Articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes, correspondence, reports, legal referral documents, contractual agreements, resolutions, clippings, flyers, publicity material, legal papers, financial records, photographs, telephone and visitor logs, municipal agency documents, real estate records, position statements and other material, 1966-1984, documenting the activities of the Pride Foundation, founded in San Francisco in 1973. Pride Foundation was a community organization that provided legal assistance and educational, health and social services to San Francisco's gay and lesbian community. The collection also includes administrative records from the Pride Center at 330 Grove, the gay community center founded and operated by the Pride Foundation.

The Pride Foundation was founded on August 8, 1973 in San Francisco and operated by a board of directors. A partial list of the organization's founders include Zane Thomas, B.J. Beckwith, George Mendenhall, Roberta Buba, Charlotte Coleman, John Wahl, Perry Wood, Larry Littlejohn and Paul Hardman. Lee Mentley served on the board's executive committee. Their initial application for tax exempt non-profit status was met with resistance when the Internal Revenue Service concluded that "[the Pride Foundation's] activities carry a serious risk of contributing to a more widespread development of homosexual tendencies among certain segments of the public and a consequent increase in the general prevalence of what is still generally regarded as deviant sexual behavior. As such your activities are contrary to public policy and are therefore, not 'charitable.'" The Foundation disputed that judgement, however, and their tax exempt status was eventually granted. The Foundation served the gay and lesbian community by providing direct legal assistance, especially in cases of discrimination and defamation, engaging in educational research, conducting classes, and providing assistance in social and health services. It provided services such as gay legal referrals, a senior citizens program, a gay tourist and visitors information bureau, health referrals, a coalition to defend gays in the military, art classes, drop-in facilities for youth, job placement, and a social group for older men known as G40+. The Foundation also operated the Top Floor Gallery for local gay artists.

8.8 Linear Feet 6 archive boxes + 2 archive cartons + 1 flat archive box.

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.

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.