Description
The collection comprises materials received,
collected, and created by Dan Siminoski in the course of prosecuting his 1982
request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the subsequent 1983
lawsuit, for copies of FBI documents relating to the Bureau's surveillance of
gays and lesbians from 1950 to 1982. The materials include photocopies of
approximately 2,200 documents (7,000 pages) from FBI Headquarters and various
regional offices, relating primarily to the Daughters of Bilitis, Gay Activists
Alliance, Gay Liberation Front, and the Mattachine Society, as well as indexes,
summaries, and various statistical analyses of these documents. Additional
materials include the legal filings in the case, litigation correspondence,
drafts by Siminoski and his counsel of various legal filings, and materials
relating to Siminoski's speaking tour and media campaign to publicize his
lawsuit. Personal and professional materials in the collection include personal
correspondence, copies and drafts of scholarly articles, conference
presentations, Siminoski's syndicated column for Stonewall Features, and pieces
for other publications; his academic vita; and his will.
Background
Dan Siminoski was born in Los Angeles on January 1, 1947, to a
progressive family. He displayed his commitment to human rights at an early
age, when he co-chaired Mid-City Youth Against Proposition 14, a state-wide
initiative to invalidate the California Fair Housing Law. He studied at the
University of California at Berkeley, where he was involved in the Free Speech
and anti-war movements and became the Berkeley co-chairman of Senator Eugene
McCarthy's presidential campaign; he received a BA in Political Science and was
elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1968. Before entering graduate school, Siminoski
served as a staff investigator for the Fair Campaign Practices Committee in
Washington, DC, and then as legislative aid to Senator Wayne Morse. He earned
his MA with honors in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin in
1970, when he was also awarded a Ford Fellowship. His doctoral research brought
Siminoski back to Los Angeles where he came out in 1973 and became active in
gay rights causes. In 1976-1977, he was an Instructor in the Social Sciences
Department at Long Beach City College. He received his PhD in Political Science
from the University of Wisconsin in 1978. In 1979-1980, he was Visiting
Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Arizona State
University, and in 1980-1981, he held the same position at the University of
Missouri St. Louis. He was appointed Visiting Lecturer in Political Science at
Texas Tech University in 1981.
Extent
19 archive boxes.
7.5 linear feet.
Restrictions
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in
writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner.
Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in
the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant
copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for
all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).
Availability
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access
restrictions.