Collection Guide
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Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance records
Coll2016-004
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance records
creator:
Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2016-004
Physical Description:
9.2 Linear Feet
9 boxes and 5 oversize items.
Date (inclusive): 1980-2012
Abstract: The Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA) collection consists of board minutes, agendas, financial records, UGA and UGLA
newsletters, articles of incorporation, bylaws, UGLA's "Book of History and Procedures," brochures, membership records, clippings
about UGLA, photographs and video recordings. The organization serves the Northeastern Los Angeles LGBT community as a philanthropic
and educational non-profit, adhering to its mission as a community network source for gays and lesbians, and an educational
service to the public at large.
The collection is divided into three series: 1) Administrative records, 2) Photographs and 3) Video recordings and computer
files.
The Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA) was founded in 1983 as the Uptown Gay Alliance (UGA) soon after the murder of Robert
(Bobby) Brown, a 24 year-old gay man who was robbed, assaulted and shot after leaving The Bon Mot, a gay bar in Northeast
Los Angeles located on Avenue 41 and Figueroa. It was the second such murder within two years and no suspects were brought
to trial after the lack of a serious investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In a meeting led by Gus DiClario,
realtor and owner of Uptown Properties, UGA was formed and in 1985 became UGLA.
The organization still serves the Northeastern Los Angeles LGBT community as a philanthropic and educational non-profit, adhering
to its mission as a community network source for gays and lesbians, and an educational service to the public at large.
As a community leader, UGLA has led a number of activities and instilled a sense of neighborhood in the region. In 1980 UGLA
members raised money to help those fighting HIV during the AIDS epidemic and in 1989 began its support of AIDS Healthcare
Foundation. UGLA began its most well-known fundraiser called Uptown Cabaret in 1990, partnered with Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway
program in 1993, and began its Matching Funds charitable program in 1996. In 2001 the organization marched in the Northeast
Holiday Program for the first time, and in 2008 it officiated five same-sex marriage ceremonies and raised funds against Proposition
8.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Carl H. Johnson, September 27, 2012.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance Records, Coll2016-004, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Helen Ly, 2016.
The Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance collection consists of board minutes, agendas, financial records including those accumulated
by Treasurer Ron Crabtree, UGA and UGLA newsletters, articles of incorporation, bylaws, UGLA's "Book of History and Procedures,"
papers accumulated by President Carl Matthes, brochures, membership records, clippings about UGLA, photographs and video recordings.
The collection dates from 1980 to 2012, with the bulk from 1989-2005. Administrative records include those of fundraising
performances produced by UGLA, notably the Uptown Cabaret programs, flyers, photographs, and artist biographies. The collection
also includes records relating to the involuntary termination of Ralph Lewis from the Bill Baily Committee, and a facsimile
of a 1983 newspaper clipping about the murder of Robert Brown from the
Los Angeles Times.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fund raising
Gay community -- California -- Los Angeles County
Lesbian community -- California -- Los Angeles County
Nonprofit organizations -- California -- Los Angeles County
Social groups -- California -- Los Angeles County
Johnson, Carl H.
Matthes, Carl