Black Cat Café Mascot

Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS

GLBT Historical Society

989 Market Street, Lower Level

San Francisco, California 94103

(415) 777-5455

reference@glbthistory.org

http://www.glbthistory.org/

2023

Descriptive Summary

Title: Black Cat Café Mascot

Dates: circa 1950-1955

Collection Number: 2022-110

Creator/Collector: Black Cat Café

Extent: 5 linear feet (1 artifact)

Repository: GLBT Historical Society

San Francisco, California 94103

Abstract: This collection includes the original papier mache mascot for the Black Cat Café, which was a historic queer bar on Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. The roughly 6 foot long cat sat above the bar of the cafe until its eventual closure in 1964, after which it was inherited by Bill Plath and his partner, Dick Rousseau. Bill Plath was a founding member of the Society for Individual Rights, as well as a manager of several gay bars in San Francisco. The cat was then inherited by Plath’s adopted son, Michael Finn.

Language of Material: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Black Cat Café Mascot. Collection Number: 2022-110. GLBT Historical Society

Acquisition Information

Gift of Melissa Henry, Trustee of the Micheal Finn Estate, 2022.

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection includes the original papier mache mascot for the Black Cat Café, which was a historic queer bar on Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. The roughly 6 foot long cat sat above the bar of the cafe until its eventual closure in 1964, after which it was inherited by Bill Plath and his partner, Dick Rousseau. Bill Plath was a founding member of the Society for Individual Rights, as well as a manager of several gay bars in San Francisco. The cat was then inherited by Plath’s adopted son, Michael Finn.

Indexing Terms

LGBTQ

Nightlife

San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)