Law and legislation--California
    Legal assistance to gays--United States.
    Legal assistance to lesbians--United States.
    Lesbians--Civil rights