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Sallie M. Fiske Papers and Photographs
Coll2010.005
Coll2010.005
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Table of contents
Title: Sallie M. Fiske Papers and Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2010.005
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.5 linear feet.
6 archive cartons + 1 oversized envelope + (0.4 linear feet, unprocessed).
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1984-1986
Date (inclusive): 1958-2004
Abstract: Collection includes documents, correspondence, financial records, photographs, negatives and slides pertaining to the life
and career of lesbian journalist, Sallie Fiske, 1929-2004. The majority of the records document her involvement as publisher
and editor-in-chief of the
West Hollywood Paper, including original manuscripts by Fiske, photographs, negatives, contact sheets, financial records, contact and circulation
lists, and records related to the bankruptcy of the paper. This collection also includes personal love letters, cards, and
other correspondence; a photocopy of Harry Hay's "Towards the New Frontiers of Fairy Vision"; papers related to the indictment
and prosecution of Valerie Terrigno; personal financial papers; and work from her career in public relations.
creator:
Fiske, Sallie, 1929-2004
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility
of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).
Collection processed by Emily Prior, August 19, 2010. An additional 0.4 linear feet of deteriorated and damaged material remains
unprocessed, awaiting conservation.
Box #, folder #, Sallie M. Fiske Papers and Photographs, Coll2010-005, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Donated by Ed Garren, executor of the Sallie M. Fiske estate, November 14, 2006.
Sallie Fiske was born in 1929 to Los Angeles journalist and Orange County socialite, Frank Fiske and Dorothy (Guthrie) Fiske.
She graduated from Fullerton College in the 1940s.
One of the first women in broadcast journalism in the United States, Fiske worked as news editor at KCOP-TV (Channel 13) in
the late 1950s and hosted the afternoon talk show,
Strictly for Women, during the 1970s. In 1977, Fiske, in reaction to Anita Bryant's anti-gay "Save Our Children" campaign, disclosed her sexual
orientation on the air and was subsequently fired from the show. She never worked in broadcast journalism again.
Fiske was active in the gay and lesbian rights struggle during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1978, she actively participated in
the campaign to defeat the California Proposition 6 Briggs Initiative. She later served as a co-chair of the Stonewall Democratic
Club. In 1984, Fiske managed the successful mayoral campaign of Valerie Terrigno, who became the first mayor of the City of
West Hollywood.
During 1985-1986, Fiske was the publisher and editor-in-chief of the
West Hollywood Paper. The paper lasted less than two years due to financial difficulties.
In 1994, Fiske edited Alan Cantwell's book,
Queer Blood! The Secret AIDS Genocide Plot, which explored the origins of HIV. Fiske died in Los Angeles on February 19, 2004.
Issues of the
West Hollywood Paper, the
Los Angeles Dispatch, the
Orange County Dispatch, and
Frontiers Magazine have been separated from this collection and moved to the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives' collection of periodicals.
This collection comprises manuscripts, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, negatives, contact sheets, financial records,
tax records, bankruptcy records, legal documents pertaining to lawsuits and the prosecution of Valerie Terrigno, drawings,
paste-ups, mementos, personal notes, lists, and slides. The core of the collection consists of documents pertaining to the
West Hollywood Paper, including financial documents, manuscripts written by Fiske, resumes sent to the paper, contact and circulation lists, photographs,
negatives, and contact sheets. The collection also contains research notes and articles; articles for other magazines and
newspapers; a photocopy of Harry Hay's "Towards the New Frontiers of Fairy Vision"; work from her career in public relations;
and documents related to Valerie Terrigno's indictment. The personal portion of the collection contains love letters and correspondence
dating from 1958-1994, Fiske's last will and testament, financial records, photographs, news clippings, drawings, and other
personal documents and mementos.
The collection is divided into three series: (1) Career and activism, (2) Personal, and (3) Photographs, negatives, and slides.
The bulk of the (1) Career and activism series includes Sallie Fiske's work and manuscripts related to the
West Hollywood Paper, as well as her work as an activist and in public relations, 1978-1996. The (2) Personal series includes love letters and
other correspondence, financial records, and manuscripts given to her from other writers, 1958-1994. The bulk of the (3) Photographs,
negatives, and slides series includes photographs, negatives, and contact sheets related to the
West Hollywood Paper, as well as personal photographs, 1985-1986.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fiske, Sallie, 1929-2004
Feminism
Journalism
Lesbian activists
Lesbian feminists
Lesbian writings
Photographs
West Hollywood (Calif.)
West Hollywood Paper