About LGBT History Project Resources
The LGBT Center of Central PA and the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections have partnered to document the stories and history of LGBT life and activism in the greater Central Pennsylvania region. This site contains oral histories that have been recorded for the LGBT History Project, as well as fully accessible digital versions of documents, images, and artifacts that have been donated to the project.
This is a quickly growing collection, and not all items are available through this website. Please contact Malinda Triller-Doran at archives@dickinson.edu for information about how to access all of the resources of the LGBT History Project, as well as how to donate additional materials.
Generous support to make these unique resources accessible has been provided by the Schlegel Deibler Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
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Date: June 1988
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE)
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - June 1988
Date: May 1988
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: South Central Aids Assistance Network (SCAAN), Harrisburg Area Women's News (HAWN)
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - May 1988
Date: December 1987
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s. This issue features:
- A call for people to write to their Congressperson and U.S. Senators against the passing of Amendment 963 of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics: Amendment 963
Organizations:
Date: October 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter the PA Rural Gay Caucus metions:
- the withdrawl of Le-Hi-Ho from the Caucus
- the strucutre of the Caucus was disucssed
- elections were held when multiple chairpersons resigned
- the tragic news of a young LGBTQ teenager's suicide
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - October 1976
Date: August 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter, the editor describes the purpose of the newsletter and explains how someone could become involved in the Caucus, as well as the different committee they could be involved in.
The newsletter then gives the meeting minutes from the August, which cover:
- the recognition of the in-house Gay Rights Advisory Committee under the Department of Education and the sensitization sessions in the works for upper members of the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- the scheduling of sensativity sessions for student workers at Bloomsburg State College
- an invitation to join the National Coalition of Gay Activities
- follow-up on the responses from senators and representatives about the letter sent to them in July about Gay Pride Week.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Susquehanna Valley Gays United (SVGU), Coalition of Gay Activities
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - August 1976
Date: July 22, 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was "an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities." In this press release, the Caucus explained their disappointment in the PA House of Representatives for rejecting Governor Milton Shapp's proclamation of Gay Pride Week, June 12 - 19, 1976.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
Date: May 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was "an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities." The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this newsletter, the PA Rural Gay Caucus provides the location and time for the June meeting, and the minutes from the May meeting that include:
- Communications and Legislative Committee Reports
- Youth Committee Report
- Concerns over PA Senate Bill 83
- Call for nominations for the Secretary Postion
- Budgets for committees
- 3rd World Commitee Report.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 83, PA Senate Bill 531, PA House Bill 71, Sodomy Laws, Abortion Laws, Youth, Community Center
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Coalition of Human Rights, MCC Harrisburg
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - May 1977
Date: February 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The report/newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the PA Rural Gay Caucus discusses meeting minutes from the January meeting, Gay Lobby Day, and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade (New York Pride Parade), for which the Pa Rural Gay Caucus called for participation.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Governor's Gay Task Force, Gays United Lancaster (GUL), Gay Coordinating Society of Berks County, Reading (GCS Berks)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - February 1976
Date: January 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The report/newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the PA Rural Gay Caucus provides meeting minutes from the December meeting where they discussed the monthly newsletter, political tactics against Senate Bills 196 and 743, expansion of the Pittsburg Gay News to Philadelphia, and the expansion of the Northeast Metropolitan Community Church.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA House Bill 196, PA Senate Bill 743
Organizations: Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), Gays United Lancaster (GUL), Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - January 1976
Date: circa 1975
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this flyer, the Rural Gay Caucus is calling for participation from the LGBTQ community to address four problems within the community: Providing information for Gays, Lack of Gay Social Interactions, Developing a Gay Community, and Parent's Awareness and Acceptance.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Community Outreach
Organizations: PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities, PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: Rural Gay Caucus Flyer - circa 1975
Date: November 1975
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The report/newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the PA Rural Gay Caucus provides a calendar of upcoming events, topics discussed at the November meeting, and PA Senate Bills 196 and 743.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 743, PA House Bill 196
Organizations: Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), Governor's Gay Task Force, Gays United Lancaster (GUL), PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - November 1975
Date: July 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter, the PA Rural Gay Caucus discusses their plans to split the caucus into two seperate groups, one that would meet state-wide (meeting as the Caucus) amd one that would form a gay support netowk. Plans on how to canvas for the upcoming election were also discussed.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: Last Meeting Minutes of the PA Rural Gay Caucus - June 1978
Date: September 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter, the PA Rural Gay Caucus covers the process of nominations and elections for officer chairs and September meeting minutes.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 531
Organizations: Gay Rights Advisory Committee, Homophiles of Williamsport (HOW)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - September 1977
Date: July 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus is an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities. The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this newsletter, the PA Rural Gay Caucus mentions two upcoming demonstrations. Lehigh Valley Citizens Concerned for a Better Community hosted a demonstration in favor of gay rights in the city of Allentown and the PA Rural Gay Caucus sponsored a march against Anita Bryant when she visited Central Pa at the Bloomsburg State Fair.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Lehigh Valley Citizens Concerned for a Better Community (CCBC), PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - July 1977
Date: circa 1994
One Lily Buck that can be used as a donation towards the Lily Patient Relief Fund.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company, Lily Patient Relief Fund
View Item: One Lily Buck - circa 1994
Date: undated
Activity and coloring book created by Lily White and Company. Includes pictures to color, puzzles, and crafting activies.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company
Date: circa 1995
Wishlist of items for the York Hospice House.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: York Hospice House (York, PA)
View Item: York Hospice House Wishlist - circa 1995
Date: 1990
Advertising brochure from the partnership of Lily White and Company and positively hiv, inc. Advertises items to be bought from the HIVnALIVE gift shop, sponsored by positively hiv, inc. Proceeds to go to Lily White and Company.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: Lily White & Company, Positively HIV, Inc., Harrisburg (PA) Residential AIDS Taskforce
View Item: "Lily White and Company and Positively HIV, Inc." Brochure - circa 1990
Date: 1992
Flyer advertisement asking people to become involved in the company. Ways to be involved include: Publicity, Fundraising, Performing, Added to Mailing List, Administrative Volunteer, and Backstage Crew.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company
View Item: "Miss Lily Wants You" flyers - 1992
Date: Fall 1996
Fall 1996 Brochure from Lily White and Company advertising upcoming fundraisers. Fundraisers include: Lily Hits the Big Apple, Lily White Fall Mums, All You Can Eat Turkey Dinner, ...A Lily White Christmas IV, and Lily White Christmas Wreaths.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: Lily White & Company
View Item: Lily's Fall Brochure - 1996
Date: 1995
Lily White and Comapny brochure advertising the company. Discussed the purpose, histoy, and offers that the company provides.
Collection: LGBT-036 - Valerio
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company
Date: July 1995
Brochure advertising "A Quiet End" performed by Lily White and Company on July 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23 at the Open Stage of Harrisburg at Strawberry Square.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: Lily White & Company, York Hospice House (York, PA), Wellsprings (Lebanon, PA), South Central Aids Assistance Network (SCAAN)
View Item: "A Quiet End" Brochure - July 1995
Date: July 1995
Program for "A Quiet End" performed by Lily White and Company on July 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23 at the Open Stage of Harrisburg at Strawberry Square.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: Lily White & Company
View Item: "A Quiet End" Program - July 1995
Date: undated
Program for performance by Lily White and Company at the Paper Moon.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company
View Item: "Lily White and Company" Paper Moon Program - undated
Date: undated
Program for "Glenda and Friends" performance at Altland's Ranch, supported by Lily White and Company. Glenda and Friends was a new troupe.
Collection: LGBT-043 - Lily White & Company
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company, Glenda & Friends
View Item: "Glenda and Friends" Program - undated