Guide to the The Ladder Periodical Collection MSS.2012.07.05

SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2012
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives


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.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

The Ladder Periodical Collection, MSS-07-05-2012, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Maegan Sloggett. Encoded in the Archivist Toolkit. Reviewed by Danelle Moon. Updated by Natalie Sanchez, February 2016.

Related Materials Note

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.

Arrangement

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.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Bibliography

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.

Box 1, Folder 1

November 1957

Box 1, Folder 2

February 1962

Box 1, Folder 3

May- June 1963

Box 1, Folder 4

May 1964

Box 1, Folder 5

December 1964

Box 1, Folder 6

January 1965

Box 1, Folder 7

February-March 1965

Box 1, Folder 8

May 1965

Box 1, Folder 9

June 1965

Box 1, Folder 10

July-August 1965

Box 1, Folder 11

September 1965

Box 1, Folder 12

November 1965

Box 1, Folder 13

December 1965

Box 1, Folder 14

February 1966

Box 1, Folder 15

April 1966

Box 1, Folder 16

May 1966

Box 1, Folder 17

June 1966

Box 1, Folder 18

July 1966

Box 1, Folder 19

December-January, 1969-1970