Finding Aid to the T.J. Anthony Papers, SFH 388

Finding aid prepared by Tami J. Suzuki
San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
2015


Title: T.J. Anthony Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1980-1996
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 388
Creator: Anthony, T.J. (Thesoloniki Richard), 1959-1996
Physical Description: 1 carton, 1 oversized folder, 1 flat box (2.0 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4400
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Abstract: Contains personal papers of T.J. Anthony, a gay activist who worked on social justice issues and shaped much of San Francisco's political agenda of the 1990s.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

Access

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored off site should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], T.J. Anthony Papers (SFH 388), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Provenance

The collection was donated to the San Francisco Public Library by Tab Buckner in 1997.

Processed by

Tami J Suzuki

Biographical Note

T.J. Anthony was a gay activist who worked on social justice issues and shaped much of San Francisco's political agenda of the 1990s. Born in Michigan and named Thesoloniki Richard, Anthony was raised in foster homes. He said his personal experiences drove his commitment to help those less fortunate. He served as an aide to U.S. Senator Don Riegle of Michigan. He later worked as a political consultant and was instrumental in passing the city's Casatrophic Sick Leave Program and Needle Exchange Policy. He also authored 1993's Proposition X which eliminated city officeholder accounts. He was an aide to Supervisors Richard Hongisto and Barbara Kaufman. Anthony worked with Kaufman on the city's recognition of same-gender marriage; non-compliance with state Proposition 187, the anti-immigrant law; and the new City Charter. He advocated for women's reproductive choice and the state of Israel, and worked to defeat Judge Robert Bork's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Anthony died in 1996.

Scope and Contents

Contains personal papers of T.J. Anthony. Includes letters, policy papers, campaign questionnaires, newsletters, political flyers, and U.S. Senate hearing transcripts. Of significance is a typescript copy of the preface to Mary C. Dunlap's unpublished book, Fighting Words, Mending Words. Also included are white papers from Richard Hongisto's 1991 campaign for mayor.

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically by topic.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Anthony, T.J. (Thesoloniki), 1959-1996--Archives.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government--20th century.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Social conditions--20th century.

 

AIDS/HIV Research Funding, 1988-1991

 

Aguilar, Judge Robert P., 1990

 

Alice B. Toklas Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club, 1988-1991

 

Bork, Robert, Supreme Court Nominee, 1987

 

Brown, Willie L., 1995-1996

 

Bush, President George, 1990-1991

 

California Democratic Party, 1989-1993

 

Israel Resolution, 1993

 

Charter Reform, 1992-1995

 

Death Penalty, [1999]

 

Democratic County Central Committee, 1995-1996

 

Donations and Campaign Acknowledgements, 1990-1996

 

Dunlap, Mary C., 1988-1996

 

Election Results, 1990-1991

 

Fa, Angie, School Board Campaign, 1992

 

Feminist Men's Alliance, 1987-1988

 

Gay Rights, 1987-1993

 

Guest Book, Various Events, 1997-1998

 

Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Democratic Club, 1990-1995

 

Homeless, [1990?]

 

Hongisto, Richard, Assessor Campaign, 1990

 

Hongisto, Richard, Mayoral Campaign, 1991

 

Israel, 1991-1995

 

Johnston, Bennett, Congressional Campaign, 1991-1992

 

Jordan, Mayor Frank, [1991]-1992

 

Kaufman, Barbara, Supervisorial Campaigns, 1992-1995

 

Men Who Care About Women's Lives, 1989-1990

 

Needle Exchange Legislation, 1992

 

Personal Documents, 1987-1997

 

Photographs, [1990s]

 

Political Buttons, [1980s-1990s]

 

Political Flyers, [1980s-1990s]

 

Proposition 187 (Services to Non-citizens), 1994

 

Proposition W (Recognition of Palestine), 1988

 

Proposition X (Slush Funds Band), 1982-1983

 

Reproductive Rights, 1989-1990

 

Riegle, Sen. Donald, 1980

 

Walker, Vaughn R., Federal District Court Nominee, 1988-1989