Dorrwin Jones papers, 1953-2000, bulk (bulk 1960-1990)

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Summary

Creators:
Jones, Dorrwin
Abstract:
The collection documents the personal and professional interests of Dorrwin "Dorr" Jones, a prominent gay-rights activist and founding director of San Francisco's Meals on Wheels program. The bulk of the collection contains material from the organizations where Jones worked or served as a Board Member, as well as a variety of material covering the early Gay Rights movement and social services for senior citizens in San Francisco. Of note are the materials on the San Francisco Foundation for Aged Colored Persons (SFFACP), Meals on Wheels (MOW), and the Rudolf Schaeffer School of Design.
Extent:
12 cartons, 1 manuscript box, 2 oversized flat boxes, and 3 oversized folders (17 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Dorrwin Jones papers (GLC 133), James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents the personal and professional interests of Dorrwin Jones, a prominent gay-rights activist and founding director of San Francisco's Meals on Wheels program. The bulk of the collection contains material from the organizations Jones worked as executive director or served as Board Member, as well as a variety of material covering the early Gay Rights movement and social services for senior citizens. Of note are the materials from the San Francisco Foundation for Aged Colored Persons (S.F.F.A.C.P.), Meals on Wheels (M.O.W.), the Rudolf Schaeffer School of Design, the Society for Individual Rights (SIR), Mattachine, and the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. Also included are papers related to James Harvey, Dorr's partner of 32 years, and a small set of holiday cards illustrated by Etienne (Dom Orjudos), circa 1950.

Biographical / historical:

Dorrwin Buck Jones (Dorr Jones), pioneer of the gay rights movement and gerontologist, was born Feb. 23, 1934, in Bronson, Michigan, the youngest of three children. After graduating from Albion College in Michigan, he lived in New York City in the 1950s, where he served as president of the New York chapter of the Mattachine Society, an early gay-rights organization.

Jones came to San Francisco in 1959 and was active in many organizations such as SIR (Society for Individual Rights) and the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. A gerontologist by profession with a special focus on the African American and LGBTQ+ communities, he was the founding executive director of the San Francisco Foundation for Aged Colored Persons (now the Sanderson Foundation) from 1964 to 1970, and also served on the boards of the Western Addition Senior Citizens' Center and Booker T. Washington Community Center. He was founding executive director of Meals on Wheels, San Francisco from 1970 to 1987 and led Family Link, an organization which provides support services for families of people with AIDS and other life-threatening conditions, from 1990 to his retirement in 1999. Dorrwin Jones died of heart failure in 2000.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Dorrwin Jones, 2000.
Processing information:

During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 7 series: Series 1: Personal papers and photographs; Series 2: Organizational Records; Series 3: Associations; Series 4: Conferences and seminars; Series 5: Events; Series 6: Published material; and Series 7: Realia.

Series 2: Organizational Records is further divided into 3 subseries: 2.1: San Francisco Foundation for Aged Colored Persons (S.F.F.A.C.P.); 2.2: Meals on Wheels, San Francisco (M.O.W.); and 2.3: Project Open Hand and Family Link.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

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], Dorrwin Jones papers (GLC 133), James C. Hormel 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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