Finding Aid for the Ester F. Bentley papers, circa 1880s-2000s
LSC.1981
Finding aid prepared by Stacy Wood, 2014 and Jessica Tai, 2017.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Online finding aid last updated 10 October 2017.
Title: Ester F. Bentley papers
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1981
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.2 linear feet
(14 boxes, 1 record carton, 2 flat boxes and 1 media box)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1960-1990
Date (inclusive): circa 1880s-2000s
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, correspondence, awards, clippings, ephemera and memorabilia from lesbian activist, community
organizer and social worker, Ester F. Bentley.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button
located on this page.
Creator:
Bentley, Ester F.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. All requests to access special collections material must be made in
advance using the request button located on this page.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ester F. Bentley Papers (Collection 1981). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Acquisition Information
Provenance unknown, 2013. This collection is part of an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer
Lesbian Archives, the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the UCLA Library.
Processing History
Processed by Stacy Wood, 2013.
Description enhanced and further physical processing completed by Jessica Tai, 2017.
The
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA is an outreach and collection-building partnership between the
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives , the
UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the
UCLA Library . These collections expand the pool of primary source materials available to researchers and to the community at large. This
partnership was initiated by CSW and is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to inventory, organize,
preserve, and digitize more than eighty Mazer collections pertaining to lesbian and feminist activism and writings.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Ester Bentley was a life long advocate of womens and lesbian and gay rights. Bentley was born in Louisville, Kentucky on October
24, 1915. She completed her Bachelor's of Science at Catherine Spalding College in 1941. During the war years, Bentley worked
as the Director of U.S.O. in programs for war workers and their families. Bentley went on to complete her Master's in Social
Work at the National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University of America in 1949. Following the completion
of her degree, Bentley became the Director of the Kentucky Society for Crippled Children. Bentley moved to California in the
1960s and became the District Director for Community Planning and Development in San Bernardino, California. Bentley also
served as the Executive Director of the Girl Scout Council in Santa Ana, California. In the 1960s, Bentley acquired her Real
Estate License from the Scadron Business College in San Bernardino, California and continued her work in community organizing
as a consultant. From 1966 to 1974, Bentley served as a field consultant and supervised students in the UCLA School of Social
Welfare. After retiring, Bentley became very involved in both Catholic ministries and gay and lesbian organizations. Bentley
was also a founding member of the Coalition of Older Lesbians (COOL). Ester Bentley died on January 20, 2004, at the age of
88 in Los Angeles, California.
Scope and Content
This collection contains photographs, correspondence, awards, clippings, ephemera and memorabilia from lesbian activist, community
organizer and social worker, Ester F. Bentley. The collection documents Bentley's professional career in community organizing
in California, and includes research and reports that Bentley wrote and/or contributed to. The collection also includes material
related to Bentley's advocacy work, in which she was specifically focused on issues affecting LGBTQ Catholic communities.
Also included are material from organizations such as Women Against Violence Against Women, Coalition of Older Lesbians and
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change. The collection also includes personal material such as photographs, correspondence and
Bentley's writing and poetry.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series.
- Series 1: Photographs, circa 1880s-2000s
- Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1940s-2000s
- Series 3: Personal Material and Memorabilia, 1931-circa 2000s
- Series 4: Professional Material, 1930-1986
- Series 5: Community Engagement Material, 1956-circa 2000s
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization
for safe access. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bentley, Ester F. -- Archives.
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA.
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives.
Catholic gays--Religious life.
Lesbian activists--United States--Archives.
Series 1: Photographs
circa 1880s-2000s
Scope and Contents note
Photographs span from the 1880s-2000s and include images of Bentley, her friends, family, home and pets. Many of the images
appear to be taken in Los Angeles, at Bentley's home, as well as other locations in Los Angeles. Photographs represent a wide
variety of commercial photographic processes, primarily from the 20th century. Included are black and white and color photographic
prints, in addition to 35 mm slides and 35 mm, 110 mm, and large format negatives.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.
Box 2, Folders 2-6, Box 3, Box 1, Box 4, Box 5, Folders 1-4
Photographic prints
circa 1880s-2000s
Box 2, Folder 1
Negatives
circa 1940s-2000s
Series 2: Correspondence
circa 1940s-2000s
Scope and Content
Correspondence includes greeting cards, holiday cards, postcards and letters written to Bentley. Also included is correspondence
between Bentley and her partner, Gayle Scott, as well as letters that appear to be written to Scott.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.
Box 5, Folders 5-6, Box 6, Box 7
Personal Correspondence
circa 1940s-circa 2000s
Box 8, Folders 1-2
Envelopes
circa 1990s-circa 2000s
Series 3: Personal Material and Memorabilia
1931-circa 2000s
Scope and Content
Personal material including loose notes and notebooks written by Bentley, holiday crafts, LPs, material from Bentley's memorial,
poetry and writing by Bentley, material related to Bentley's participation in various sports, a transcript and audiocassettes
of an interview with Bentley and her partner Gayle Scott and materials related to her former partner and friend, Martha Foster.
Also included is memorabilia such as keychains, flags, paper weights, artwork, textiles and keepsake boxes. Some material
appear to have belonged to or were created by Gayle Scott.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization
for safe access. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Box 8, Folder 3
Sports Related Correspondence and Photographs (photocopies)
1931-1995
General Physical Description note: newsprint, printed paper, handwritten notes
Scope and Contents note
Clippings, certificates, rosters and other materials from Ester Bentley's lifelong involvement in softball and various sports.
Box 8, Folder 4
Songbooks
circa 1930s-1940s
Box 8, Folder 5
Holiday Crafts
circa 1940s
Box 8, Folder 6
Ester Bentley Memorial
1945-2004
Box 8, Folder 7
Family Material
1957-circa 2000s
Box 10, Folder 2
Notebooks
circa 1960s-1990s
Box 10, Folder 1
Funeral and Memorial Material
circa 1960s-1990s
Box 10, Folder 3
Martha Foster Material
1963-1991
Box 10, Folder 4
The Shape of Things by Gayle Scott and Louise Baldwin
1969
Box 15
Vinyl Records
1970-1990
Scope and Content
Sixteen records. All records are by women musicians, predominantly lesbian artists.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization
for safe access. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Box 10, Folder 5
Laguna Beach Property Documents
1975-1979
Box 10, Folder 8
Poetry by Various Authors
circa 1970s-1980s
Box 10, Folder 9
Clippings
circa 1980s-2000s
Box 10, Folder 10
The Azusa Project by Gayle Scott
1980
Box 11, Folder 1
The Diary of Ester Bentley
circa 1990s-2000s
Box 11, Folders 2-3
Ester Bentley and Gayle Scott Interview
1997
Scope and Content
Includes transcript and recorded interview on two audiocassettes.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization
for safe access. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Box 11, Folder 4
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Writing Course
1997
Box 11, Folder 5
Poetry by Ester Bentley
circa 2000s
Box 17, Folder 1, Box 11, Folder 6
Artwork
undated
Scope and Content
Bentley's collection of drawings by unknown artists.
Box 18, Box 16
Memorabilia
circa 1940s-2000s
Scope and Content
Memorabilia includes keepsake boxes, paperweights, keychains, textiles and flags.
Series 4: Professional Material
1930-1986
Scope and Content
Professional material includes resumes, job applications, school records and awards from OCCRD and Spalding University, where
Bentley received her Bachelor of Science. Included are reports that Bentley wrote and/or contributed to during her time serving
in various positions such as a specialist in the Regional Center of Orange County, a member on the steering committee of the
Health and Welfare Council at the Kent School of Social Work, the District Director of Community Planning and Development
in the San Bernardino County Council of Community Services and as a field representative for the United Catholic Community
Defense Services. Also included are blank surveys from Bentley's time as Executive Director of the Santiago Girl Scout Council,
as well as from her position in the United Catholic Community Defense Services.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.
Box 11, Folder 7
Education Documents
1930-1964
Box 11, Folder 8
Summer Camp Activity Guide
circa 1930s-1940s
Box 11, Folder 9
Resumes and Application Material
circa 1940s-1970s
Box 12, Folder 5
Business Cards and Conference Badge
1950-circa 1960s
Box 12, Folder 6
Surveys
circa 1950s-1960s
Box 16
Plaques and Awards
1980-1986
Series 5: Community Engagement Material
1956-circa 2000s
Scope and Content
This series includes material from Bentley's life long engagement with community issues and advocacy of womens, lesbian and
gay rights. Also included is material from Bentley's engagement with the Catholic community and advocacy for lesbian and gay
rights in the Catholic Church. Material includes newsletters, fliers, correspondence, clippings and plaques and medals from
Bentley's involvement with organizations such as the Glassell Park Improvement Association and the Team of Advocates for Special
Kids. Also included are material from organizations that Bentley was engaged with, such as Women Against Violence Against
Women, Coalition of Older Lesbians and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.
Box 12, Folder 8
Religious Material
1956-circa 2000s
Box 13, Folder 1
Women Against Violence Against Women
circa 1970s-1980s
Box 13, Folder 2
Highland Park Ebell Club
1973
Box 18, Box 14, Folder 1
Coalition of Older Lesbians, Old Lesbians Organizing for Change and Material Related to Senior Lesbian and Gay Communities
1987-2000s
Box 13, Folder 3
Reformation of the Heart: Seasonal Meditations by a Gay Christian by Chris Glaser
1989
Box 13, Folder 4
Catholic Lesbian and Gay Fliers and Ephemera
circa 1990s-2000s
Box 13, Folders 5-6
Clippings on Catholicism and Lesbian and Gay Issues
circa 1990s-2000s
Box 14, Folder 3
Lesbian and Gay Organizations Material
circa 1990s-2000s
Box 14, Folder 4
Newsletters and Publications
circa 1990s-2000s
Box 14, Folder 7
Lesbian Visibility Week
1997
