Gay Poster collection, Approximately 1967-1976.

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Summary

Title:
Gay Poster collection
Dates:
Approximately 1967-1976.
Abstract:
The Gay Poster Collection comprises 58 posters related to the gay scene in San Francisco and, to a lesser extent, Los Angeles during the late 1960s to mid-1970s. The bulk of this collection chronicles bars and nightlife in the South of Market (SoMa) district of San Francisco for gay men and for the leather; bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism (BDSM); and drag communities. The collection also includes posters for street fairs, fundraisers, political organizing, motorcycle club events, and pageants and contests. While the majority of the material is from San Francisco, there are a few posters from Los Angeles-area bars and a community center.
Extent:
58 items
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Gay Poster Collection, California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Gay Poster Collection comprises 58 posters related primarily to the gay scene in San Francisco, and to a lesser extent Los Angeles, from approximately 1967 through 1976. This collection is predominantly printed posters and flyers with a few hand-drawn signs and cardboard advertisements. Some posters have handwritten inscriptions as well as indications that they were posted before being acquired by the California State Library.

The subject matter of the posters centers on bars and nightlife events in the South of Market (SoMa) district of San Francisco for gay men and for the leather; bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism (BDSM); and drag communities. Some of the bars represented from San Francisco include Ambush Bar, The Barracks, The Bolt, Boot Camp, Fe-Be's, Folsom Prison, and The Hungry Hole Saloon. Bars from Los Angeles include Outcast Bar and Stud. Campaign posters include those for Emperor and Empress of San Francisco, Mr. Cowboy and Miss Cowgirl, Mr. Gay California, Mr. Circus Circus, and Vector Cover Man. There are a several posters for gay men's motorcycle club events such as the CMC Carnival (California Motor Club Carnival), the Barbary Coaster's Gold Rush Run, and the Warlock Witches Run. Posters for events hosted by gay rights groups such as the Society for Individual Rights (SIR), the Tavern Guild of San Francisco, Join Hands, and the Gay Community Services Center (L.A.) are present. Posters for bathhouses include the Mayan Health Club, Sutro Bath House, and the Folsom Street Barracks. Other items of note include a poster for the inaugural Castro Street Faire, founded by gay and civil rights activist and then-president of the Castro Village Association Harvey Milk; a poster for Troy D. Perry's Spiritual Renewal '71 Tour presented by Northern California Metropolitan Community Churches; a José Sarria poster for the Opera Comique de José; and posters illustrated by leather community artist Chuck Arnett for the Red Star Saloon and the 8th Annual CMC Carnival.

As a whole, the Gay Poster Collection highlights the activities of gay liberation organizations as well as the social landscape of the gay men's, leather, BDSM, and drag communities in San Francisco prior to the AIDS epidemic.

Acquisition information:
Provenance unknown. This collection may have been removed from Ray N. Kilgore Gay Ephemera, 1968-1983.
Dimensions:
Prints ranging from 8.5 x 11 inches to 22 x 34 inches, most 14 x 22 inches to 20 x 29 inches.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Melissa C. Foote
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-06 18:46:28 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Unrestricted. Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to California State Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing. Permission for publication is given on behalf of California State Library 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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Gay Poster Collection, California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
900 N Street, Room 200, P.O. Box 942837
Sacramento, CA 94237-0001, US
Contact:
(916) 654-0176
cslcal@library.ca.gov
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