Guide to the Ted Sahl Addition. MSS.2022.03.16

Eilene Lueck
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
5/10/2022
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Ted Sahl Addition
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2022.03.16
Physical Description: 2 Box (1.96 linear ft.)
Date (inclusive): 1898-2013
Abstract: The Ted Sahl Addition was originally comprised of 16 scrapbooks created by photojournalist Ted Sahl on Bay Area social justice movements, 2012 election coverage, presidential memorabilia, local LGBTQ+ history, and Black history. A majority of the scrapbooks comprise of materials from unpublished photo essays, including negatives, photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and notes. Other scrapbooks contain the postcards, buttons, and photographs Ted Sahl collected on U.S. presidents, the United Farm Workers movement, and World War II.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Ted Sahl Addition contains unpublished scrapbook and memorabilia collections assembled by Ted Sahl that reflect his career documenting political and social movements across the country. The items in this collection are companions to The Ted Sahl Archives: A Collection of San José Gay and Lesbian History and The Ted Sahl Social Justice Collection. The bulk of the material dates from 2010-2013 and consists of Bay Area newspaper clippings assembled into scrapbooks that reflect public opinions of social issues, especially the 2012 United States presidential election and the overturning of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Other scrapbooks contained large collections of negatives, prints, and flyers from photo essays on Black communities in the Bay Area, street scenes, and images from protests throughout the Bay from 1977-2007. There are also numerous miniature portraits of Bay Area activists, LGBTQ+ royal family title holders, celebrities, and the executive directors of the Billy DeFrank Community Center over a period of 30 years. Several scrapbooks labeled "Book II on History," contained further information on the local LGBTQ+ movement and comprise of flyers, letters, postcards, book excerpts, and photographs. Ted Sahl also acquired postcards, buttons, flyers, and photographs of United States Presidents, cartoon postcards from World War II, and letters and postcards released by the United Farm Workers labor union.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically in three series: Series I. Black History; Series II. LGBTQ+ Bay Area History; Series III. Political History.

Biographical History

Theodore (Ted) Sahl is an award winning photographer in San José, California. Sahl has spent the last 30 years as a photojournalist, documenting social and political events in the Bay Area. Although best known for his involvement with the gay and lesbian community (GLBT), he also covered the anti-nuclear demonstrations at the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory, and the Farm Labor Strikes that occurred during the 1970's.
Sahl's long time association with the GLBT community began in 1978 after a bitter dispute took place between the gay community and members of the Christian right. Local Christian groups were upset over the San José City Council's decision to issue a proclamation in support of Gay Pride Week. While the Christian groups mobilized against the City Council, the gay community held a rally in support of Gay Pride Week. Intrigued by the grassroots activism and interested in recording the event, Sahl attended the protest and thereby launched a life long career documenting the GLBT community.
Initially, the GLBT community distrusted Sahl's motives as a heterosexual outsider. At that time, many individuals in the gay community were still "closeted" and did not wish to be photographed. Over the next three decades however, Sahl gained the trust of the GLBT community and today is widely recognized for his work as a photojournalist and as an outspoken advocate for gay rights.
Sahl served as the staff photographer for a number of local GLBT newspapers including the Lambda News, South Bay Times, Our Paper and Valley Views. His photographs have appeared in a number of works, including a 1999 San José Mercury News documentary on the city's lesbian and gay community, entitled "A Community of One." In 1981, the San Francisco Cable Car Award Association nominated Sahl for an award in photojournalism. He was also the recipient of an honorable mention in Advocate magazine's National Photo Contest in the "People" category and has the distinction of being the only heterosexual to ever become the President of the Board of the San José Gay Pride Celebration Committee.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives 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. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred Citation

Ted Sahl Addition, MSS-2022-03-16, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Eilene Lueck on May 19, 2022.

Related Materials

Ted Sahl Archives: A Collection of San José Gay and Lesbian History, MSS-2001-01-01, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives.
Ted Sahl Social Justice Collection, MSS-2010-10-25, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Photojournalism -- California -- San Jose
Photojournalists
Gays -- California -- Santa Clara County -- History.
Gays -- Political activity -- California -- Santa Clara County
Presidents -- United States
World War II -- History
African Americans -- California -- 20th century
Memorabilia.
Postcards.

 

Series I. Black History circa 1920-2013

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by title, then chronologically.

Scope and Contents

This documents local and national moments in Black History contains the contents from two scrapbooks assembled by Ted Sahl. The first folder includes a post card, an illustration, photographs, and photo negatives on general and local Black history. The main subject of the essay is on Brian Copeland and Black churches in San Francisco and Santa Cruz. The second folder consists of newspaper clippings and a photograph of Tiger Woods.
Box 1, Folder 1

Black History Pictorial Essay with Postcards, Photographs, and Photo Negatives circa 1920-2009

Content Description

This file contains a postcard with a caricature from the early 20th century, two photographs of a vaudeville dancer and an aviator dated from 1920-1930, negatives and photographs from a photo essay on Brian Copeland and Black churches in San Francisco, and a similar essay with photographic negatives from Santa Cruz.
Box 1, Folder 2

Tiger Woods Newspaper Clippings and Photograph 2009-2013

Content Description

This folder contains newspaper clippings and a photograph of Tiger Woods, the first Black professional golfer admitted into the Professional Golf Association (PGA).
 

Series II. LGBTQ+ Bay Area History 1977-2013

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by title, then chronologically.

Content Description

This series consists of materials related to local LGBTQ+ experiences that Ted Sahl documented through newspaper clippings, negatives, photographs, portraits, postcards, chapter excerpts, and press materials.
Box 1, Folder 3

Billy DeFrank Community Center Executive Directors' Mini Portraits 1977-2006

Content Description

This folder contains the mini portraits of all the executive directors of the Billy DeFrank Community Center in San José, CA, from 1977-2006. These portraits were originally contained in the scrapbook, GLBT Community Title Holders of Royal Family Mini Portraits.
Box 1, Folder 4

Book II on History: Photo Essay Negatives and Newspaper Clippings 2010-2011

Content Description

This folder contains photographic negatives and newspaper clippings on Bay Area LGBTQ+ History. The negatives include photo essays on the coronation of the Imperial Royal Lion Monarchy of San José in 2012, "Home Sweet Home," "Green Monster," "Volkswagen," "Bruni Artist," scenes from the gay bar "Mac's Club," street scenes in Campbell and San José. The section with newspaper clippings focus on local civil rights protests in Oakland and San José, CA. Some negatives from the photo essays "Home Sweet Home," "Volkswagen," and "Green Monster" are also located in the Now Gay Photo Essays.
Box 1, Folder 5

Book II on History: Materials on Personal and LGBTQ+ Experiences (1 of 2) 2010-2013

Content Description

This folder contains notes, chapter excerpts, photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, flyers, and postcards. The chapters and cover are from Ted Sahl's book, From Closet to Community: A Quest for Gay & Lesbian Liberation In San Jose & Santa Clara County. Newspaper clippings are primarily from Lambda News: San Jose's Gay Community Newspaper.
Box 1, Folder 6

Book II on History: Materials on Personal and LGBTQ+ Experiences (2 of 2) 2010-2013

Content Description

This folder contains notes, chapter excerpts, photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, flyers, and postcards. The chapters and cover are from Ted Sahl's book, From Closet to Community: A Quest for Gay & Lesbian Liberation In San Jose & Santa Clara County. Newspaper clippings are from Lambda News.
Box 1, Folder 7

Community Members, Activists, and Title Holders' Mini Portraits 1977-2009

Content Description

This folder contains the mini portraits of activists and community members in Santa Clara County. Duplicate shots are taken of these individuals as they take on new positions and responsibilities during the course of their volunteer work. Additionally, there are portraits of title holders of the LGBTQ+ courts, including Casa de San Jose and Imperial Grand Golden Lion Court emperors and empresses.
Box 1, Folder 8

GLBT Community Title Holders of Royal Family Mini Portraits circa 1977-2006

Content Description

This folder contains the mini portrait photographs of the community title holders of Royal Family from the various community competitions and pageants. The photographs include the emperors and empresses from Mr. Miss Gay San Jose, Casa de San Jose, Imperial Grand Golden Lion Court of San Jose, and the Imperial Royal Lion Monarchy of San Jose court.
These scrapbooks originally contained portraits of the Billy DeFrank Community Center executive directors from 1977-2006.
Box 1, Folder 9

LGBT Historical Life in San José: Photographs, Flyers, and Newspaper Clippings 1977-2013

Content Description

This folder contains flyers, photographs, and newspaper clippings on LGBTQ+ social movements in the Bay Area. This assortment of material includes a flyer from the Santa Clara County Coalition for Human Rights in response to Anita Byrant, photographs of political figures during the Gay Rights movements, and newspaper clippings from local protests.
Box 1, Folder 10

Now Gay Photo Essays 2009-2013

Content Description

This folder contains the materials for five essays by Ted Sahl. These materials include SJSU library newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and negatives. The essays featured in the original scrapbook are "Home Sweet Home," "Volkswagon," "Oakland Protesters," "Green Monster," and "Free Furniture." Some negatives from these photo essays are located in Book II on History: Photo Essay Negatives and Newspaper Clippings, but were arranged in different scrapbooks.
Box 1, Folder 11

Ted Sahl Press Materials From Second Gay T.V. Interviews 2006-2007

Content Description

This folder includes photographs of Ted Sahl, notes, newspaper clippings, and book sale press information for his book, From Closet to Community.
 

Series III. Political History 1898-2013 2006-2013

Content Description

This series consists of politically oriented scrapbooks about the 2012 United States presidential election, Proposition 8, presidential memorabilia, United Farm Workers memorabilia, and photo essays by Ted Sahl on Santa Cruz social movements and lifestyles. Series materials contain newspaper clippings, photographs, political cartoons, postcards, political buttons, and photo negatives.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 1, Folder 12

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on President Obama and Proposition 8 (1 of 2) 2005-2012

Content Description

This folder contains letters from President Obama and newspaper clippings from Bay Area news sources regarding the political environment in 2012 during the United States presidential election, Proposition 8, and Santa Clara County local elections.
Box 1, Folder 13

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on President Obama and Proposition 8 (2 of 2) 2005-2012

Content Description

This folder contains letters from President Obama and newspaper clippings from Bay Area news sources regarding the political environment in 2012 during the United States presidential election, Proposition 8, and Santa Clara County local elections.
Box 1, Folder 14

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on Presidential GOP Candidates and Proposition 8 (1 of 2) 2011-2013

Content Description

This folder contains letters, newspaper clippings, and a postcard on the 2012 presidential election that document the Republican candidates. Later newspaper clippings also cover Proposition 8 and related events.
Box 1, Folder 15

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on Presidential GOP Candidates and Proposition 8 (2 of 2) 2011-2013

Content Description

This folder contains letters, newspaper clippings, and a postcard on the 2012 presidential election that documented the Republican candidates. Later newspaper clippings also cover Proposition 8 and related events.
Box 1, Folder 16

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on Proposition 8 2011-2013

Content Description

This folder contains newspaper clippings and a San Jose Pride Event program. Topics include Proposition 8, President Obama's positions on gay marriage, pieces from the Castro History Project, and Campbell Mayoral Election with then Campbell Mayor, Evan Low.
Box 1, folder 17

Bay Area Newspaper Clippings on Proposition 8 Ruling 2013

Content Description

This folder contains newspaper clippings on the Proposition 8 ruling, the resulting marriages, and changes made to church laws in multiple states in response.
Box 1, Folder 18

Cesar Chavez History, United Farm Works Memorabilia 2002-2010

Content Description

This folder contains postcards from the United Farm Workers labor union, two letters from the UFW, and a 2005 promotional UFW calendar.
Box 1, Folder 19

Political Cartoons by Ted Sahl for Our Paper, Your Paper 1984

Content Description

This folder contains two rough drafts of political cartoons by Ted Sahl for Our Paper, Your Paper, a biweekly LGBT newspaper in Santa Clara County.
Box 1, folder 20

Presidential Memorabilia: Photos, Postcards, and Booklet circa 1898-2008

Content Description

This folder contains memorabilia on various United States presidents and includes a booklet, photographs, and postcards. The presidents included in the card collection are: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, William "Bill" Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Box 2

Presidential Memorabilia: Political Buttons circa

Content Description

This box contains 6 political buttons from United States presidential elections and inaugurations for Nelson A. Rockefeller, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Box 1, Folder 21

Street Scenes in Santa Cruz, Photo Essay ` 1978-2006

Content Description

This folder contains negatives and photographs from community members and demonstrations in Santa Cruz, CA. The negatives include photos from Latino protests against discrimination and anti-war demonstrations. Other negatives depict candid scenes of Santa Cruz pedestrians, family photos, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Box 1, Folder 22

World War II U.S.A. Military Postcards 1941-1944

Content Description

This folder contains United States military postcards from World War II. The illustrations are cartoons of military life and enlistment propaganda.