This collection contains materials belonging to Kate Fennimore Johnson, a co-founder of Lambda Archives of San Diego and head of Exhibitor Relations at San Diego Pride from 1995 – 1999. The materials in this collection feature documents from San Diego Gay and Lesbian Pride, the Lesbian and Gay Historical Society of San Diego (LGHSSD, a.k.a. Lambda Archives), letters documenting her early life experiences through college, and many emails that detail both her complex personal life and her service to San Diego’s LGBT community. People such as Doug Moore and Jess Jessop are mentioned in this collection. This collection also contains LGBT news magazine publications, including two from Amsterdam written in German.

Kathleen Fennimore “Kate” Johnson was a prominent member of San Diego’s LGBT community in the 1980’s through the early 2000’s. Kate began her Pride career in 1995 when she worked for San Diego Pride’s Exhibitor Relations (ER) team. Kate continued to be the Exhibitor Relations director for San Diego Pride until she resigned in 1999; but after her retirement, she continued to guide the new ER staff for a few years in the early 2000’s. Kate was also a co-founder of the Lesbian and Gay Historical Society of San Diego (now known as Lambda Archives) and was credited in a biography paragraph as being responsible for implementing standard archival practices in the archives. Kate also co-founded the Ruby Slippers Club with then Executive Director of San Diego Pride, Mandy Schultz. The Ruby Slipper Club—funded by San Diego Pride—provided funding and materials for Wichita, Kansas Pride. This project was important to Kate as she was born in Kansas.

8.3 linear feet

Open for research