Guide to the People's Fund Records
Processed by The GLBTHS Archives staff; machine-readable finding aid created by
Xiuzhi Zhou
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: (415) 777-5455
Email: reference@glbthistory.org
URL: http://www.glbthistory.org
© 1999
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Guide to the People's Fund Records
Accession number: 1988-06
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California
Contact Information:
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
- 989 Market Street, Lower Level
- San Francisco, California 94103
- Phone: (415) 777-5455
- Email: reference@glbthistory.org
- URL: http://www.glbthistory.org
- Processed by:
- The GLBTHS Archives staff
- Date Completed:
- 1999
- Encoded by:
- Xiuzhi Zhou
© 1999 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: People's Fund Records
Accession number: 1988-06
Creator:
People's Fund
Extent: 1 box
Repository: The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
San Francisco, California.
Shelf location: Housed at the GLBT Historical Society.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], People's Fund Records, 1988-06, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
History
The People's Fund (1976-1983) was a charitable organization that provided financial aid to members of the gay community of
San Francisco. Its stated goal was to lend and grant funds to members of the "homosexual community" who suffered unexpected
loss due to fire, theft, or a death in the immediate family. The Fund operated under a charter with the Pride Foundation,
and was a product of the combined efforts of the Council of Emperors, and Bob Ross of Benro Enterprises.
The Council of Emperors (1972 - present) is a major component of the Royal Court of San Francisco. The Royal Court originated
with the Council of Empresses, organized in 1966 by Jose Sarria. Other elements include dowagers, dukes and duchesses. The
Royal Court system was soon copied by many other cities and regions. It merged theatrical and camp elements of high drag with
social, political, and fundraising activities. The Court has been credited with helping to link gay bars with city politics
and forming a gay voting block. It holds ritualized social events (balls, diners, parties, etc.) that generate major funding
for gay organizations and AIDS charities.
Benro Enterprises is the creation of Bob Ross, publisher of the
Bay Area Reporter(BAR). Benro owns the
BAR, Gay Graphics, and Gay Comics. It also once owned a bar supply company, Glasses Etcetera. Bob Ross has long been active in
the Royal Court. He was elected seventh Emperor in 1978.
The Pride Foundation (1972-198[5?]) was a private non-profit organization whose goal was to operate a gay community center
that would house legal, recreational, artistic, and social services. A partial listing of the founders of the Pride Foundation
includes Zane Thomas, B.J. Beckwith, George Mendenhall, Roberta Buba, Charlotte Coleman, John Wahl, Perry Wood, and Paul Hardman.
Paul Hardman has suggested that the surviving papers from the Foundation can be found through the One Institute in Los Angeles.
Mark Calhoun, treasurer of the People's Fund, was credited with supplying the momentum behind the activities of the Fund.
Calhoun, owner of the Starlight Room (a gay bar located at 1121 Market Street), died in 1980. The People's Fund was disbanded
in 1983, when a check for the remaining funds was donated to Shanti.
Scope and Content
This sparse collection is comprised of approved and denied applications for assistance, thank-you notes, bank records, minutes,
and scattered correspondence. There is little that documents the relationship between the Pride Foundation and its community
center at 330 Grove, Bob Ross and Benro Enterprises, and the People's Fund. Nor is there an record of how the decision was
made to limit aid to victims of theft or fire, or the death of family members. The criteria used in determining eligibility
for funds is also not indicated.
One interesting exception to the stated purpose were funds spent on the funeral of Robert Hillsborough. Hillsborough was murdered
in a vicious gay-bashing in June of 1978. His murder, which was linked to the current Anita Bryant campaign in Dade County
Florida, sparked tremendous anger and street demonstrations in San Francisco. Money from the People's Fund was used for cremation
of the remains, the funeral itself, and to fly his mother Helen to San Francisco for the services.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Imperial Court System
Folder 1
Initial Proposal and Charter Agreement
Folder 3
Applications for Loans and Grants - Approved
Folder 4
Applications for Loans and Grants - Rejected
Folder 6
Board of Trustees Lists (1976-1977)
Folder 7
Council of Emperors of San Francisco - Undated List
Folder 8
Sanwa Bank Statements (7-9-76 to 1-20-77)
Folder 9
Wells Fargo Bank Statements (1-7-77 to 3-16-84), Copies of signature cards (1-7-77 and 3-16-84)
Folder 10
Record of Wells Fargo deposits, numbered 1 to 27
Folder 11
Record of Wells Fargo withdrawals (2-77 to 3-79)
Folder 12
Sketch of an annual accounting: loans and accounts receivable (1977 - 1979)
Folder 13
Receipts and cancelled checks
