Dusty Pruitt Papers, 1945-2002, bulk 1983-1995, bulk Bulk, 1983-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Pruitt, Dusty, 1946-
Abstract:
The Dusty Pruitt Collection is comprised of personal and professional papers (1945-2002, bulk 1983-1995) from minister, Army veteran and activist Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt. The papers include reports, legal briefs, interviews, correspondence, administration records, videocassettes, photographs and clippings from Pruitt related to a 12-year legal dispute with the Department of Defense pertaining to her sexual orientation; a proposed film about Pruitt, entitled A Woman at War; and Pruitt's ministry at the Metropolitan Community Church in Long Beach, California.
Extent:
4.7 linear feet. 2 archive boxes + 3 archive cartons + 1 flat box.
Language:
Preferred citation:

Box #, folder #, Pruitt (Dusty) Papers, Coll2012-029, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

Background

Scope and content:

The Dusty Pruitt papers encompass personal and professional papers from circa 1945 to 2002. The papers are comprised of reports, notes, promotional material, legal papers, interviews, correspondence, periodical clippings, videocassettes, photographs and other material. The bulk of the materials relate to Pruitt's legal proceedings with the Department of Defense, as well as a media project documenting her life titled, A Woman At War. Her ministry with the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Long Beach is documented through a body of textual information as well as video recordings and photographs. Also included are awards and citations from various organizations.

Biographical / historical:

Carolyn Dusty Pruitt was born on July 19, 1946, in Ballinger, Texas the first of three siblings. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Jacksonville Baptist College in Jacksonville, Texas in 1965. She graduated in 1970 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish with a minor in Education. Pruitt was an Army officer from 1970 to 1983, transferring to the Reserves in 1976. In 1980, she graduated from the Cliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado with a Master of Divinity. She received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California in 1987. Pruitt started her ministry as Assistant Pastor of Agape Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Fort Worth, Texas and Denver, Colorado. She was the pastor of MCC Long Beach, California for 15 years, until 1995. After leaving MCC Long Beach, Ms. Pruitt was pastor for various MCC churches until her retirement in 2001 with 25 years of service.

In 1983, during her pastoral tenure and her position as a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) defense instructor in the Army Reserve, she gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times, "Pastor Resolves Gay, God Conflict: Church Works to Heal Homosexuals' Religious Scars." The article initiated a review into Ms. Pruitt's character causing her promotion to major to be withdrawn; and she was subsequently honorably discharged. Together, the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund fought a 12-year legal battle which ended in 1995 with Pruitt's reinstatement and promotion to Major, then retirement from the Army Reserve.

As of 2012, she is the Pastor of Safe Harbor United Church of Christ (UCC) and a hospice chaplain. She lives in Sussex County, Delaware.

Source: Pruitt, Dusty. "Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt." http://dustypruitt.com (accessed February 23, 2012).

Acquisition information:
Gift of Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt, August 26, 2008.
Processing information:

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Collection processed by Sean Marshall, February 2012.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1. Personal

Series 2. Military legal cases and research material

Series 3. A Woman at War media project

Series 4. Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Long Beach

Series 5. Subject files

Series 6. Photographs and videocassettes

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).

Preferred citation:

Box #, folder #, Pruitt (Dusty) Papers, Coll2012-029, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
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