Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Additional collection guides
Descriptive Summary
Title: Society for Individual Rights Collection
Dates: 1960-1969
Collection Number: GLC 80
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 0.75 cubic feet (in 2 boxes)
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: Meeting minutes, flyers, bylaws, press releases, proposals, policy statements, articles, pamphlets, surveys, advertisements,
clippings, event programs, constitution, and other material documenting the activities of the Society for Individual Rights
(SIR), a homophile organization. Founded in San Francisco in 1964, SIR's goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian
identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties,"
and promoting a sense of a gay and lesbian community.
Language of Material: English
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Society for Individual Rights Collection. Collection Number: GLC 80. San Francisco Public Library.
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center
Acquisition Information
The collection combines 2 folders of SIR material that the library owned with two small accessions received from Lou Harrison
and from Robert Berner before 1996. Harrison was a member of SIR and his donation did not contain any personal material. Berner
was on the Publications Committee and some of the material he donated relates to drafts of SIR-published materials.
Biography/Administrative History
Founded in San Francisco in 1964, the Society for Individual Rights (SIR)'s goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian
identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties,"
and promoting a sense of a gay and lesbian community. SIR demanded equal rights and decried government-sanctioned discrimination.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection contains meeting minutes, flyers, bylaws, press releases, proposals, policy statements, articles, pamphlets,
surveys, advertisements, clippings, event programs, constitution, and other material documenting the activities of the Society
for Individual Rights (SIR). The publications include brochures and two editions of the S.I.R. Pocket Lawyer which contained
instructions on one's rights if arrested. Also of note are: the SIRlebrity Capades programs from the mid-1960s with photos
and short biographies of performers; and, early issues of Vanguard.
Additional collection guides
