Collection Guide
Collection Title:
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Altman (Joe) photographs of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day
Parades
PC 040
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Joe Altman photographs of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parades
Creator:
Altman, Joe, 1945-1991
Identifier/Call Number: PC 040
Physical Description:
0.4375 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1979-1985
Date (bulk): 1979
Abstract: Collection contains 77 black and white,
gelatin silver print photographs of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade (1979-1980) and
the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Freedom Day Parade (1981-1985) taken by Joe
Altman between 1979 and 1985.
Joe Altman was born December 1, 1945 in New York state. He moved to San Francisco at age
21. Altman was a photographer, primarily capturing portraits of gay couples and important
events in the gay community such as candlelight marches and Freedom Day parades. Altman died
on April 4, 1991 in Santa Rosa, California.
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates:
https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by Joe
Altman were transferred to the California Historical Society (CHS) in October 1985 by Joe
Altman. Reproduction or publication of materials in this collection beyond that allowed by
fair use requires the written permission of CHS. Please contact rights@calhist.org
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Joe Altman, 1985.
[Identification of item, date]; Joe Altman photographs of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day
Parades, PC 040; [box number, folder number]; California Historical Society.
Collection contains 77 black and white, gelatin silver print photographs of the San
Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade (1979-1980) and the San Francisco International Lesbian and
Gay Freedom Day Parade (1981-1985) taken by Joe Altman between 1979 and 1985. Collection
also contains 69 contact sheets; 12 photocopies of contact sheets. Contact sheets were
printed for every year between 1979 and 1985, but not all photographs represented in the
contact sheets were included in this collection. Bulk of the photographic prints cover the
1979 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. The photographs of the 1979 parade show gay
organizations participating in the parade including the Gay Atheist League; Sha'ar Zahav, a
gay synagogue; Gay Latino Alliance; Society of Janus; gay members of the Libertarian Party;
Harvey Milk Gay Democratic Club; San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching and Twirling Corps;
Lesbian/Gay Cause of Butte County; Community United Against Violence; Golden Gate Business
Association; Los Angeles Gay Freedom Band; National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay
Rights contingent; Gay People's Union at Stanford; Straights for Gay Rights; Gays Against
Nuclear Power; Ministers for Human Rights; Dykes on Bikes; and the San Francisco Lesbian
Mothers. Floats representing the following gay businesses are represented: Boot Rack; The
Watergarden Baths; Blue Front Dely; Bulldog Baths; Club Bath Chain; I-Beam; DeLuxe Bar; and
the Trocadero Transfer (represented in a float from the 1982 parade). Individuals identified
in the 1979 parade photographs include: Guy Corry; Mr. National Gay Rodeo, 1979; George
Bosque; Bob Ross of the Bay Area Reporter; Harry Britt; Leonard Matlovich; Ed Paulson, Mr.
Gay Muscular Dystrophy; and Tim Phillips.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay pride parades -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial
works
Gays -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial works
Lesbian -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial works
Photographic prints