Gay Library Project Records, 1981-1983

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Scope and content:: This collection contains records of the Gay Library project, an effort to form a gay and lesbian library in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Gay Library Project Records document the Project’s system of operation, membership, and board of directors. The classifications folder has subject headings of gay material and a subject classification system for gay history (i.e. sex clubs, drag balls, theater, gay children). The bulk of the collection is the Operating policies of the library which lists scope of materials, gifts and exchanges. Also included in the records are minutes, letters and funding sources. GSSO linked terms: http://purl.bioontology.org/ontology/MESH/D008091
Biographical / historical:: The idea of creating a library of homosexual reading material and resources started in 1977 with a group of people, including Terry Mangan who wanted the public to have access to a collection documenting the homosexual experience. With the death of Mangan, Harvey Milk took over in 1978 and with his assassination Charles Gilman organized a meeting. Funds were made available by the San Francisco Public Library to establish a gay section in the Eureka Valley branch.

Subjects:: Literature
Homosexuality in literature.
Gay and lesbian studies.
Homosexuality--California--San Francisco Metropolitan Area--History.

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff.
Date Prepared:: 1981-1983
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:: Collection is open for research. Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Location of this collection:: GLBT Historical Society

989 Market Street, Lower Level

San Francisco, CA 94103, US