Collection Guide
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Ladder Periodical Collection
MSS.2012.07.05
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: The Ladder Periodical Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2012.07.05
Physical Description:
1 Box
(0.42 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1963-1966
Date (inclusive): 1965-1966
Abstract: The Ladder Periodical Collection consists of incomplete magazine issues from the The Ladder—A Lesbian Review dating between
the years 1963-1966. These magazines were very important to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United States during the
1960s and1970s. The Ladder was published by the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), a lesbian organization, and was the primary form
of communication within that group. It was the first nationally distributed magazine of its type in the United States. This
magazine became an important communication forum for lesbians across the country. The magazine content typically consisted
of reports, reviews, anecdotes, and book reviews concerning the sensitive content of the public and private lives of all homosexuals,
but with a specific focus on lesbians.
This single series collection is arranged chronologically by month/date: Series I: The Ladder Periodical Collection, 1963-1966.
The collection is open for research.
The Ladder Periodical Collection, MSS-07-05-2012, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Maegan Sloggett. Encoded in the Archivist Toolkit. Reviewed by Danelle Moon. Updated by Natalie Sanchez,
February 2016.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender periodicals collection, MSS-2005-05-05, San Jose State University Library Special Collections
and Archives.
One Inc. Magazine Collection MSS-2012-09-14, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Ladder Periodical Collection consists of incomplete magazine issues from the The Ladder—A Lesbian Review dating between
the years 1963-1966. These magazines were very important to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United States during the
1960s and1970s. The Ladder was published by the Daughters of Bilitis, a lesbian organization, and was the primary form of
communication within that group. It was the first nationally distributed magazine of its type in the United States. This magazine
became an important communication forum for lesbians across the country. The magazine content typically consisted of reports,
reviews, anecdotes, and book reviews concerning the sensitive content of the public and private lives of all homosexuals,
but with a specific focus on lesbians.
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections and Archives 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 by the reader.
Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials.
Use of digital files from or derived from these collections is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Gallo, Marcia M. “The Ladder: A Lesbian Review 1956-1927,” in the Women and Social Movements in the U.S., 1600-2000, Kathryn
Kish Skar and Thomas Dublin, eds., (Alexander Street Press, 2010): 1-17.
Meeker, Martin. Contacts Desired; Gay and Lesbian Communications and Community, 1940s-1970's. (Chicago University Press, 2006).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lesbian Community -- United States.
Gay newspapers -- United States.
Gay press publications -- United States.