Collection context
Summary
Background
- Scope and content:
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The bulk of the collection spans the years 1984-1987 and pertains to the business of Stonewall Park and related ventures, as well as of the National Association of Lesbians and Gays (NALAG) and Lavender Press. It includes organizational and real estate records, board materials, correspondence, financial records, marketing materials, news clippings, and court records from a lawsuit filed against Fred Schoonmaker by former Stonewall backer Robert Ascue and partner Margeret Ascue who Fred and Al were doing business with regarding Stonewall Park. The collection also includes materials related to Munchkin’s and other more personal matters such as family papers; Schoonmaker’s Bible and high school ring; materials from their family member’s memorials as well as Fred’s passing; and photographs of family and friends, including pictures of Fred and Alfred.
- Biographical / historical:
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Fred Schoonmaker and Alfred Parkinson were a couple who attempted to establish a gay intentional community to be called Stonewall Park in rural Nevada. Prior to moving to Nevada, the two lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. During their time living in San Francisco, the couple owned and operated an ice cream shop called Munchkin’s while also operating Lavender Press and the National Association of Lesbians and Gays (NALAG). In the last three years of Fred’s life, as Munchkin’s failed to stay open and as they had to close their ice cream business, Fred and Al decided to embark on a new dream to open up a gay intentional community in rural Nevada which would be named Stonewall Park. Schoonmaker and Parkinson dreamed of creating a “safe and peaceful place” where they could live without interference as a gay interracial couple (Schoonmaker was white, Parkinson African American). They first tried to build on a ranch in the existing town of Silver Springs, and then ultimately attempted to build Stonewall Park in the ghost town of Rhyolite. Both attempts to purchase land for their community were thwarted by local homophobia and hate. The final attempt was the successful purchase of land near Thunder Mountain in rural Pershing County, but this work, too, was halted after opposition and threats. Their venture left Schoonmaker and Parkinson destitute. In 1987, Fred Schoonmaker was diagnosed with AIDS and he died that same year.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Roy D. Baker on December 18, 1990. Additions gift of Dennis McBride on January 11, 2005.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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Copyright to material has been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society. All requests for reproductions and/or permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the GLBT Historical Society Archivist.
- Preferred citation:
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Fred Schoonmaker and Alfred Parkinson papers. GLBT Historical Society
- Location of this collection:
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989 Market Street, Lower LevelSan Francisco, CA 94103, US
- Contact:
- (415) 777-5455