Finding aid of the Dan Siminoski Collection on Federal Bureau of Investigation Surveillance of Gays and Lesbians

Series 1. Federal Bureau of Investigation Files 1953-1984

Physical Description: 4.8 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series contains the records of the FBI obtained by Dan Siminoski as a consequence of his FOIA request dated October 22, 1982, and of the lawsuit filed on his behalf by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California on October 11, 1983, as well as materials created or collected by Siminoski in the course of analyzing these records. The records released by the FBI total approximately 2,200 documents, or 7,000 pages, from FBI Headquarters and various regional offices and relating primarily to the Daughters of Bilitis, Gay Activists Alliance, Gay Liberation Front, and the Mattachine Society. The analytical documents include a "Vaughn Index" to the documents, prepared by the FBI; document summaries, in several formats (typescript, manuscript, and on audio tape cassette); lists of documents and the "exemption codes" by which the FBI justified its redactions; document coding forms and instructions; and analytical and statistical notes compiled by Siminoski. The series is divided into two subseries: 1. Headquarters and Field Office Files, containing the files themselves, and 2. Document Analysis, containing Siminoski's analysis of the records, and related documents.

Subseries 1.1. Headquarters and Field Office Files 1953-1979

Physical Description: 3.1 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries comprises the copies of FBI files released to Siminoski by the Bureau as a consequence of his letter of October 22, 1982, and his lawsuit filed on October 11, 1983. The files are arranged alphabetically by the name of the gay or lesbian organization they concern: the Daughters of Bilitis, East Coast Homophile Organization (ECHO), Gay Activists Alliance, Gay Liberation Front, Mattachine Society, National Gay Task Force, ONE, Radical Lesbians, and Society for Individual Rights. Within each organizational group, files are ordered according to the FBI office that maintained the file: FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, and the following field offices, in alphabetical order: Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, and the Washington, DC. The materials total approximately 2,200 documents, or 7,000 pages, and date from the early 1950s to the late 1970s. The bulk of the materials relate to the Mattachine Society and the Gay Liberation Front; the earliest documents concern the Mattachine Society, and the Daughters of Bilitis. The files for the Mattachine Society also include material on ONE Magazine and One., Inc. Over half the materials consist of organizational publications, including newsletters, pamphlets, calendars, and magazines, several of which, such as the Ladder, Mattachine Review , and ONE Magazine, were publicly sold on newsstands. Other materials include descriptions of private and public meetings and lists of people attending them, photographs of public demonstrations, and correspondence concerning the activities of known and suspected homosexuals. There is considerable duplication of materials, in particular between FBI Headquarters and the individual field offices, but also between various field offices. Approximately 70 per cent of the materials are redacted (censored), some heavily so: many sheets are place-holders for pages withheld in their entirety. Both photocopies of original redacted pages and place-holder sheets are marked with one or more "exemption" codes indicating the reason for the redaction or withholding. The series also includes a number of "revised" documents, second releases of materials already delivered to Siminoski. In most cases the "revised" documents contain fewer redactions than those released earlier; however, in a few cases, they contain more revisions.

Box 1 : 1

Listing of FBI surveillance files by file number circa 1986

Box 1 : 2-9

Daughters of Bilitis 1956-1973

Box 1 : 2

FBI Headquarters 1966-1971

Box 1 : 3

FBI Headquarters file 31-90277 1964

Box 1 : 4

FBI Boston 1971-1973

Box 1 : 5

FBI Los Angeles 1971-1972

Box 1 : 6

FBI New York 1970

Box 1 : 7

FBI San Francisco file 94-843, volume 1 1956-1966

Box 1 : 8

FBI San Francisco file 94-843, volume 2 1966-1979

Box 1 : 9

FBI San Francisco file 94-843. Sub A Exhibits 1956-1961

Box 1 : 10

East Coast Homophile Organization (ECHO) 1965

Box 1 : 10

FBI Headquarters file 163-12514 1965

Box 1 : 11 - 2 : 11

Gay Activists Alliance 1970-1979

Box 1 : 11

FBI Headquarters 1972-1974

Box 1 : 12

FBI Headquarters file 100-469170 1971-1976

Box 1 : 13

FBI Headquarters file 100-469170. Revised documents 1972-1974

Box 1 : 14

FBI Albany file 100-22972 1972

Box 1 : 15

FBI Baltimore file 100-30225 1972

Box 1 : 16

FBI Baltimore file 100-30225. Revised document 1972

Box 1 : 17

FBI Boston 1977

Box 1 : 18-19

FBI Cincinnati file 100-20096 1971-1975

Box 1 : 20

FBI Cincinnati file 100-20096. Revised Documents 1971-1973

Box 1 : 21

FBI Cincinnati file 100-20096. Sub A Exhibits 1972-1975

Box 2 : 1

FBI Detroit file 100-40944 1972

Box 2 : 2

FBI Miami file 100-16589 1972

Box 2 : 3

FBI Miami file 100-16589. Revised Documents 1972

Box 2 : 4

FBI Miami file 100-16589-1A 1972

Box 2 : 5

FBI New York no date

Box 2 : 6

FBI New York file 52-11200 1974-1979

Box 2 : 7

FBI New York file 100-170388 1970-1974

Box 2 : 8

FBI New York file 100-170388. Revised Documents 1971-1974

Box 2 : 9

FBI Newark file 100-55060 1972

Box 2 : 10

FBI San Francisco file 100-73494 1975

Box 2 : 11

FBI Washington Field Office 1971-1972

Box 2 : 12 - 4 : 16 ; 14 OS : 1

Gay Liberation Front 1969-1978

Box 14 OS : 1

FBI Headquarters 1969-1972

Box 2 : 12

FBI Headquarters file 100-450225 1970-1972

Box 2 : 13

FBI Headquarters file 100-450225. Revised Documents 1970

Box 2 : 14

FBI Headquarters file 100-464380 1971

Box 2 : 15

FBI Headquarters file 100-464462 1971

Box 2 : 16

FBI Headquarters file 100-470952 1972

Box 2 : 17

FBI Headquarters file 100-470952. Revised Documents 1972

Box 2 : 18

FBI Headquarters file 100-472348 1972

Box 2 : 19

FBI Headquarters file 174-7829 1977

Box 2 : 20

FBI Boston 1970-1971

Box 2 : 21

FBI Boston file 100-42796 1971

Box 2 : 22

FBI Chicago file 100-49116 1970-1972

Box 2 : 23

FBI Chicago file 100-49116. Revised Documents 1970

Box 2 : 24

FBI Cincinnati file 100-20632 1972

Box 2 : 25

FBI Cincinnati file 100-20632. Revised Document 1972

Box 2 : 26

FBI Cleveland file 100-32464 1972

Box 3 : 1

FBI Cleveland file 100-32464. Revised Documents 1972-1974

Box 3 : 2-3

FBI Cleveland file 100-32540 1971-1972

Physical Description: 2 volumes

Box 3 : 4

FBI Cleveland file 100-32540. Revised Documents 1972

Box 3 : 5

FBI Detroit file 100-37274 1970-1972

Box 3 : 6

FBI Detroit file 100-37274. Revised Documents 1971

Box 3 : 7

FBI Los Angeles 1970-1971

Box 3 : 8-10

FBI Los Angeles file 100-76507 1970-1975

Physical Description: 3 volumes

Box 4 : 1

FBI Los Angeles file 100-76507. Revised Documents 1970-1973

Box 4 : 2

FBI Minneapolis file 100-14970 1970

Box 4 : 3

FBI Minneapolis file 100-14970. Revised Documents no date

Box 4 : 4

FBI New York 1969-1971

Box 4 : 5

FBI Philadelphia file 100-52208 1970-1972

Box 4 : 6

FBI Philadelphia file 100-52208. Revised Documents 1970

Box 4 : 7

FBI San Diego file 100-15560 1970-1972

Box 4 : 8

FBI San Diego file 100-15560. Revised Documents 1970-1972

Box 4 : 9

FBI San Francisco 1970-1972

Box 4 : 10

FBI San Francisco file 100-65673 1970-1975

Box 4 : 11

FBI San Francisco file 100-65673. Revised Documents 1970-1972

Box 4 : 12

FBI San Francisco file 174-1625 1977

Box 4 : 13

FBI San Francisco file 174-1677 1977-1978

Box 4 : 14

FBI Washington Field Office 1970-1972

Box 4 : 15

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-52906 1970-1973

Box 4 : 16

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-52906. Revised Documents no date

Box 4 : 17 - 7 : 6 ; 14 OS : 2-4

Mattachine Society 1953-1972

Box 4 : 17

FBI Headquarters 1962-1966

Box 14 OS : 2

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 1 1953

Box 4 : 18

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 2 1954-1956

Box 5 : 1-2

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 3 1956

Physical Description: 2 parts.

Box 5 : 3

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 4 1956-1957

Box 5 : 4

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 5 1956-1961

Box 14 OS : 3

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320, volume 6 1961-1966

Box 14 OS : 4

FBI Headquarters file 100-403320. Revised Documents 1953-1963

Box 5 : 5

FBI Baltimore file 105-2377 1957

Box 5 : 6

FBI Boston file 100-31634 1960

Box 5 : 7

FBI Chicago file 100-32819 no date

Box 5 : 8

FBI Denver file 100-8362 1959

Box 5 : 9

FBI Detroit file 100-27579 1954-1959

Box 5 : 10

FBI Los Angeles 1956-1964

Box 5 : 11

FBI Los Angeles file 100-45888, volume 1 1953-1958

Box 6 : 1

FBI Los Angeles file 100-45888, volume 2 1954-1959

Box 6 : 2

FBI Los Angeles file 100-45888. Revised Documents 1954-1965

Box 6 : 3

FBI New York 1965-1966

Box 6 : 4-6

FBI New York file 100-132065 (3 folders) 1956-1964

Box 6 : 7

FBI New York file 100-132065. Revised Documents 1959-1963

Box 6 : 8

FBI San Francisco file 100-37894, volume 1 1953-1961

Box 6 : 9

FBI San Francisco file 100-37894, volume 2 1961-1968

Box 6 : 10

FBI San Francisco file 100-37394. Revised Document 1961

Box 7 : 1

FBI San Francisco file 100-37394. Sub A Exhibits 1953-1963

Box 7 : 2

FBI Seattle file 100-22500 1953-1963

Box 7 : 3

FBI Washington Field Office no date

Box 7 : 4

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-33796, volume 1 1957-1963

Box 7 : 5

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-33796, volume 2 1972

Box 7 : 6

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-33796. Revised Documents 1962-1965

Box 7 : 7-10

National Gay Task Force 1975-1982

Box 7 : 7

FBI Headquarters file 9-63959 1978

Box 7 : 8

FBI Headquarters file 62-118584 1980-1982

Box 7 : 9

FBI Denver 1980

Box 7 : 10

FBI New York 1975

Box 7 : 11-12

ONE, Inc. 1960-1966

Box 7 : 11

FBI Headquarters 1966

Box 7 : 12

FBI Los Angeles 1960-1961

Box 7 : 13

Radical Lesbians no date

Box 7 : 13

FBI New York no date

Box 7 : 14-15 ; 14 OS : 5

Society for Individual Rights 1965-1973

Box 7 : 14

FBI Headquarters 1965-1972

Box 14 OS : 5

FBI Headquarters file 62-114520 1971-1973

Box 7 : 15

FBI New York 1968

Subseries 1.2. Document Analysis 1953-1984

Physical Description: 1.7 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries contains the materials created or collected by Siminoski in the course of analyzing the documents released to him by the FBI. The FBI was required to deliver to Siminoski a "Vaughn Index" to the documents it released, identifying each document, indicating the statutory exemption (for redaction or withdrawal) claimed, and explaining how disclosure would damage the interests protected by the claimed exemption. The subseries contains two versions of this index, both incomplete. The subseries also contains summaries of the documents released by the FBI, in typescript (documents numbers 1011-2047), manuscript (2048-2227), and on audio tape cassette (12-2047). Few of the FBI documents are marked with the number assigned them in the Vaughn index: a series of folders contains copies of documents that are so marked, arranged in numerical order. Because one of the pillars of his case was the FBI's improper use of exemptions to redact and withhold information, Siminoski and his legal counsel spent considerable effort to determine precisely what exemptions were claimed on each document. The subseries contains Siminoski's manuscript notes, listing each document in Vaughn index number order, and indicating for each document the code for each exemption claimed. The subseries includes a tally sheet, listing each exemption in numerical order and indicating the number of documents in which each exemption was claimed. Siminoski also arranged copies of the FBI documents for analysis by FBI Headquarters or field office. These records were marked with the name of the office and a number representing the year of the document and the sequence of each document within that year, e.g., "LA 53-1"; in most cases, a form for analyzing the contents of the document was also attached. A small number of these documents survive, relating primarily to the Mattachine Society; these documents have been arranged by FBI office name and file number. Siminoski encoded all documents for entry into a computer database, and held "coding parties" each week at Jim Kepner's archives on North Hudson St., in Los Angeles. His correspondence with his ACLU legal counsel also refers to a printout of the information in this database. The collection contains no copy of this printout, and only a handful of encoded documents were found when the collection was processed. A representative number of these coded documents has been retained, as well as sample coding sheets and document coding instructions. The subseries also contains a small folder of Siminoski's analytical and statistical notes on the documents; a larger number of similar notes will be found attached to Siminoski's 1986 memoranda to his legal counsel in Series 2, Subseries 2 (box 15, folders 9-10).

Box 7 : 16-18 ; 14 OS : 6 ; 17 OS : 1-3

Indexes to FBI Documents 1983-circa 1986

Box 7 : 16

Vaughn index 1983

Box 7 : 17

Vaughn index, documents 1-1794 [1853] no date

Box 7 : 18

Document summaries, 1011-2047 circa 1984

Box 14 OS : 6

Document summaries, 2048-2227 circa 1984

Box 17 OS : 1

Audio tape cassettes of document summaries, part 1 circa 1984

Physical Description: 4 tape cassettes: 1 (12, 13; 363-370); 2 (14-54; 55-106); 3 (107-181; 172-334); 4 (335-461; 462-530).

Box 17 OS : 2

Audio tape cassettes of document summaries, part 2 circa 1984

Physical Description: 4 tape cassettes: 5(531-623; 624-772); 6 (773-888; 889-1010); 7(1011-1114; 1115-1187); 8(1188-1279; 1280-1355).

Box 17 OS : 3

Audio tape cassettes of document summaries, part 3 circa 1984

Physical Description: 4 tapes cassettes; 9 (1356-1460; 1461-1553); 10 (1553-1614; 1615-1735); 11 (1736-1815; 1816-1898); 12 (1899-1969; 1970-2047).

Box 7 : 19 - 8 : 12

Numbered Documents (Vaughn Index) 1954-1974

Box 7 : 19

Correspondence 1984-1986

Box 7 : 20

Documents 84, 402, 403 1957

Box 8 : 1

Document 129 1962

Box 8 : 2

Documents 255, 281, 358, 535, 590 1959-1966

Box 8 : 3

Document 561 1954

Box 8 : 4

Document 590 no date

Box 8 : 5

Document 604 1962

Box 8 : 6

Documents 754, 755, 757, 758 1968

Box 8 : 7

Document 768 1966

Box 8 : 8

Documents 992, 1003, 1004, 1010 1972-1974

Box 8 : 9

Document 1506/1507 1970

Box 8 : 10

Documents 1540, 1541 1970

Box 8 : 11

Document 1906 no date

Box 8 : 12

Document 2028/2029 no date

Box 14 OS : 7 - 15 OS : 2

FBI Exemption Codes 1984-1986

Box 14 OS : 7

Vaughn index documents 1-771 1984-1986

Box 14 OS : 8

Vaughn index documents 772-2047 1984-1986

Box 15 OS : 1

Vaughn index documents (incomplete) 1984-1986

Box 15 OS : 2

Exemption code usage statistics 1984-1986

Box 8 : 13-21 ; 15 OS : 3-7

Documents Selected for Analysis 1953-1973

Box 8 : 13-14 ; 15 OS : 3; 18 OS : 1-7; 19 : 1-4

FBI Headquarters files 1954-1966

Box 8 : 13

100-403320 (East Coast Homophile Organization - ECHO) 1965-1966

Box 18 : 1-7

100-403320 (Mattachine Society/ONE) 1953-1971

Box 18 : 1

1953-1954

Box 18 : 2

1956

Box 18 : 3

1957

Box 18 : 4

1958-1959

Box 18 : 5

1960-1962

Box 18 : 6

1963

Box 18 : 7

1964-1971

Box 8 : 14

FBI Baltimore file 1972-1973

Box 8 : 14

100-30225 (Gay Activists Alliance) 1972-1973

Box 8 : 15

FBI Denver file 1959, 1961, 1967

Box 8 : 15

100-8362 (Mattachine Society/ONE) 1959, 1961, 1967

Box 8 : 16

FBI Detroit (Gay Activists Alliance) 1972

Box 15 OS : 4-6

FBI Los Angeles file 100-45888 (Mattachine Society/ONE) 1953-1966

Box 15 OS : 4

1953

Box 15 OS : 5

1954-1956

Box 15 OS : 6

1959, 1963, 1966

Box 8 : 18

FBI Newark file 1972

Box 8 : 18

100-55060 (Gay Activists Alliance) 1972

Box 8 : 19

FBI San Francisco file 1975

Box 8 : 19

100-73494 (Gay Activists Alliance) 1975

Box 19 : 1-4

FBI Washington Field Office file 100-33796 (Mattachine Society/ONE) 1957-1972

Box 19 : 1

1957-1958

Box 19 : 2

1961-1962

Box 19 : 3

1963

Box 19 : 4

1964-1968, 1972

Box 8 : 20-21

Document Coding 1984

Box 8 : 20

Document coding instructions 1984

Box 8 : 21

Coded documents (sample) no date

Box 15 OS : 7

Document Analysis circa 1984

Box 15 OS : 7

Analytical and statistical notes circa 1984

Series 2. Siminoski v. FBI 1982-2001

Physical Description: 1.8 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series comprises the records of Siminoski's request of October 22, 1982, for all FBI documents relating to the surveillance of gays and lesbians between 1950 and 1982, and of the subsequent lawsuit filed on his behalf by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California on October 11, 1983. These records include Siminoski's correspondence with the FBI and with his legal counsel, the legal filings in the case, litigation correspondence between Siminoski's counsel and counsel for the FBI, drafts by Siminoski and his counsel of various legal filings, additional attorney notes and drafts, and materials created or collected by Siminoski in the course of his lawsuit. The series is divided into three subseries: 1. Legal Filings, 2. ACLU Files, and 3. Dan Siminoski files.

Subseries 2.1. Legal Filings 1982-1990

Physical Description: 0.8 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries contains the legal papers filed and proposed in Siminoski v. FBI, as well as the correspondence between Siminoski and the FBI, and between Siminoski's legal counsel, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California (represented by Joan Howarth, John Heilman, Paul Hoffman, and Jon W. Davidson), and the FBI and its counsel. The principal records are the complaint for injunctive relief (October 11, 1983; box 8, folder 9); the plaintiff's proposed statement of uncontroverted facts and conclusions of law, motion for summary judgment, and memorandum of points and authorities (June 23, 1986; box 9, folders 2-3); the report and recommendation of the Special Master, Ralph J. Geffen (November 3, 1988); transcripts of proceedings before Judge William D. Keller (June 19 and July 20, 1989; box 9, folder 19, and box 10, folder 3); and Judge Keller's decision (January 16, 1990; box 10, folder 5). While Geffen found for Siminoski on most points, Judge Keller reversed most of Geffen's recommendations; after discussion with Siminoski, who for health reasons had withdrawn from active participation in the case in 1986, the ACLU lawyers did not appeal Judge Kellers decision. The records also include the motion and supporting memorandum of points and authorities to disqualify Judge A. Andrew Hauck, to whom the case had originally been assigned, for anti-homosexual bias (November 7, 1985; box 8, folders 29-30). The memorandum of points and authorities of June 23, 1986, is incomplete, lacking exhibit 6 of volume 1, and all of volumes 2-5; however, the declarations of Robert J. Chester (June 15, 1985; box 8, folder 27) and Philip W. Thomas (October 11, 1985; box 8, folder 28) may be identical to exhibits 8 and 7, respectively, referenced in the index to volume 2. The litigation correspondence includes a copy of Siminoski's initial letter to the FBI, dated October 20, 1982, requesting under the FOIA photocopies of all FBI documents relating to the surveillance of gay and lesbian groups, as well as letters of transmittal that accompanied the release, beginning in March 1984, of records by FBI Headquarters and its offices in various cities; the FBI was still releasing documents under Siminoski's request in May, 1990. Although Siminoski began receiving copies of FBI documents in the first quarter of 1984, the lawsuit continued, on the grounds that FBI was not releasing documents in a timely manner, and that many of the documents released were improperly redacted. The correspondence between Siminoski's lawyers and those of the FBI constitute an important supplement to the court papers, as they provide additional discussion of issues raised in the latter.

Arrangement

Separated into (1) legal filings, followed by (2) litigation correspondence, both sections ordered chronologically.

Box 8 : 22 - 10 : 6

Legal Filings 1983-1990

Box 8 : 22

Complaint for injunctive relief October 11, 1983

Box 8 : 23

Answer to complaint December 28, 1983

Box 8 : 24

Joint report of early meeting of counsel February 18, 1984

Box 8 : 25

Stipulation to continue pre-trial conference hearing and order thereon September 13, 1984

Box 8 : 26

Stipulation to continue pre-trial conference hearing December 11, 1984

Box 8 : 27

Declaration of Robert J. Chester June 15, 1985

Box 8 : 28

Declaration of Philip W. Thomas addressing the application of exemption one of the Freedom of Information Act October 11, 1985

Box 8 : 29

Notice of motion and motion to disqualify or in the alternative to transfer the disqualification decision to another court; declaration of plaintiff; certificate of good faith November 7, 1985

Box 8 : 30

Memorandum of points and authorities in support of plaintiff's motion of disqualification [against judge A. Andrew Hauck]; declarations; exhibit November 7, 1985

Box 9 : 1

Joint status report January 2, 1986

Box 9 : 2

Plaintiff's [proposed] statement of uncontroverted facts and conclusions of law June 23, 1986

Box 9 : 3

Notice of motion and motion for summary judgment; memorandum of points and authorities. Volume 1 of 5 June 23, 1986

Box 9 : 4

[Proposed] Order for summary judgment in favor of plaintiff June 24, 1986

Box 9 : 5

Stipulation; order July 2, 1986

Box 9 : 6-10

Defendant's opposition to plaintiff's motion for summary judgment November 5, 1986

Physical Description: 3 volumes, volume 2 in 3 folders.

Box 9 : 11

Joan Haworth notes on FBI response November 17, 1986

Box 9 : 12

Plaintiff's reply to defendant's opposition to plaintiff's motion for summary judgment; declaration of Joan W. Howarth; exhibits November 26, 1986

Box 9 : 13

Stipulation to set hearing on summary judgment kotion, to establish briefing schedule and to outline issues in dispute; and order thereon April 1, 1987

Box 9 : 14

Supplemental opposition to plaintiff's motion for summary judgment April 24, 1987

Box 9 : 15

Plaintiff's response to defendant's supplemental opposition May 8, 1987

Box 9 : 16

Submission of additional declaration and report regarding in camera declarations June 12, 1987

Box 9 : 17

Notice of filing of magistrate's report and recommendation and the lodging of proposed judgment November 3, 1988

Box 9 : 18

Defendant's objections to the report and recommendation of the Special Master December 12, 1988

Box 9 : 19

Transcript of proceedings [before Judge William D. Keller] June 19, 1989

Box 10 : 1

Plaintiff's supplemental memorandum of points and authorities regarding privacy exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act June 30, 1989

Box 10 : 2

Joint status report and stipulation; order July 12, 1989

Box 10 : 3

Transcript of proceedings [before Judge William D. Keller] July 20, 1989

Box 10 : 4

Plaintiff's supplemental memorandum in support of motion for summary judgment re exemption (b)(7) July 26, 1989

Box 10 : 5

Order re plaintiff's motion for summary judgment January 16, 1990

Box 10 : 6

Gay Liberation Front undated

Box 10 : 7-13

Litigation Correspondence 1982-1987 1990

Box 10 : 7

1982

Box 10 : 8

1983

Box 10 : 9

1984

Box 10 : 10

1985

Box 10 : 11

1986

Box 10 : 12

1987

Box 10 : 13

1990

Subseries 2.2. ACLU Files 1983-2001

Physical Description: 0.5 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries contains materials from the files of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, which represented Siminoski in his lawsuit against the FBI. The bulk of the documents--Siminoski's memoranda to Joan Howarth of February-June 1986, his "Searchability memo" of June 1986, and the three draft memoranda prepared by ACLU lawyers or paralegals (box 15, folders 8-12; box 16, folder 1)--all relate to the plaintiff's proposed statement of uncontroverted facts and conclusions of law, motion for summary judgment, and memorandum of points and authorities, dated June 23, 1986 (box 9, folders 1-2). Siminoski's memoranda are cut-and-paste drafts, with extensive manuscript analytical and statistical notes derived from the FBI documents attached. The correspondence folder includes communications between Siminoski and his ACLU lawyers, in particular Joan Haworth and John Heilman, as well as with the Texas law firm that represented Siminoski before the ACLU Foundation. The subseries also includes three folders of attorney notes and drafts, relating to the recovery of attorney’s fees (from the FBI), Judge A. Andrew Hauck and judicial prejudice, and miscellaneous matters.

Box 15 OS : 8

Siminoski/ACLU correspondence 1983-2001

Box 15 OS : 9

Dan Siminoski memoranda to Joan Howarth February-June 1986

Box 15 OS : 10

Dan Siminoski "Searchability memo" June 3, 1986

Memorandum of points and authorities in support of plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, June 23, 1986 1986

Box 15 OS : 11

Draft A 1986

Box 15 OS : 12

Draft B 1986

Box 16 OS : 1

Draft C 1986

Box 16 OS : 2-4

ACLU attorney notes and drafts 1983-1989

Box 16 OS : 2

Recovery of attorneys' fees 1983-1989

Box 16 OS : 3

Judge Andrew Hauck and judicial prejudice 1986

Box 16 OS : 4

Miscellaneous 1983-1989

Subseries 2.3. Dan Siminoski Files 1982-1990

Physical Description: 0.5 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries consists of materials created or collected by Siminoski in the course of his lawsuit against the FBI. The correspondence files document Siminoski’s relations with other individuals either seeking, or who had already obtained, access through the FOIA to FBI surveillance files on GLBT organizations; his travels and lectures on FBI surveillance of gays and lesbians; and his move in the summer of 1983 from Texas to Los Angeles, where his project found a home at Jim Kepner’s Western Gay Archives at 1654 North Hudson St. They also include a proposal from an admirer in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for an unrealized television movie on Siminoski's life. The files contain both original and copy letters, many with Siminoski's handwritten notes attached; correspondents include Harry Hay, Frank Kameny, and Morris Kight. The interview notes and followup correspondence document Siminoski’s visits to Washington, DC, in 1982 and 1983, to interview members of the administration, Congressional staffers, and government experts concerning the FOIA; the latest notes in the file document a conversation with the assistant to journalist Randy Shilts, who had also obtained photocopies of many of the same FBI documents through his own FOIA request, and had published an account of these records in the San Francisco Chronicle in September 1989. Additional files in the subseries evidence the intensive media campaign Siminoski launched with the filing of his lawsuit in October 1983. These files include consultation with a media consultant, correspondence with the gay media, extensive mailing lists of gay media organizations and individuals, and a press kit. The subseries also includes press releases relating to the lawsuit issued by the ACLU Foundation, and itineraries documenting Siminoski’s extensive travels in furtherance of his project. Siminoski also collected information on leading GLBT organizations, such as the Gay Rights National Lobby (where he also applied for the position of executive director), Lambda Legal Defense, and the National Gay Task Force. The records of the Freedom of Information Project, which Siminoski instituted in late 1984 with the help of Kepner and his archives (renamed the International Gay and Lesbian Archives earlier in the year), are of particular interest, as they include Privacy Act Waiver Forms with the notarized signatures of many prominent members of the GLBT community in 1984, including Virginia Apuzzo, Allen Ginsberg, Frank Kameny, and Bruce Voeller.

Box 10 : 14-15 ; 16 OS : 5-6

Correspondence 1982-1987 1991

Box 10 : 14

1982-1987

Box 16 OS : 5

1991

Box 16 OS : 6

Media 1983-1984

Box 10 : 15

FBI "obscene" file 1986

Box 10 : 16

Freedom of Information Clearing House 1986

Box 16 OS : 7

Freedom of Information project 1984-1985

Box 10 : 17

Gay Rights National Lobby 1983-1984

Box 10 : 18

Lambda Legal Defense 1983

Box 10 : 19

National Gay Task Force 1983

Box 16 OS : 8

Interview notes and followup correspondence 1982-1983 1989

Box 11 : 1

Itineraries 1983-1984

Box 11 : 2

Liberty Hill Foundation grant 1987-1988

Box 11 : 3-4

Mailing lists and contact addresses circa 1983-1990

Physical Description: 2 folders.

Box 11 : 5

Media consultants 1983

Box 11 : 6

Press kit 1983-1984

Box 11 : 7

Press kit materials 1983-1984

Box 16 OS : 9

ACLU press releases 1983-1984

Box 16 OS : 10

Press clippings 1973 1983-1989

Box 11 : 8

Telephone bills January-February 1984

Series 3. FOIA and Government Surveillance Reference Materials 1978-1990

Physical Description: 0.7 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series comprises materials collected by Siminoski relating to the implementation of the FOIA by federal law enforcement agencies, in particular the FBI. Publications and papers of the FBI account for almost half the materials, including photocopies, obtained by news reporter Carl Stern in 1981, of extensive portions of FBI Headquarters file 190-3, relating to the impact of FOIA and the Privacy Act on law enforcement activities. The materials also include reports by the General Accounting Office and the Congressional Research Service, a study by Senator Jim Sasser on Congressional oversight of the FOIA, and issues of the newsletters FOIA Update and FOIA Alert. The series also includes a folder of materials relating to the waiving of fees charged for photocopies of documents obtained under the FOIA; a FOIA files kit, with step-by-step instructions on how to obtain documents under the FOIA; a small number of manuscript notes by Siminoski; and a folder of press notices and other short publications relating to the general topic of government surveillance.

Arrangement

Arrangement: chronologically, by date of publication or creation (FBI Headquarters File 190-3)

Box 11 : 9

Sarah P. Collins, Citizen control over records held by third parties . Congressional Research Service, Report 78-255 GOV 1978

Box 11 : 10

General Accounting Office, Timeliness and completeness of FBI responses to requests under Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts have improved April 10, 1978

Box 11 : 11

General Accounting Office, Data on Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act provided by Federal law enforcement agencies June 16, 1978

Box 11 : 12

General Accounting Office, mpact of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts on law enforcements agencies I November 15, 1978

Box 11 : 13

Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Proposals to Amend the Freedom of Information Act 1979

Box 11 : 14

Christine M. Marwick, ed., The 1980 edition of litigation under the Federal Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act . 5th ed. Washington, DC: Center for National Security Studies, November 1979. Extracts. 1979

Box 11 : 15 - 12 : 1-6

Carl Stern, Freedom of Information-Privacy Acts (FOIPA) request for records pertaining to the General Accounting Office (GAO) study to evaluate the impact of the FOIPA on law enforcement activities. FBI Headquarters file 190-3 1979-1980

Box 11 : 15

Section 2

Box 11 : 16

Section 3

Box 12 : 1

Section 4

Box 12 : 2

Section 5

Box 12 : 3

Section 6

Box 12 : 4

Section 7

Box 12 : 5

Section 8

Box 12 : 6

Section 9

Box 16 OS : 11

FOIA press clippings and photocopies 1980-1984

Box 12 : 7

Center for National Security Studies, The CIA and the FOIA; a report analyzing CIA proposals to exempt most agency files from the Freedom of Information Act 1980

Box 12 : 8

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Annual Report to Congress 1980

Box 12 : 9

Harold C. Relyea and Elaine R. Tomchik, Managing official information--accessibility and protection in the federal government: a selected bibliography . Congressional Research Service Report 80-183 GOV 1980

Box 12 : 10

FOIA Update 1981-1982

Box 12 : 11

Waiver of FOIA fees 1981-1983

Box 12 : 12

Jim Sasser, Oversight of the administration of the Federal Freedom of Information Act: a personal report 1981

Box 12 : 13

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Impact of the Freedom of Information Act upon the Federal Bureau of Investigation December 11, 1981

Box 12 : 14

Harold C. Relyea, Modifying the Freedom of Information Act: ideas and implications. Draft. Journal of Media Law and Practice , vol. 3 May 1982

Box 12 : 15

[William Webster] Documented examples of the adverse effects of the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act on law enforcement 1982

Box 12 : 16

FOIA Alert 1983

Box 12 : 17

Outweek FOIA request 1990

Box 12 : 18

Fund for Open Information and Accountability: FOIA files kit no date

Box 12 : 19

Dan Siminoski notes on FOIA circa 1982

Box 12 : 20

Government surveillance 1972-1983

Series 4. Siminoski Personal and Professional 1977-1986

Physical Description: 0.2 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series comprises personal materials and materials created and acquired by Siminoski in the course of professional activities not directly connected with his FOIA lawsuit against the FBI. Personal correspondence includes applications for teaching positions, for positions at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, and for the Jay Hayes Memorial Scholarship offered by The Lesbian/Gay Academic Union, as well as correspondence with both Frontiers and The Advocate relating to proposed writing assignments. A separate file contains Siminoski's correspondence with Alyson Publications, including a signed contract for his proposed book, Spies in the Closet: Federal Surveillance of the Gay Rights Movement, 1950-1982 . Siminoski's writings include two conference presentations, and the draft of part (the section written by him) of "Perceptions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Proposed Amendments by the FOIA Administrators," which he co-wrote with J. Norman Baldwin and which was published in Government Information Quarterly, 2 (May 1985). The series also includes copies and drafts of Siminoski’s column "Gay Community/Gay Power", later "Gay Politics/Gay Community" (including correspondence with Stonewall Features, the syndicate for whom the column was written), as well as copies of his article "Spies in the Closet", published in three parts in The News in 1986, and a draft of Siminoski's cover article on Robert Rosenkrantz, "A Killing in Calabasas," published in the November 11, 1986, issue of The Advocate . Additional documents include materials on the 9th National Conference of the Gay Academic Union (1983); on the Gay Press Association and Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Press Association, for whom Siminoski was national political correspondent in 1984; and on a proposed Voter Education Project (1984), to be jointly sponsored by the Gay Press Association and by the Jim Kepner's National Gay Archives, as well as several versions of Siminoski's academic vita, and a copy of his will.

Box 13 : 1

Personal correspondence 1983-1987

Box 16 OS : 12

Correspondence, Alyson publications 1983-1986

Box 13 : 2

Scholarly articles and conference presentations 1983-1984

Box 13 : 3

Column "Gay Community/Gay Power" aka "Gay Politics / Gay Community" (Stonewall Features) 1983-1984

Box 16 OS : 13

Column "Spies in the Closet" ( The News ) 1986

Physical Description: 3 parts.

Box 13 : 4

"A Killing in Calabasas" ( The Advocate ) 1986

Box 13 : 5

Gay Academic Union, 9th national conference 1983

Box 16 OS : 14

Gay Press Association / Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Press Association 1983-1984

Box 13 : 6

Voter Education Project proposal 1984

Box 13 : 7

Academic vita 1977-1984

Box 16 OS : 15

Will 1984-1985

Box 13 : 8

Rhonda R. Rivera, Review of John D'Emilio, Sexual politics, sexual communities: the making of a homosexual minority in the United States, 1940-1970 (1983). University of Pennsylvania Law Review, vol. 132, no. 2 1984

Collection Contents