Larry Sprenger Papers
Coll2012.167
Finding aid prepared by Erick Hawkins
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2012
Title: Larry Sprenger Papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.167
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.4 linear feet.
1 archival carton
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1983-1985
Date (inclusive): 1983-1993, undated
Abstract: The Larry Sprenger papers consists of notes, correspondence, and records documenting the professional and private life of
Larry Sprenger, an insurance salesman and political activist, in the 1980s and 1990s. The bulk of the collection, from 1983
to 1985, represents Sprenger's work as a member of two AIDS legislation research organizations and his involvement as a speaker
and fundraiser for various political groups.
creator:
Sprenger, (Fred) Larry
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically in the following series:
Series 1. Personal Life
Series 2. Political Involvement
Biography
Fred Larry Sprenger was born July 4, 1941, and settled in Southern California after a tour of duty in the United States Air
Force. He worked as an insurance consultant and broker but was also an active supporter of gay political causes at all levels
of government. Most prominently in the mid-1980s, he sat as the co-chair of the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles,
a political action committee dedicated to the advancement of gay, lesbian, and women's rights. Sprenger wielded his power
as MECLA co-chair to gain admittance as a member of the Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task Force and as a consultant to AIDS
Project Los Angeles.
Separate from MECLA, Sprenger served on two exploratory committees for friends seeking elected offices: former employer Peter
Scott for State Assembly and Los Angeles Councilman Michael Woo for Mayor. Additionally, Sprenger found himself on a steering
committee for a gay and lesbian elected officials speaking engagement and in service as the treasurer for the "No on 64" campaign
against mandatory testing and job restrictions for individuals infected with HIV.
As an insurance broker, Sprenger helped usher in one of the first liability policies for the city of West Hollywood. This
also put him in a position of advocacy against insurance agencies restricting HIV infected people from obtaining medical care.
Sprenger passed away April 29, 2007 at the age of 65 while awaiting a heart transplant.
Sources: Larry Sprenger Papers, Coll2012-167, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Times, May 16, 2007
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 Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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 Information
Date and source of acquisition unknown.
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Larry Sprenger Papers, Coll2012.167, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Processing Information
Collection processed by Erick Hawkins, November 2012. Records relating to the professional operations and business aspects
of MECLA have been processed as a separate collection.
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection documents Sprenger's work with AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task
Force in the mid 1980s. The collection also includes documentation of his work as a fundraiser and advocate for two local
political campaigns and speakers' conferences as well as his personal and political correspondence. Documents collected during
Sprenger's term as co-chair of MECLA are located in the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles records, Coll2012.160.
Separated Materials
Removed to newsletter collection:
AIDS Action Update, Number 2, December 1984;
AIDS Action Update, Number 3, February 1985;
AIDS Action Update, Number 5, May 1985
Related Archival Materials
Municipal Elections Committe of Los Angeles, Coll2012.160, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
No on 64 Records, Coll2011.060, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS (Disease)--Government Policy--California--Los Angeles
Gay activists--California--Los Angeles
Gays--Political activity
Personal Life
Series 1.
Bulk, 1983-1985
1983-1991, undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents
This bulk of this series comprises personal correspondence between Sprenger and his family, friends, and political allies,
mostly in the form of greeting cards and memorandum. The series also contains information on legal actions against a landlord
and ephemera from various political events attended by Sprenger.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 1
Greeting cards
Bulk, 1985
1983-1985, 1990, undated
Box 1, Folder 2
Correspondence, political
Bulk, 1983-1986
1983-1986, 1990-1991, undated
Box 1, Folder 3
Ephemera
Bulk, 1984
1984, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains various paper materials generally related to political activities. Contents include a ballet stub for the November
6, 1984 election; an admission ticket to a speaking event featuring Congresswoman Ferraro and Senator Kennedy at the Hollywood
Palladium; a numbered card from Willie L. Brown, Jr. speaker of the California State Assembly; a business card from Daniel
T. Williams' Institute of Metaphysics; a rolodex card for Bob White; a lapel pin speaker's badge from an undisclosed MECLA
event; and a paper photograph display of Larry Springer
(sic) by Mary Webb Davis.
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence, personal
1984-1985, undated
Box 1, Folder 5
Correspondence, gay committees and organizations
1984-1985, undated
Political Involvement
Series 2.
Bulk, 1984-1985
1984-1993, undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents
This series documents Sprenger's personal and professional work in the political arena. Included are notes, correspondence,
and legislation related to his work on the Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task Force and AIDS Project Los Angeles. Also documented
is Sprenger's work on political campaigns, outreach to the Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists, and steering committee notes
from an organized speaking engagement for gay and lesbian elected officials. Documents collected during Sprenger's term as
co-chair of MECLA are located in the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles records, Coll2012.160.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 8
AIDS legislation and programs
1984-1985
Box 1, Folder 9-10
Los Angeles City/County AIDS Task Force
1984-1985, undated
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 11
West Hollywood citihood
1984-1985, undated
Box 1, Folder 12-14
AIDS Project Los Angeles
1984-1985, undated
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 1, Folder 15
Newspaper clippings
1984-1985, undated
Box 1, Folder 16
Alliance for Gay & Lesbian Artists (AGLA)
1985
Box 1, Folder 17
Friends of Peter Scott/Candidacy for State Assembly
1985
Box 1, Folder 18-19
Speaking For Ourselves, West Hollywood conference
1985
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 20
Michael Woo for Mayor event
1992-1993
