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Imperial Courts collection
Coll2012-130  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Historical Note
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
    Title: Imperial Courts collection
    creator: Imperial Courts
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012-130
    Physical Description: 1.6 Linear Feet 3 boxes.
    Date (inclusive): 1959-2009
    Abstract: Photographs, flyers, organizational correspondence, court lists, polling sheets, clippings, notes, manuscripts, ephemera, and other material documenting activities of Imperial Courts, primarily in Southern California and San Francisco, 1959-2009. The Imperial Courts originated in San Francisco in 1965 as gay community social and fundraising events with a camp Imperial theme; the annual main event featured the coronation of elected monarchs (a king and queen) who in turn selected a royal court.

    Historical Note

    According to a short history from the collection, the Imperial Courts (or the "Imperial Court system") originated in San Francisco in 1965 as gay community social events with a camp Imperial theme; the annual main event featured the coronation of elected monarchs (a king and queen) who then selected a royal court. Imperial Court events soon assumed a more serious purpose (community-oriented fundraising), while retaining their irreverent and festive spirit.

    Access

    The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

    Publication Rights

    All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.

    Acquisition Information

    Date and donor(s) of materials unknown.

    Preferred Citation

    Box #, folder #, Imperial Courts Collection, Coll2012-130, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Sophie Frank, with assistance from Marc LaRocque and David Hensley, 2017.

    Scope and Content

    Photographs and negatives, flyers, organizational correspondence, court lists, polling sheets, clippings, notes, manuscripts, annual reports, ephemera, and other material documenting activities of Imperial Courts, primarily in Southern California and San Francisco, 1973-1994. According to a short history from the collection, the Imperial Courts (or the "Imperial Court system") originated in San Francisco in 1965 as gay community social events with a camp Imperial theme; the annual main event featured the coronation of elected monarchs (a king and queen) who in turn selected a royal court. Imperial Court events soon assumed a more serious purpose (community-oriented fundraising), while retaining their irreverent festive spirit. The collection documents fundraisers and other events staged by both local and cooperating courts.

    Arrangement

    The collection is arranged alphabetically with photographs at the end.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Cross dressing -- Competitions -- United States
    Drag balls
    Drag shows
    Gay clubs -- California -- Los Angeles
    Gay men -- Societies and clubs