Collection Guide
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Finding aid to the Dorrwin Jones papers.
1953-2000
GLC 133
GLC 133
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Title: Dorrwin Jones papers
Creator:
Jones, Dorrwin
Identifier/Call Number: GLC 133
Physical Description:
12 cartons, 1 manuscript box, 2 oversized flat boxes, and 3 oversized folders
(17 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1953-2000
Date (bulk): (bulk 1960-1990)
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.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
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.
[Identification of item], Dorrwin Jones papers (GLC 133), James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Donated by Dorrwin Jones, 2000.
Researchers are encouraged to see also
Society for Individual Rights Collection, GLC 80
and 2 interviews from the GLBT Historical Society:
The Gay Life radio series, (1973–1984)-
search for "Dorr Jones".
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Books by Howard Thurman and other published material on LGBT+ issues have been transferred to either the San Francisco History
Center or the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA+ Center book and periodical collections.
An oversized hat box with a colorful veiled hat once belonging to José Sarria, was gifted to the
GLBT Historical Society.
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.
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Older gay men
Older people -- Nutrition -- California -- San Francisco.
Older African Americans -- California -- San Francisco.
Older lesbians
Gay men -- California -- Political activity.
Gay men -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Gay community -- United States.
Gay men -- Sexual behavior -- Government policy -- California -- San Francisco.
Gay men -- Sexuality.
Gay culture -- United States -- 20th century
Gay activists -- San Francisco.
Jones, Dorrwin -- Archives
Meals on Wheels San Francisco -- History
San Francisco Foundation for Aged Colored Persons -- History
Family Link -- History
Mattachine Society
Society for Individual Rights
Thurman, Howard (1900-1981)