Collection Guide
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Homosexual Information Center Card File Collection
SC.HICCF
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Homosexual Information Center Card File Collection
Creator:
Homosexual Information Center (Hollywood, Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: SC.HICCF
Extent:
3.67 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1954-1995
Date (bulk): 1961-1967
Abstract: The Homosexual Information Center (HIC)
is a nonprofit organization committed to gathering and disseminating information and data to
the public regarding all aspects of homosexuality. It was founded in the late 1960s by the
Tangent Group, which in 1965 formally split from ONE, Incorporated, one of the first gay
rights organizations in the United States. The collection consists of card files believed to
be integral to the organization's information distribution activities. They include what
appear to be contact cards, and contributor and subscription lists.
Language of Material: English
The Homosexual Information Center (HIC), a nonprofit organization committed to gathering
and disseminating information and data to the public regarding all aspects of homosexuality,
has its roots in ONE Incorporated. Established in 1952, One Incorporated was one of the
first gay rights organizations in the United States. Its founding members included Dale
Jennings, Harry Hay, Dorr Legg, and Don Slater, all of whom sought to unify homosexuals into
social action. The organization conceived of and published ONE Magazine, first distributed
in 1953, which was dedicated to homosexuality and homosexual issues. In 1955 the
organization established an educational division, called ONE Institute for Homophile
Studies, the first educational institution in the United States dedicated to the study of
homosexuality. The organization quickly expanded in the years 1953-1956 to include the
educational division, a publications division, a social services division, and a
library.
In 1965, ONE, Inc. split into two factions, with one faction remaining under the name ONE,
Inc., while the other faction, led by board members Don Slater, Antonio Reyes, Billy Glover,
and Jim Schneider, was known as The Tangent Group. The split between ONE, Inc. and The
Tangent Group was finalized in 1967 after a two-year court case, and the Homosexual
Information Center was founded by The Tangent Group in 1968 in Los Angeles, California.
The Homosexual Information Center has sought to inform the public by promoting an
interest, knowledge and understanding of the problems of homosexuality, and has advocated
for many social and political causes, including equal rights for the LBGTQ community, the
decriminalization of homosexuality in countries around the world, health-related issues
including the AIDS epidemic, and fostering increased social acceptance of homosexuality.
The
Homosexual Information Center Card File Collection
consists of files believed to be integral to the organization's information distribution
activities. The HIC provided newsletters, news releases, information packets, and
publication lists. Though headquartered in the Los Angeles area, contributions and
subscriptions came from around the world. The card files include what appear to be contact
cards, and contributor and subscription lists, and referrals. Note that several of the
contact cards also contain what appears to be subscription information. The collection is
arranged in a single series alphabetically by purpose.
Related Material
Cataloged materials from the Homosexual Information Center can be found in the
Library Catalog.
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Homosexual Information Center, 0712/2012.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
April Feldman, 2015